The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-02

enthusiastically. Though all your ser
mons have been splendid of late. Some
months ago. YOU remember, you com
planned Of feeling exhausted, and insist
cd that the fountain Of your ideas wa
drying up. But it seems 10 me that ever
since your ideas have been brighter and
more original than formerly; they hay,
dubbed and sparkled as though to match
your name"
This was an old family joke, and il
always used to please him. Now, how.
ever, it seemed TO have lost its efficacy
The worthy man threw his arms impa
tiently on the Counterpart, and ex'
claimed bitterly:
IL feel exhausted and utterly dried NJ
tonight anyhow. I'm fit for nothing.
"You have studied too hard, Lethe,
dear. Your brain has been over
wrought" said Mrs Sparkle affection
ately. I'VE must 60 for nice long
holiday when the new curate comes.
Only last week Or. Brigg said that If
ever a man had earned holiday you
had
"Ah, by the way, l wonder how Crib
Der is getting on:" interrupted the vicar,
glad, apparently, to change the topic OF
conversation. Il should like to have
heard him for myself
"You are better where you are, dear
much better" urged the good woman.
as she carefully tucked him in for the
night. "sIr. Grundy will bring us all
the news in the morning, and then we
can talk things over"
"Tho important thing is what Mrs. |
Grundy, the mouthpiece Of the flock.
will say" remarked the vicar, rs he
scttlsl himself among the pillows,
pleased apparently with his own wit.
On Monday morning the vicar was SC
far recovered that he was able to receive |
Mr.. Grunly in his study. The worthy |
church warden was evidently i'll at case. |
His inquiries as to the pastors health
were profuse and long drawn out; his oh |
servations on the weather were ditfust |
and inconsistent At length Dr. Sparkle |
found it necessary to bring him to tn,
point.
"Well. Mr. Grundy, am waiting tc
hear how everything went of last night.
"Oh, first rate, sir, first rate. Large |
congregation. beautiful anthem, oncrtory |
above The average
"And Nr. Criblcry'
- most excellent young man, Gs
believe, sir. Fine voice, made good
impression-that is, on those who hadn>
heard YOU in the morning
The vicar smiled, and looked vel |
pleased 10 what be deemed 20 be q neat
compliment intended for himself.
"Noli. ms friend you must remember
he is buta young man and without much
experience Wrought not to be too crit
cal. We all had to make a beginning
once"
1T isn't that, sir. It was the coinci
dcncc that struck the people.
THE what exclaimed DR.. Sparkle,
a vague sense Of uneasiness creeping
over him.
"Thc coincidence, sir. lie gave us
The Fooiishrcss Of Preaching oven
AGAIN. mean lis text Was the same a.
that which you 80 ably cxpounded IL
the morning.
Rather awkward, laughed the vicar
81 fear il would have embarrassed the
poor young fellow had he known about
il: but. after all, the thing might easily
happen. The words are in the evening
lesson. though took them for my text
in the morning. You see, the arrange
mont for M Cribbcr to preach was
somewhat huniedly made
but il isn't only the tcxt-it IS tho
sermon itself tho people are talking
about. cir. didn't pay much attention
myself, but Mrs Grundy will have il
that. though tho words were different
the substance. the backbone, the shele
ton was iu.t the same"
"The skeloton! exclaimed the lea,
in horror stricken voice.
"Well. that's the word my wife used,
said the church warden apologctically.
Il didn't quite follow her myself; for,
though I've heard Of people having skele
tons in cupboard, never Lnew Of ont
In pulpit" alr Grunly laughed at his
own smartness, but dark cloud settled
upon the broad brow OF DR.. Sparkle.
Il think" lac at last said gravely.
"that the people must have been misled
by some passing IescmblaEceJ and fan
cied anal3gics Hearing the same text
uhethoughts Of those who were present
in the morning. would naturally rn IN
the lines suggested by my treatment OF
the subject, and they would thus read
meaning and Il reference il the per
haps confused language Of young and
inexperienced preacher, which were mol
really intended 10 he conveyed by him.
Mr.. Gundy, who had profound re.
spoct for the vicar. was duly impressed
with this exposition OF the case; but lie
calling the whitening criticisms to which
tho unfortunate Cribber lad been sub
iccted by Mrs Crunly and her friends
at the supper table the previous night,
he venturcd TO make q further stand.
ono doubt there is great force in what
you say, sir, and you are well skilled
in the workings Of the human mind, as
becomes an able minister Of the New
Testament; but there are some things
Mrs. Grundy and those have heard
speal. can't get ovor-heads and divisions
and illustrations all coming in pat
Poor Or. Sparkle was in terrible fix.
So far rs words went he had always been
truthful, and he was notnaturally amean
man: but what was he 10 do now: There
was Grundy waiting 10 be gulled, and 1t
was incumbent on him TO say something.
He gave little sigh and spoke in his
softcst accents:
"Well. you see. Mr. Grundy, not hav-
ing heard this wonderful sermon, can
not discuss the matter in detail; nor
would wish to think anything to the
disparagemcnt of q young man who has
been very highly recommended to me.
Several partial solutions occur to me,
none Of them rejecting unduly on Mr..
Cribbcr. Possibly we may have looked
into the same commentary