Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-06-25

bsi early--he merely said In languid
voice
"And you. my dear-wha, did you
think u IT,
n think u was the most beautiful ser
mon you ever preached" replied the lady
enthusiastically. though all your ser
mons have hocn splendid ~ late some
months ago. YOU remember. you com.
planned of feeling exhausted. and insist.
cl that the fountain of your IDEAS was
drying zap. hut IL secms to mo that ever
since your ideas have becn brighter and
morc original than formerly; they have
bubble,l and sparkled n though To match
your name"
This was an old family Joke. and II
always used to please him. Now, how.
ever. u seemed Ia have lot IT, efficacy.
Tho worthy man threw his arms impa.
iiently on the oounlerpanc. and ex.
claimed bitterly'
II feel exhausted and utterly dried up
tonight anyhow. I'm III Tor nothing. ="
"You have studied ton hard. lsthe,
dear. Your brain has bocn over
wrought. said Mr.. Sparkle affection.
atcly we must go for nice long
holilay when the new cumtc comes.
Only last wcck Dr. Brgg said that II
ever a man had earned holiday you
had"
"Ah. by tho way. wonder how Crib
hcr i. getting onf' interrupted the vicar.
glad. apparently. a. change the topic II
conversation. n should Ike 'o have
heard him for myself"
"You arr better where YOU are, dear,
much better urged the good woman,
a. she carefully tucked him In Tor the
night "Mr Gmndy will bring us all
the news In tho morning. and then We
can talk things over
Tho important thing l. what Mrs
Gnindy. the mou,hpiecc u tho dock.
will say." remarked the vicar, as be-
settled himself among the pillows,
pleased apparently with his own wit
On Monday morning the vicar was -
far recovered that hc was able to receive
Mr. Guindy In his study. The worthy
church warden was evidently ill az eass.
lis inquiries as to the pastors health
were profusc and long drawn out; hi- ob-
..ryaiions ON the weather were difusc
and inconsistent. Ai length Dr.. Sparkle
found Il ncccssary Ia bring him 10 the
POINT.
"wcl. Mr.. Gundy. am waiting 10
hear how everything went on last night
"Oh. iirst rate. sir. hnt rate. large
congregation. beautiful anthem, oiicrt0ry
above the avcngc."
"And Mr.. CnbberF
~ most excellent young man, - !
believe. sir. Iino voice. made "a good
imptcssiOn-tla a.. CA thuso Who hadn't
hcar,l yuu In the morning
The vicar smiled. and looked well
pleased at what ho deemed Ia H. a neat
commitment intended fur himself
"Wcll. my friend, you must remember
he i. buta young man nnd without much
experience Wcought not "a L. too criti-
cal We al had 90 make a beginning
once
1t isn', that. sir. II was the coinci-
denco that struck the I.oplc.
The WHAT" exclaimed Dr sparkle,
a vague s.nsc of uno.Asinoss cr~ping
over him.
'Thc coincidcncc. sir. llo gave us
The Fooli.hncss u Preaching over
again. mean his tcSt was tho same us
that which YOU 80 ably expanded in
thc morning
Rather awkward. laughed the vicar
n fear IL Nuuli have embarrassed the
poor Young fcllow had be- known about
Il. but. after all. the thing might easily
happ-r. The word, are IN the evening
lesson. though t"ok them for my text
IN the morning. You 49,. the arrange
men, for Mr. Cribbcr 10 preach was
somewhat hurriedly made"
'But It isnt only the tcxt-it i the
scrmon ii-,lf the I-oplc are talking
about. cir. didn't pay much attention
my-.lf. but Mn Gnndy will have Il
that. though the worls were different,
the sutstlncc. the backbone. thc skele-
ton va. just the same.
The skeleton! exclaimed the 'icar
In horror stricken voice.
well. that's the word my wife usci.
aid the church warden apologctically.
II didn't quite follow her myself; Tor.
though I've heard of people having skele-
tons in .uploari. never knew of one
in pulpit" Mr. Gundy laughed at bis
own smartncss, but dark cloud settled
upon the brad brow of Dr. Sparkle.
II think" he at last said grarely.
'that the Icoplc must have bccn misled
by some passing resemblance and fan.
cicJ anal'gics. Hearing the same text,
thc thoughts ~ those who were present
In tho morning would naturally nun I'm
the lines suggested by my Treatment of
the subject. and they would thus read
a meaning AMI reference In the Ter.
haps confused language of young and
inexperienced preacher, which were not
really intended 60 H. conveyed 10y him. "
Mr. Gmndy. who had n profound re-
spcct for the vicar. was duly impressed
with this exposition u the case; hut re-
calling the withering criticisms 60 which
tho unfortunate Cnbbcr had becn sub
lccied lg Mr-. Grundy AMI her friends
at the supper table the previous night.
he yentured 10 make further stand.
"No 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. Gnindy and those l have heard
spsak can't get oyer-heads and divisions
and illustrations all coming In pat"
Poor Dr. Sparkle was In terrible fix.
So far as words went be had always bcen
truthful. and he was not naturally amean
man; but what was he 10 do nowi There
was Gnindy waiting 10 be gulled, and II
was incumbent on him 10 say something.
He gave a little sigh and spoke In his
softest accents;
well, YOU see. Mr.. Grundy. not hav-
ing heard this wonderful sermon, can
not discuss the matter In detail; nor
would | wish 20 think anything 20 the
disparagcment of young man who has
been very highly recommended 10 me.
Several partial solutions occur 10 me,
none OF them rejecting unduly on Mr.
Cribber. Possibly we may have looked
into the same commentary"-
Mr. Gundy gave knowing mol.
Possibly Mr. Cribber may have read
some article Of mine in one or other OF
the religious periodicals treating OF this
subject I say possibly. though do not
az this moment recall having written