Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-08-27
PoETIcAL.
The Preacher's Vacation

Inc OLD man went to meetlu, Tor the DAY was
bright and fair,
Though his limbs we're very totterin', and
twas hard to travel there;
But he huugered for the Gospel, so he trudged
the weary way
On the road SO rough and dusty, meath the
summers burning ray.
By-and-by he reached the building, to his soul
holy place;
Then he paused, and wiped the uweat-drOps
of his thin and wrlnkIed face,
But he looked around bewildered, for the old
bell did not toll;
And the doors were shut and bolted, and he
did not see a soul.
So he leaned upon his crutches, and he said,
"What does it meana"
And he looked this way and that, till itseemed
almost dream
BE had walked the dusty highway, and he
breathed heavy sigh
just to go once more to mectin', ere the sum-
mons came to die.
But he saw a little h6tiee, tackled upon the
meetin' door
So he limped along to read it, and he read it
DER and DER.
Then he wiped his iusky glasses, and he read
it DER again,
Till his limbs began to tremble and his eyes be-
gan to pain.
AS the old man read the notice, how it made
his spirit burn!
Pastor absent on vacation-church is closed
till his return"
Then he staggered slowly backward, and he
sat him down to think,
For his soul was stirred within him, till he
thought his heart would sink.
So he unused along and wondered, to himself
soliloquized-
81 have lived to almost eighty, and was never
SO surprised,
AS read that oldest notice, stickin' on the
meetin' door,
Pastor on vacation'-never heard the like be-
fore.
"Why, when I first lined the meetin', very
many years ago,
Preachers Travelled on the circuit, in the heat
and through the snow;
If they got their clothes and wittals ctwas
but little cash they got1,
They said nothing bout vacation, but were
happy in their lot.
"Would the farmer leave his cattle, or the
shepherd leave his sheep7
Who would give them care and shelter, or
provide them food to eat2
So 1t strikes me very singler when u man of
holy hands
Thinks he needs to have vacation, and for
sakes his tender lambs.
"Dld st. Paul git such a notion7 did a Wesley
or a Knox /?
Did they in the heat Of summer turn a%ay
their needed hoclzs2
Did they shut their meetin' house, Just 20 apt
lounge about
Why, they knew that If they dsA, Satan Ger
tainly would shout.
'sDO the taverns close theit doors, just to tax,
a little rest2
Why, 'twould be the height OF nonsense, fol
their trade would be distressed.
Did you ever know it happen, or hear anybody
tell,
Satan takin' vacation, shuttin' up the doors
of help
"And shall preachers of the gospel pack their
trunks and go away,
Lcnvin' Satan and dyin' sinners git along as
best they may?
Are the souls of saints and sinners valued less
than settlin' beer2
Or preachers tire quicker than the rest Of
mortals here7
"Why it is cannot answer, but my feelings
they are stirred;
Here I've dragged my totterin' footsteps for to
hear the gospel word,
But the preacher is traYelin' and tho meetin'
house is closed;
1 confess it's very tryin', hard, indeed, to keep
composed.
Tel me, when tread the valley and go mp
the shining height,
viii hear no angels siugin'-will / see nc
gleamin' lighl2
Will the golden harps be silent VIII meet
no welcome there
Why, the thought is most distrcssin', would be
more than could bear.
"Tell me, when reach the city over on the
shore,
VIII hnd little notice tackled upon the
golden door?
TelIin' me mid dreadful silence, writ in words
that cut and burn
Jesus absent on vacation, heaven closed till
his RETURN"