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

Inc old man went to meetln, Tor the day was
bright and fair,
Though his limbs were very totterin', and
twas hard to travel there,
But he hungered 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 5weat-drops
of his thin and wrinkled face,
But he looked around bewildered, for the old
bell did not toll;
And the doors were shut and bolted, and he
dfd not see soul.
So he leaned upon his crutches, and he said
"whatdoes 1t meana"
And he looked this way and that, till it seemed
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 notice tackled upon the
meetin' door.
So he limped along to read it, and he read it
DER and DER.
Then he wiped his dusky 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 burnt
pastor absent on vacation-church is closed
till his return"
Then he staggered slowly backward, and he
hin, dONy,, TO fI,FOlr
For his soul was stirred within him, till he
thought his heart would sink.
So he musgd along aud 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 first jined the mcetin', 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 gotj,
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 eat?
So 1t strikes me very sing'ler when a man of
holy hands
Thinks he needs to have vacation, and for
Rakes his tender lambs.
ibid st. Paul git such notiou7 did Wesley
or Knox
Did they in the heat Of summer turn a%av
their needed focks7
Did they shut their meetin' house, just 90 and
''.iJ, ql19 afilt ..-,... .-.,
tainly would shout.
''Do the taverns close theiF doors, just to take
little rest2
Why, twould be the height OF nonsense, for
their trade would be distressed
Did you ever know it happen, or hear anybody
tell,
Satan takIn' a vacation, shuttin' up the doors
of help
"And shall preachers of the gospel pack their
trunks and go away,
Lcavin' Satan and dyin' sinners git along as
best they may?
Are the souls of saints and sinners valued less
than settlin' beer7
Or do 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 a trayelin' and tho meetin'
house is closed;
I confess it's very tryin', hard, Indeed, to keep
composed.
TEL me, when tread the valley and go mp
the shining height,
Will hear no angels singin'-will 1 see no
gleamin light2
Will the golden harps be SILENT Will meet
no welcome there2
Why, the thought is most distressin', would be
more than could bear.
"Tell me, when reach the city over on the
shore,
VIII I find little notice tackled upon the
golden door7
TelIin me mid dreadful silence, writ in words
that cut and burn
Jesus absent on vacation, heaven closed till
LTae Methodist.