Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-01-30
THOSE BLACKBERRIES.


THOSE BLACKBERRIES.
How Peace Was Restored in the
Hill Parish.
''Wall, they needn't try to stuff any
such story down my throat and the
strings of the bonnet which Miss Kid
der was trimming tapped defiantly.
picked half bushel of blackberries
settin' in a carriage! Nobody ever heard
o. such a thing, an I've been on every
back road in Melrose time an again.
Besides, it's my opinion that with
Kate Davis along" (Here Miss Kid
der dropped her voice decorously and
simpcred as though she were girl of
eighteen.) Its my opinion the was
somethin' besides pickin' blackberries
goin' on. It's really disgraceful the
way she runs after him. / don't want
to say any thing against Mr..
Fosdick, of course, but do think that
such ridiculous stories told by minister
tend to bring disgrace on the cause of
religion; l really do, Mrs. johnson; an
i think Mr.. Fosdick ought to be warned
to show more respect for his sacred call
ing"
well, p'r'aps you're right, Miss Kid
der. 1t does sound perfectly ridiculous,
when you come to think seriously of it.
But the amt no sort O. doubt but what
he said it. / myself heard him say he
never see the berries so thick in his
life, so that they picked 'em from the
carriage, an at the same time he showed
a great heapin' basket of 'em that he
took to Miss Warner, an she's made
such a parade about. She says they
picked em' all out o. the carriage as
they drove along; SO we've got it jest
straight, an it's monstrOus tall story.
''Still, Miss Kidder, dom know as 1
see what you're going to do about it.
Mr.. Fosdick's 3 reel nice young man, an
when he amt ruanin' round with the
teacher he does we'll by the parish. You
don't exactly want to accuse him O.
lynn about few blackberries."
THE truth is of more consequence
than great many blackberries, Mrs.
Johnson replied Mrs Kidder, severe
ly. AN for one 1 know just what 1
shall do. l shall bring the matter up in
tho ladies' prayer-meeting on Tuesday,
where we can talk it all over DELHI
erately an see just how much there is
to it. Then, if the ladies think it
proper to proceed, the deacons wives
an some of the influential members can
move in the matter. Well do every
thing properly and give no occasion for
sneers about 'gossipin' women!' Oh, l
Jest despise that phrasev' and Miss
Kidder gave her boot a vicious tap upon
the floor of her little shop.
Meanwhile Harold Fosdick was as
happy as a newly-accepted lover with
good digestion ought to be. Melrose
was Fosdick's first parish, and it had
proved sadly notwithstanding. A year ago
ne had come out of the theological
seminary fred with generous en-
thusiaSm to serve his fellows and to in
culcate the gospel of His Master by
teaching love rather than theology. He
had heard much of the decayed churches,
the intellectual and spiritual poverty of
the hill towns of New England, and he
had resolved to give three years of his
youth to warming one such community
into spiritual life.
He had found his efforts so far fruit
less. Free from self-consciousness and
full of missionary zeal, he found him
self measured by standards of whose
very existence he had been ignorant.
Preaching as earnestly and directly as
ne was aDle, COnS UduGly w per"
sonal contact with the people, he found
to his dismay that no one expected his
work to bear fruit. Deacon Wadsworth
told him that Melrose was too small for
q revival; there were not enough young
people. The deacon added pOintedly
that the pastors true field lay in keep
ing the people sound in the doctrine.
'sYou're young man yet Mr.. Fosdick,
md don't tn nd q
parish as we'll as you will in year or
two. 1 highly approve of practical SER
mons myself, and you've given us some
very able ones, but at the same time
allow that there may be too much of a
good thing and that every body in the
parish amt of my mind. If you preach
so much about works and bearin' one
another's burdens an the like, some
folks will think you're squintin' to-
wards raise in your salary; others will
say that you are hittin' at some one,
and your influence will be very much
weakened
This is but sample. Fosdick found
his personality of much more interest
to the people than his preaching. His
movements were matters of village
gossip; his parish calls, the reading cir
Gle he had formed, and even the prayer
meeting were fields for undisguised
social rivalry. It seemed at times that
not human being was better for his
years work. The sympathy of a bright.
Intelligent girl, who by some chance
was teaching the village school. was of
course most attractive. Miss Davis APP
preciated his plans, and she showed q
practical tact in helping on their execu-
zion, for which Fosdick was 6seply
grateful. Youth, association and sym
Dathy did their appointed work. But.
quickly IS Fosdick and Miss Davis dis
>ovarad tina meaninR of their interest