Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-07-10
The New MlIiisl er.
BY THE REV. j. f. HOWARD

BY THE REV. j. T. HOWARD.
! The deacon's eyes are bright to- day,
| He cheerful hears the organ play;
And folks are filling up the pews
To hear again the joyful news.
| The preacher, $50 unlike the one
That, last week, thank the lord, had gone; :
Their looks no lnore are sinister,
For nolr they've got a minister.
The victim, all unconscious, reads
OF wheat that grows among the weeds,
And of the harmless flock of sheep,
Until he makes the deacon weep.
s'I knew that we had no fair show
Without a shepherd here below"
The deacon thought, and bowed his head,
And felt once more that they were fed.
The preacher spoke of truth and love,
And ways that are approved above;
The deacon nodded nov and then,
And once or twice said "Amen"
The preacher was we'll pleased to see
Their thoughts in unison agree;
And felt that now place was found
That ould not prove unfruitful ground.
The service closed. the deacon came
And grasped his hand and told his name,
And introduced him to the folks
That crowded round with hats and cloaks.
Each smiled knowing smile, as though
| They were well worth his while to know;
And SAID that the d expect to see
Fl i'm III their homes "'fore long" TO tea.
The deacon whispered in his ear,
"That is The kink like to hear"
Then introduced him in high glee
To Azariah Nickelby,
And Brother Burch trom"W oodcnuck Hili,'
And Hosea Rice that run the mill;
And then he went away to lunch
With Mrs. Seneca p. Crunch.
The trustees and the deacon5 met
10 see If they could hope to get
4 man to fill the church the way
The church was filled that Sabbath day.
His "larnin" was not questioned there,
Nor was the power Of his prayer;
He looked as though he'd "git about
Amonst 'em, and go in and out
Before 'em, just like Elder Crame,"
Who died the same month that he came.
The deacons from Toad Hollow came,
And were we'll pleased with MIR. Frame;
So they with Jonesviile did unite,
And called preacher that was right.
The preacher said he'd come in May,
And then from Jonesyile went his way.
They fastened to prepare the manse,
That they his comfort might enhance.
He came to them without deception.
And Joncsyllle gave him reception"
With fiattery they there did plaster
The man they'd called to be their pastors;
They joked his wife, and all agreed
OF such a one they'd felt the need.
The dingy church week after week
Was thronged to hear the preacher speak;
And everybody acted crazy
To think that this one wasn't lazy.
From house to house the preacher walked,
And of the weather freely talked;
His wife had things to do at home,
And could not always with him roam.
Within month they came to blame
The negligence Of Mrs. Frame
And acted "queer" upon the street
When they the PASTORS wife did need.
This made her stay at home the more,
And things grew as the'd been before.
Six months have passed, the deacon's face
Looks 'Jst as if he'd fell from grace;"
The Jonesyile folks are disappointed,
The deacon's hand felt like an oyster,
And Mr.. Frame resolved to cloister,
Except as on the Sabbath day
He did his best to preach and pray.
'"Talnt no use tryin' to keep UP,
When ministers git in a rut;
Folks come to church nowadays to learn,
Sich talk as his'n I've never hearn,"
Said Deacon Snogiey the last quarter.
Because he "felt as he had orter."
And so the deacons waited on
The parson ere the year was gone,
And broke what was to him no news,
and empty pews,
And that there was more "kick'" in
The church than there had eyer been.
They of their 0acR roget did tell,
And how that they were suited well;
''We have to listen to the church,
And tell you plain," said Brother Burch.
'Wife, did you hear those hypocTites:"
'Yes; and you'd ought to give them fits"
We're words that passed while in the kitchen
They wat ched the deacons out unhitchin'."
Truth was, they only wanted
New mlaister to preach and pray,
And ''git about amonst 'em just
Like Elder Crane, peace to his dust"
''The Jonesyllle folk need fust elias preachin',
As we'll as visitin' and teachin';
And so DO we down at Toad Hollow"
Said Deacon Ehenezer Swallow.
The Jonesvilie folks have now no preacher,
While Mr.. Frame aud the young creature
They so dlsliked there, and Toad Hollow,
No more fear Ebenezer Swallow.
They fill the bill in large city,
This Mr.. Frame and his wife Kittie;
Although they failed, as Deacon Swallow
Had said, at Jonesville and Toad Hollow.
Our South American Commerce.