Telegram-herald., 1891-07-04
CHAPTER IL

hoped that Mr. Murray would be able
10 give the { pton congregation the
pleasure OF listening To him, il apollo
zlzad for the short notice Git was then
Friday, aad il invited the minister 10
dine with the writer on Sunday. 1t
thus gave no hint that the eye OF the
Upton CONGREGATION might be on Mr..
Murray. lat At the same time it did not
completely dash the hope that il might
be.
On Saturday the minister sat down
occasion. and with that and another in
his pocket he set of on Sunday morning
70 fulfill his engagement with some
trePidatiol-
The aspect % the Upton chapel was
Itself cheerful and inspiring. IL was
nearly new, and il was large and hand
some ia 5emi-Gothic, open-raftered
style; moreover. il was well filed, with
cut being crowded. Ii was a completc
contrast 10 the place where Mr.. Murray
usually minLstcred, where most of the
high-baeksd musty pews were quite
empty, where kind OF fog hung par
petually, and where the minister,
perched alofs in the pulpit. was as "a
voice crying in the wilderness" Then,
in the Upton chapel there was fine
organ anG good singing by well
trained choir. When the minister,
therefore, rose To preach hrs sermon
il was with a sense of exaltation and
Inspiration which nc had not felt for
years. de delivered himself with effect
and ne was listened 10 with wakeful
attention and apparent appreciation.
When the service was over and one
leader Ct the ongreg CATION after another
came to the vestry To shake him warm
IL BY the is.zsd aud to thank him for
his beautiful discourse" he thanked
God and took courage, and wished that
his Mary wa-c with him instead of sit
ting lonely and anxious in their little
lodging with their sick boy.
He went in good spirits to the home
of his host, who was a merchant in the
city, and he SAT down with the family
TO the aIcpfc Sunday dinner. He sat
next his hostess, gentle, motherly
lady. who asked him il he was married
and IL he ha d any children; and he told
her of MARI and the child His host
was a shrew man of middle age, who
had clearly read much and thought a
good deal, and all his family three
grown sons and two daughters) were
intelligent asd cultivated and took a
modest but sufficient share in the con-
versation of the table, and all listened
to such opinions as the minister uttered
with attention and understanding. Mr..
Murray, therefore, felt he was in q
sociable. frank and refined atmosphere,
and he thought within himself: what
a place of brightness and pleasant en-
deavor this would be after my rude and
stormy experience of the north and this
terrible year in London. And. oh! what
a haven of rest and health fer my dar-
ling wife and boyw
So ii was with unaffected JOY, when
be walked round the large garden with
his host after dinner, that he heard him
say:
II think. Mr. Murray, absolute frank
ness in these matters is best. Let me
ask you, IL you were invited to become
our minister, would you be willing?
Would you like TO come TO us?"
AS frankly as you put the question"
said Mr.. Murray, II answer that, from
all know and have ssen of the Upton
congregation. should like to be your
minister. OF course it would be pleas
anter for me and for all if the invitation
were as nearly unanimous as may be"
Quite so,- said his host II ought to
say that, though / am the chairman, l
have at present no authority to speak
for any but myself and my family But
we have heard a good report of you, Mr..
Murray. and know that many of our
people have been much impressed by
YOU this morning" Then, unconscious
iv. he went on to dash somewhat the
minister's lively hopes. There is a
young man-Mr. Lloyd; you may know
Kim. No? Well-some of our people
arc very much taken with him. lie is a
brilliant, popular sort of a young fell
low, but be is young-he has only been
some two years or so a minister-and
nc Is unmarried, and-and well, | dom
want 20 say ANYTHING against him-but
he is Just a little Eighty, and we older
folk doubt how we should get on with
him am glad. however. to have your
assurances that you would come if you
were asked.
tie put his am within the ministers
and thus they returned into the house.
And-as II that had been sign Of con-
sent agreed upo---all che company land
there were now good many guests as
sembledD bcarled upon them as they
entered the drswing-room.
II am So glad" said The eldest daugh-
ter of the house. bringing Mr.. Murray a
cup Of tea and sitting down by him, ''to
know that you are willing to be our
minister
'sHow do you know ann he asked
with a smile.
'-oh. she answered. with blush and
a light laugh. ~ arranged for sign
from my father. 50 that we should all
know at ence. You are willing, arc
you not2'
Il am he answered. quite
'And hope--I do hope-you win be
sslcdr
Presently there came 70 him an IN
known young msn. and said. Il don't
often 20 90 chapel or church. but II you
often preach sermons like this morn
ing's. ! should always go u hear you, I
think
This was catering tribute, aud the
minister showed his appreciation II il.
sstyafi ..s.nfase h s.s4 80 "a a.
least pieaSant 20 hear vou say so
( Thus the time passed till the hour
Tor the evening service. The gas was