Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-03-26
A MINISTER'S BLUNDER.

| manner that would make MIN q 1aVOr-
tie in any community; but, alas poor
man, he had one failing, he was I'M
married! AS this was a defect that
could be so easily remedied it did not
detract much from his popularity, es-
pecially among the unmarried portion
of his congregation of the opposite sex.
Indeed, Deacon Tubbs was often heard
to remark that piety had reached the
high-water mark among the young la
dies of the congregation since Bro. Bar
clay came among them.
But the Rev. Eltho thus far had
passed on his way serenely, apparently
unintluenced by all the bright chances
and sweet smiles that accompanied so
many acts of charity and devotion,
One evening the regular church
| social was held at Elder Freeman's.
After the weather and the superiority
of their own church over all other
churches had been thoroughly discuss
ed, some one proposed music. When
Miss Lathrop had given a few expiring
bangs, showing that her. Instrumental
solo had at last drawn to a close, some
one brought forward Miss Katherine
Du Vasne to sing. She was stranger
10 most in the room, but at the first
sound Of her magnificent voice, hush
tell upon the babbling throng, and the
Rev. ElthO, who was passionately fond
II music listened with his whole soul
awake. No sooner did her voice die
away in the last, sweet strain, than ht
vas at her side seeking an introduction
nnd begging for another song. He
asked for one after another until he
could not in courtesy call for more.
After the singing was over he no.
ticed what fine eyes she had, and how
sweet was her smile, for Kate took il
into her head to be very gracious to
the Rev. Eltho, who seemed the lion
of the evening. Nor was it strange
that afterwards in his pastoral calls he
should not forget the stranger within
our gates" or rather the stranger
within Mrs Hodges gate, for that is
where the stately Kate was visiting;
though that good lady often remarked
shat what he could see in that naughty
Kate to admire she, for one, couldn't
understand. "A pretty minister's
wife she would make with her quick
>empCr and stately airs. Why, she
Hidn't believe Kate knew the answer
10 the very first question in the cate
chism, and what did she care for
| heather, or old ladies, or babies, or
sick people? What did she know
about patching or darning, ladies' aid
societies, and cooking chicken?"
Now there was her Nellie" and
when the good dame had run through
the special qualifications of her daugh-
ter one could not reject the conclusion
that Nellie was lone of the elect, ."
fOreOrdained and predestined from the
foundation of the world to be minis
ter's wife,
The Rev. Eltho's church could boast
Of a large organ and choir, but this
choir was a very uncertain quantity,
and like many another choir, was a
continual thorn in the flesh to the
pastor.
At length the time arrived for one OF
its periodical upheavals. The alto had
declared that the sopranos voice
squeaked on the high notes. The bass
had sided with the alto and the tenor
had gone over to the soprano, and the
Organist had failed to bring harmony
out of so much discord, so when il
came time for the Saturday night re.
hearsal, there was no one to sing.
The pastor begged the organist tc
secure a new choir before Sundays
services, but this the Professor (smart
ing under some previous slight which
only a soul attuned to divine harmonies
would have felt) utterly refused to do
So the Clergyman resolved to make
the best OF it and have congregational
singing, lei by the organ. But at the
eleventh hour the Professor repenteC
of his rash refusal and on Sunday
morning sought out a new choir, in
Guiding Miss Du Vasne as soprano.
She willingly granted her services
for she was accustomed to choir sing
ing, having long been the soprano il
one of the leading churches of he
native town. Besides, there was
pleasure to her in the thought that tn,
young minister would to-day be one o
her most attentive listeners.
0 There had been no time to notify tn
, Rev. Mr.. Eltho of the professor
5 changed purpose.
I The reverend gentleman was &C
2 customed to enter his pulpit from
Q side door leading from his study afte
the congregation had assembled. A
= his mind was generally preoccupie
: with his serman he seldom glance
, around until seated in the pulpit
, Besides the organ and choir CALLER
i were directly behind the pulpit, so O
this eventful Sunday he was entirel
a unconscious that it had other occupant
than the professor.
There was perfect silence as he aros
to announce the first hymn.
: my brethern," said he "you sc
:, that we have no choir to-day, SO "
f. will sing that old familiar hymn, Roc
! of Ages, and | hope that all will hel
with the singing"
He could not account for the almO
audible smile that went around the col
gregation, and he involuntarily felt
> see that his necktie was not awry. b
a. no, its loops were primly located. I
to then felt his hair, to see if somethir
l. might have ruffled its smooth serenit
On Again nothing seemed amiss, and IL
is. horrible conviction forced itself npc
him that there must be streak OF so
q on his face, but he doubted wheth,
] that could be, foraccording to an i
variable ministerial custom he h;
J. looked in the glass just before leavir
= his study. But with the fear that som
2 thing must be wrong in his person
) appearance, he read the hymn throug
n and again said, II hope that all WI
: join in the singing, for you see we ha'
, no choir to-day"
Again that general smile which CT
!. hardly be represscd, and he sinks in
!. his chair in a cold perspiration.
D. The organ plays prelude-stops-