Democratic messenger., 1892-11-12
THE PARSONS VACATION.

tHFIncuu.l
The old man went to meetin, for the day
was bright and fair,
Though his limbs were very totterin and
twas hard to travel there;
But he hungcred for the Gospel, SO he
trudsed the weary way.
On the road so rough and dusty, meath
the summers burning ray.
Bye-and-bye he reached the buildin', 10
his soul holy place;
Then he paused and wiped the sweat
drops of his thin and wrinkled face /:
But he looked around bewildered, for the
old bell did not toll,
All the doors were shut and bolted and
he didn't see soul
So he leaned upon his crutches, and he
SAID what does it means"
And he looked this way and that Till it
seemed almost a dream
lie had walked the dusty highway, and
brealhed heavy sigh
Just 10 90 once more TO meetin' ere the
summons comes TO die.
But he saw little notice tackled upon
the meetin'- door;
SO he limped along to read it, and he
read il DER and DER;
Then he wiped his dusty glasses, and he
r.aI ~ aUas,
Till his limbs began to tremble and his
eyes began 10 pain.
As the old man read the notice, how il
made his spirit burn.
"PAsToR ABSENT on VACATION CHURCH
Is CLOSED TILL his RETURN
Then he staggered slowly backward and
he sat him down to think,
For his soul was stirred within him till
he thou hit his heart would sink.
so he unused aloud, and wandered. to
himself soliloquized-
Il have lived to almost eighty and was
never so surprised,
AS read that oldest notice siickin' on
the meeiin' door
Pastor off on vacation "-neyer heard
the like before.
Why, when l first joined the meetin'
very many years ago,
Preachers travelled on the circuit, in the
heat and through the snow
If they got their clothes and vittals Ciwas
but little cash they got,)
They said nothin' bout vacation but were
happy in their lot
Would the farmer leave his cattle, or the
shepherd leave his sheep.
Who would give them care and shelter
or provide them food to eat
So il strikes me very sing'lar when a
man of holy hands
Thinks he needs to have vacation, and
forsakes the tender lambs
Did ST. Paul git such a notion? Die
Wesley or Knox:
Did they, in heat of sunshine, turn away
their needy flocss?
Did they si,ut their meetin' houses just
Ia go and lounge about
Why they knew if they did, Satan GER
tainly would shout.
Do the taverns close their bar-rooms jus,
TO take little rest
Why 'twould be the height of nonsense
for their trade would be distressed
Did you ever know il happen or heal
anybody tell,
Satan takin' vacation, shutting up The
doors of hell:
And shall preachers of the Gospel pack
their trunks and go away,
Lettin' saints and dying sinners git along
as best they may
Are the souls of saints and sinners valued
less than sellin' beer:
Or do preachers tire quicker than the rest
of mortal here
Why it is cannot answer. but my feelin's
they are stirred;
Here I've dragged my totterin' footsteps
for to hear the Gospel word,
But the preacher is traveln' and the
meeiin'-house is closed
confess it's very tryin'-hard indeed tc
keep composed.
Tell me when tired the valley, and go up
the shinin' height,
Will hear no angels singin' will see
no gleamin' light:
Will the golden harps be silent-will !
meet no welcome there?
Why, the thought is most distractin'- =
'twould be more than could bear.
Tell me when | reach the city, over ON
the other shore.
Will find little notice tackled upon the
golden door,
Tellin me mid dreadful silence writ in
words that cut and burn,
Jesus absent on vacation Heaven closed
Till his return ?
I'm Mcmoriam.
Entered into rest November lsi, 1892
Miss Mary Fountain, aged eighty years
The deceased was neice of the late
Judge Spence, and was born, July 1912 IN
Somerset county, Maryland. where her
childhood was passed. Since 1918, heI