Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-12-01
OLD PARSON WADE.

MS neat little speech with a fina
flourish Of his fat hands, and leanin,
back in his chair complacently await
ed the reply of his audience, tn
Rev. James Wade. But there wa
no response from the motionless fie
ure by his side. 1t was growinl
dusk, but the Pickering freligh
showed him the outlines of the oil
mans gaunt frame, the droop of tn,
bowed head and the trembling, wrin
kled hand upon which it rested.
There was something in Parsor
Wade's attitude that disturbed tht
chairman's self complacency, and ht
shifted uneasily from one position
to another and wished heartily that
his words had remained unsaid.
'Blest if l dreamed the old mar
would feel so cut up about it." he
said to himself. "As Mis- Prentice
said, he'd orter expect it. He's he'd
his day."
1t had seemed a simple thing
Old Parson Wade had become old
fashioned and rusty and outgrown
too, by the people of the bustlinq
little factory village. What was tc
be done, then, but to throw him one
side, like any dingy old garment,
and replace him with new minister
of later pattern and more popular
style2 But for some reason it is an
easier matter to discard an old coat
than an old pastor, at least so
thought Chairman HicIis as he
glanced uneasily at his companion,
while several minutes slowly ticked
themselves away.
At last the stiffness became unsup-
portable. He started up and fell to
poking the fire with nervous, ener-
getic strokes, which seemed likely
to put out the flames. His action,
however, served to arouse Parson
Wade, whos7 rose mechanically,
reached for his shabby beaver hat,
and with a low Good night, Mr..
Hicks, moved with slow, uncertain
steps toward the door.
you won't hold no grudgc, par
son2r said Mr.. Hicks, following him.
But the parson suffered his nerveless
fingers to rest for an instant in the
strong grasp of the chairman, then
opened the door and went
out. He tottered down the steps and
fumbled several minutes at the gate
before he could open it.
The day was ending in a dreary rain
"a chilly November rain that made
people turn up their coat collars
with a shiver and remark that win
ter was coming. The wind whistled
about the lonely figure as it crept
slowly up the road. Fitful gusts
PLAYED with the thin locks that
straggled over his collar and pierced
his threadbare garments, while the
rain moistened his spectacles so that
the faded old eyes could scarcely see
the path. But old Parson Wade
seemed to heed neither wind nor
rain, but with head bowed low stag
gered on in the binding storm. II
passersby noticed the desolate ig-
ure it was only toclasp their bum
dies tighter; button their coats closer
and hurry past, leaving him soon
forgotten. ,
The news of his dismissal had
come to Parson Wade with cruel sud
denness, and only by degrees did he
recover from his half dazed condi,
ton. Over and over in mechanical
fashion he repeated Mr.. Hicks words.
There's some that's tired OF old
fashioned doctrines and wish a
Younger preacher. A progressive
age parson, is that we're living in
They were tired of him. then, that
was what it all meant, and there was
no longer any use for him in the
world 1t would be SO always now.
Nobody would care for him or looK
10 him for aid. And the girls ms
daughters. what would they say
when they heard of it, how wouio
tbev receive this newsi With bitter
reproaches. with singing words, ne
knew and the thought sent a shuu
dr. through him. Yes, it woulo
make things worse for him at home
and things were sorry enough tner'
at best. a;,,o,
All through the dreary years slnc'
his wife's death the old man hae
haan under the rule of two unmar
ried daughters. who made no eior'
70 conceal the fact that their old IA
.her was an uncomfortable burder
- ~. their hands. They allowed hin
shelter and food TO avoid town gos
I'm and added his meager salary Y
tbe comfortable little income ina
thew gained by teaching. but y
ccntinned taunts they succeeded u
,naEing his whole life sad ana un
aamfortable. Yet Parson wade az
80 exuected that some DAY n' %
,vonId come home TO find a kina wei
W. o ana loving words from them
.Is ..ThevTe Maryis children, he woalc
- himself surely they mus
80 : httle for their old tatnes.
~ thia dreary November nient va