The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-08-16

"carried pipes" "Rather poor taste, /
should say, to stick himself forward
while I'm dom the entertainment act.D
"Hs-s-shl" replied the man of pipes
warningly. at amt no comic song
he's got on his mind, I'll bet We the
drinks. He's preacher, and he looks
as ii he would bust if he doesn' get a
chance to speak pretty quick"
There were probably a hundred and
fifty people within the sound of his
voice as the young minister began TO
speak. This Of itself was an inspira-
ton to one who had been accustomed
to address audiences ranging from thirty
upwards. But more inspiring still was
the look of eager interest on every face.
Even those who had not enioyed the
cigar.man's rackety song now laid > ide
their novels and newspapers in Order
to give Knox their undivided attention.
The flirtatious young men and women
stood in resi- ectful silence looking over
the heads Of those who were seated,
and for a while the thin boy ceased to
extract eatables from his coat pockets.
There was no striving after fine
phrases in the simple story that Knox
had to tell. He spoke with an unaf-
fected earnestness which went straight
to its mark. His voice was broken and
his eyes were wet with tears as he de-
scribed the wretched mother and her
dying baby. Between his slow words
came the throbbing of the engine, as if
a great heart were beating in tender
response 10 his appeal. Most of the
women in the room were crying quietly,
but without any attempt at conceal
ment, and the men swallowed hard at
something that would not down. The
cigar. man abruptly turned his broad
back upon the company, tlourished his
black handkerchief, and blew a tre-
mendous blast, while his more excit-
able friend sprang up, exclaiming:
want money? Well, l guess.
Where's my hat? You've given us
mighty good sermon, Mr.. Preacher,
and now you just take rest while l
run the collection. These folks are
just achin' to shell out"
Throwing a crisp bank.note into the
crown of his new straw hat, the man of
pipes went briskly about among the
people, exhorting them not to be stingy.
Meanwhile tall, stoop-shouldered
man, with dark, kindly face, pushed
forward to where Knox stood.
"Tm DIR. Silas Merrithew of Binna-
turning TO his wife, who stood Just be-
hind him, fearful but smiling, " has been
saying all sorts of mean things about
herself and me because we didn't look
after those poor creatures ourselves.
We saw them the first part of the even
ing, and ought to have had decency
enough not to shirk our duty off on to
your young shoulders"
ttXee ip6pp6' ~ eyploipna6 Mra
!, Merrithew, clasping the Rev. Leander's
} hand with great cordially. Pm real
| proud of you, but I'm just as ashamed
of myself and the doctor as l can be-"
Never mind, wife," said the doctor
, good-naturedly; "as long as there's a
good captain guess we can afford to be
lieutenants this time. Now we'll 60
and see what can be done for your
: charges, Mr.-Mr.-?"
Knox, -Leander knox," replied
the young man, with quickly beating
/ heart His shyness was beginning to
, come back, for he suspected that these
two people were pillars of the church
in Binnacle. Tomorrow, instead of
= praising him, they would be thinking
what dull young man he was, and
t wondering why the secretary had sent
5 them such stick.
7 why, bless my soul, Clara, this is
D the very man that's going to preach to
us to morrow" cried the doctor, his
r lean, brown face fairly aglow with de-
: light. Chow pleasant it is to have
q met you under such circumstances"
He shook both of the young mans
8 hands this time and then went away TO
, his patients.
It "Parson," said the man of pipes,
s coming up with his hat full of bills and
t silver, there amt no manner of doubt
that you've made a scoop. These
!, blamed cart-wheels have nearly busted
5 the crown out of my hat" and he
II emptied the contents with loud crash
y upon the piano cover.
IS Well, you see, JIM" said the cigar
}. man with a confidential wink at the
e company, "this sort of experience
r comes pretty hard on a hat that never
II had anything in it before"
It "Forty- eight, seventy FIVE" said
: Jim, frowning at the interruption of
d his count, but not otherwise taking no.
e tice of the jibe.
!, 1t was in truth a generous sum that
d had resulted from the young minister g
Is appeal, and his eyes shone with love
Q and gratitude as he looked al ound upon
l. the people and described in few well
is chosen words the good which their gift
would accomplish.
h George" said the man of pipes in
], loud whisper to his friend, " start her
g up, will you? None of your comic
t. business this time, but something re-
}. ligious you know, and softer warm
70 hearted Git in the divine an human
ii both somehow, can't you?"
l. George scratched his head and pom
y dered deeply. Cant scare up a
thing" said he. Then he reached for
n Moody and Sankey No. 8.
lie 81 dunno" said Jim obviously
h "seems to me those are too jingly
is Can't somebody think of somethln'?'
D. Knox struck up "Blest be the tie that
IS binds" and it was vigorously sung
" through by the company.
lie 8" tell you what" said Deacon Pink
e. ham to DR.. Merrithew at the close OF