Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-01-25

MN6NVE W'T IN mn, maklns a,l y end ends
lRlNNN ESS>SsaSa dred and fifty"
IHlEI gss$ said Mr.. Wilby,
qIllh xl|M'T >,T1NyNNV sadly.
INNNINWHHlI IlY NV 81 never give
WIlIIi0lB EW more" said the
'IlllllW rector. "lt's
young, bachelor"
eighty?" ' w. "'"
.Certainly not.p
Mr. Wilby looked undecided. The
rector looked expe slant. II should
.ike 10 think it over" observed the
former.
very good, replied. the rector. 81
nave 10 visit a poor woman, and you
can give me your answer when | re-
'arh-in half an hour. Make yourself
comfortable in that arm chair"
ne rector withdrew, and Mr.. Wilby
sat' down and considered whether it
Were or were not worth his while to ac-
cept the curacy. A hundred and fifty
were not much, but then he had no pri-
nate, resources, and-he shifted uneas-
ny IN the armchair Something's
lump OF some kind-was pressing into
the small of his back. He rose and
reached his hand between the back of
the chair and the leather cushion
aes,r there was something. He drew
out roll. of paper; it was printed
document Further examination re-
vealed the fact that it was sermon.
Mr. Wildly smiled when he saw the
words Sermon Supply Association at
the foot of the outside. wrapper In.
side followed the text: Now Barabbas
was a robher," and then came an ex-
cellent discourse.
."Oh, he does, does hep" exclaimed
Mr.. Wilby, "and he told me he was
particular about a high level of preach
ing being maintained in his pulpit"
Putting the document back in its
hiding place Mr. Wilby strolled over to
the rector's writing table and began to
look idly at the things on 1.-THE pres
entation inlistand, the testimonial can
dlesticks, the church almanac, the pho
tograph of the rector's wife with the
twins on her knee, and so forth. A
very smart sermon-case of black velvet,
ornamented with cross of goll, lay
on the blotting pad
"To-morrow's sermon, | suppose, "
observed Mr.. Wilby, and he took it up.
"Now Barabbas was arobber, y These
words figured at the head of the rec
discourse DMr. Wilby read them
with sad smile and proceeded to read
on. Presently he went and fetched the
hidden document from the armchair,
and read that and the rectors discourse
(Which was very neatly written and
tied together with a piece of blue rib
bon,) alternately.
"Really,you know" said Mr.. Wilby,
she's copied it all out, word for word,
in his own handwriting" At this mo-
ment step was heard outside. Mr.
Wildly hastily put down the rector's
sermon and laid it where he had found
It, The other document he slid into
his coat-tail pocket The rector en-
tered
well, Mr., Wilby, have you reached
decision2" he said. .r, rs
'I've decided to accept the charge,
sir Money is no. the only thing to be
considered.
"Tm glad to hear you say that. Well
consider it settled then. And you can
begin work at once?"
''To-morrow," said the new curate.
Excellent 1 preach in the morn
ing. Perhaps you would take the
Mission hall service then, and preach
in the church in the EVENING""
"That arrangement will suit me ex-
cellently," answered Mr.. Wilby; and
after a few more words he took his
leave.
The parishioners always admired the
rector's sermons very much; but he had
seldom given more satisfaction than by
his stirring discourse on the text:
"Now Barabbas was robber." 1t was
listened to with breathless interest;
and on his way home the rector was
forced 10 promise the loan of the manu-
script TO no less than four ladies, each
of whom was anxious to read and copy
II The rector's wife, also, declared
that Algernon had really surpassed
himself, and only regretted that in
the evening she would be compelled
n suffer the crude production of a raw
'curate.
"Well, well, my dear" said the rec
Tor. 1--WE must make allowances. He's
Young and we mustn't expect too much
from him."
The congregation was larger than
usual that evening, owing to the in
t terest excited by the new curate's first
appearance. 1t was agreed that Mr..
Wilby read very nicely, and the .congre.
cation was prepared to treat him with
every indulgence when he mounted
into the pulpit, The. rector himself
leaned forward with an expression OF
amiable, though somewhat patroniz
ing, attention. Mr.. Wilby, whose bear
inr showed. a self-possessed ,miodesty
pave out.his text in a clear voice., re
beating it twice lest anyone should fai
to catch It, snow .Barabbas was 8
robber.
The rector started; so did his wife
and many among the congregation
The coincidence was remarkable. How
ever as Mr.. Wilby continued, the co
incidence became very much more re
markable; so remarkable, indeed, as tC
be entirely Incredible. Some Uttered
soome stared, some whispered. The rec
tors wife fixed a stony glare on thu
nreaeher; his hand, and only a pair o
very red ears testified to the depth o
his feelings, For Mr. Wilby preached
the very same. sermon. identically th'
same in the slightest word, which hi
rector had preached in the morning!
At last the ordeal-for the rector
vns an ordeal-ended, and he and Mr.