The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-25
The Preachers Vacation.

written for the limeSD
The old man went 10 meeting, for the
day was bright and fair
Thouch his step was slow and tottering.
and twas hard 10 travel there;
But he hungered for the gospel, 90 ne
trudgei the weary way
on the road so hot and dusty, 'neath the
suns hot burning ray.
By and bye he reached the building. 10
his soul holy place;
Then he stopped and wiped the sweat
drops from his Wrnkled race;
But he looked around bewildered, for the
old bell did not toll.
And the doors were shut and bolted, ana
he did not see SOU.
So he leaned upon his pilgrim stan and
said What does IL mean .,,
And he looked this way and that, til II
seemed 70 him a dream.
He had walked the dusty highway land
he breathed a heavy sigh
Just come once more 10 meeting ere lhe
summons come TO die.
Soon he saw a little notice tackled on
the meeting door,
So he limael along to read II, and ne
read il DER and DER;
Then he wiped his dusty glasses ana ne
read IL Ger again.
TIL his limbs began to tremble ana MS
eyes were full Of pain.
So the old man read the notice; how 1t
made his spirit burn!
Pastor absent on Vacation-church Is
closed till his return.
Then he staggered slowly backward, ana
sat him down 10 think,
For his soul was stirred within him TIL
ne thought his heart would SINK.
So he moved along and wondered; to
himself soliloquized-
II have lived till almost eighty, and was
never so surprised,
AS ! read that oldest notice stuck on
the meeting door:
Pastor absent on vacation" never heard
the like before!
why, when / first Joined the meeting
very many years ago,
Preachers travelled on the circuit In the
heat and through the snow;
II they got clothes and yictuals Ctwas
little cash they goD,
They said nothing about vacation, and
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
man OF holy hands
Thus needs 10 have vacation, and for
sakes his tender lambs"
did ST. Paul get such a notion, or a
Wesley. or a knox2
Did they In the heat OF summer. turn
from their needy h0cks2
Did they shut up their public meeting
just 10 90 and range abOut2
Why surely. then, IL this they did, Satan
would raise a shout
''Do tayems close their doors just to
take little rest?
Why IL would be the height or nonsense,
for their trade would be distressed.
Did you ever know Il happen, or hear
anybody tell
Satan absent on vacation. and closed the
doors OF help
"And shall preachers OF the gospel pack
their trunks and 20 away,
Leaving saints and dying sinners 10 get
along as best they may2
Are the souls Of saints and sinners valued
less than selling beer?
or do the preachers tire quicker than the
rest OF MORALS here2'
why is it2 I cannot answer. but my
feelings they are stirred.
Here / have dragged my tottering foot
steps 10 hear the gospel word:
But the preachers a-travelllng, and the
Westinghouse is closed;
confess rs very trying and hard In
deed 10 keep composed"
Tell me. when / tread the valley, and
80 up the shining height.
Will / hear no angels singing, will | see
no CLEAN OF light?
VIII the golden harps be silent: will
meet no welcome there?
Why the thought is most distressing: II
would be more than / could bear"
Tell me. when I reach the city over on
the other shore,
VIII ] find little notice tackled or the
golden door,
Telling me mid dreadful silence, writ
In words that cut and burn.
Jesus absent on yacatiOn-Heaycn closed
till HIS return
-THE, M."rHCpISr