The herald., 1896-02-02
A WESTERN PREACHER

During the great Christian Endeavor Con-
vention in Boston last summer, Mrs. Putnam,
mistress of Roseland Farm, a summer re-
sort in the northeastern portion of Connecti-
cut, received information from her children,
who reside in South Dakota, that their pastor
was delegate to that assemblage, and would
visit her on his way home if she favored the
idea, as that would be almost like visiting the
historic village where they were born. Then
letter received from the Western dele
gate, telling Mrs. Putnam that his visit to
Boston was completed, and he would reach her
farm the following day. if convenient to her.
Mrs. Putnam is a gracious, hospitable woman,
and she at once teegraphed the reverend gen.
teman of her anticipated pleasure in receiving
him. Then she mentioned to number of her
boarders that her daughters pastor, the Rev.
julius Brown. would arrive the following
evening; that, personally, she was not ac-
Quainted with him. but trusted he would
prove to be agreeable.
OF course. in this remote locality, where
letters and newspapers are a luxury, and an
occasional picnic or tea party is the highest
form of social dissipation, the ladies at Rose
land Farm were curious whether the Rev.
Julius Brown was young, handsome. cultured,
bachelor Benedict. and last, though
least an earnest, intelligent preacher
II wsnder if he will convert us from the
error OF our ways" remarked a thoughtless
maiden from New York.
How absurd" replied her intimate girl
friend. He is some antique old fellow who
frouzy wig and green spectacles and
has wife and six children. We shall be
obliged to give UP whist and dancing, | sup
pose. while he is here. and behave like mis-
sionaries."
The following afternoon as an open car
riage with two men in it came up the drive
toward Mrs. Putnams house there was un-
usual stir on the lawn and piazza, while in
half-suppressed whisper one of the boarders
made the announcement of the Rev. Browns
arrival. Then a long, 1ank, sunburned in
dividual aghted from the vehicle. and in
rather awkward fashion advanced to the
mistress of the house. He glanced toward the
ladies on the lawn. and after the conventional
greeting remarked:
You have good many city people here,
Mrs. Putnam"
'Yes, and let me present you to some of
Them. and in her pleasant friendly way she
led her visitor from group to group, he show
ing no embarrassment in meeting many
strangers, but cordially shaking hands with all
who were introduced to him.
The thoughtless maiden and her friend
quickly noticed the strangers thick auburn
locks his evidently good eyesight, and that
he is far from being "a frimpy old fellow"
AS usual at this hour, Mrs. Putnam's board
ers were in excellent spirits The o'clock
tea, with the red raspberries and thick yellow
cream, the sweet, thin slices of bread and
SWeeueF DulCeT, lne fragrant tea anu cOHee,
the 'angel focd' and golden hued sponge cake,
had put them in good humor. The Western
preacher" they had quickly named the
reverend guest followed the hostess, with the
gentleman who had brought him from the
nearest railway station, into the dining room
for refreshment and conversation.
1t was by this time o'clock, and the lamps
were lighted in the music room and paror,
the whist tables were set and some of the nu-
merous amateur musicians jumped at the
piano and played fragment of waltz, which
evoked the usual spirit of evolution at this
hour in deux temps. In the midst of this
whirling and capering Mrs. Putnam came
with the two gentlemen, who did not pass on
to the parlors, but stopped as If in pleased and
envious observation. When the dancing
ceased there was a rush for the card tables
which were quickly occupied and the games
begun. The Rev. Mr.. Brown invited to
sit at of the tables, bdt said he did not
understand the game; he, however, watched
the progress of the players with very evident
interest, till some one asked how he liked
Boston, and if the convention of the Christian
Endeavor Society was success. Then he ran
to his grip bag and brought forth numerous
evidences of his participation in that event,
and stated in very concise manner his great
admiration of ''the Hub"
'But l am Englshman," said he, ''and
Boston resembles my native city, and after
seven years residence in the far West it was
most delightful to visit your New England
center. l shall carry these banners and
things home to my people, who generously
sent me to represent them, with the remem-
brance of many delightful days, not to be for
gotten" Then after the gentleman friend de-
parted he bade his new acquaintances "good
night
Mrs. Putnam invited "the preacher to re-
main for weeks rest before he resumed his
journey to Dakota. He had become popular
with her guests through his entire unpreten-
tf0uSneSS md bar
to him was approved. He gave some interest
Ing experiences of his missionary work in the
far West before he had settled congrega-
tion, and when the inquiry was made If he
would not like to come East to reside, very
modestly replied that perhaps he was not
fitted for the more cultured Eastern life,
after being several years in the West"
It did not take much time for those who
conversed with the Rev. Mr. Brown to
discover how true gentleman he was and his
intelligence and culture. He had had no op-
portunity for a collegiate training he said
as he had supported himself from his boy
hood, but had as far possible educated him
self.
Toward the end Of the week new per-
plexity arose regarding Mrs. Putnam's guest.
He had been invited to- preach the following
Sunday in the nearest Congregational Church.
Pastors of city churches, noted men. had filled
that pulpit. Could the Rev. Julius Brown
take their place with any degree of satisfac-
Non to the highly educated people who attend
Ms house of worship during the summer?
1t was a serious question with Mrs. Put
I'M, and the Roseland Farm boarders dis
ssed this matter freely. lady from Cam
idge, who is anxious to be considered an
wanced woman of the period, hoped the
verend gentleman would not preach doc
nal sermon divided into three parts and
Inclusion.
We'll. I believe" said the thoughtless