The Newtown bee., 1896-04-17

their winter bondage, sported and gleam~ ad in the spring sunshine, and of the .inv village little way from it with it's miniature church and schooIhouse on opposite sides of miniature common, ! and it's seven houses (they could be at glance) near enough to- l gether to be neighb0rly, yet not Dear enough for undue familiarity.
 The young man to whom the deacon thus acted the part of vocal guidepost was one to whom such a scene appealed with it's full fascination. He gazed in silent pleasure at the picture-the fash ing water, the hills that rose in rugged beauty from it's shores, the lovely val ley; but that which gave character to the scene for him and threw a kind of sacred charm over it all was the little 1 white church with it's point l ing spire. His interest in this isolated l mountain community centered here. He was a theological student and had sought out kadesh as a possible field in which to begin his ministerial work during the approaching summer Vaca- ton.
 The deacon had driven nine miles to the station to meet him, and the two had studied one another as they had 0ppor- tunity during the drive kadesh-ward8.
 To the student Deacon Dorr'8 history WAS not altogether unknown. 4 pre- vi0us occupant of the kadesh pulpit had told him how the man who sat besld3 him had come to kade8h years before after complete business failure, des- pondcnt, broken-sprted man, held up only by the courage of a brave, tender wife In her name little store was opened in this far off place, Here the solace of religion had come to him, gradually the cloud lifted from his spirit, he had taken a leading part in the conduct of the leading church, and at length had been chosen it's sole and sufficient deacon. 'He has become pret- ty thoroughly bucolic tho," thought the young man, as he listened to the deacon'8 expressive phrases couchcd in kadcsh's own grammar.
 The deacon on his part WAS thinking somewhat as follows about his comrade :; "Hcs better cut out for the city than the country, One of these foggy fcl- lers, I'm afraid but like him.
 50 they had como through the woods and along the shores of the lake to the top of the hill which commanded kad- esh.
 It was time for the service to begin on the following morning. The bell had finished it's brief and not altogether musical summons. The last group of Iakgards had come in from their chat in the horse sheds. The student was sub hitting to the first and one of the hard est ordeals of the young preacher, the inspection of strange faces.
 This was hIs first church service, his ! first sermon. and not one Of those be fore him, with the exception of the dea- con and his family, had ever seen 0l heard of him before. It was not d com fortable situation. The dOlefuI tones O the organ, such tones as only an fancicn reed organ can make, brought some re lief to the situation; and when the choir - led by the deacon, rose for thei solemn Sabbath exploit, the youthful minister began to feel more at home ! and ventured to take B look at the face of his audience. Plain faces they were some of them dull, and yet they showed " character and individuality.
 It was hard work, that first service and especially when it came to the ser :, mon, Someway the preacher did no seem to make contact with his auditors Q They did n0C appear to catch his though :, but held alo0f, and regarded him with @ puzzled air, as if he were propoundinj spiritual c0nuDdrums. At the very eli = max of the sermon, when he was begin ming to gain a faint response, tn a th0ughtless sexton opened the sGov a door and thrust in 8 fresh stick with
 bang that made all attempts to rec0ve attention fruitless.
 The ministry did not look as r0seate it had from distance, or even from tn top of Penney bill.
 But as he came down from the pulpi the deacon's face reassured him, am
 
 Choctaw to one at least of his auditors There was little time for words, how ever, for the deacon had to undergo ' metamorphosis from choir leader t. Sunday-schooI superintendent in rapio manner. Weekly practice made tn process ready one. The deacon strucl the bell, assumed his deep Sunday tone Che had been singing the tenor's part as that functionary was absent), ant proceeded to read the lesson. The min ister was assigned to teach the Bible class, fell in a dispute with the churct theologian on the subject of eterna punishment, and was sadly worsted.
 At dinner (cold) the deacon and his wife entertained several persons who had driven long distance, in order to keep to the afternoon prayer-meeting. At the prayer-meeting, when it came, the deacon was again the chief factor.
 Eighty out this morning. twenty four this afternoon" said the deacon, resting after tea in his arm chair {; "that's more than we've had for long time. Guess they wanted to see what you was like''-turning to the student, who looked tired and Respondent :; ''well, we're satisfied here, any way, and I guess It'll go through all right" :"
 It did go through, owing to the dea- cons efforts, but not without something said about ''these young New Theology fellers with their fine words and nothin' back of em."