Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-02-23
SOME VILLAGE REPROBATES.


wonted places around the rusty box
stove in Tom Trueman's grocery. Tom
was busy at his desk posting the day S
accounts Now and then some belat-
ed farm wagon, homeward bound, roll
ed by noiselessly.
1t was well on toward Trueman
usual closing up time, and the war OF
words was still raging, when Ed. PARK
hurst, a smartly dressed young fellow,
with a smooth, dull face, on when a
dainty yellow mustache grew, came IN.
He walked Importantly past the Wrang-
lers and stretched himself in an attl-
;ude of indifference till there was luil
in the debate, and then, rising slowly
to a sitting posture and laZily yaWn-
ing, remarked
"Wen, I guess the OF rnan'll have
to go"
What OF man? Have to go
where?", growled Cady, still smarting
from the wrangle.
why, Elder Buxton. O. course, an
swered Parkhurst, with sheer, add
ing with a cackling laugh, who else
I could it be?'
The tall, venerable looking squire,
who always talked politics standing,
now sat down, and Truman left his ac-
counts and joined the group.
Tonight, l s'pose you know, or
maybe you don't know, was prayer
meetin' night at the Congregational
Church." Parkhurst went on, smiling
cynically. well, the OF man and his
wife they went to the meetin' house as
usual. but there want nobody there
when they got there, not even Deacon
Bromley, who's ben lookin after the
church since Hold Crane was taken
sick. SO the OIL man he lit up the
yestibue and rung the bell, and purity
soon Aunt Mary Giddins she got there
she's who told me what I'm tellin'
now. She said the elder was lookin'
purity serious-like when she went in,
and he told her how he'd found nobody
there. and how he'd rung the bell and
lit up. Well, in a little while Jim
Davis and his wife they got there,
and there didn't nobody else come.
So the oil man he went on with the
meetin' after waitin' awhile, and be-
fore it was over, so Aunt Mary said.
the elder told EN- that if things didn't
brighten up purity soon he guessed he'd
have to leave Rodney next fall when
his years up. He said he didn't mind
dom the sections work once in awhile,
but what troubled him was that the
people didn't turn out TO his meetin s
anv more as they used to.
"Now. things won't brighten up
not for the OF man-and that's why
I'm thinkin' he'll have to git out. It's
ben nip and tuck to raise his salary
YOU know. for the last three or four
year. and don't think it can be raised
ag'in. I. for one. have put up my last
dollar for him, and so has some other
folks that I know. Now, l amt got
nothin' ag'in the OF man-that Is,
nothin' personal-but, as everybody
kcws, hes too or-fashioned for any
use. He's had his day and now he
ought to git out and give somebody else
chance: that's my opinion.
There was q low rumble Of dissent
among the men about he stove. Joe
Huddleston. rising to his feet, com
manded silence with a GESTURE. His
face wore its usual benignant look, but
If was pfJe and there was a CLEAN in
his eve He took a few steps forward,
and. tall and angular, stood towering
over the squat figure Of the young man
on the counter
See. here. Ed Parkhurst,' he began,
in his usual calm manner Il want to
say a word to you about Elder BuX-
ton"
well if you amt got nerve-you-
Who
shut up, now, and listen" com
manded Joe.
81 don't know as I have - listen to
YOU" snarled Parkhurst, reaching for
his hat
Don't you move from that cslnter
till I'm done with you"
There was something ominous now
in Joe's voice, and in the sweep of his
uplifted arm
Parkhurst leaned against show
case. and with a miserable grin on his
face. feigned indifference to the re-
marks that followed.
Il don't want to get into an argu-
ment with you, Joe went on. You're
a fairly good judge of horses and
clothes. but what you know about
preaching wouldn't fill book. mere
/ ly want to give you few facts to ru-
inmate on
"Whoop her up, Joew broke in Cady,
| giving the table on which he sat re-
| sounding thump with his sledgelike
/ fist.
Roast him, He deserves it, called
out the Squire in a rasping voice.
Elder Buxton, as you well know,
! Ed" Joe continued calmly but with
unmistakable emphasis, has lived in
Rodney for more than twenty years,
and during all this time he has given
himself, steadily and uncOmplainingly
! body and soul to the aid of all our
people. the poor and rich alike, whatev-
or their creed or lack of creed SO I
contend that it's for the community
| at large. and not for his congregation
! especially such members of it as you
TO say whether he shall go or stay. He
| is now an old man-too old to make a
| change-and he is poor. and I don't be-
lieve the town will let its most ven
cradle citizen suffer, whatever his
church may do. At all events, I will
pledge the support of set of young
men-the set to which I am proud to
belong. Yes, I go q step further, and
say that we-the young men who have
! been called all sorts of hard names be-
/ cause they're a little unconventional
in their religious convictions-we
say, won't let you freeze the old man
out. if that's the little game you and
your clique are trying to play. Well
hire him to stay here if his congrega-
! ton won't"
You're the stuff. Joe" called out
Pruden in his shrill tenor, as the young