Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-07-29
Humuruas department.
AN ANXI0IlS INQUIRER.


how a city drummer met his match ir
little country girl.
She was sweet shy, innocent little
village maiden, and she seemed some
what flurried as she stepped into the
grocery store where the city drummer
was lounging.
The clerk knew her and while he
did up the parcel of tea, he asked hel
if she was not afraid to walk home
alone so late at night. She asked the
clerk nervously if it was so very late
When he assured her that it was but
just 9 o'clock, she took up the parcel
and hurried away.
The city drummer, looking on
thought to himself, ''It really is toe
bad for such a pretty little girl te
walk home alone" So, throwing
away his cigar, he skipped out and
overlook her just as she was turning q
dark corner.
"Would you like some company p
he asked graciously, offering his arm.
ssBut I don't know you," she said
hesitatingly. =,
"Don't you? Why, I'm an old
friend of your father"
sIndeed !" she replied but she did
not take his arm.
They chatted pleasantly along, he
asking many questions about her home,
etc. he learned that her father was
an invalid confined to his room, and
that her brother was absent from
town.
They soon came to neat and some
what pretentious cottage, and, paus'
ing at the gate, she timidly asked him
to come in.
Charmed with her shyness, and be-
lieving the coast entirely clear, the un-
suspicious drummer accepted the in
vitation. She showed him into a
tasty little parlor; then she asked to
be excused for few minutes. AS she
passed out of the door smile lowered
about her lips, but the drummer did
not see it.
Passing down a little hall, she tap
ped lightly at another door, which
was opened by a gentleman Of decided
ly ministerial aspect.
"Mr. Co." she said, "there's gentle
man in the parlor who seems to be a
very axnious inquirer; won't you 60
in and talk to him ?"
"Certainly, my DEAR" answered her
pastor, who was very prompt to i'm.
prove an opportunity to attend to bis
business of saving souls as men of diff
ferent callings are to drive sharp bar
gains. He hastened to the parlor.
glasses and all, and grasped the drum
mer warmly by the hand, exclaiming
heartily:
"Glad to see you, my friend, very
glad to see YOU"
The drummer stared at the old gen.
tleman in astonishment, and wondered
vainly who he was and why he was SO
very glad to see him.
The minister drew chair close be-
side him, and, laying one hand on his
knee, began very earnestly:
"Our young friend tells me that you
are an anxious inquirer. I am always
glad to talk with anyone who is inter
ested in matters relating to the wei,
fare of the SOUL"
The minister paused for a moment
and the drummer began to turn hot
and cold.
"Have you ever made any profession
of religion ? Do you belong to any
church ?" the minister asked encour.
agingly.
"N-no," stammered the drummer,
out loud. "Confound that girl" he
muttered, under his breath.
The minister began to see that he
was not getting on, and noticing the
drummer's disturbed manner, re-
marked:
"Something troubles you my friend.
Can you not confde in me? Perhaps
can relieve your doubts and fears"
Ell think I'd better co." the drum.
mer said, rising and vainly trying to
guess which door he had came in at:
"Let us have season of prayer to-
eether," said the minister; and, suit.
ing the action to the word, he kneeled
down by his chair. Not having de.
cided which door he came in at, and
not daring to risk meeting that econ
founded girl" by opening any other,
the drummer had nothing better to dc
than to submit to the novel experience
of hearing himself prayed for.
AS soon as the prayer was ended, he
again essayed to 60, but Mr.. G. be.
thought himself of the "girl," and
stepping to the diningroom, called:
"Wife, has Lettie gomez"
"Oh, yes; she did not stay. Willie
went with her and has been gone long
enough to be back"
At last the minister showed the dis.
comfted drummer to the door, shook
him warmly by the hand, hoped to
meet him in heaven and let him out
into the free air once more.
AS he passed out of the gate he
heard a subdued giggle, saw two
figures dimly outlined against the sky,
and boys voice remarked:
"I wonder if pa converted him ?"
The "anxious inquirer" isn't anxious
to inquire after the innocent young
maidens of our town any more.
Bg Father-So you want to marry
this Young Smithers, do you? Daugh-
ter-Yes, papa. "Well, do you know