Connecticut western news., 1896-09-17
LETTER FROM SHEFFIELD.
BY AUNT POLLY.

AS the weather nas been getting some cooler, and feeling 1t was my duty to tend church when could, I told my | folks I was going over to hear the Par son preach once more. I got there | early. as always used to, and the man at the door gave me a seat pretty we'll | back, but as l am good on hearing I did not care for that, I was there in time for the preaching. I always like to be prompt in anything, as I tell my grand children, promptness is the secret to success, anybody that is prompt in all things is sure to gain good reputation and make friends anywhere.
 We'll there I sot musing and looking at the young girls and ladies coming along in, how much different everything looked to me than what it did when I was young, to see them balloon sleaves swaying in the breeze and the ruffies and tucks and the broad hats nearly covered over with all sorts of posies and feathers, my thoughts run back to the time when I was young and used to go to Meeting in an OK wagon and waring calico dress with bonnet on that looked like the top of an old fashioned emigrant wagon, we was perfectly happy in that sort of clothing and everybody was treated with the same degree of re- spect.
 But as I sot there waiting, in come the Parson and I notised he was pretty thing, and begun to wonder what had come over him, dident know but his folks was sick, but when he arose to give out the first hymn I could see he was in dead earnest, such look as he give the folks I shant forget in many day. He said want you all to sing we are going to have real old fashioned meeting. Now I was glad to hear that, as had been told that the society had been divided up some, that there was only few that was allowed to do much but when be nounced the hymn
 'A charge to keep have,
 A God to glorify,"
 they all took hold and it did seem as if they were all inspired for the occasion. then it come into my mind that perhaps they had been reading that piece that "Observer" rote about our duty to our fellowmen, etc.
 | Next come the prayer, and such 8 prayer haven't heard since the days of Lerenzo Dow who used to preach on this circuit years ago, his prayer went out after the poor folks, and the forsak- en, and those who had wandered of in the ways of transgression and sin, and he prayed especially for that man who had lost his repretation, and the man who was addicted to strong drink, and was wandering in the paths of sin with out hope and without God. with no kind friend to take him by the hand and lead him to the foot of the cross, and he went on in that way all through that prayer. Oh 1t was wonderful good prayer and think we all felt its infu- ence.
 Then there was more singing and then come the text for the Sermon, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation" and from that he start ed in and such a sermon I aint hird for many a year, it was real old fashioned, he went on to tell how Christ come way down from Heaven and humbled him. self and went among the poor and low ly, he made it his home with the com mon people and extended his love and sympathy to the poor fisherman and told them how he would make them fishers of men if they would follow him, meaning that they must let their light shine and not put it under bushel, and he went on like that for an hour telling the people what their duty was, giving illustrations from the Scriptures and teaching us what we should do to be saved. He touched on unity and Brotherly love, meaning the Church people, and was sorry to say that the chill and lukewarmness in the Church was serious drawback in the ad vance. ment of religion. He spoke long about the true religion of the Soul and said we should be more united and should recognize all who are downcast and de. spondent, wal could see difference from where I sot in the faces of the older members, they seemed to be con science struck, they begun to consider that the Parson was right in the matter , that they had not done half their duty in this community towards pressing for ! ward to the mark of their high calling and for the promotion of holiness ant up building of the cause of Christ. AnG the Parson had to acknowledge that fo
 his part he had not done his duty as h, should, he said there was to much pleas
 ure seeking now days, such as playing lawn tennis and crocay and riding bicy cles and camping out and taking vaca r tions and having good time generally Now none of us Church folks though of such things when was young. VI spent all our spare time in them day
 going about doing good. We woul'
 incourage the downcast by few timel 8 words, and it dident seem to take man, either, because the spirit was alway l willing if the flesh was weak. A littl
 prompting and charity and recognition a on our part done the work all right Makes me think of the verse I learne, once when went to school:
 - A little word in kindness spoken,
 A motion or a tear, has often
 Healed the heart that's broken, 5 And made friend cincere.
 Then again we would give cuDs of coll