The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-01-16
THE NEW MINISTER"

ing and see how you WAS getting along.
l smelled your doughnuts too as came
around the corner and besides, had a
bit Of news to tell to you
"Well I'm glad you've come. Have
some doughnuts," said Mrs. Bruner as
she slowly lifted several delicious brown
cakes from the kettle OF seething grease
and placed them on a plate. Il was
just thinkin' would run over and see
you when these doughnuts was fried,
for l had some news too, and now, may
be-" she continued. without taking
breath, my news is the same as YOU'RE"
Mrs. King. the first speaker, Was tall,
large boned woman with iron grey hair
brushed straight back and revealing TO
the best advantage the light in her
kindly brown eyes. She was the good
Samaritan Of the village and splendid
person to tell the news. Her most in
innate friend, Mrs. Bruner, a rather
stout, easy going woman had the same
characteristic of gathering and spread
ing news quicker than anyone in the
village, quicker even than the editor of
The "Jonesville Sunrise" who often de-
clare1 good naturally he'd either have
to hire them two women on his staff or
give up the business
Mrs. King did not wait to hear what
Mrs. Bruner had to say for fear she
might get to tell it first if it was the
same. "Pve heard the new minister is
coming tomorrow afternoon on the two
forty five train, but his wife and little
girl won't come till Saturday night so 1
don't 'spose we'll ge: to see them till
preachin'-Sunday morning
"Yes. that's my news too answered
Mrs. Bruner cheerfully for she had
something to add, land they do say
that she's step mother to the little girl
whose own mother died when she was
Just little thing"
So the news spread until every one in
the tom was discussing the new Meth
odist minister. his wife and little girl.
They wondered il he wouldn't be far
ahead of the Congregational preacher,
whether his wife made good step
mother and which one of the five empty
houses in town they would take, for
there was no parsonage. They had pic
tured their minister tall and broad
shouldered, light and dark, sociable and
sulIen; so that when the train pulled up
at the little depot on Wednesday after
noon there were quite number stand
ing around besides the committee with
blue ribbons who were to receive him,
to catch the first glimpse of the new
minister.
The subject of such great interest
quietly stepped off of the train. shook
hands with them as he told them he
was Rev. Stsnhope whom they were ex-
pecting, before they hardly realized it.
The next few days he was very busy.
securing house and getting it repaired
so that by Sunday everyone in the viii
lage knew that he was rather slight,
stoop shoulderei man of about medium
height with black hair and blue eyes,
rather quiet and pale looking, with
weary troubled expression which never
left his face for an instant,-a now
they were ready to see his wife.
Sunday morning the Methodists were
all out to church early, and few Con-
gregationalists as Well. The little
church was packed when stir was
heard and the suppressed whispers told
of the arrival of the minister and his
family. The little girl and her mother
entered their new as the minister reach