The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-05-04

drew forth the spoon and held it up
in full view.
cts my spoon" cried Mrs. Gears,
fairly shrieking, "the one 1 lost-my
holly-sprig and she stretched out
her hand as if to recover it, if need be,
by force.
cat any rate'it's not miLe," said
Mrs. Wampler.
ooh, it's mine, it's minel Ishould
know it anywhere" persisted Mrs.
Gears excitedly, and Wampler handed
the spoon over to her.
at must be yours, said Mrs. Wam-
pier. 81 remember the design, and
it's not like any of mine. 1 never saw
it, unless at your house, until This
moment, and the turkey / dressed and
put into the oven with my own hands. +"
The other guests commented little
ON the singularity of the incident, and
ventured to make joke or two upon
it, then dropped it from the talk and
were studious not to recur to it. One
and all departed, however, with it
still sufficiently In mind, and more
than made themselves amends ulti.
mately for any self-denial they may
have suffered regarding it in the pres
ence OF their host and hostess. Very
soon the whole town knew the story,
and Mrs. Gears's holly-sprig spoon be-
came celebrated.
! The next time Mrs. Gears and Mr..
and Mrs. Wampler met they barely
knew each other and tho next time
after that they knew each other not at
all Then it became impossible to in.
vite them into the same companies,
and through the circle OF their com
mon acquaintance there began to steal,
like n line OF split oil across floor, a
separation out of sympathy. BY the
time the separation became fully de-
fined, Mrs. Gears's umbrage Mt the
Vampires had come to positive
grounds. She did not scruple to
think and to freely say: 1--WE have no
direct proof; but it's very singular
that the spoon should be found in
their possession, and they never Of
fered any explanation.
The difference grew into an open
feud. Finally it was carried into the
church. A document was laid before
the session urging it to summon Mr..
and Mrs. Wampler TO an explanation.
Their conduct, the document set forth,
in thus far refusing an explanation,
was neither brotherly nor Christian !;
it savored. if not of guilt, at least of
self-righteousness and pride, and in
either case they were amenable to the
session. There was prolonged argu-
ment in the session, and some plain
speaking and strong feeling. At the
vote the lay members divided evenly,
and 1T devolved on tho pastor, the Rev.
! Cornelius Holt, to decide. -fIfc -
i.i.. e GaIS' nuiiIis.p, ont of q steau,
sense of justice and an obstinaoy il
/ following it that no amount of 40
, against the petition and in favor o
> the Vampires.
There was moisture in his eyes anC
J half sob in his voice as he concludes
with "Let us pray" and in the praye
: he offered brief, fervent prayer TO-
T gentle counsels and con6ding hearts
. He was checked several times by hi
emotion. The other members of tn,
, session were deeply touched, and re
/ paired to their homes with pure an,
exalted feelings and with mind re
solved, every man of them, to do hi
utmost to keep the congregation il
. harmony.
But. unfortunately, tho congreea
ton had not come under the spell o
the pastors moving Judgment anC
prayer, and divisions of such maqni
tude ensued that the laymen of the
session forgot their good resolutions
and the session itself became n seat o
war. Mr.. Holt had served in his pres
ent pastorate ten years. Ten years
, service in no Office lessons the number
OF mans critics, unless he be n mar
; OF supreme talent and that Mr.. Holt
Z was not. From his installation there
had been in the congregation a dissat
isied minority, and it had grown
with the passage Of time, more mum
erous and more outspoken IL nov
: found, in his vote against having the
Wamplers before the session, what
unconsciously, it bad long been wait
ing for-n point OF union and onset
The pastors friends, however. we're ia
main stancb, and open opposition only
intensified their ardor. The session
divided ry1 Jdt evenly; but the
opponents Of the pastor were tho more
cunning faction, and finally persuaded
two OF his supporters to disregard per
sonal preference and join them in vot
ing request to Mr. Holt for HE resiQ
nrt+u"
with his session tL.s 1-.U.no prac
tically unanimous against him, and q
good third Of tho congregation fercely
urging tho session on, the minister
would gladly have yielded up his
charge and fed But this, it seemed
to him, would be moral weakness. n
clear violation Of his duty to the larq II
traction who devoutly besought him
20 stay. So no refused TO comply with
the sessions request. Appeals fol.
lowed to higher bodies, and a tedious,
complex, exhausting contest, ending
IN defeat Tor the opposing minority,
which theroupon withdrew from tie