The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-20
The Prcnchcr's Vacation.


and twas hard to travel there:
But he hungcrcd for the Gospel, so he
trudgcd tho weary way
On %sio road so rough and dusty, meath
tho su~mcr's burning ray.
BY and by he reached the building, to
his soul holy place;
Then he paused, and wiped tho sweat
drops OF his thin and wrinklcd
face.
But he looked around bcwildcrcd, for
the old bell did not toll;
All tho doors wore shut and boltcd, and
he did not sec soul.
So he lcane" upon his crutchcs, and he
said "What docs it mcan?"
And he looked this way and that, till
1t seemed almost dream;
He had walked tho dusty highway, aud
he brcathed u heavy sigh
Just to go once moro to mcctin' c'cr
the summons came to die.
But he saw little notice tackled upon
the mcctn' door,
So he ltmped along to read it, and he
read it DER and DER;
Then he wiped his dusty glasses, and
he read it DER again,
Till his limbs began to trcmblc and his
eyes began to pain.
AS the old man read the nolicc, how it
made his spirit burn!
"Pastor absent on vacation, church is
closed till his return"
Then he staggered slowly backward
and he sat him down to think.
For his soul was stirred within him,
till he thought his heart would
sink.
So he muscd aloud and wondered, to
himself soliloquizcd--
"l have lived to almost Gig hty, and was
never SO surprised,
rs read that oldest notice, sJlckin'
Oh the incctiu' door
I'ustor of on Il vacation'--.ncvcr heard
tho like before.
"Why, when first jincd the mcctin',
very many years ago,
Preachers Travelled Gil the circuit, in
the heat and through the snow,
II they got their clothes and wittals
twas but little cash they got),
They said nothing bout vacation, but
wcrc happy i'm their lot.
Would the farmer lcaYc his cattle, OF
the shepherd leave his sheep?
Who would give them care and shelter
or provide them food to cat?
So it strikes me worry sing'lcr, when 4
man Of holy hands
| Thinks he needs to have vacation, and
forsaitcs his tender lambs.
did ST. Paul git such notion? did ,
Wesley on Knox?
Did they in the heat OF summer turn
away their needy Ilocks?
| Did they shut their mcctin' houses
just to go and lounge about?
Why, they knew that if they did Sat
an certainly would shout.
| "Do the tavcrns close their doors, just
to take little rest?
Why, twould be the height of non
sense, for their trade would b,
distressed.
Did you ever know it happen, or hca
anybody tell,
| Satan takin' q vacation, shuttin' up tn,
doors OF hell?
"And shall preachers of the gospc
pack their trunks and go away,
| Icavin' saints and dyin' sinners gi
along as best they may?
| Are the souls Of saints and sinners val
ucd less than scllin beer?
Or do preachers tire quicker than tht
rest Of mOrtals here?
"Why it is can not answer, but IN,
fcclins they arc stirred:
Hero I've dragged my tottcrin' foot
steps for to hear the Gospel word
But the preacher is u travclin' and the
mcctin' house is closed;
! confess IT'S very tryin' hard, indeed
TO keep composed.
Tell me, whom tread the valley ant
go up tho shinin' height,
Will hear no angels singin'~will
sec no cleaning light?
Will tho golden harps be silent? Will
meet no welcome there?
Why, the thought is most dstractn'
would be more than could bear
"Tcll me, when reach the city over
on the other shore,
will linG little notice, tackled upol
the golden door?
Tellin' me, mid dreadful silence, writ
in words that cat and burn
Jesus absent on q vacation, ITcavcr
closed till His rcturn.'"
Campaign Appointments.
The following aro tho appoint
mcnts for the senatorial campaipn