The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-04-17
THE HOLLY=SPR1G SPOON

"Wel], we'll, you must have run shor
Of bread crumbs for your stutling,
drew forth the spoon and held it VI
in full view.
"lt's my snoon," cried Mrs. Gears,
fairly sbrieking, "tho one l ost-my
holly-sprig;" and she stretched on
her hand as il to recover it, ii need be-
by force.
eat any rate it's not mire," sale
Mrs. Wampler
sob, it's mine, it's mine! I should
know it anywhere" persisted Mrs.
Gears excitedly, and Wampier handed
the spoon over to her.
cit must be yours" said Mrs. VAN
pier. II remember the design, and
It's not like any of mine. I never saw
it, unless at your house, until this
moment, and the turkey I dressed and
put into the oven with my own hands. u
The other guests commented little
on the eingularity of the incident, and
venturea to make O. 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 il
still sufficiently IN mind, and more
than made themselves amends ulti.
matcly 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 holy.sprig spoon be-
came celebrated.
The next time Mrs. Gears aud Mr..
and Mrs. Wampler met they barely
knew each other; and the 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 line of split oil across a floor, a
separation out OF sympathy. By the
time the separation became fully de-
fined, Mrs. Gears's umbrage at the
Vampires had come to positive
grounds. She did not scruple to
nk'aud to freely say: "We have no
direct proof; but it's very singular
that the spoon should DO found in
their possession, and they never Of
fered any explanation"
The difference grew into an open
feud. Finally it wac 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
acknowledgements and pride, and in
either case they were amenable to the
session. There WAS prolonged argu-
meut in the session, and some plain
speaking and strong feeling. At the
vote the lay members divided evenly,
and 1t devo!ved on the pastor, the Rev.
Cornelius Holt, to decide. He was
man of rare humility, but of q steady
sense of justice AMI an obsiinaoy in
following it that no amount OF ag-
erosion could outwear. He decided
against the petition and in favor Of
the Vampires.
There was moisture in his eyes aud
half sob in his voice as he concluded
with 'IIet US pray" and in the prayer
he offered brief, fervent prayer tor
gentle counsels and coniding hearts.
He was checked several times by his
emotion. The other members Of the
session were deeply touched, and re.
paired to their homes with pure and
exalted feelings and with mind re.
solved, every man Of them, to do his
utmost to keep the congregation in
harmony.
But, unfortunately, the congrega.
tion had not come under the spell OF
the pastors moving Judgment and
prayer, and divisions of such magni.
tude ensued that the laymen of the
session forgot their good resolutions,
and the session itself became q seat OF
war. Mr.. Holt had served in his pres.
ent passionate ten years. Ten years
service in no Office lessons the number
of mems critics, unless he be man
of supreme talent and that Mr.. Holt
was not. From his installation there
had been in the congregation a dissat-
is6ed min GRITTY, and it had grown,
| with the passage OF time, more num-
erous and more outspoken. It now
found, in his vote against having the
Vampires before the session, what,
unconsciously, it had long been wait
ing fora point of union and onset.
The pastors friends, however. were in
main stanch, and open opposition only
intensified their ardor. The session
divided again about evenly; but the
opponents of the pastor were the more
cunning faction, aud finally persuaded
two OF his supporters to disregard per-
sonal preference and join them in vot-
ing request to Mr.. Holt for his resig.
nation.
! With his session thus become prac.
tIca'ly unanimous against him, and a
good tbiy,t Of the cOurreratiOn feron!y