The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-12-17

fully wrapped in big red cotton hand
kerchief. People who did not scruple
to discuss every sort of question with
Craddock had never quite ventured to
ask him what was the book he took
with him on his solitary Sabbath
walks. Perhaps it was because there
was certain something in Craddock's
grim mouth which warned them rot
to go too far with him.
| 1t was not until Reckett, the new
curate, came that Craddock's doings
attracted wide notice. Reckett was
an interchangeable little fellow, with
strong views on the Divine necessity
of state churches. He was partly lame
in one foot, but his lameness did not
prevent him tramping up and down in
all weathers in heroic attempts to
shepherd q scattered and recaIcitrant
flock.
| He never wore an overcoat; If he had
lie would have covered up the silver
cross which was conspicuously dis
played on his black watch ribbon.
Motherly women, with sound ira
ditional faith in the virtues of flannel,
were much exercised in their minds on
the conjectural subject of his under
clothing, and said he did not look
strong. But the little curate l;mped
upon his heroic way ignorant of these
criticisms; no one but himself knew
that, according to the best medical
opinion, his lungs were not good for
| Aa s. L. c{
One day he met the schoolmaster and
asked him if he knew Craddock, ga
shoemaker, you know; bony, angular
man, with long throat and a lot of
gray hair-lives in Tibbit's row."
As everyone in Barford knew every
body else, this question was quite un-
necessary, which fact, however, did not
prevent the schoolmaster rubbing his
chin meditatively as if that operation
helped him to recall the very we'll
known physiognomy of Craddock.
When the aforesaid operation had been
satisfactorily completed, ne admitted
cautiously that he might have seen
hin, pronouncmg his words in such a
way as to clearly intimate to the
curate that it was by no means his
habit to notice such persons as Grad
dock.
81 find he doesn't go TO church on
any. OCCASION" said Reckitt, regret
fully.
There's good many in Barford
that don't" said the schoolmaster.
"But he doesn't go to chapel, either.
It's bad enough to be dissenter, but
he isn't even that"
| The schoolmaster thought this very
likely, and being emboldened by an OPP
portunity of explaining Craddock's
character, volunteered some conjec-
tural information about the atheistic
nature of the book which Craddock
carried with him on his Sunday walks.
| The curate was much shocked. He
would at once have gone to Craddock
and demanded an explanation. had not
the schoolmaster promptly repudiated
all authority for his own statement.
and further suggested that lost
sheep like Craddock should be treated
with tenderness, not to say with diplo-
| macy.
"Well, Geake," said the curate at
last, perhaps you're right. I'll tell
you what we'll do. I'm going to hold
a public discussion on the necessity
of state church in the schoolroom
next Tuesday. Get Craddock to come
It's not like going to church, you see.
think the man likes me-in a way
and if he comes, perhaps something
/ may say may bring him to the right
way of thinking"
When the discussion was held on the
following Tuesday, Craddock was
there, to the great surprise of every
body and the exceeding JOY of the
curate. 1t was on this memorable oc-
casiori that Craddock's reputation as
a controversialist was finally estab-
| lished.
1t was generally admitted that the
curate spoke with great ability. and
the deacons of the old meeting house
were very much surprised There had
never been rector of Barford with the
slightest capacity for public speech,
and Reckitt shone all the more bright
ly by comparison with generations of
fumble-mouthed apostolic successors.
The curate's perorafion was exceed
ingly impressive. He compared all
other sects and churches to ships more
or less adrift, whose lights were of an
illusory and vanishing character,
whereas "the church"--he did not con-
descend to any more exact designation
was like lighthouse, standing
grandly amid the storms, founded on
the immutable rock, and shedding a
serene, perpetual radiance on the
troubled waters of Time. He sat down
amid loud and continued applause.
1t was then that Craddock rose from
form at the extreme end of the room