The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-09-22
WAS A GOOD FELLOW

When a man has enough money and
not enough to do, and the gods have
not given him discretion. he sometimes
takes to playing parlor providence 1t
Is pretty game, but not safe. My
excellent friend Fenwick of Fem Hall
used to be very fond Of it, and this is
why he has given it up.
Dobson was a High Church curate
In slummy parish, very considerable,
very Woodworking, not very strong and
none the stronger for the early morn
Ing services. which he went through
fasting. He believed in celibacy for
the clergy, and plenty OF communica-
ton and confession for the laity; he
was the customary victim OF every idle
drunkard and every gossiping old wo-
man in his parish; he had little faith in
Wears, and less in bishops, and. least
of all, in the privy council In all this
he was quite the ordinary High Church
curate. Where he was extraordinary
was in being most eloquent speaker
not only in the pulpit, but even where
there was chance OF being answered
One day last year | bethought me
suddenly that Dobson was a friend OF
mine at college and since. and that /
had not seen him for some time; also
that he was just the man to make a
speech that | wanted made at certain
coming meeting in which | was inter
ested So | girt up my loins and made
pilgrimage to HIS parish, which is
far in the wilderness of the Surrey side
On the doorstep l found Fenwick, who
greeted me with an unusual ELUSIVE
ness
MY dear boy" he said, you're the
very man l was wishing for" and he
shook me warmly by the hand. you
have influence with Dobson you will
persuade him to do what | desire?"
Speaking from roy own experience.
Mr.. Fenwick," | replied. Il should say
that your only chance is that what you
desire should be something he particu-
larry dislikes; then he will probably
do it. But have you rung?"
Twice" said he. They are not out.
for hear someone shouting inside,
perhaps that's why they don't hear
At this moment The door was flung
wide open and blossoms small but en-
ergetic maid servant appeared. pinion-
ing by the elbows a very large and
very drunk womai.. whom she endeAV-
ored to push out Of the door The
woman was resisting to the best of her
ability. because she mad not yet finish
ed making some very emphatic re-
marks to. Dobson lie stood with his
pipe in his hand. aad on his face an
expression of min@ied anxiety for his
servant and grief for the verbal ex-
cesses of her oppoLent. Perceiving us.
he forgot them both, and ran to meet
us.
Halo, Jones, old man. you're
stranger. Very glad to see you, Mr..
Fenwick. Come in, both of you. Very
regrettable, this. very. Really, Mrs.
Cookson, you know"
But at this point l took advantage
OF favorable chance and pushed the
woman off the steps into the street,
where she fell into rather confused
heap, but never stopped cursing for an
instant. That donaey, DobsOn. actual
ly ran down TO pica her UP, but was an
ticipated by a policeman, who led her
off with some difficulty. Dobson took
US inside, apologizing.
Some of these people are rather
troublesome" he said "and the only
way is to be very firm with them, but
patient, always patient. You let your
care for me carry you away, Jones, I'm
afraid"
In his room, which seemed to be
furnished chiefly with a crucifix and a
big table Uttered with papers, were two
or three other parishioners, apparently
sober, but in an aggressive condition
Of boredom. Dobson submitted with the
patience Of which he had spoken to
be bored about the parish magazine,
the young mems football club, the mis-