The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-17

I
miles beyond anywhere. and it is, or wa:
tired Of itself. Everyone in it wondcre
why anyone else had moved there. an
rather suspected that II was for reason
which were best kept quiet. II anyoa
at Green Island showed any talent. every
one else was quick to proclaim that 1t wa
quite inferior else why should the person
be at Green Island? The town was with
out social pleasures. No one thought &
ask anyone else to dine. In the strict sense
OF the word. indeed no one at Greer gIslanC
dined. The folks ate when the table was
set: that was the fact Of the case Schoo
teachers who went there had a melancholy
time. and usually broke down and had &c
go home. Their complaints bore variou;
names. but, as matter OF fact, they were
perishing of inconsistencies. 1t would not
have done for a Green Island girl to have
taught. No one would have confidence in
her. Even the town physician was regard
ed with constant distrust and his success
full cases were accounted accidents or the
work of nature. while his unsuccessful ones
, were remembered with unrelenting tenac-
| ity. The attorneys alone enjoyed some
| thing like reputation, and they had a
| great deal to do. In fact, litigation was
one OF the few diversions Of the folk at
Green Island.
The town had its religion, of course. It
had three different brands-ail blown in on
the bottle. And the one display of cour-
tesy in the place was the obligation, gem
orally recognized. Of everybody to attend
an ice-cream social or an oyster supper,
regardless Of views about liberalization
or immersion. By such contriyances were
the elergymen paid their saIaries-those
micr oscopical salaries so grudgingly be-
slowed, so complaisantly recollected by the
congregation as it sat estimating whether
or not it was getting its moneys worth.
None of the three churches had been able
to secure a resident clergyman, but each
divided its preacher with certain other con-
gregations or an itinerary and enjoyed
sermon once in three Sundays. But that
Sunday might not be passed without wor
ship. it was the custom OF the Green
Island folk to attend en- masse whatever
ting house was open. This, 1t will be
perceived. caused systematic rotation
Now in happened that the clergyman at
one OF these churches. having gathered six
olive branches about him. found it incon-
veniest to live on $3.50 year-he was said
by all to be an extravagant man-and he
gave up his position, aye, turned his back
on his calling. and taught Latin in a GER
tain high school. That was how 1t came
about that the Beth Eden congregation and
the two other churches Of that itinerary
stood in need Of a new preacher. One Of.
fered himself. He came from the Middle
West. And he gave it out that he was go
ing to live at Green Island. This was really
a feather In the cap Of Green Island, but
the people did not take 1t SO. They WON
dered what was the matter with him. Was
there any reason why he preferred an
inland" to a railway town? 1t was Gu
rious.
When he appeared. it seemed still more |
curious. He was different. No matter what J
anyone else was like. he was different |
He walked along with a big swing and |
stride, and seemed to think all the people |
liked him. What impertinence. He was
dressed in an elegant suit OF shot-grey.
Was 1t not known that the uniform OF a
Green Island preacher. no matter what his
denomination. was shiny black? His hat
was an inch and a half too far on the back
Of his head for clerical dignity and from
the edge protruded fringe of handsome I
red curls. His eyes were red brow. large |
and laughing: his heavy, auburn eyebrows
met above his nose; he was smooth-shaved |
and had dimple in his chin: he was Just /
the right height for his shoulders, which
were two inches broader than the average;
he had dark tan shoes. no Gaze. no UNI
orella, no smirk, no rubbing of the hands.
no whine, TO attitude Of humility. And.
powers above, when he got to fence he
saulted overt
He had evidently made up his mind to
stay. for he began his activities. not By
falling on his parishioners. but by pur-
,hasing a barn at the end of a peculiarly
hady and beautiful old lot. and he pro-
aI tn int MI \
hiding place. People came around to see
What he was doing. and he put up seats
Inder the trees and talked and told sto-
les till they forgot to go home But this
sas in the evening. If they called during
he day, he went right on with his carpeu-
ering or painting or gardening and in
tied them to take hand.
When he came to preach his first SER
lon everybody was agog.
DO yeh think hell go into the pulpit
n that there speckled suit?" Mary Fennig
sked Of Cora Belle Harmon. They and
he other girls were intensely interested
hut he was in black of conventional cut.
nd he gave good gospel sermon with no
ersonalities. He didn't talk about the
ms of Green Island or the religious in
Inference of the community. as the other
reachers had been in the habit of doing !
lie appeared to be ignorant about these
objects. Apparently he took the religious I
interest OF a community with three
hurches for granted. He made good
cal of the singing and the prayers, and
e had the congregation respond in the |
eading of the Scriptures. Altogether, the /
ervice seemed exceedingly short. but the
autious consultation of watches showed il ,
, have been of the usual length.
The people had expected to be greeted In |
condescending sort of way by their pas
,r. Such was the custom. But this young
lan-his name. by the way, was the Rev
homas Kite-appeared to think he ought
, be greeted by them. He waited rather
lodestiy for the older people to welcome
i'm and was gracious. but not overcordial.
or once Green Island had to do its half
brotherly friendliness. Hitherto 1t had /,
asked in the condescending yet propitiat- !,
* smiles OF its clergymen. ,.,l.
The Rev. Kite gave house warming In |
IS barn presently and invited everybody. :
was in the afternoon. and he mad games
I'd got up football eleven. No one
iew how he succeeded. Even baseball
Id languished hitherto at Green Island. :,
lso he invited three young fellows to go ).
wing up the river with him the next ,
eek to be gone all day. And as no one Il
,ited him to dinner he asked the deacons :
his church and their wives to dine with :
m. He had Miss Vessels. spinster of =
screet age and character, presiding over *
S domestic affairs. =,
Green Island went home from this -e- "
arkable house warming in a futter. To
gin with, it wanted to know where the p
av. Thomas Kite got the money for all IL
is entertainment. Moreover it would g
pleased to ascertain how he was to find u
ne for supping and boating and football II
aging and the like. His conduct with ! W
e young ladies' was carefully reviewed, II
il no one was able even after the most u