The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-07-07
CHAPTER /.


he steps Of the chapel.
There's one thing the photographer
forgot" said n short, rcd faced man
who sat In the middle OF the group.
"He didn't think 10 say, Look pleas
ant, now, IL you please"
'IIe didn't need 10. We all look SO.
anyhow" The man who spoke sat
Immediately behind the FIRST speaker
and had his hands on tae others shout
ders
I'm sure we don't feel very pleas
ant. mean. we arc not pleased TO
think this Is almost the Inst time we
shall be together rs class" said n
tall, delicate, pale faced man who was
standing up ut the top Of the steps
with his back against the door.
lie spoke In qnict. low voice, and
there was hush after liz spoke. There
is as much sentiment among theologic-
al students as among any average
number Of professional men. In some
the like number of law or medical stu
dents.
After moment OF silence some one
began TO ask questions about the flu
ture prospects of the class. The red
faced jolly looking young man In the
center was going 60 take n church In
northern Vermont. The man just be-
hind him had received Il call as assist
ant pastor OF an institutional church In
philadelphia. The delicate featured
student up by the chapel door was GO
ing TO teach school a year and find n
church ms soon as lac had paid off his
college debts.
Every member Of the class had spo-
ken of his prospects except one. This
one sat on the extreme edge of the
group, as IL he had purposely chosen
to be as inconspicuous as possible In
the picture. A stranger carclessly
walking by would have instantly judg-
ed him to be the homelicst. least In
| tcrestng man I'm the class. He had
dull brown hair. very heavy and stiff,
pale blue eyes. rather large mouth,
the lips Of which, however. were firm
and full Of character, high cheek bones
and an unusually high forehead. His
arms and legs were very long. and his
general attitude, as he sat on the edge
or the Steps, was almost striklngly
nwkwdsrl.
'1fcre'sN Kirk; hasn't said n word
yet" cried tho little man who had
first spoken. "What are you going TO
do, KirkT
Every member Nof the class turned
and looked at the figure sitting on the
edge of the group. VT was noticeable
that while several of f.ha-class smiled
ut the question, "Nhat are sou eSsinc
to doT there was no dlsr~Hpeet ~ thc
smile, and on every ,nnns fnco was
look of real interest, amounting to
On excited curiosity
Malcolm Kirk smiled slightly as he
looked NJ. He did not look at any
member " the class IN particular, but
seemed to include them all IN Il friend
~ interest that was alfcctionato aud
gentle.
IL don't know. am waiting for n
call. I've had one and ncccpted II, but
need another before can 20 to
work"
Everybody stared. The man up by
the chapel door had look In his eye
rs IL lie understood what Kirk meant.
but no one else seemed to catch his
meaning.
"My first call was from the Lord.
seyerM years ago feel perfectly sat
lsfied with II. lie wants me to preach.
But SO far none Of the churches seems
10 agree with him. Al least none OF
them has asked me to preach. So I'm
waiting for my second cnll"
Hs spoke without the least touch Of
irreycrcncc or pyen humor. The Inn
preston made on the class was feel
Ing OF honest perplcxity concerning the
future prospects OF Malcolm Kirk.
II don't see." sald the man who was
10 be the assistant pastor OF the insti-
tptional church In Philadelphia, why
Kirk hasn't had call TO q large
church. We all know he has more
brains than all the rest Of us put to-
gctllcr. think II Is shame tho
Churches should pass by such a man
AND
IFS easy enough to see tho reason"
Kirk spoke without the shadow OF any
tffltutlUN VI UlS llIUtiftts Auh iNtiVno
know MS well as do that brains under
hair like niue don't count with the
average city congregation" lie laugh
cd good naturally. and the class Joined
him. Then some one snId:
"why don't you dye II black. KirkT
II can't afford to- he replied grave
Iy. "That isn't the only reason don't
get call. I'm too awkward In the
pulpit. Did tell anybody the last
time preached IN the Third church Mt
Concord Knocked n vase pf flowers
OF the pulpit with my elbow, and when
II fell on the floor II walked up every
officer IN the churchf or course ! new
or could expect 20 get calI from that
church,"
Everybody laughed. and Kirk drew
one OF his feet up under him and smiled
little. At the same time no one could
detect n trace OF III humor or lack OF
seriousness IN his tone or manner. The
first impression Malcolm Kirk made on
poopjc was that OF downright sincerity.