The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-08-30
CHAPTER I.


CHAPTER I.
The senior class in the theological
seminary ut Hermon had just had its
picture taken by the photographer, and
! the members were still grouped about
the steps Of the chapel.
There's one thing the photographer
forgot" said a short, red faced man
who sat in the middle of the group.
"lIe didn't think to say, Look pleas
ant, now, if you please"
"lIc didn't need to. We all look so,
, ANYHOW" The man who spoke sat
Immediately behind the first speaker
and had his hands on the others shoul-
dcrs.
I'm sure we don't feel very pleas
ant I mean. we are not n'aas"d :"
think this is almost the last time we
shall be together as Il class" said a
tall, delicate. pale faced man who was
standing up ut the top of the steps
with his back against the door.
| He spoke in Il quiet, low voice, and
there was Il hush after he spoke. There
]
! nj students as among any average
/ number Of professional men. In some
| directions there is more than among
the like number of law or medical stu
/ dents.
After n moment of silence some one
| began to ask questions about the fu.
turc prospects Of the class. The red
faced. jolly looking young man in the
center was going to take n church in
northern Vermont. The man just be
| hind him had received a call rs assist
ant pastor of an institutional church in
! Philadelphia. The delicate featured
student up ny the chapel door WAS 20
| Ing to teach school n year and find II
| church as soon as he had paid off his
college debts.
Every member of the class had spo
ken Of his prospects except one. IhiS
one sat on the extreme cd"" OF the
group, as if he had purposriy chosen
To be as incOnSpiCuuuS rs purSi. !" Ia
the picture. y stranger carrlrS>Iy
walking by would have instantly juds-
ed him to be the homclest, least in
tercsting man in the class. He had
dull brown hair, very heavy and stiff.
pale blue eyes. n 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
Of the steps, was almost strikingly
awkward.
Here's Kirk; hasn't said n word
yet" cried the little man who had
first spoken. What are you going to
do, Krk?'
Every member OF the class turned
and looked at the figure sitting on the
edge Of the group. 1t was noticeable
that while several of the class smiled
at the question. What are you going
to do?" there was no disrespcct in the
smile, and on every mans face W
Il look of real interest, amounting to
an excited curiosity.
Malcolm Kirk smiled slightly rs he
looked up. He did not look at any
member of the class in particular, but
seemed to include them all in n friend.
ly interest that was aiiectionatc and
gentle.
IL don't know. | am waiting for n
call. I've had one and accepted it, but
| need another before can so to
work"
Everybody stared. The man up by
the chapel door had look in his eye
us if he understood what Kirk meant,
but no one else seemed to catch his
meaning.
"My first call was from the Lord,
several years ago. l feel perfectly sat
lstied with it. He wants me to preach.
But so far none of the churches seems
to agree with him. At least none Of
them has asked me to preach. So I'm
waiting for my second call"
He spoke without the least touch OF
irrevcrence or even humor. The i'm
preston made on the class was feel
ing Of honest perpleXity concerning the
future prospects Of MalcOm Kirk.
81 don't see" said the man who was
to be the assistant pastor OF the insti-
tutional church in Philadelphia, why
Kirk hasn't had call to large
church. We all know he has more
brains than all the rest of us put to-
gether. l think it is Shame the
churches should pass by such man
and
ITS easy enough to see the reason"
Kirk spoke without the shadow Of any
irritation in his manner. You fellows
know as well as do that brains under
hair like mine don't count with the
average city congregation" He laugh
ed good naturedly. and the class Joined
him. Then some one said:
"Why don't you dye it black, Kirk"
II can't afford to-" he replied grave
ly. THAT isn't the only reason don't
get a call. I'm too awkward In the
pulpit. Did tell anybody the last
time ! preached in the Third church at
Concord | knocked vase of flowers
OF the pulpit with my elbow, and when
II fell on the floor it walked up every
/ officer In the church? or course / nev.
| or could exDect fO get n call from TINT