The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-03-09
NO. 10

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declined that call to Plainfeld with
less work and larger salary. Do they
think that years of thinking and study
ing and living count for nothing!
Don't they know they make you bet
ter able to help them? | cannot uE-
derstand it, dear. In law, in medl-
cine, or any other profession indeed,
in almost any walk Of life, experience
counts. 1t is in the ministry alone
that a man who hiss scarcely reached
middle life is pushed to the wall"
"1ou are not an unprejudiced
judge, my DEAR" answered her hus-
band, though mentally he agreed with
her.
Far into the night they talked, try
ing to plan for the future. The older
children were so nicely settled in
school. They all had grown to love
this place and people, and had hoped
the people loved them. Laying all
selfish considerations aside, it did seem
as if even here there was work to be
done. The new church was not vet
finished, and there were so many care
less, troubled ones whom they had
hoped to bring to the only sure Com
fort. 1t could not be that their work
here was ended. So they hoped this
was not the voice of the church.
Next day Mr.. Ferris met some OF
his church officials, who after a little
hesitation admitted that his unknown
correspondents had spoken the truth
They were sorry to have Mr.. Ferris
leave them. In the eight years he
had been with them they had grown
deeply attached to him, bnt 1t seem
ed necessary, and he probably would
be able soon to find better place.
Accordingly, Mr.. Ferris began to
look about him. His church had for
some time been doing likewise, and
already had their minds and hearts
fixed on beardless youth, fresh from
the seminary, with no incumbrance in
the shape of wife and children. Since
he was ready to accept call, it SEEM
ed best for Mr.. Ferris to leave, but
where should he go? Even from his
munifcent salary of a thousand dol
lars he had been able to save moth
ing. The vague rumor that old age
was his "only fault" did not help his
candidacy. A man with a wife and
six children depending on him, and no
home or salary in prospect, must ex-
perience many anxious moments. Mr..
Ferris was no exception. He began
to feel really old. That strange feel
ing about his heart which had occas-
sionally troubled him came more fire.
quently now.
The day for his farewell sermon
came, and with aching heart and
trembling voice, he spoke to them for
the last time. He told them how he
regretted his fault of growing old, a
fault which each year would but in
crease, and yet fault which would
overtake each and every one of them.
He spoke of his wish, too, that he
might meet with them in the new
building, for which they had worked
and prayed together. Then as he
went on to say that he had hoped that
his years of study, and of suffering,
years of varied human experiences
would have made him more helpful to
them, better able to point them to the
Unfailing Comforter, his voice broke,
he turned deathly pale, and sank into
a chair gasping for breath. Tenderly
he was carried to his home, and low
ingly lie was watched. The doctor
talked vaguely of undue excitement,
and weak heart, and administered
his remedies; but without avail, for
just as the sunset light was gliding the
hills with glory, heavens gates seemed
to open, and Edward Ferris was in
that land where the inhabitants never
grow old.
Mrs. Ferris received from the Off
GERS of the church beautiful set of
resolutions, grieving that mysterious
Providence had taken from them, in
the prime Of life, their dearly loved
friend and pastor. She was grateful
for their sympathy, and yet being
woman, not an angel, and wondered if
she might not have been spared this
grief if they had borne more patiently
with her loved ones 'only fault. y
Presbyterian.
MARCH AND THE LION.