The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-05-17

Are you tlreu tonight, fnlllp! ask
ed his wife.
"Yes, the day has been rather try.
ing. Did you think l was nervous?
Did l preach wellY Philip was not
vain in the least. He simply put the
question to satisfy his own exacting
demand on himself in preaching. And
there WAS not person in the world to
whom lie would have put such a Ques-
ton except his wife.
mo, thought you did splendidly.
felt proud of you. You made some
queer gestures, and once you put one
Of your hands In your pocket. But your
sermons were both strong and effect
i've. l am sure the people were i'm.
pressed. 1t was very still at both serv.
ices"
Philip was silent moment And his
wife went on:
Il am sure we shall like it here,
Philip. What do you think?"
II cannot tell yet There Is very
much to do"
"How do you like the church build
ingW
1T is an easy audience room for my
voice. don't like the arrangement Of
the choir over the front door. l think
the choir ought to be down on the plat
form in front OF. the people. by the side
Of the minister"
That's one of your hobbies, Philip.
But the singing was good, didn't you
think soY
Eyes, the choir is a good one. The
congregation didn't seem to sing much.
and believe in congregational singing,
even when there is n choir. But we
can bring that about in time, think"
"Now, Philip" said his wife, in some
alarm, you are not going to meddle
with the singing. are you? 1t will get
you into trouble. There Is musical
committee in the church, and such COM
mittees are very sensitive about any
interference"
"Well," said Philip. rousing up lit
tie, "the singing Is very important
part of the service. And 1t seems TO
me ought to have something impor-
tant to say about 1t. But you need not
fear. Sarah. I'm not going to try to
change everything all at once"
His wife looked at him little anx-
iously. She had perfect faith in Phil
ip's honesty Of purpose, but she some
times had a fear of his impetuous de-
sire to reform the world. After a little
pause she spoke again, changing the
subject.
"What did you think Of the congrega-
ton, Philip"
81 enjoyed it. thought 1t was very
attentive. There was a larger number
out this evening than l had expected"
"Did you like the looks Of the peo-
pie"
"They were all very nicely dressed"
"Now, Philip, you know that isn't
what I mean. Did you like the peo.
pies faces"
"You know l like all sorts and condi-
tions Of men,"
"Yes, but there are audiences and au-
diences. Do you think you will enjoy
preaching to this one in Calvary
churchY
II think l SHALL" replied Philip, but
| he said 1t in a tone that might have
meant great deal more. Again there
was silence and again the minister's
wife was the first to break It.
"There was a place in your sermon
tonight, Philip, where you appeared
the least bit embarrassed, as you seem
sometimes mt home when you have
some writing or some newspaper ar
ticle on your mind and some one sud-
denly interrupts you with question a
good way from your thoughts. What
was the matter? Did you forget q
point"
mo, I'll tell you. From where l
stand on the pulpit platform l can see
through one Of the windows over the
front door. There is large electric
lamp burning outside, and the light fell
| directly on the sidewalk across the
street. From time to time groups Of
people went through that band Of
Hight. OF course could not see their
faces very well, but soon found out