The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-06-28
THE PARSONS TEXT.

AS Mr.. Liversedge walked to the pulpit
there was a fervor in his heart which in
a nature such as his gave lightness rather
than weight to his step. His mastery OF
life lay in the %buoyancy and happiness OF
the universe rather than in the sombel
depths wherein another spirit may be in.
volyed, and it was to this sunshine that
he invited his flock. The minister was
giving out his text in the usual clear
tone, which rang musically through the
quiet. church. 1870 -.
For 1 was an hungered' and 8e gave
me meat; l was thirsty and ye gave MT
drink; ! was a strauger-' Then hi
paused and the clear song of a robi1
came through the open porch. Hurriedly
and in quite another voice the clergyman
added: And We took m in" Their
again there was unbroken silence. with
Knowing his text, Mr.. Liversedge hal
given it out while he was opening his ser
mon book, but as he got to the last word:
he lowered his eye, and an extraordinary
change came over his features. The
breathless Silence continued for some sec
onds that seemed minutes. At last the
preacher looked from his paper and stared
v%acantly at the next window. He seemed
to be making an effort to recover himself
but an impulse swept over him the other
way. .,
Il have got the wrong paper he said,
holding up the thing to which he re-
ferred. I'VE can have no sermon to.
day." And leaning forward he forthwith
pronounced the final blessing.
None knelt or ever moved. All con
tinued to stare in blank amazement.
He'll happen ha' thought of his wife,
suggested one of those who pressed
around him. And, regardless of propri.
ETY., a general hubbub Of speculation
broke out as the groups pressed slowly
to the door. One of the Misses Withers
and Polly Truley stole shamelessly to the
vestry door, but were only in time to see
the figure escaping in the sunshine.
the parsonage and was in a state Of agi.
tation, pacing to and fro the study floor.
At last he rang the bell, rather violently
for him.
MARY: what stranger t., has entered my
II d9 r. knew: sir. I'm suceLoh. there
Wednesday We Mh; n soa~w fnG% G GTcSeE: b on
you saw him in the dining room, and
that was Monday"
"Then there was Silas Batty," said the
clergyman. searching his memory anx.
iously. And that strange man from
Stoney Greek. What was his name:
Don't. Q remember the man? You
brought him to me-"
s~pectacles. They say he is Mr.. Tran.
mer's new agent"
AN odd name-Tm-Titcombe, that's
it. But was.he in the room alone?'
YES, sir: l came into the garden to
With a wave of his hand Mr.. Liver.
sedge turned away and showed that he
WQC CQfVCEnH or <ho -s~1 11&<rhS~.
tlnue her speculative gossip in the kitch-
en-.
1t was evident that the clergyman was
undergoing some form of excessive emo
ton. The sheet Of paper which he had
found pinned to the first page of his ser
mon n which had so conspicuously de:
pit, was still in his hand, and When alone pmu
he again looked at it. Nay. he eazed
at 1t as If it presented something of an
ln!Gomprehensible nature to his mind.
What MI. Liversedge read was this. in
a wOman's hand:
When all the world is against ME.
MAJ l have, one kind word from you:
is more than 1 can bear" ''' =
He sat in a chair, and, leaning his
head back. closed his eyes, while his face
turned pa!er than usual. On recovering
he went into the dining room and cot
some brandy: From food he recoiied.
yet ne knew it was a physical necessity
ney of five miles to Stoney Creek 50 cnce
more he rang the bell and ordered LIZ
dinner to be brought 80
The meat isn't done, sir. It's hardIy
II O'clock A"iu Wy
Then bring me anything. I want =
be of. 1 can't wait for meat."-
However. cold ham was brought IL.
ana inc compelled himself "a
bic, saddled his horse, and presentIv hs
was riding forth in the sunshine.
Stoney Greek, If a farmhouse. wac
very desirable residence, and bY1na
means the desolate abode that its name