Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-22

VI Nhuich VI cTeeu, the IfankneSS WITH
which opinions were stated and the
forcefulness Of the language in which
they were expressed combined to make
the discussions altogether marvellous.
The passage between Abe Baker, the
stage driver, and Geordie was particu-
larly rich 1t followed upon a very
telling lesson on the parable of the
Pharisee and the publican.
The chief actors in that wonderful
story were transferred to the Black
Rock stage and were presented in min
er's costume. Abe was particularly
well pleased with the scoring of the
"blanked old rooster who crowed SO
BANKED high" and somewhat incensed
Mt the quiet remark interjected by
Geordie that at was nae credit till a
mon tae be sinner" and when Geor-
die went on to urge the importance of
right conduct and responsibility Abe
was led to pour forth Walls of con.
temptuous wrath upon the Pharlsees
and hypocrites who thought themselves
better than other people. But Geordie
was quite unrutfled and lamented the
ignorance of men who. brought up in the
"Epeescopawlyun or Methody" church,
could hardly be expected to detect the
Antinomian or Arminian hcrcses.
"Aunty Nonyun or Uncle Nomyun,"
replied Abe, boiling hot, my mother
was a Methodist. and I'll back any
BANKED Methodist against any blank
ETY. blank long faced. lantern jawed,
skniiint Presbyterian And this he
was eager to maintain to any mans
satisfaction if he would step aside.
Gcordie was quite unmoved but has
tened to assure Abe that he meant no
disrespcct to his mother who, he had
mae doot, was clever enough bud
die. tao judge by her son." Abe was
speedily appcascd and offered to set
up the drinks all round. but Geordie
with evident reluctance. had to de-
cline, saying, ma. ma, lad I'm league
man, ye ken" And | was sure that
Geordie at that moment felt that mem.
bership in the league had its draw
backs.
Nor was Geordie too sure Of Craig's
orthodoxy. while. as TO Mrs. Mavor,
whose slave he was, he was in the
habit of lamenting her doctrnal con-
dition:
shes q fine wumman, nae doot;
but, puir cr;Uur, she's fair carried
ava wi the errors O. the Epecsco-
pa wlyuns."
II fell to Geordie, therefore, as a sa-
cred duty, in view of the laxlty Of
those who seemed to be the pillars Of
the church. to be all the more watch
full and unyieldng, but he was delight
fully inconsistent when confronted
with particulars. In conversation with
him one night after one Of the meet
ings, when he had been specially hard
upon the ignorant and goddess. I inno-
Gently changed the subject to Billy
Brcen. whom Geordie had taken to his
shack since the night Of the league.
He was very proud Of Billys success
in the fight against whisky. the credit
of which he divided evenly between
Mrs. MavOr and himself.
lies fair daft ABBOTT her." he ex-
planned to me, IAN I'll no deny but
she's a great help-aye, a vera con-
see47rable asseestance--but, mon, she
doesna ken the whusky an the inside
O mon that's wantin' it. Aye, puir
budde, she diz her part an when
ye're bit restless an thrawn after
yer days wark it's like walk in a
bonny glen on a simmer eve, with the
birds liltin' about, tae sit in yon roomie
an hear her sing. But when the night
is on an ye Gamma sleep. but waukcn
wi an awfu' thurst an wi dreams O.
Cozy tlresidcs an the bonny sparklin'
CLOSES, as it is wi puir Billy-aye it's
then ye need mon wi Il guild grip be-
side ye."
What do you do then, Geordie?"
asked.
100, aye, l JUST gang for bit walk
wi the lad an then pits the kettle on
an makes a cup o tea or coffee, an
aft he gangs tae sleep like BARN"
Poor Billy" said pityingly. "There
is no hope for him in the future, I
fear"
"Hoot ava. monw said Geordie
quickly. "Ye wadna keep cot puir
crater frae creepin' in that's daein his
best?
But, Geordie," l demonstrated, "he
doesn't know anything Of the doctrines.
l don't believe he could give us the
chief end of man."
AN wha's tae blame for that?" said
Gcordic, with fine indignation. AN
maybe you remember the prood Phari-
see an the puir wumman that cam
creepln' in ahint the Master"
The mingled tenderness and indigna-
ton in Gcorde's face We're beautiful to
see, so i meekly answered:
"Well, l hope Mr.. Craig won't be too
strict with the boys"
Georde shot a suspicious glance at
me, but / kept my face like a summer
morn, and he replied cautiously:
AYE, he's no that street, but he
maun exerceese Dissemination"
Geordie was none the less determin-
ed, however. that Billy should "come
forrit," but as to the manager, who
was member Of the English church,
and some others who had been con
frmed years ago and had forgotten
much and denied more. he was ex-
tremely doubtful and expressed him
self in very decided words to the min
lister:
Yell no be askin' forrit the Epees-
,opawlyun buddies. They just ken
iaethin' ava"
But Mr.. Craig looked at him for a