The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-02-27
The Peoples Journal.
PICkENS s. 9.
The Ministers
Christmas Present.

The minister pt Deerwood was a
conscientious man; moreover, he was
very much in earnest, Since his ar
rival in their midst, nearly year ago
there were few i'll his congregation who
had not felt the sympathetic touch of
his large love. But there was one to
whom his heart went out in coger
sympathy, yet for whom he felt that he
had done practically nothing.
Blanch MeretOn led the choir, taught
IN the Sunday school and helped in all
church entertainments. She was a
calm, quiet girl with nothing beautiful
about her save her earnest cycs and
exquisite voice. Rumor had it that q
couple of years ago she had been not
unsuccessfully woocd by the young
lawyer over the way; that an estrangc-
mcnt had come between thcm-one of
those senseless things that spring from
such triiles that the cause is lost sight
of in the effect. Rumor further stated
that since those troublous times,
Blanch had never been like her old
self. That the love of her life had
gone out in the dark, leaving her the
emotionless being nobody understood.
1t was this rumor that the minister
of Decrwood heard and believed, and
it was this young woman toward whom
he felt that he had failed in his duty.
Time and again he had resolved to
offer her the assistance his calling de-
manded, only to let each favorable op-
portunity for speaking slip through his
fingers while he shrank from intruding
upon such delicate ground. Truly,
fools rush in where angels fear to
tread.
ne had compromised with his con-
science while the stitling summer
months struggled through their weary
existence, telling himself that he would
be filter for the task in the fall. But
the busy fall had slippcl away and he
sat in his study with his Christmas
sermon before him, facing the bitter
accusations Of a relentless conscience.
Blanch Mercton's quiet, white face rose
before him like a rcproach. She was
unhappy and he, her minister, ordained
by God to administer comfort and
consolation, had not made one effort to
allay her suffering. lie plunged his
face in his hands, goadcd by such pain
as only All eager, earnest soul may
know. TO speak TO her at the risk Of
hurting her or to let the glad Christ
mas tide pass and leave her.
lie started up with a strong mans
impulse to tramp away difficulties, but
his eye fell on the close written sheets
and he stopped, staring down at them
mechanically. Gradually, as he stared ,
the troubled lines left his brow and
his eyes began to brighten.
" Peace on earth; good will toward
men."
lie caught up the written sheets and
tore them into bits.
An hour later, when the old house
keeper opened the door, she found her
young master writing eagerly, and her
summons 10 tea was received with an
absent shake of the head.
In fact, tic minister drank no ten
that night. HIS sermon finished, he
snatched up his hat and ran out whis-
tling like boy. lie saw his way clear
toward making her happy.
Strange that he had not thought of
it before. "The best way to right a
wrong is to undo it," How fortunate
that the choir's tenor should have IL
cold.
The tenor, perhaps, would have re-
sented his turn Of thought, but the
minister's countcnancc was gravcly
sympathetic and the sick man was
touched by the trcmor IN 'hc pastors
voice. lie little suspected that it arose
from suppressed anxiety lest he should
be recovering too rapidly.
"I won't be able TO manage the
CAROLS" he said reluctantly, and the
sympathetic pastor huyycd himself
with glec as soon as the door closed
behind him.
cover the way'' to the lawyers was
matter of mile or more, but to this
the minister gave not thought---evcn
though he had had no tea.
Will you sing tenor7" he asked as
he took possession Of the rug before
the lawyers study fire.
"Tcnor?"
Yes, in the carols, you know.
have just seen Gleason; he saws he
will not be able to manage them"
"Stuff."
" He has a cold"
The lawyer thought moment and
shook his head.
Better get somebody else. Pm
out of practice"
The minister smiled his quick, happy
smile.
There are three days yet and VIC
practice every afternoon"
Sorry, but 1 haven't time"
" See here, old man, you'll have to.
There is not another tenor TO be had.
1t will spoil our carols"
The lawyer hcsitatcd, frowning at
the fire.
Look here, Leland, you arc man