The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-10-09
FULTON COUNTY NEWS.
THE PARSONS VACATION.
BY LOUIS ErsENBE1s.


nreachers will not get their share OF roasting
sends us the following with the request that
,ye publish II. Don't be too hard upon them
hrother you know we might some day feel the
need of their aid to save us from just what we
arc now trying to inilict on them.-Editor.l
The old man went to meetin, for the
day was bright and fair,
Though his limbs were very totterin' I,
and twas hard to travel there;
But he hungered for the gospel, so he
trudged the weary way,
On the road so rough and dusty, meath
the summers burning ray.
BY and by he reached the buildin', to
his soul holy place;
Then he paused, and wiped the sweat
drops off his thin and wrinkled face;
But he looked around bewildered, for
the old bell did not toll
All the doors we're shut and bolted, and
he didn't see a soul.
SO he leaned upon his crutches, and he
SAID, "what does IL mean p"
And he looked this way and that, till
it seemed almost dream;
He had walked the dusty highway, and
he breathed heavy sigh
Just to go once more to meeting, ere
the summons come to die.
But he saw little notice, tackled upon
the meetin' door,
SO he limped along to read it. and he
read it DER and DER;
Then he wiped his dusty glasses, and
he read it DER again,
Till his limbs began to tremble, and his
eyes began to pain.
AS the old man read the notice, how it
made his spirit burn
pastor absent on vacation, church is
closed till his returne"
Then he staggered slowly backward,
and he sat him down to think,
For his soul was stirred within him, till
he thought his heart would sink.
So he mused aloud, and wondered, to
nlmSelI SOlllOqulzeu-
"Ihave lived to almost eighty, and was
never so surprised,
As ! read that oldest notice, stickin'
on the meetin door
Pastor off ona vacatlon'--neved heard
the like before
Why when first jined the meetin, very
many years ago,
Preachers travelled on the circuit, in the
heat and through the snow
Ifthey got their clothes and vittils. twas
but little cash they got,
They said nothin' bout vacation, but
were happy in their lot.
Would the farmer leave his cattle, or
the shepherd leave his sheep?
Who would give them care and shelter,
or provide them food to eat ?
So it strikes me very singler, when a
man of holy hands,
Thinks he needs to have vacation, and
forsakes the tender lambs.
blu 'oV' uul = IL SuOu IL houlOuI uiu :"
Wesley or a Knox?
Did they in the heat of summer, turn
away their needy hocks
Did they shut their meetin' houses,
just to go and lounge about?
Why they knew if they did, Satan cer-
tainly would shout.
Do the taverns close their bar rooms,
just to take little rest
Why 'twould be the height of nonsense,
for their trade would be distressed.
Did you ever know it happen, or hear
anybody tell,
Satan takin' a vacation, shuttin' up
the doors of hell
And shall preachers of the gospel,
pack their trunks, and go away,
Leavin' saints and dyin' sinners, git
along as best they may
Are the souls of saints and sinners,
valued less than sellin' beer?
Or do preachers tire quicker, than the
rest of mortals here =?
Why it is, cannot answer, but my
feelin's, they are stirred
Here I've dragged my totterin' foot
steps, for to hear the gospel word,
But the preacher is travelin' and
the meetin' house is closed
| confess it's very tryin', hard indeed
TO keep composed.
Tell me, when tread the valley, and
go up the shinin height,
Will hear no angel singing-will
see no cleaning light ?
Will the golden harps be silent-wil
meet no welcome there?
Why the thought is most distractin'
'twould be more than | could bear
Tell me when | reach the city, ovel
on the other shore,
Will find little notice, tackled upor
the golden door,
Tellin' me, mid dreadful silence, wri
in words that cut and burn
Jesus absent on vacation-Heavel
closed till his return ?'"
THE WORST FORM.
M HNalk