Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-07-26
HIS ONLY SERMON.
nY TOW y. MoRGAn


Humboldt Meliick to believe that bis man
ofall-work contemplated suicide or poetry
and ii Was difficult to tell which.
The old darky went about clad in look
Of woe so profound that it rendered the
wearing Of a shirt entirely optional.
His was a sort OF "drop-a-nckel- into-the-
slot-and get-an appropriate poetical epi
taph' look that seemed to tell Of DAYS spent
il fruitless watching Of the eggs Of hope that
never Matched, and that the tooth of for
getfulness that dried up so many hearts had
not yet caused the grass Of Oblivion to grow
over the tomb Of MS shattered hopes, or
words 10 that effect
Then, just as Uncle Ruins thinker had
taken 70 whirring like polishing brush with
wool on II, be suddenly frightened up and
| announced az tire result Of his woe and med
itation that he had been called to preach
When a eolored man announces that he
Is called to preach one might just as well
try TO stop the circulation OF a campaign lie
or TO trip up the sugar trust as to endeavor
TO dissuade him. Preach he will, even if he
is obliged to slay hall the sinners in town
ia order to preach peace and love to the
other half
Old Rufus had long been regarded as
4 pretty hard bat, and it was with great re-
joicing that the Chapel Of the immaculate
Saints welcomed him to the fold. In order
| to encourage him still further in his upward
course and intent 10 preach, the pastor Of
! the Immaeulates requested the convert to
/ fill his pulpit on the following SUNDAY As
an added inducement, he remmred him Of
! the baptism to occur then.
/ Sunday, at the proper hour the Chapel Of
the Saints was packed with worshpers, all
nreacher pr SfelfioL dos;,;r ~ -
a,o,.,. Md ,oa,,,,j Il, - 4;
reetiv r. front "a tEa nnlnit wb;eb : .foad h..
/ fore The oran bantistrv where tba INNER.
sion was nissentIr IN tsl,e nlaco
For some reason there was Ionr MOTT
| befora tba .or,,on ber,p ana ~, ~ t;,,,a
i opened pro- NIeli;6l was i drowsy t i,,
he eonld bardl, l.eo1, Isl. e,.es 60,
The lone c.,it IA Ieao nroliee of come.
fbiro also basitos ro,,s;ass 49,, ~ ,,ar4
of 10 yontbft ,,,fion 81 IN H.,
Weary ,vit t aIo1,+ +, ri soats
s,veral - tbo nj. IN a,1;,,,,,,oj -
- 80 80 . - 'eo ~ 'ue ou'
9ttS' 'Hett t"eH 'G' pIdhhs anu enjoyed
theIlls ives laofougaiY.
o'e p,olilc soutle OF ahusement was
mug "io nary sPlueF' tae properly OIL one
~ 0he aus II was leaiy hleilke enough 10
deceive TIE very eltct, ana hldeous enough
to scare lts victims out OF years growth
waen cautiously dropped down In front OF
MS lace,
One OF the small windows that led into the
low loit CT tne chapel was open, and soon
the lad dad climbed up, by means OF rail,
and mad disappeared IN the loft. He crept
soitly along untll ne was directly over the
pelpl' aio hau We" OF a portion oil tne
iooi" Oe'o" TN usii " Anoe-noie ~ Tue cell
.c 81,
ri IL l'u.u9 vas Hnins ou5 the hyinh ne
ie4s ,iins' "isgy anu marry ticAiihg
tue p'il pace on n ms neaa. When ne reached
w ~ ~ u5i II on ~, ~ was gone lie went on
aa1 ~ - -'l'' 'lei i 40 nc sianeeu u'; ne
a.;ts; ; IS ~ ge.ius
~ , 9 ose tie :. u'A
-. 80 ~ 80. o0oiN' ON' - ~
A,,si ~ - -; az
IT, -. ,li...I ts ~ ~ a. -.
al. ir-od -, ~ VIZ VIZ, go
ayfrg stTil,inr te .las,;od, '' prof f'' N nl.
siuafelv In The fges nearly knorklng 6is eve
from its normal position ana effectuaily
awakening the wise man.
Starting up, half-aseep. and seeing his for
mer servant striking in the air as If daring
him to fstie combat, was too much for Prof.
Mellick's hasty temper.
What do you mean, you scoundrel, by
daring me to fight" he shouted, springing
On to the rostrum.
Old Rufus, still striking at the spider,
which the boy kept jerking out of his way,
stumbled against the professor. and the sci
enlist, thinking himself attacked, struck
Rufus a heavy blow in the mouth. The
old darkv reta6ated in kind and tho next
instant a lively 6ont was in nrograss
Ruins did not realize fine cau.e Of the AZ.
tack. but was CONVINCED that prof Melliek
nad taken violent avcentior "a so,,a 80.
man raod. i tha sarnd ','r' " ''''''
sDe word oh Do Tawd an, ob cidoon,o
sbonted tho old conyert stril,ina praf Hfal.
III ~, tba aar - ''''''e o. -Ae
'iC ..,T Tn a. A. ea a. uho,1. ,,ou:o,.,, 80,
Inc usl OF huiipoidt MeucN' roared
that gentleman endeavorlng to tear Rufus
nose S out oy t9e roofs.
lhen they clmehed and tangled, and start
ing PACK ieli INTO the open n1aptis.r y with
a solemn ana soulful 'ker-pnnket The