St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-12-02
""HIS is old fashioned winter
weather" said Colonel Mon

roe as he entered the cozy
back room Of the Lincolnvilie
| post office. The swirl of snowdakes
which fiurried through the door melted
in the heat from a glowing stove. The
colonel stamped his feet, shook the
snow from his broad brimmed hat and
fur lined overcoat and greeted Judge
Sawyer and Postmaster jenkins.
"How are you, judge? he exclaimed
shaking hands with Lincolnville's bank.
er and most substantial citizen. keep
your seat, judge. Glad to see you. Hell
10, Jenkins. How's the postmaster?
Your customers will get scant mail to-
night. The station agent says the road
Is blocked both directions. No. 62 is
stalled in Redacre's cut, the other side
Of Ridgeway, and the Eastern limited
is fast in a snowdrift somewhere be-
tween Wayne and Kirkwood. So you
may as well take it easy. What's the
news, Jenkins?'
Postmaster jenkins thought a mo-
ment, and a frown lowered the edges
Of his thin eyebrows.
II hear they're going to fire Russell,
the new Methodist preacher" he said,
shaking down the Goals and raking
back the embers. did you hear about
the sermon be preached last Sunday :?
He attacked corporations, trusts and
rich people in general, and said this
country was getting in shape for rev.
olution like the one they had in France
That's fine talk for preacher, stirring
up the masses against property rights.
Deacon Snow told me they thought
they'd let him go. The deacon says he's
an anarchist, or something.
II heard the sermon" said Colonel
Monroe, lighting a long black cigar
and leaning back in his favorite chair.
"You were there, too, Judge Sawyer I
don't see why Deacon Snow should get
excited. All he has is 100 acres of land,
$1,000 in your bank and rheumatism in
his right leg. Parson Russell's revolu-
tionists will never burn his chateau. |
didn't think much of the sermon my
self, but it will not stir our Lincoln
vile people to bloody revolt. This is
not Paris, we're not French, and we
have none Of the conditions which
brought about the revolution of 1889.
But why muzzle Preacher Russell?
He's honest in his opinions. He will
arouse interest and stimulate study
and discussion of our new problems.
It's never safe to gag parson."
There's too much talk now" de-
clared Postmaster Jenkins. "We'd bet
ter let well enough alone. If it wasn't
for the trusts and corporations what
would this country amount to? 1t
wouldn't amount to nothing. Preacher
Russell had better stick to his Bible"
II wonder what would happen to our
new minister If he took your advice"
unused Colonel Monroe with a side
glance at Judge Sawyer. Suppose the
Reverend Russell preached his sermons
from such texts as Sell all that thou
hast and distribute to the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven
There are thousand texts like that in
the Bible"
"But the Bible doesn't really mean
that" interrupted the postmaster ca
gerly. "Mr. Rockefeller has changed
the verse so that it reads, Sell all that
thou hast that stands between thee and
Christ and distribute to the poor
That's what it really MEANS"
Il hesitate to abandon the good old
St. James version and take up the
Standard Oil edition of the good book"
remarked Colonel Monroe. "a stock
exchange revision would carry more
weight with me. No, jenkins; the BIZ
BILE means just what it says or it means
nothing. I've as much right to insert
my personal creed between the holy
lines as has Mr.. Rockefeller or any
capitalist or preacher. But We'll not
discuss the Bible. Do you know why
Deacon Snow is so violent in this mat
ter? Well, I'll tell you | kept my eye
on the deacon and others while the
preacher was expounding his views on
wealth. And they kept their eyes on
our banker friend here, Judge Sawyer.
That's fact. judge. And I know just
what they were thinking. You're the
richest member of the church, and they
thought the preacher was hitting at
you. And if you say the word out goes
Preacher Russell. I'll wager that you
took not the slightest personal offense
at the preachers remarks"
II thought it an interesting sermon"
laid Judge Sawyer, with grave smile.
sMr. Russell is young man and lit
fle inclined to be impulsive perhaps,
but he is earnest and honest. | have
already assured him of my support.
but | think, colonel, that you exagger-
ate my influence However, it is safe
to predict that Mr.. Russell will not be
IOfCeQ from his n0sitinn Nnithar will