Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-29

sweet voice and with the culver Of a
smile about his lips:
Gentlemen, Mr.. Iatour has allowed
kc this room for religious service.
1t will give me great pleasure IL you
will all join" and Immediately he
handed book to Bronco Bill, who.
surprised, took it as if he did not know
what TO do with it. The others fol
lowed Broncos lead till he came to
Bruce, who refused. saying roughly:
mo, l don't want it; I've no use for
it,
The missionary flushed and drew
Back az II he had been struck. but i'm
hediately. as II unconsciously, the
Duke, who was standing near,
stretched out his hand and said, with
courteous bow, 81 thank you, l
should be glad of one"
Thank you" replied the Pilot sim
ply as he handed him book. The
men seated themselves upon a bench
that ran round the room or leaned up
against the counter, and most of them
took off their hats. Just then in came
Muir, and behind him his little wife.
In an instant the Duke was on his
feet. and every hat came off.
The missionary stood up at the bar
and announced the hymn. Jesus,
Lover of My Soul" The silence that
| followed was broken by the sound Of
a horse galloping. A buckskin bronco
shot past the window. and in a few
moments there appeared at the door
! the Old Timer He was about to stride
in when the unusual sight of a row
| of men sitting soemnly with hymn
books in their hands held him fast at
| the door He gazed In an amazed,
| helpless way upon the men. then at the
missionary. then back at the men. and
stood sppechless. suddenly there was
high. shrill boyish laugh. and the
men turned to sec the missionary In a
| fit of laughter. IL certainly was
shock to any lingering ideas of religious
propriety they might have about them
but the contrast between his frank
laughing face and the amazed and dis
gusted face of the shaggy old man In
the doorway was too much for them.
and one by one they gave way to roars
Of laughter. The Old Timer. however,
kept his face unmovcd strobe up to
the bar and nodded to old Latour, who
served him his drink, which he took
ut n gulp.
Here, old man" called out Bill. Get
into the game; here's your deck" offer
ing him his book. But the missionary
WIS before him. and with very beauti-
full grace he handed the Old Timer a
book and pointed him TO a seat.
shall never forget that service. AS
a religious affair it was a dead fall
IRE, but somehow think the Pilot. as
Hi approvingly said, got in his funny
work." and it was not wholly de-
feat. The first hymn was sung chiefly
by the missionary and Mrs. Muir,
whose voice was very high with one
or two of the men softly whistlinG an
accompaniment. The second hymn
was better. and then came the lesson,
the story of the feeding OF the five
thousand AS the missionary finished
the story. Bill. who had been listening
with great interest, said:
u say. pard, think III call you
Just now"
Il beg your pardonw said the star
tied missionary.
You're givin' us quite song and
dance now. amt you?'
Il don't understand" was the puz
zled reply.
"lIow many men was there IN the
crowd?" asked Fill with a judicial air
Five thousand"
"And how much grub?'
give loaves and two fishes" an
swered Bruce for the missionary.
"Well," drawled Bill with the air o
a man who has reached a conclusion
that's little too unusual fer me
Why looking ptyingly at the mis-
sionary, lit amt nntarel"
Right you are, my boy" said Bruce
} V ith a laugh. Its deucedly uuuatu
raj"
Not for him. said the missionar!
quietly. Then Bruce ioyfully took hin
UP and led him ON into a discussion o
evidences, and from evidences int
metaphysics the origin OF evil and tn
freedom of the will till the missionary
as Blu said. was ratified worse nor
rooster in the dark"
Poor little Mrs Muir was mucl
scandalized and looked anXiously Il
her husband, wishing him to take he
out. But help came from an uneXpect
ed quarter and Hi suddenly called out
Here you, Bill, Shut your blankc'
I Jaw, and you. Bruce, give the man
> chance to work OF his music"
That's SOL Fair play "Go on.
We're the cries that came in respons
: to HIS appeal.
, The missionary. who was all trem
bling and much troubled, gave HI
: grateful look and said:
I'm afraid there are great man.
) things ] don't understand, and | am no
= good at argument" There were shout
= of go on Fire ahead"' "Pla
= the game!" but he said Il think W
will close the service with a hymn.
: His frankness and mOdesty and his re
: spectful, courteous manner gained tn
: sympathy of the men. 50 that all jolne
l. heartily in singing, "Sun of My Soul.
In the prayer that followed his vote
Z grow steady and his nerve came bac
I to him. The words were very simple
/ and the petitions We're mostly for ligh
and for strength. With few words O
u remembrance of chose in our home
l. far away who think of us and pra
m 4: