The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-05-05
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tie siSh, we've been eADdidAting at CO
church ever sinoe Mr.. Peasc passed AVA
in March. and for my part I've had enough
LIS considerable of . strain, this sitting Il
Judgment every Sunday, though sone ~
pear to like II. The fses 10, there are 10
Of our people that's dreadful hard to suit
They don't all sgree ~ TO Just what Y
wsn.ed ir minister, but they are all &C.
on one pcin, and that 10. mot to take VI
with anything short of the best that cal
be found.
Havsn's you heard Of any ore yet tina
seemed to give general saiisfactioDf Asket
Miss Eleanor BiIks, who was payirg be-
annual Walt 10 her aust.
Well, no, not to say satiafscticn. o.
yes, there was one miDister came Sur
day 10 Angus, that made good impress
sion, on the whole. People talked II oveI
between services, while the mi1ister hsd
gone to dinner with Abel Hayes, ard there
was quite feeling that perhaps he'd do
There was some objection to him, though
me thought be wasn't quite young
enough, and some found fault because he
didn't stand outside the pulpit. all the time
while be preached. Some q cur folks are
pretty particular on that poiut. They want
minister that can preach extemporsncous
and they want him to stsnd far enough
away from the pulpit so's't every body can
see that he has no chance to take peek at
any notes. Aud Adelaide Tinkham didn't
like him because he held his head little
on one side. But there was something sort
Of interesting about him, and guess he
could have got q vote.
But when Abel came back In the after
noon he got round word on the quiet that
1. wasn't any use. II appeared that be was
city minister. taking his vacation down
to the Hollow, and he had jast come up for
an accommodation, because the candidate
we we're expecting was little der the
weather that day. We heard aitergard
that this minister had thirty.fye hundred
or some said four-thousand, falary, and
you know we can't pay over six hundred
and Atty.
There was the least tsinkle In the old
lady's eye 10 response to her niece's laugh,
but In other respects she preserved solem-
nifty befitting serious topic.
But must tell you about last Sunday,
she resumed, pushing her knitting-needles
to their highest speed as she warmed to-
her theme.
We had youngest man for a candidate,
and you could see that he was trying hard
but 1t didn't take me long to find out that
be wasn't goipg to suit. When you've been
to church In one place as many years AZ !
have, there are little signs that you cant
help noticing, any more than the weather.
Wise can help taking account Of the clouds
or the way Of the wind.
There was Deacon Lang, for instance.
He had put on his reading glasses and
picked up by ymn-book and was studying
over the hymns. He always does that when
be isn't pleased, though l don't suppose
the dear man is conscious Of 1t. And then
Brother Bassett--he always looks at bis
watch when the sermon begins and again
when It is done, and you can see him reck-
onlng up the time. Some cay that he used
to tend out on the races pretty constant
before he Joined the church, but likely
enough that is only talk.
Well, when Brother Basset isn't edited,
instead Of just taking the time at the be-
ginning and end. he'll keep looking at his
watch every now and then all through the
sermon, to see how the minister il getting |
along. Last Sunday morning he would
twilch that watch out every two or three
till got so worked up watching |
him that / thought should fly.
And then people all over the house kept
glancipg at each other with lock that
said as plain as words, THAT man will new
er do" Even your Uncle Andrew every
once In while would shake his head slow
like. and kind Of hesve sigh.
II was all sort Of depressing, and no
doubt the minister noticed II, and felt as II
be had an uphill job. He looked pretty
by the time the meeting wac
1ut.
But somehow he appeared altogether dif-
Ierent when service began In the afternoon,
md the very first words that he said almost
ook our breath away.
Ny friends, says he, i preached to you
Is candidate this morning, but this after
loon shall try to pretoh as minister Of
be gospel. I'm not candidate now. says
le.
Then be went on to say that the church
vas place for worsh'p and instruction,
mt he thought we had almost forgotten
bat 1t the mornirg service. He said he
sas afraid that he was thinking oil the
ime about the appearance be was msklng,
nd as near as he could Judge, the rest Of
d were thinking abou, It, too.
But that Is oil over now, says he. You
ave already made up your minds that you
ont want me; aud TO tell the truth,
rieDds. Gays he, I'm pretty sure that
ont want you SO do not let us waste
ntther service. shall not think Of you
ow ss possible parishoners, but rs BROTH
ra and sisters that hope have some
MESSAGE for. And trust that you will not
link of me 1t all, bu. only OF the mes-
age.
Then he went on with the service ~ II
o.hing had hal Tpened.
weil, don't know ~ what he had 10 say
'ss really any better than he had given us
] the morning, but II certainly fell on bet
y soil, 90 to speak, presume to say
lat there is comfort and strength to te
Of out cf any sincere preaching, IL IL ia re.
lived with meekness, ~ the Scripture
Iys AT any rate, that was refreshing y
.rsice.
vfst a. Nj. 4. ~ IL nftsv~srds I arraAnst - | y