Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-10-13
The Weeks Work Of a Country Minister.
r M'HALE.
PART II.
BY REV. F. NJ. M'HALE.

need immaculate nhs"o'e'
of ink. This necessitates another
trip up town. Here are two OF the
regulation, old time, retired men OF
the town sitting on the shady side OF
the street, leaning on their canes and
always ready to talk. They take
~turn about" relating some prosy
tale that properly never ought to
have been commenced and apparently
has no end. Politeness compels him
to listen and lose a good half hours
time. But the longest tales come to
an end and he breaks away and hur-
ries home to his work. He answers
the letters and has just opened his
Bible to begin on his sermons when
the editor Of the weekly paper calls
and wants all items Of news among
the people Of his congregation These
ara all written out. Most OF them
are two line items but they take time.
The editor is in no hurry and before
he leaves young couple drive up in
a buggy. It is the father and mother
= Of the child whose funeral he conduct
ed the othef day. They want nice
obituary notice written for the paper
and want it to end "with q piece OF
poetry" They want it for "thi'
weeks paper sure" So he sits down
and writes the notice. He has num-
Der Of books Of poetry in his study
but it takes good half hour to find q
verse suitable to."end up" with. By
this time it is noon. Will the young
people stay to dinnere "Yes, thank
you" A trip to the meat market be-
comes necessary. Dinner is later
than usual. The young couple is in
no hurry to start. Before they leave
he is fully convinced that they will
both join the church, but as general
thing they never even come to church.
Perhaps they leave by s O'clock and
he takes his letters up town to the
post Office.
Then he hears of anew family just
moved in, members Of his denomina-
ton, so be walks out there and intro
duces himself. The man of the house
has a grievance against the church.
He thinks that"the use OF an organ in
public worship is sinful" This man
must be given up as a bad job, The
average preacher would rather tackle
q worshiper Of Baal than try to instill
any reason into an anti-organ man.
He invites the family to come to
church. They promise but never
come. An hour or two Of bis time
is apparently wasted on these people.
Sc He gets home about $3.50, warm and
tired. By the time supper is called
he has the framework OF q sermon
planned. After supper he must shave
for be it known, no country preacher
can afford the luxury Of the barber
shop for two good reasons-it takes
too much time and costs too much
money.
He has Just put aside bis razor when
his wife enters.
\"A couple to see you, DEAR
think they want to get married"
A bashiul country youth and q
blushing red.cheeked girl are waiting
in the parlor. She is in white with
roses on her hat; he in what the vii
lage paper terms conventional
black" ..,r
The minister's wife comes In At
witness and the twain are made one
Glow much is it. parson?" asks
the perspiring groom.
"Oh, what you please-We make
no charge"
The youth brings to light two Bill
yer dollars, proffering them timidly
The fee goes to the witness who, add
it to a modest fund she is providing
against the winters need of new
cloak.
But this is Thursday night
Another lodge is in session and he II
chaplain again. He must hurry IL
reach the lodge room in time for th'
opening.
Friday morning comes, when OF
comes both coat and vest and b
shuts himself in his study determined
to prepare his Sunday sermons. Thl
sheet Of paper containing the frame