The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-24
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
UNCLE SAM AND THE REV. sILAs FULLER
My fathers intimation that he had
invited the Rev. Silas Fuller to lunch
con disturbed me. I knew Mr.. Fuller
very well, and 1 was beginning to
know my uncle little. Two men
differing more widely in habit and
opinion it would be difficult to find.
and 1 feared that conversation be-
tween them might afford my father
and me more embarrassment than en-
tertaipment
The Rector of Holdenhurst Major
was 4 thin, spare man, little on the
wrong side of fifty, short of stature,
neat in appearance. formal and pre-
else in manner and speech. The def
erence which for many years had been
paid to this reverend gentleman by
the most tractable but ignorant peas
antry in England. had bred in him n
somewhat dogmatic style. Like most
of his class, he had married early, in
illt, lol lilS "3iS - poA SiN'i
less lady about three times his own
size. who, in lieu of dowry, had pre-
sented her lord with seven daughters
and four sons in the most rapid sue
cession permitted by the laws Of Ma
ture. The living Of Holdenhurst Major
was worth 1920 year in money, with
a tolerable house. and five acres of
land. all told. Such were the means at
the disposal Of this clergyman of the
Church Of England, and with them he
had to support himself, his wife, his
eleven children. two servants, one
pony, one dog. and one cat, as we'll as
take a material interest in the we'll
being Of the poor Of the parish-that
is to say, Of the entire population; for
my father and the Rector Were by
very much the richest persons IN the
place. l remember also canary, said
to have been the pet of the eldest
daughter, that was once member OF
this clerical household; but 1t died
whether from the draught through the
WluuON, VI luoulllOll, VI oS PASy w
the hungry cat, l could never correctly
ascertain.
l felt that my worse fears were
shortly to be realized when-introduc-
tions over, seats taken. and grace said
my uncle opened the conversation
by inquiring of Mr.. Fuller how bust
ness was looking, hastily correcting
his sentence. and substituting church
matters" for business"
Il thank you, Mr.. Truman replied
the Rector, with great deliberation, as
he slowly smoothed the Fuckers in his
waistcoat with his left hand, while
his right grasped the wine-slass which
he had been about to raise to his lips
when addressed; Il thank you, Mr..
Truman. for your kind inquiry. 1t is
very considerate Of you to ask such
a question. Too little interest is taken
in the Church by persons not lmme-
diately connected with the Church
far too little interest. Born in the
Church, If 1 may so express myself
Gor both my father and grandfather
held curacies at Splashmire-on- ORWELL,
and myself, l trust, conscientious,
hard-working minister Of the Church,
fully appreciate the comprehensive
ness and Importance Of the question
with which you have been so good as
to favor me. 1t is only on the occa-
sion Of my visits to the Hall that l
find myself in situation to be so in
telligently interrogated. fear my an
swer must be somewhat different from
that which doubtless your position in
life and your proper opinions induce
you to desire. The Church, alas. has
many enemies; and among her enc
mics are some who should be her
friends; though rejoice to inform you
that We of this district are rather ex-
ceptionally free from such adverse in
tluences. The unprecedented depres-
sion in agriculture, however, aud the
uncertain, though certainly unchris-
ton, procedure Of one whom think.
without the remotest exhibition Of par
tisanship, / may stignratize as the evil
genius of England, Mr.. Glad
Mr.. Fuller had only proceeded thus
far with his answer-the bare prelim-
mary to 4 fifteen minutes discourse
when uncle Sans impatience, of
which had been watching the growth
with alarm, reached an unbearable
point, and he cried out:
WAS that your pony saw coming
up the path about half-an-hCur ago.
1t was replied the Rector. much
surprised at such an extraordinary IL
terruption.
The animal seems in very baC
condition." observed uncle Sam.
"Madcap is rather old" said the
Rev. Mr.. Fuller. looking very uncom-