The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-08-12

u " Bates, with little sigh,
@ " @ we've been candidating at
Il y our church ever since Mr..
nov Pease passed away in
March, and for my part
I've had enough. It's considerable of
a strain, this sitting in judgment every
Sunday, though some appear to like it,
The fact is, there are q lot of our people
that's dreadful hard to suit They
don't all agree as to just what is want
cd in minister, but they are all set
on one point-and that it, not to take
up with anything short of the best
that can be found"
Haven't you heard any one yet that
seemed to give general satisfaction"
asked Miss Eleanor Banks, who was
paying her annual visit to her aunt.
''Well, no, not to say satisfaction.
Or, yes, there was one minister came
a Sunday in August that made a good
impression, on the Whole. People
talked it over between services, while
the minister had gone to dinner with
Abel Hayes, and there was quite
feeling that perhaps he'd do There
was some objection TO him, though,
Some thought he wasn't quite young
enough, and some found fault because
be didn't stand outside of the pulpit
all the time while he preached. Some
Of are folks are pretty particular on
that point. They want minister that
can preach extemporaneous and they
want him to stand far enough away
from the pulpit so's't everybody can
see that he has no chance to take q
peek at any notes. And Adelaide
Tinkham didn't like him because he
held his head a little on one side. But
there was something sort of interest
ing about him, and l guess he could
have got vote.
but when Abel came back in the
afternoon lie got round word on the
quiet that it wasn't any use. 1t APP
peared that he was n city minister,
taking his vacation down to the HOl
low, and he had just come up for an
accommodation because the candidate
we were expecting was little under
the weather that day. We heard af-
terward that this minister had a thir-
ty-fve-hundred, or some said four
thousand, salary, and you know we
can't pay over six hundred and fifty"
There was the least twinkle in the
old fady's eye i'll response to her niece's
laugh. but in other respects she pre-
served a solemnity betting a serious
topic.
But I must tell you about last Sun
day." she resumed, pushing her knit
ting needles to their highest speed
as she warmed to her theme.
1--WE had youngislI man for can
didate. and you could see that he was
trying hard; but it didn't take me long
to find out that he wasn't going to suit.
When you've been to church in one
place as many years as l have, there
are little signs that you can't 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 in
stance. He had put on his reading
glasses and picked up hymn-book
gnu was HtbNJ ms wv liz ~ iihH' III
always does that when he isn't pleased.
though don't suppose the dear man is
conscious of it. And then Brother Bias
sett-he always looks at his watch
when the sermon begins and again
when it is done, and you can see him
reckoning up the time. Some say that
he used to tend out Oh the races pretty
constant before he joined the church
but likely enough that is only talk.
swell. when Brother Bassstt isn'i
edited, instead of just taking the time
at the beginning and end, he'll keep
looking at his watch every now and
then all through the sermon, to sec
how the minister is getting along
Last Sunday morning he would twitcl
that watch out every two or three
minutes, till / got so worked up watch
ing him that thought should fly.
And then people all over the house
kept glancing at each other with &
look that said as plain as words
That man will never do Even YOU
Uncle Andrew every once il Will,