The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-07-04
Ny brother
Clergy n, a n
tOriginnl1

church building. 1t was my duty to
go from point to point, preach ser
mon on the work and receive col
lection. One day while on train on
ny way to G.. with this object in view
young man got UP from his seat near
and took the vacant place beside
&c by your dress" he said, that
one of us, and I would like to
your acquaintance. | am TheO-
.e Beardslec, n graduate of -- sem.
mary. | have not n church yet, but
nm expecting m especial call soon"
"IIappy to meet YOU" said cordial.
ly aud gave him my name and the
work | was engaged in He asked me
II was to preach the next day, which
would be Sunday, and when told him
that | was to preach at G.. he said he
got Off Mt g. himself. We chattcd for
an hour, during which was surprised
ut his information, depth and gprtu-
allty. lie wore no marks OF his call
ing, but he told me that he did not do
so because he preferred not to make
known his profession to strangers till
he had II church. lie complained of his
enforced ldlcncss and asked II there
wns not some way In which lie could
assist mc-wlthout salary-until rcgu-
larry employed. | promised to think
the matter over. Then he asked me
very modcstly II | would not permit
him TO preach for me the next day. |
demurrcd to this. but he seemed 80
hurt ut my refusal that before we
reached our journeys end had con-
scented.
l was met Mt the station by the
Buckley family, ut whose house was
to be entertained during my stay Mt
g. | introduced Mr.. Beardsee and he
took occasion to inform them that he
was to preach for me the next day.
/ thought that he should have waited
for me to make this announcement,
and was further chagrined that It
brought him an invitation to stay ut
their house. was frightened that on
my Introduction they should have
taken up stranger, but II was now
too late to help It and | was not sure
that | wished to help It.
Mr.. Beardslee captivatcd my friends
completely, Anna Buckley. aged
eighteen, from the moment she first
saw him came under the spell Of his
soft musical voice, his spiritual APP
pearancc. We all passed very
pleasant evening together, though
Beardslee and Anna spent most OF 1t
at the piano, both having musical
tnstes and Beardslee n fine tenor voice.
Before we retired l called upon him
to read prayers, and the earnestness
with which he did so confirmed me In
the opinion l had formed that would
not be ashamed OF him In my place In
the pulpit.
The next morning loaned Mr..
Beardslee clerical waistcont, and we
went to the church. On the way |
asked him II he had II written sermon
in his pocket, and he replied that he
had not-that lie proposed to nccustom
himself to speak eXtemporaneousy.
His sermon was to the point, there
was no repetition, no need of condensa
ton. Indeed, his ideas ana the words
In which they were expressed flowed
as smoothly and rs modestly us twin
rlvulcts through gently inclined
meadow, His effort was far more sue.
cessful than any l had ever made, the
collection the largest taken during the
year. | waited after the service till 1t
had been counted while prominent
members OF the congregation were be.
Ing presented to Mr.. Bcurdslee and he
was deluged with compliments. Then
we went home with the Bucklcys,
Beardslee dawdling behind with Anna.
In the evening the regular minister
held service, which we all attended,
and, after listening to delicious rcndi-
ton of Nearer, My God. to Thee" by
Mr.. Beardslee, accompanied by Anna on
the piano, we all went to bed. | went to
sleep feeling that l had been given
rest that | greatly needed while the
work had gone bravely on.
On opening my eyes the next morn
ing they rested on my suit case lying
open in the middle of the floor
sprang ont of bed and put my hand
OH the place where | had left the col
lection. 1t was not there. | ran across
the hall to see If Beardslee was in his
room. He was not, and his bed gave
no sign of having been slept in. Re
turning to my room, | noticed for the
first time paper pinned to cushion
1t read:
Tho collection just pays my fee for the
effort | made yesterday in your behalf
You will be panied at your discovery, but
yours Is nothing to the romorse ! feel
when l am myself,
went downstairs to meet the fam
lily ut breakfast, covered with chagrin,
modification, dread, lest the man had
introduced had robbed them rs well
as me. announced his flight with the
collection and told them that If they
had lost anything | would be respon-
sible. They would not admit that they
had. but from the fact that they were
not surprised at my announcement of
n i,,p lao hnI