The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-02
HIS LAST SERMON.
BIZ G. B. BURGIN.


settlement at Four Corners. ''Oh Man"
Evans and key Marston did not go
much on religion" in virtue of their of
fetal positions as sheriff and deputy
sheriff they both considered it ought to
have a fair show" ri
In these circumstances, it may be i'm
agined that "Old Man" and his familiar
were much concerned when the Rev. FL
iphalet solemnly announced to them
that he had very little longer to live
There was something wrong with his
heart, and that something might kill
him at any moment What grieved him
most. however, was the barren result OF
his labors.
Rev. Eliphalet announced that he de-
pended upon final series of sermons to
bring his congregation to sense OF
their shortcomings. With much diff
Guilty he preached four of the series to
empty benches. and then, heartbroken
by the spiritual torpor Of Four Corners,
stated that the Rev. Archibald Graeme
would occupy the pulpit on alternate
Sundays.
To "Old Mans" intense disgust, the
ISSf. AItHlUdiu Sp6GullS
the church. His florid eloquence and
rousing periods made pleasant change
from the feeble efforts of the dying man,
and, in the charm Ct novelty, Four Cor
nerites forgot the faithful service of 30
years.
The maidens admired the raven locks
and sanity smile of the newcomer, es-
pecially when he called them dear Sis
tiers. and said what an inspiration it
was to see their fair faces look up to him
as he preached. 1t is needless to state
that he was unmarried. Many maidens
in Four Corners were conscious of the
fact, and did their best TO lead Rev. Arch
ibald into the thorny paths of matri-
mony.
old Man" and Ikey alone failed to
succumb to the spell of the new preach
er, who, when he was not on matrimo-
NAL schemes intent, indirectly criti-
cised his dying colleagues methods of
preaching as somewhat old-fashioned.
A grim smile pervaded "Old Mans"
features. 'Ill juss go for ride on the
nlule"-he took his gun from the corner
and look up half of these jays. You
look arter the other half, key"
ITS very kind of you to help me to
get congregation, although your eff
forts are not at all necessary, Brother
Marston."
Inc next morning, at quarter to H.
the inhabitants of Four Corners were
surprised to see Ikey standing by the
church door and counting their num-
bers. The congregation, however, would
havg been still more surprised could it
have seen "Old Man" coming from the
manse, with Rev. Eliphalet leaning
feebly on his arm.
There was an audible stir as "Old
Man" led Rev Eliphalet towards the
pew which Immediately fronted the pull
pit.
Rev. Archibald began the opening
prayer so briskly that the congregation
soon forgot the bent figure of Rev. Eli
phalet, who rose to his feet with diff
Guilty and chung to 'Old Mans" arm.
When, however sermon time drew near.
people were surprised to see old Man"
step up on the platform beside Rev.
Archibald, notwithstanding the fact
his flowing coat tails an irreyerently vi
cious pull. To their still further sur
prise, Rev. Archibald, blushing pinkly,
after whispered remark from "Old
Man." hurrle..ly left the platform and
seated himself in back pew To the
congregations still further surprise,
''Old Man" came down from the plat
form, tenderly led Rev. Eliphalet toward
the pulpit, and, putting a glass of water
by his side. handed him his notes
'Old Man." after casting an anxious
glance at the trembling form of Rev. Eli
phalet, advanced to the edge of the plat
form, his eyes filled with whitening
scorn.
Il dessay," he said, ironically, as
you'd ruther hear a sermon from me, or
that black-headed jay yonher' He
pointed a threatening finger towards the
shrinking figure of Rev. Archibald.
For 80 years. "Old Man" said. i'm
pressively, ''thisyer gray-headed old
man"-he pointed to Rev Eliphalet-
has been tryin' to rope you in for the
next world. If he'd known as much
about you as do, he might ha' give it
up juss so years ago. But he didn't
know what a contract he'd got to tackle,
and he's gone on tack1in' it ever since.
THROWN in me and key as a kind of
crownin' cross. And now, when he's
about to pass in his checks, you won't
listen to his partin' words. was away
las Sunday, or I'd ha' made you come.
Now, as you've come back to the fold
like lambs snatched from the burnin', SO
to speak, we're goin' to have thisyer
sermon over agin. You've got to listen
to 1t. You hear me-"
Once or twice when the dying man fall
tered, lost the thread of his discourse
and looked piteously around, his friend
was at his side, ready with the glass of
water or to turn over the pages of the
sermon.
"Old Man" also had something to say.
and was not slow in saying il.
Now as we've had thisyer interestin'
sermon, and have learned a good DIAL
about Enoch as it wouldn't hurt rs to
initiate, there's one thing more to be
lone. The least you can do afore you
clears out of thisyer building is to pog-