The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-06


M fered to educate bis nephew
IV for the ministry the boy was
- less enthusiastic than his
mother. lie did not demonstrate. how.
ever. for II had been the custom Of
generations for at least one son OF each
Douglas family TO preach the gospel
u caIvinism. and his fathers career
as an architect and landscape gardener
had not left him much capital.
Douglas senior had been recognized
as an artist by the few who under
stood his talents. but there Is small
demand for the builder of picturesque
houses III the little business towns OF
the middle west. and at last he passed
away. leavi,g his son only the burden
" his anancial failure and an ardent
desire 70 succeed at the profession in
uhlch his father had Jared so badly,
The hopeless, defeated look on the de-
parted mans face had always haunted
the boy. who was artist enough 20 feel
his fathers genius lntuitiveiy and
lumnn enough 10 resent the injustice
VI his fate.
Douglas. mother had suffered so
much because OF the impractical ef-
forts II her husband that she dlscour-
aged the early tendencies OF the son
toward drawing and mathematics and
tried 20 direct his thoughts toward
crecds and Bible history When be
went away for his collegiate course
she was less IN touch with him and be
was able TO steal time from his ath.
iefirs TO devote TO his art. lie spent
his vacatiors In neighboring city be-
fore a drawing board IN the Office OF a
distinguished architect. his fathers
friend
Douglas was not n brilliant divinity
student. and he was relieved at last
when he received his degree IN theol.
ogy and found himself appointed TO a
small church in the middle west.
His step was very bright the morning
he FIRST went up the path that led 20
his new home. Ills artistic sense was
charmed by the picturesque approach
10 the church and parsonage. The
view toward the tree cncircled spire
was unobstructed. for the church had
been built on the outskirts Of the town
to allow for growth TINT had not
materialIzed. lie threw up his head
and gazed at the blue hills. with their
background of soft. slow moving
clouds. The smell Of the fresh earth.
the bursting of the buds. the forming
Of new life. set him thrilling with a
Joy that was very near 20 pain.
lie stopped halfway NJ the path
and considered the advantages Of a
new front 60 the narrow eaved cot.
tage. and when his foot touched the
first step OF the vine covered porch he
was far more concerned about new
portIco than with any thought Of his
FIRST sermon.
Ills spcculatIons were abruptly cut
short by Mqndy. who hustled out Of
The door with a wide smile of welcome
on her black face and an unmlstakable
ambition 20 take him Immediately un.
der her motherly wing. She was much
concerned because the church people
had not met the new pastor nc the sta.
ton and brought him 20 the house.
UIDn learning that Douglas had pur.
pcsssiy avoided their escort. preferring
70 come 10 his new homs the FIRST time
alone. she made up her mind that she
was going 10 like him.
Mandy had long been fixture In the
parsonage She and her worse half.
Tasty Jones. had come 10 know and
scuss the weaknesses Of the many
ierrymen who bad come and gone.
ne deaeons and the congregation. both
noividually and collectively. She con.
geo to iIasty that she didn't 'blame
new parson fer not wsntin' 10 mix
wid'dst ar crowd"
~ the study that night, when she
q Hnsty helped Dourlas 60 unpack
rnanr " ycs ~ hcnks. they wer" ~
~ 's ch'irrra rfaui t... J.s,t "a
ph .ist ,sh. :, he saUwcu t.i,.l
Im..