The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-23

< D1ekerounn fQf sort Slow moving
4 clouds The llnell Of the fresh earth.
The bursting d Tie buds. the forming
LOT new LIE, set him thrilling With 4
4 JOY that was very near to pain.
BE stopped halfway np the patti
and considered the advantages OF
new front 70 the narrow eaved cot
! tage. and when bis foot touched the
first step of the vine covered porch he
Twas far more concerned about new
portico than with any thought of his
first sermon.
His sIeculations were abruptly cut
short by Mandy, who hustled out Of
the door with wide smile Of welcome
on her black face and ~ unmistakable
ambition to take him Immediately un.
der her motherly wing. She was much
concerned because the church people
had not met the new pastor at the sta
ton and brought him to the house.
Upon learning that Douglas had pur-
posely avoided their escort, preferring
to come to his new home the first time
alone. she made up her mind that she
was going to like him.
Mandy had long been fixture in the
parsonage. She and her worse half,
Hasty Jones, had come to know and
discuss the weaknesses OF the many
clergymen who had come and gone
the deacons and the congregation. both
individually and collectively. She con.
fided to Hasty that she didn't blame
de new parson fer not wantin' to mix
up wild dat ar crowd"
| In the study that night, when she
and Hasty helped Douglas to unpack
his many boxes Of books, they were as
eager as children about the drawings
and pictures which he showed them.
His mind had gone beyond the parson-
age front now, and he described to
them the advantage of adding an ex.
ira ten feet to the church splre.
Mandy felt herself almost an artist
when she and Hasty bnde the pastor
good night, for she was still quiverlng
from the contaglon of Douglas enthu.
siasm. Here, at last. was master
who could do something besides find
fault with her
Il jes' wan to be on de groun' de
frs time dat Mars Douglas and dat
ere Deacon Strong clinches," she said
to Hasty as they locked the doors and
turned out the hall light. "Did you
done see his jaw?" she whispered.
He look lauGhin' enough now, but
jes' you wait till he done set dat ERE
jaw O. hls'n, and dar amt nobody
what's goin' ter unsot it."
Maybe dar amt goin' fer be no
clinchln'." said Hasty, hoping for Man
dy's assurance to the contrary.
"What?" Shrieked Mandy. vivid dat
ERE sneakin' Widow Wllloughby al.
ready a-tellln' de deacons how ter start
de new parson a-goin' proper2r
Now, why youse always a-plckin'
on to dat ere widow?" asked Hasty, al.
ready enjoying the explosion which he
knew his defense of the widow was
sure to excite.
Il don like no woman what's allus
braSgin' bout her clean f1oors," an.
swered Mandy shortly. She turned
out the last light and tiptoed upstairs,
trying not to disturb the pastor.
John Douglas was busy already with
pencil and paper, making notes of the
plans for the church aud parsonage.
which he would perfect later on.
Alas, for Douglas day dreams! 1t was
not many weeks before he understood
with a heavy heart that the deacons
were far too dull and uninspired to
share his faith in beauty as an aid to
mans spiritual upllft.
I'VE think we've done pretty we'll BY
this church." said Deacon Strong, who
was the business head, the political
boss and the moral mentor Of the
small towns affairs. "Just you worry
along with the preachin, young man,
and we'll attend to the buyin' and
. buildin' operations"
Douglas mind was too active to con.
tent itself wholly with the writing Of
sermons and the routine of formal pas
toral calls. He was a keen human
tartan, so little by little he came tc
be interested In the heart stories and
disappointment Of many Of the VII
Iage unfortunates, some of whom were
outside his congregation. The men
tally sick. The Respondent. who needed
words Of hcpe and courage more than
dry talks on theology, found in him
an ever ready friend and adviser, and
these came to love and depend OF
him. But he was never popular witt
the creed bound element of the
church.
Mandy had her wish about being on
the spot the first time that the parsons
jaw squared itself at Deacon Strong.
The deacon had called at the parson.
age to demand that Douglas put a stop
to the boys playing baseball in the ad-
Joining lot on Sunday. Douglas had
been unable to see the deacUn's point
of view. he declared thai baseball
was healthy and harmless form of
exercise, that the air was meant to be
breathcd and that the boys who en-.
Ioyed the gnme on Sunday were prln.
cipally those who were kept indoors
by work on other days. The close of
the interview was unsatisfactory both
to Douglas and the deacon.
+ "Dey kinder made me cold an
prlckly all up an down de back"
4 Mandy said Inter WHOM shn 6nror,hod