The Newtown bee., 1909-11-12
PASTOR ON VACATION. !"
From the Hartford Times.l
The old man went to meeting

The old man went to meeting
 For the day was bright and fair Though his steps were slow and tottcr ing
 And twas hard to travel there But he hungered for the gospel
 So he trudged the weary way On that road so rough and dusty
 Meath the suns hot, seorening ray. By and by he reached the building,
 TO his soul noly place.
 Then he stood and wiped the sweat drop
 From his old and wrnkled face. But he looked around bewlldered,
 For the old bell did not toll And the doors were shut and bolted And he did not see a soul So he leaned upon his pilgrim staff
 And said, What does this mean? And he looked this way and that way Till 1t seemed to him a dream. He had trudged the dusty highway And he breathed heavy sigh, Just to go once more to meeting Ere the summons. came to die. Soon he spied q little notice
 Hacked upon the meeting door, And he limped along to read it,
 And he read it OCT and OCT, And he wiped his dusty glasses,
 And he read it OCT again, n l.. Ian ya tra,,
 And his eyes were full of pain. As the old man read the notice.
 How It made his spirit burn; Pastor absent on vacation,
 Church is closed till his return" Then he staggered slowly backward
 And he sat slowly down to think While his soul was stirred within him
 And he thought his heart would sink So he sat alone and wondered
 To himself soliloquized- q have lived till almost eighty
 And was never so surprised. AS read that oldest notice,
 Hacked on the meeting door, Pastor absent on vacation'-
 Never heard the like before" "Why when I first joined the meetin'
 Very many years ago, Pastors travelled round the circuit
 In the heat and in the snow. If they got their clothes and victuals,
 It was all the cash ...ey got, They said nought about vacation
 But were happy with their lot Would the farmer leave his cattle
 Or the shepherd leave his sheep? Who would give them care or shelter
 Or provide them food to eat? So it strikes me very sing'lar
 When a man of holy hands
 And forsakes his tender lambs" Did Ct Paul get such a notion,
 Did Wesley or a knox Did they in the heat of summer
 Turn away from needy flocks? Did they e'er shut up their meetin'
 Just to go and lounge about? Why surely then, if this they did
 Satan would have raised a shoutw Do taverns ever close their doors
 Just to take a little rest? Why, 'twould be the height of nonsense For their trade would be distressed Did you ever know it happen
 Or hear anyone tell Satan absent on vacation
 And fast closed the doors of He'll" And shall preachers of the gospel Pack their trunks and go away Leaving saints and dying sinners To get along as best they may? Are the souls of saints and sinners Valued less than selling beer? Or do preachers tire quicker
 Than the rest of mortals here?" Why it is, I cannot answer,
 But my feelings they are stirred, Here I've dragged my tottering footsteps For to hear the gospel word. But the preacher is a Lravelin', And the meeting house is closed; [ confess it's very trying
 Hard indeed to keep composed" 'Tell me, when I tread the valley, And go up the shining height, Will I hear no angels singin', Will I see no gleamin' light? Will the golden harps be silent, Will I meet no welcome there? Why the thought is most distressin' 'Twould be more than I could bear" Tell me- when I reach the city, Over on the other shore, Will I find little notice Hacked upon the golden door, Telling me mid dreadful silence Writ in words that cut and burn; Jesus absent on vacation Heaven closed until his return?