Willmar tribune., 1909-07-07

tOlu u1Il, ana MS congregation, aIter
| he had tainted during service one even.
ing. had packed him of. much against
his will. for summer in the noun
tains.
So 1t was with mingled feeling of
annoyance and anticipation that he
left the hotel porch and hurried to his
room. Once there, he pulled out bi-
cycle suit that had done little service
few years ago and, putting it on,
surveyed himself with a critical eye.
"Sort of spindle shanks l am, sure
enough" he grinned to himself as he
thought of the sturdy figures of the
other men who were to make up the
party. II suppose it would be good
thing for me to get little more flesh
on my bones."
1--WE thought we'd take the steam
launch to the Willows. as we feared
the hard tramp would be little too
much for you, parson," said one of the
men. patting his shoulder genially, as
he Joined the group.
I'm sorry to have you change your
plans for me-" DR.. Meredith replied. a
little stiffly. for he felt at disadvan-
tage with these vigorous men.
"Oh. we shall enjoy the sail,'' Miss
Curtis Interrupted. noticing his annoy
ance. "And you must all drink In a
great deal of this sweet. wholesome
air. When we get a little way from
land want to try some new deep
breathing exercises that l read about
the other day."
"You see, DOCTOR" exclaimed another
man, "you're in the hands of re-
former. an advocate of all sorts Of
newfangled notions. IF you want to
save yourself from this reform move
ment, DR.. Meredith. you'd better get
right out now and swim ashore"
'Oh. think I'll venture to 90 on.
especially as l can't swim." replied
Or. Meredith genially.
"Can't swim!' one Of the other men
exclaimed. well have to give you a
lesson this afternoon, for vigorous ex-
ercise of all sorts is another plank in
our PLATFORM"
"No: you can't take DR.. Meredith in
swimming this afternoon" said Miss
Curtis decidedly. 1.-The water is too
cold for him yet. Wait till he has
breathed this invigorating air a little
longer
ooh, I'm as we'll as''- began DR..
Meredith, but as he looked at the men
and women near him, who were brim-
ming over with vitality, he hesitated.
He had intended to say. Il am as well
as the rest of you;" but, being truth
full man, he could not. He might say,
"As need to be-" but that was not
true either. How much better he
could do his work if he had the mus
cles of these men, their breadth of
chest and their vigor! But before he
could think of way to end his SEN
tence some one exclafmed:
"Oh, no: you're not as we'll as you
can be. Well make another man OF
you in another month"
II cannot stay another month. My
congregation needs me-" he replied
quietly.
"But your vacation was to last two
| months. was it not?" Miss Curtis
asked. Most city pastors have that"
"Yes," the man admitted. MY peo
pie did offer me two months. but" de
cidedly. II do not intend to take 81
long"
"But, really. DR.. Meredith" Miss Cur
tbs said. you must not go back for an
other month";
"Oh. ] shall be as we'll as needs bt
in few days." the man replied stub
bornly, and at this moment the boa
bumped against the dock, and the,
were at their destination.
1t had been years since John Mere
dith had INDUCED in a real picnic. A
first he hardly knew how to behave
but soon he began to feel the spell O.
1.-The open" and to come more into sym
pathy with his companions. That the.
were right in thinking that goot
body was a good thing he was obliged
to acknowledge to himself, and befor
the day was over he was almost per
suaded that some Of the tenets of hi
philosophy were Incorrect He ha
about come to this conclusion when
late III the afternoon. they decided t.
take walk to nearby farmhouse
, On the way DR.. Meredith Jagged be
hind. thinking many thoughts. II
was comparing himself. frail an
: tired, with these vigorous people an
was considering how much more b
could do in the cause he loved If h
were we'll and strong. But would
!. not be apt to forget the spiritual If b
Il spent so much thought and time upo
> the physical? Would he not become
: as he feared these people were, to
l much absorbed in the joys of living
!, Miss Curtis herself, charming wit
y her wonderful vitality. even lovabl
in her sweet personality, was, he toll
himself sharply, too insistent on ply,
' ical we'll being.
He was trying to persuade himsel
Of the truth of this last statemeu
when suddenly down the road came
whirl of dust. the noise of escapin
- steam. dozen piercing shrieks, and
second the ruin Of great tourin
i car, with its mangled occupants, la
before them
Instantly DR.. Meredith and his con
y panions rushed forward, but at th
u sight Of the flowing blood the clerg,
man found himself growing fain
Half dazed, he leaned against a tire
and watched the others stanching th
~ streams of blood. binding up broke
= arms and improvising litters. Wei
~ these the men whom he had so reat
lily condemned as idlers in the vim,