The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-05-05

aged the early tendencies of the son
toward drawing and mathematics and
tried to direct his thoughts toward
creeds and Bible history. When he
went away for his collegiate course
she was less In touch with him and he
was able to steal time from his ath,
letics TO devote to his art. He spent
his vacations In neighboring city be.
fore drawing board In the office of
distinguished architect. his fathers
friend
Douglas was not Il brilliant divinity
student, and he was relieved at last
when he received his degree In theol.
ogy and found himself appointed to
small church In the middle west
His step was very bright the morning
he first went up the path that led to
his new home. Ills artistic sense was
charmed by the picturesque approach
to the church and parsonage. The
View toward the tree encireled spire
was unobstructed, for the church had
been built on the outskirts of the town
To allow for growth that had not
materialized. He threw up his head
and gazed at the blue hills. with theii
background of soft. slow movinH
clouds. The smell of the fresh earth
the bursting of the buds. the forming
OF new life, set him thrilling with II
10y that was very near TO pain.
He stopped halfway up the path
and considered the advantages of a
new front to 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,
His speeulations were abruptly cut
short by Mandy, who hustled out OF
the door with wide smile of welcome
on her black face and an unmistakable
ambition to take him Immediately I'm.
der her motherly wing. She was much
concerned because the church people
had not met the new pastor at the sta.
tion 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
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
cIergymen who had come and gone
the deacons and the congregation. both
individually and collectively. She con
AIaI IN ~ that ahn Hidntt h In IN
de new parson fer not wantin' to mix
up wild dat ar crowd"
In the study that niFht, when she
and Hasty helped Douglas to unpack
his many boxes Of books. they were as
eager as children about the dra wings
and pictures which he showed them.
His mind had gone beyond the parson-
age front row, and he described to
them the advantage of adding an ex-
trn ten feet 10 the church spire.
Mandy felt herself almost an artist
when she and Hasty bade the pastor
good night, for she was still quivering
from the contagion Of Douglas enthu
slasm. Here. at last. was master
who could do something besides find
fault with her.
Il jes' wan to be on de groun' dc
frs time dat Mars Douglas and dat
ere Deacon Strong clinchcs," 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 laughln' enough now, but
Jes' you wait till he done set dat ere
Jaw O. his'n, and dar amt nobody
what's goin' ter unsot It,"
Maybe dar amt goin' ter be no
clinchin'." said TASTY, hoping for Man.
dy's assurance to the contrary
WHAT" shrieked Mandy. "Wid dat
ere sneakin' Widow W'llloughby al.
ready a-tellln' de deacons how ter start
de new parson a-goin' proper"
Nov. why youse always a-piekin'
on to dat ERE widow?' asked Hasty, al.
reaGy enjoying the explosion which he
knew his defense OF the widow was
sure to excite.
~ don like no woman what's allus
braggin' bout her clean floors" 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 and parsonage
which he would perfect later on.
Alas. for Douglas day dreams! 1t was
not many weeks before he understood
with heavy heart that the deacona
were far too dull and unInspired to
share his faith In beauty ns an aid to
mans spiritual uplift.
I'VE think we've done pretty well by
this church." said Deacon Strong, who
was the business head, the political
small towns affairs. Just you worry
along with the preachin. young man
and wen 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 keen humani-
tartan. so little by little he came to
be interested III the heart stories and
disappolntDents Of many Of the vii.
lage unfortunates. some Of whom were
outside his congregation. The men.
tally sick. the desponcent, who needed
words Of hope and courage more than
dry talks on theology. found In him
an ever ready friend and adviser, and
these came to love and depend on
him. But be was never popular with
the creed bound element OF the
church.
Mandy had her wish about being on
rite 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 stop
to the boys playing baseball In the ad-
Joining lot on Sunday. Douglas bad
been unable to see the deacon's point