Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-06-26

Douglas mother had suffered 50
much because Of the impractical Of.
forts Of her husband that she dIScour
aged the early tendencies Of the suu
toward drawing ard mathematics ANA
tried to direct his thoughts toward
crccda ana Bible history, Wh'n he
went away for his collegiate r"urs"
che was less in touch with him ana h'
was able to steal time from his atm
lctrs to devote to his art lie spent
his vacations IN neighhurtng city he,
fore drawing board In the office of
distinguished architect. his fathers
friend,
Douglas was not brilliant divinity
student, and he was relieved at last
when he received his degree IN thruI-
ogy ana found himself appointed I" II
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. His artistic sense was
charmed 10y the picturesque approach
to the church and parsonage. The
view toward the tree cncirclcd spIr"
was unobstructed. for the church had
been built on the outskirts of the town
to allow for n growth that had not
matcrlallZed. He throw up his head
and gaZCd 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 n
ioy that was very near to pain.
He stopped halfway up the patti
and considered the advantages or Il
new front to the narrow cavcd cot
tagc 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 speCulatiOns were abruptly cut
short by Mandy, who hustled out OF
the door with wide SMILE of welcome
on her black face and an unmiStakahIc
ambition to take him Immediately un-
der her mothcrly 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-
noscly avoided their escort, prcferrinS
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-
fidcd 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 TASTY 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 Spire.
Mandy felt herself almost an artist
when she and Hasty babe the pastor
good night, for she was still qulverlng
from the cOntagion Of Douglas enthu-
siasm. Here, at last, was master
who could do something besides find
fault with her.
81 les 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
"IIe look laughin' enough now, but
jcs' 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 NJ
clinchin'," said Hasty, hoping for Man
dy's assurance to the contrary.
"What" shrieked Mandy. ovid da
'cre sneakin' Widow Willoughby al
ready a-tellIn de dcncons how ter star
de new parsOn a-goin' proper?"
'"Now, why yOuSe always a-pickin
on to dat ere widow" asked Hasty, al
ready enjoying the explosion which h.
knew his defense Of the widow wa
sure to excite.
uOU like llO NOllllu Nubl y anu
braggin' bout her clean floors" an
swered Mandy shcNly. She turneC
out the last light and tiptOed upstairs
trying not to disturb the pastor.
John Douglas was busy already wit
pencil and paper, making notes Of tn
plans for tie church and parsonage
which he would perfect later OF
Alas, for Douglas day dreams! 1t Wa
not many weeks before he understood
with a heavy heart that the deacon
were far too dull and uninspirCd t
share his faith in beauty as an aid t
mans spiritual uplift.
1--WE think we've done pretty we'll b.
this church." said Deacon Strong, VIII
was the business head the political
boss and the moral mentor of tn
small towns affairs. "Just you worr
along with the preachin, young maj
and We'll attend to the buyin' an
buildn' operations"
Douglas mind was too active to cor
tent itself wholly with the writing q
sermons and the routine Of formal pas
toral calls. He was a keen human
tartan. so lit:le by little he came
I be interested in the heart stories an
/ dlsappointmentS Of many Of the vi
! lage unfortunates, some of whom wcr
+ outside his congregation. The mcl
+ tally sick, the respondent, who needle
words Of hope and courage more thu
l dry talks on theology. found In hi
= an ever ready friend and adviser. an