The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1909-11-11
NJ
N
DarStNllt
Hasty }
dson,pCc


clergymen
the deacons -
individually and
f1ded to Hasty til
de new parson fer rot wantin to-.
up wild dat ar crowd"
In the study that night. when S.,
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 spire.
Mandy felt herself almost an artist
when she and Hasty babe the pastor
good night, for she was still quivering
from the contagion of Douglas enthu-
siasm. Here, at last, was a master
who could do something besides find
fault with her.
II 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. his'n, and dar amt nobody
what's goin' ter unsot it."
Maybe dar amt goin' ter be no
clinchin'," said Hasty. hoping for Man.
dy's assurance to the contrary.
"What?" shrieked Mandy. ovid dat
ere sneakin' Widow Willoughby al.
ready a-tellin' de deacons how ter start
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 he
knew his defense of the widow was
sure to excite.
81 dom like no woman what's allus
braggin' 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 and parsonage
which he would perfect later on.
Alas, for Douglas day dreams! 1t was
IOC lAullt WCChS Uc1OEC uC uuucISIOOu
with heavy heart that the deacons
were far too dull and uninspired tc
share his faith in beauty as an aid tc
mans spiritual uplift.
1--WE 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,
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 humani.
tartan, so little by little he came to
be interested in the heart stories and
disappointment Of many of the vii.
lage unfortunates, some Of whom were
outside his congregation. The men.
tally sick. the Respondent, 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 he was never popular with
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 Mt the parson-
age to demand that Douglas put stop
to the boys playing baseball in the ad-
Joining lot on Sunday. Douglas had
been unable to see the deacon's point
Of view. He declared that baseball
was a healthy and harmless form Of
exercise, that the air was meant to be
breathed and that the boys who en-
joyed the game on Sunday were prin-
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
prickly all up an down de back"
Mandy said later when she described
their talk to Hasty. dat ERE deacon
don know muffin bout gittin' roun'
de parson." She tossed her head with
a feeling Of superiority. She knew the
way. Make him forget himself with a
laugh. Excite his sympathy with some
village underdog.