Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-03-03

human enough 10 resent tue lHJuS.lCt
Of his fate.
Douglas mother had suffered &C
much because of the Impractical eff
forts OF her husband that she discour
aged the early tendencies Of the son
toward drawing and mathematics and
tried to direct his thoughts toward
creeds and Bible history. When be
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 10 his art. He spent
his vacations in neighboring city be-
| fore drawing board In the office of a
distinguished architect. his fathers
| friend
Douglas was not a brilliant divinity
student. and he was relieved at last
when he received his degree in theol-
ogy and found himself appointed to a
small church in the middle west
His step was very bright the morning
be first went up the path that led to
his new home. His artistic sense was
charmed by the picturesque approach
to the church and parsonage. The
view toward the tree encircled 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 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 a
Joy that was very near to pain
He stopped halfway up the path
and considered the advantages Of
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 a new
portieo than with any thought Of his
first sermon
His speculations were abruptly cut
short by Mandy, who hustled out Of
the door with a 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 |
ton 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
alone, she made up her mind that she
was going to like him.
Mandy had long been a fixture in the
parsonage. She and her worse half,
Hasty Jones had come to know and
discuss the weaknesses OF the many
clergyIpen who had come and gone,
the deacons and the congregation. both
individually and collectively She con
fded 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 Hasty helped Douglas to .unpack
his many boxes of books, they were as
eager as children about the dra awnings
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 10 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, ut last, was master
who could do something besides find
fault with her.
81 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. hls'n. and dar amt nobody
what's goln' ter unsot It,"
"Maybe dar amt goin' ter be no
said Hasty, hoping for Man
dy's assurance to the contrary
what" shrieked Mandy. "wid dat
ere sneakin' Widow Willoughby al
ready a-tellin' de deacons how ter start
dc new parson a-goin' proper%
"Now, why yosse always a-pickln'
on to dat ere widow" asked Hasty, al
ready enjoying the explosion which he
knew his defense of the widow was
sure to excite.