Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-09-13
THE SIMPLE LIFE OF A COMMONER
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

trict During the second year our
eldest daughter, Anna, became a
member of the faculty, as a teacher
in the art department, where she
gave instructions in painting.
We were hardly settled in our new
home before Mrs. Green was made
president of the Woman's Home Mis-
sionary Society, position altogether
new to her. At the first meeting of
the society following her election,
she presided for the first time in her
| life over any deliberative body of
the kind, and naturally felt nervous
about it. Upon returning home after
the session, she inquired of Marion,
the baby, whom she had taken with
her, how she had made out while in
the chair. Now, however it may be
/ with grown up people, it is said that
children always tell the truth. So
in reply to his mothers inquiry tire
little fellow promptly said: "Well,
mamma, it was plain to be seen you
were not onto your job" An opin-
ion, which, though it was not at all
complimentary, was certainly honest
and quite ingenious.
The Presiding Eldership was en-
tirely new to me and l entered upon
its duties with many misgivings.
felt that in the conference there were
many far better preachers, and not 4
few, whom l believed, were better
equipped in other ways for that i'm
portant work, but Bishop Bowman
and his advisors had made the ap-
pointment, and | must do the be It
| could. The preachers received me
kindly and were very considerate in
their judgment of the new Elder, ="
while the laity gave me much en-
couragement.
My first Quarterly meeting was
held at Lamont, where the Rev. Will
liam Montgomery was pastor. I was
not we'll pleased with this, meeting,
nor do 1 think the people felt partic-
ularly interested either, however.
whatever their impressions may have
been, they considerably kept them
to themselves.
| was much worried over the Main
street I'm huuua churob ond raolI,,
dreaded to go there. l had heard so
much said about the unpopularity of
Presiding Elders with that church,
that it had made me very timid, and
so l postponed my first appearance
in Dubuque as long as possibly could
But the time came when it could be
no longer delayed, so on a Sunday
evening / quietly slipped into the
city from Reeds chapel, where SER
vices had been held in the morning,
and made my way to the parsonage
The pastor, DR.. A. II. Ames, at once
made me feel that l was among
friends. The pastors family was
very cordial, and did everything in
for me. At the close of the service
the doctor invited the congregation
to come forward and take me by the
hand, which they did in large num-
bers, at the same time expressing
their good will in so kind and warm
hearted a way, that l was deeply
touched, and was then and there
drawn to them as | have seldom been
to any people.
One hot afternoon, before the
Eighth street car line had been built,
| was slowly making my way up
Julian avenue toward West Dubuque,
where / was due to hold Quarterly
Conference, and when about half way
up the hill l was confronted by a
ragged little urchin, who, cycling my
grip, stopped me with the question:
"Have ye'es anythin' to sell?" TAX
ing in the humor of the situation,
replied, mo, my boy, | have nothing
to sell. What was it you were want
ing to buy?" "Well." he replied,
"Oi fought ye'es moight have tired
or somethin'.' NO" | said, Il am
not selling thread, nor buttons, nor
pins, nor needles, | am just on my
way up the HILL" and / moved on
while the little fellow fitted away
down the avenue whistling. ''St. Pat
rick's Day in the Morning." or some
other popular tune.
/ found many old soldiers on the
district who never failed to give me
comrades grip and a pleasant
word. During my term of service on
that field l had many opportunities
to talk with them about the old army
days in Decoration Day addresses and
Memorial services. l have often
thought much of what General B. NJ
Prentis of Shiloh fame, one said to
me: Captain, whenever you have
an opportunity to address the soldier
boys, improve 1t by talking to them
about Christ as well as the army