Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-01
try hard, but I was on the wrong track-f'vc made
a faiju for hot Of

a failure for both Of u.s.
The superintendent had encountered many deli
cate situations in the years of his experience a
manipulation OF men and affairs, but never anything
like this.
I've had some glimmering of the truth now and
then, she continued. Il am not naturally ndiffcr-
cnt to other people. and Mary Louise has taught
me-many things. / was thoughtess, but l felt
lack, and now l understand"
She arose to go in her quick. decided fashion,
while the superintendent was trying to find some
words with which to reply to her; but, the door,
she stopped and faced him appealingly.
have heard She said hcsitatingy, that people
fear there is % bone Try asa h ana IN tb Out
AT the note of utter discouragenent in her voice the
superintendent pulled himself together with effort
said gently. Il have sometimes thought he hest
lated after each word, weighed down by sense of
MS own heplessness, that if things had not been
so easy for Robert-f or struggle had ever
come to him, he could understand and sympathize
with other folks sorrows but, Of course, we can
not take Providence in our own hands to bring
anything OF the kind about
But we must assist Providence" she answered
The superintendent looked at her keenly
There are places in the conference that need
men he said slowly. They are not easy places,
but # you care to try again. He paused, uncer-
I'll go, anywhere" she said, as if in answer to
his unspoken question.
a most regretted the words as he saw Annettes eyes
glance inyoluntary to the thrice nade-over dress.
ITO Hindustan,' she answered quietly "Wc
won't need many clothes there
There was mixture Of sympathy and admiration
in the superintendent eyes as he opened the door
self; but wonder what Collins will saw - ''"-
AS matter OF fact, Collins was not aware of
the sort OF proposition he was up against when
long in the conference and the usual gossip about
the different charges had not drifted to his
As his wife did not object to going to Hindustan,
1t did not occur TO him to do So and he received his
appointment with equanirlity.
I'm glad have number of sermons prepared"
temPlated change for I'll have little time for study
while we're packing up
Annette gave him an odd look without replying
A few days later the superintendent and his
wife startled by Annette bur sting in on them
to announce the serious illness of her mother and
her bedside. She and Mary Louise were dressed
for the journey, and the superintendent helped them
Fortunately for Robert he did not at once real
of labor.
The people were poor, their stony hillside farms
yielding them bare subsistence i'll many cases and
ambition to better these conditions often lacking.
After many. Intellectual attempts to collect money
for the repairing of the shabby church. Collins real
lied the futility OF such attempts, and set to work
to repair it himself. He stopped the leaks in the
mended the broken windows. He also found it nee
essary to blacken the stoves and act his
anitor at three OF his preaching points
New problems confronted him every hand. He
felt miseraby inadequate to any Of them and pitiful
y lost and bewdered without his wifes sclf-relsnt
management and decisveness. The chief OF his dit
hcutes it seemed to him. was the unaccountabe
disappearance Of his carefully prepared sermons.
He was sure he had put them in a safe place, but
the most painstakng search failed to reveal them.
There time to prepare others, so he tried to
talk to the people instead. They were hating
efforts; but the Hindustan flock had been treated
most anything IN the way OF preaching, and were
not disposed to be critical. The stiff and conven-
tonal language in which he had been wont to clothe
his sermons chung to him the outside clay clung
his feet; but gradually the true and honest heart
Of him made its way to the surface and the people
liked him.
There no time for study. in the broad
book of humanity, and the preacher marvelled at
the richness that he found therein, and that it had
long been sealed book to him. He boarded
round among his flock. as the custom among
these brush people, and, though the cooking was OF
primitive kind, the fare of dstracting sameness,
and the spare bed deadly menace, yet it gave him
access to the homes of the people, and eventually.
to their hearts.
IT, sometimes in spite of himself homesick long
ing swept like a his soul, until like the
Psalmist OF old he was ready TO cry out, All Thy
waves and Thy pillows have gone mel" who
shall blame him? The storms passed and perhaps
gnarled limbs OF seishness and vanity were
swept away; but the SOU was unsearred and the
The ache and lack in his own heart made him more
responsive to the need in every other heart and his
efforts to shepherd his neglected and scattered
flock broadened his soul.
The illness OF Anncttcs mother proved to be a
stubborn n,alady slow in yielding to, treatment and
Annettes homec oming long delayed. The
deal through which she passed was, perhaps even
more fiery than that of Robert. She was confident
OF her ability to manage any situation when given
the chance; but she had never learned to stand by
and see matters taken out OF her hands. Her en-
forced absence gave her feeling of impotency
which maddening to of her dispoAton.
The superintendent vile drove to Hndustan
occasionally and spent day in putting the house
hold goods to rights in the forlorn little parsonage
adjoining the church. In spite of her efforts, how
ever the place was not altogether prepossessing;
but. to Collins, it a gloriied habits:ion when
Annette at last came home to it,
He was looking worn and thin and so pathetically-
glad her that her heart her for bringing
Hindustan upon him. Perhaps after ALL it would
have been better if he had gone back to the farm.
These doubts not dspelled until the superin-
tendent made his first call.
Il think | do better for you next year,
Robert he announced, checrfully
III you don't mind answered Robert. I'D rather
stay here till | get the charge in better shape I
don't just know why it is but love these people
better than any I've ever been pastor Of"
Annette and the superintendent exchanged gances
There's just one thing, I'd like know said
Collins that evening. they talked matters over,
and that is what became of my sermons. I'm not
sorry that they lost for ! can see, now. that
they were mighty poor stuff 1t almost Provi-
dental that they disappeared when they did, but |
would like to know how they got lost. Providence
-, L. CHI