The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-02-23
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF A
COUNTRY PASTOR.

had just preached on "Absolem,
My Son. and was passing out the side
exit of the church, for reasons well
known to ministers, that the effort of
that particular sermon should not be
dssipated as usual in the stereOtyped
handshakes and conventional cOmpli-
ments of the people in the front vesti-
bule, when | was halted by the sad
solicitOus face of care-wOrn mother.
Her only speech was the agitated grip
ping of my hand, but | interpreted her
suppressed sObs AZ an invitation TO
make pastoral call.
This performed promptly early that
week. The door opened before / rang
the bell. I was expected and forthwith
escorted TO the front room or "parlor.
Here my hostess launched unto the
subject which she assumed l had come
TO discuss, almost precipitously. (FIer
story, however, was neither unique or
new but rather a type Of thousands of
cases almost identical.) Her boy was
maynard. His evenings and leisure
hours away from home were elongating
while his mothers life and happiness
were shortening. Her countenance as was
sad as any / have ever looked upon.
Worry and grief had chased the laugh.
ter out of her otherwise beautiful face.
She was a good intelligent woman. Hor
husband WAS kind father and success
full in business. Why should her son
90 astrayl The answer was not in her
story which was too familiar To require
my whole attention 10 understand il.
But the answer was very manifest in
that same "parlOr" in which our dia.
logue occurred. As we entered the room
my hostess raised the dark green shades
80 that we could see each other in the
broad daylight. The windows however,
were not opened, although the air with.
in was dauk and musty, while the air
without was exuberant and delightful.
As | stepped across the homemade
rag carpet, seated myself on the hair.
cloth settee and leaned my elbow on
the little white "tidy' neatly pinned
over its arm, / saw the answer to her
question. In the center of the room
was little walnut table with a white
marble top, while the pile of ocean
shells Immediately under it on the floor
gave to its location an air of Gxity.
III Inv tuIutI WIS u NHhI'uOl SERIES
of triangular shelves, supported by col
umns of spOols and covered with all
manner of trinkets and family sou.
venirs. On the walls hung the enlarged
family photographs in walnut frames.
Aside from these, huge wreath Of
flowers made out of wax and enclosed
in glass encased frame. constituted
the art exhibit of the room.
This was the "parlor," l4xlG, as
exact and Indifferent as the fguers that |
indicate its dimensions, as sedate as the
white weird marble Of tOmbstones. Its
precision in form and nicely of adjust.
ment bid defiance mt even the sugges-
ton Of a change. But even more pro-
ncunced was the clearness of its utter
lnce, reinforced by the orders of it's
mistress: "Let boys beware who enter
here. No furniture can be disturbed; no
games or merriment permitted. Yet
his was the only place Of the son to
'rend his "SOeial Evenings and in
IS damp unalluring air it held the
answer TO the question of mother
Iching heart.
+. j. MILNES,
President National Indoor Games Asso.
citation, Downers Grove, I'll.