Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-12-07


ciables, and fairs. and things to take
the place OF religion; and he must
dress well, and live like gentleman
on the salary of book-agent. But IL
he brings city ways along with him
and makes us feel like hayseeds. he
won't be popular"
"Thats rather large contract!"
Maxwell replied with smile.
Eyes, but think what we're going to
pay you: six hundred dollars year,
and you'll have to raise most of it
yourself, just for the fun of it,
At this point the Junior Warden in
terrupted:
"Now, Hepsey, what's the use Of up
settin' the young man at the start.
He's"
"Never mind, Jonathan. I'm tellin'
the truth, anyway. You see," she con-
tinued, most people think piety's at
low ebb unless you're gettin' up
some kind of holy show all the time,
70 bring people together that wouldn't
other first. Then when they've bought
chance on pieced bed quilt, or paid
for chicken pie at a church supper,
they go home feelin' real religious, be-
levin that If there's any obligation
between them and heaven, 1t isn't on
their side, anyway. Do you think
you're goin' to fill the bill, Mr.. Max
well2'
well, I don't know" said Maxwell
"Of course l might find myself DOS
sessed of a talent for inventing new
and original entertainments each
week; but I'm afraid that you're bit
pessimistic, Mrs. Burke. aren't your"
mo, I'm not. There's mighty fine
side Of life in a country parish some,
times, where the right sort of a man
10 in charge. The people take him as
one of their family, you know, and
borrow eggs Of his wife as easy a. of
their next door neighbor. But the
roung reverends expect too much OF a
country parish, and break their hearts
sometimes because they, can't make
us tough old critters all over while
you wait. Poor things! I'm sorry for
the average country parson, and lot
sorrier for his wife,"
well, don't you worry about me 4;
I'm well and strong, and equal to any.
thing, 1 imagine. l don't believe in
taking life too seriously; it's bad for
the nerves and digestion. 1t will be
an entirely new experience for me,
and I'm sure shall find the people
interesting"
"Yes, but if they aren't your kind
l suppose you might find hippopota-
muses. interestin' for a while, but that
is no reason you should like to live
with 'em. Anyway, don't mind what
people say. They amt got nothin' to
think about, so they make up by
talkin' about it, especially when it
happens to be a new parson. We've
been havin' odds and ends of parsons
from the remnant counter now for SIX
months or more; and that's enough
to kill any parish. l believe that If
the angel Gabriel should preach for
us, half the congregation would OBJ.
ject to the cut Of his wings, and the
other half to the fit of his halo. We
call for all the virtues or heaven, ana
expect to get 'em for seven-forty.
nine.'
"Well-I shall have to look to you
and the Wardens to help me out" he
said. "You must help me run things,
until know the ropes"
ooh! Bascom will run things for
you, IL you let him do the runnin" she
replied cracking her whip. You'll
need to get popular first with him and
his-then you'll have it easy.'
Maxwell pondered these local words
of wisdom, and recalled the Bishops
warning that Bascom, the Senior
Warden, had not made life easy for
his predecessors, and his superior's
exhortation to firmness and tact, to
the end that he, Maxwell, should hold
his own, while taking his Senior
Warden along with him. The Senior
Warden was evidently a power in the
land.
They had driven about a mile and
half when the wagon turned off the
road, and drew up by a house stand