Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-12-21


I'D, handsome and well built, accepts
lis lrst charge. He arrives In the vii
age Of Durford, located in a noun
famous region. The village Of Dur
ford is decadent, and while the young
minister waits at the miserable little
station for the bus which will take
him to the village, he muses. of the city
and a girl he has left. He is finally
met by Hepsey Burke, remarkably
large woman, whose hair Is hnged
with grey, and whose eyes twinkle
with subtle humor. She is maccom-
panied by her II year old son Nicholas
and the junior warden of the church,
Jonathan Jackson Hepsey Burke dur
Eng the long drive to the village tells
Rev. Maxwell that the parish has had
a variety of parsons during the last
ak months, and warns him to use all
hts tact in dealing with the senior
warden, Bascom, who is accustomed
to running things in the parish. The
party arrives at Hepsey Burke's home,
which she announces she has named
Thunder Cliff.
Chapter 2-While Maxwell Is en-
gagged in unpacking his trunks that
afternoon he is visited in his chamber
by Henry Burke, who gossips in a
friendly way, telling him of his pre-
decessor, a Rev. Whittimore, who, be-
cause he wore coSsOck under his sur
plice was accused by the congregation
of going without pants. Rev. Whit
timore was also accused of practicing
celibacy by Virginia Bascom, the
Il 1,x, n-1n yhn
afterward admitted she did not know
what celibacw was.
"Good morning, Mr. Maxwell. Glad
30 meet you. I'm a Presbyterian my
self; but 1 have always made 1t
point to be nice to everybody. You
seem to have quite good many cor
respondents, and I presume you'll be
wantin' lock box. It's 80 convenient.
You must feel lonesome in strange
place. Drop in and see mother some
day. She's got curvature of the spine,
but no religious prejudices. She'll be
right glad to see you, I'm sure, even
though she's not 'Piscopal."
Maxwell thanked her and inquired
IQe way 10 Iu6 oeulOT "dluOh oiAASo
TO which she directed him.
Three doors below the post office
was q hallway and a flight of stairs
leading up to Mr.. Bascom's sanctum.
As he assembled, Maxwell bethought
him of the Bishops hint that this was
the main stronghold for the exercise
of his strategy. The Senior Warden,
Tor some reason or other, had persist
entity quarreled with the clergy, or
crossed them. What was the secret
of his antagonism? Would he be pre-
disposed in Maxwell's favor. or pre-
JUDGED against him? He would soon
discover-and he decided to let Bas-
com do most of the talking. Reaching
the first landing, Donald knocked on
q door the upper panel Of which was
filled with glass, painted white. On
the glass in large black letters was
the name: Sylvester Bascom."
The Senior Warden sat behind ta
BILE, covered with musty books Snd
litter of letters and papers. In his
now, we'll past middle age, he looked
as if he had shrunk until he was at
least five sizes too small for his skin,
which was sallow and loose. There
was a suspicious look in his deep set
eyes, which made his hooked nose all
the more aggressive. He was bald, ex-
cept for few stray locks of gray hair
which were brushed up from his ears
over the top Of his head, and evidently
fastened down by some gluey cosmet
&c. He frowned severely as Maxwell
entered, but extended shriveled.
bony hand, and pointed to chair.
Then placing the tips of his fingers
together in front of his chest. he gaz.
ed at Donald as II he were the prison.
or at the bar. and began without any
preliminary welcome:
$50 you are the young man who Is
to take charge of the church. 1t is al.
ways difficult for city bred man to
adjust himself to the needs and man.
ners of country parish. Very diff.
cult, Mr.. Maxwell-very difficult"
Maxwell smiled as he replied:
"Yes, but that is fault which time
will remedy"
Doubtless. Time has way OF rem
edying most things. But in the mean
time-in the meantime. lack of tact
self-assertiveness, indiscretion, on the
part of clergyman may do much
harm-much harm!"
Mr.. Maxwell colored slightly as he
laughed and replied:
II should imagine that you have had
rather a mean time, from the way you
speak. Your impressions of the clergy
seem to be PAINFUL
"Well," the lawyer continued sen
teniously. I'VE have had all sorts and
conditions of men, as the PRAYER Bool,
says; and the result has not always
heen satisfactory-not always satis
factory. But was not consulted"
To this, Maxwell who was some
what nettled replied: