Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-03-15
Hepsey Burke :
-a%- --%ta SuSHg
A Sister to David Hdru711 q
! By F. N. Westcott q
By F. N. Westcott

rig she remarked. I'm afraid there1l
be an awful scandal in the parish If
you 60 wanderin' around dressed like
carpenter; but it can't be helped
and II the Bishop excommunicates
you, I'll give you job on the farm"
but / suppose the vestry will have
something to say about our camping
on church property
"That needn't worry you. Maybe
| it'll bring 'em to their senses, and
maybe, they'll be ashamed when they
house and havin' to live in tent
though l 'aint holdin out much hope
OF that to you Folks that are the most
religious are usually the hardest to
shame i always said, financially
| speakin', that preachin' wasn't q
sound business. It's all give and no
| get: but this is the first time Eve ev-
er heard of a parish wanting par
| son to preach without eating and to
sleep without a roof over his head.
Most of us seem to forget that rectors
are human being like the rest Of us.
II religion is worth havin', it's worth
payin' for"
The planking was soon laid, and the
erection of the tent was left to Nick
ey's captaining-all hands assisting.
With his manual in one hand he laid
it out, rope by rope, poles in position,
and each helper at his place. Then
at word, up 1t scared, with q bravo"
from the puzzled onlookers.
1--WE want a poet here" laughed
Maxwell. "Longfellow's Building Of
the Ship or Ralph Connor's Building
the Barn aren't circumstance to
Nickey's Pitching the Parsons Tent"
1t was next divided off into three
convenient rooms, for sleeping, eating
and cooking-and Hepsey, with three
scouts, having driven across to the
cid rectory while the finishing touches
were being put to the new, she and
her military escort soon returned with
Mrs. Betty, and load of furniture
and other belongings.
"Why, this is perfect!' cried Betty.
1.-THE only thing lacking to complete
the illusion is trout brook in the
front yard, and the smell Of pines and
! the damp mossy earth of the forests.
| Well wear our old clothes, and have
bonfire at night, and roast potatoes
| and corn in the hot Goals, and have
| the most beautiful time imaginable"
The town visitors who still fingered
on the scene were received cordially
by Maxwell and Mrs. Betty, who seem
ed to be in rather high spirits; but
when the visitors made any inquiries
concerning structural matters they
were politely referred to Mickey
Burke for any information they de-
sired, as he had assumed official man.
| agement of the work.
| Just before the various helpers left
at six o'clock, smoke began to Issue
from the little stovepipe sticking out
through the canvas of the rear of the
tent, and Mrs. Betty, with her sleeves
rolled up to her elbows and her cook
ing apron on came out to watch it with
all the pride of good housekeeper
isn't it jolly, Mrs. Burke" she eX
claimed. 81 was afraid that 1t would
not draw, but it really does, you see
This will be more fun than a month
s.t the seashore; and tomorrow we are
going to have you and Mickey dine
with us in the tent; so don't make any
other engagement. Don't forget"
BY noon of the following day every
| in L hot hn IL
had been dispossessed, and were
camping on the church lot; and be
fore night most of the women and q
few of the men had called to satisfy
their curiosity, ana to express theil
sympathy with the rector and his wife
Portable and happy in their new quar-
ters. On the other hand, some OF the
vestry hinted strongly that tents could
not be put upon church property with
out their formal permission, and few
of the more pious suggested that 1
was little short of sacrilege thus t
to violate the sanctity of a consecl At
ed place. Mickey had painted larg,
sign with the word "Rectory" on 1t
in truly rustic lettering, and had hum
it at the entrance of the tent. Th
Editor of the Durford Daily Bugle ap
peared with the village photographer
and after an interview with Maxwell
requested him and his wife to pos
for picture in front of the tent. Thi
: they declined with thanks; but hal
column article giving a sensational az
count of the affair appeared in TIL
next issue of the paper, headed by
half tone picture of the tent and tn
church. Public sentiment ran strong
iy against Bascom, to whom rumo
quickly awarded the onus of the inc
dent. In reply to offers OF hospita
, ity, Maxwell and Mrs. Betty insiste
that they were very comfortable 70
the time being, and were not going +,
, move or make any plans for the imm,
, date future. The morning OF tn
| Fn,,,th anu 4, ,yu,an anpD,nnna i,