Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-01-04

with wrath and chagrin.
The entire circumference of the
missionary circle now burst Into roars
Of laughter His mother quickly ov-
ertook and captured Oliver, tying her
apron around his neck as a concession
to the popular prejudice against the
altogether" The gravity Of the mis-
sionary circle was so thoroughly de-
moralized that it was impossible to
restore order; and Miss Bascom, In
the excess of her modification, stuffed
the rest Of her manuscript, its elo-
quent peroration undelivered, into her
bag.
When the last guest had departed,
Mrs. Burke proceeded to hunt up
Mickey, who was dressed and sitting
on the top of the corncrib whiting
stick. His mother began:
Nicholas Burke, what in the name
OF conscience does all this idiotic per-
formance mean, I'd like to know?"
Mickey closed his knife. Looking So
renely down at his mother, he replied:
How'd know the blamed mission
AIRY push was goin' to meet on he
front porch, I'd like to know? Me and
Oliver Wendell was just playin' tie
house was on fire. We'd gone to bed
IN the front room, and then told Ollie
the fire was breakin' out all around
us, and the sparks was flynn, and. the
stairs was burned away, and there
was no way Of 'scapin' but to slide
down the rope over the roof. aint to
Flame for his night shirt bein' caught
on nail, and bein' ripped off him.
Maybe the ladies was awful shocked:
but they laughed fit to split their sides
tltt the same. Mr.. Maxwell laughed
loude' than 'em ALL"
Hepsey retired hastily, lest her face
should relax its well assumed severity.
Maxwell in the meantime felt Il q
part Of his duty to console and
soothe the ruffled feelings of his zeal.
GUS and fluent parishioner, and to vir-
gtnia's pride his offer of escort to
Willow Bluff was ample reparalion
for the untowarded interruption OF her
oratory. She delivered into his hands
with sensitive upward glance, the re-
ceptacle containing her manuscript,
and set brisk pace, at which She in
sured the passing of the other guests
along the road, making visible her tri.
umph over circumstance and at the
same time obviating untimely intrus-
lon of tete-a-tete conversation.
You must have given great deal
OF time and study TO your subject re-
marked Maxwell politely.
ut is very near to my heart" re-
sponded Virginia, in yelling tones.
Homo life is to me, almost religion.
Do you not feel, with me, that it Is the
most valuable of human qualities, Mr..
MAXWELL"
II do indeed, and one of the most
difficult to reduce to a science, she
glanced up at him apprehensively.
whereupon, lest he seemed to have
erred in fact, he added,-"as you made
us realize in your paper"
ut is so nice to have your appre-
ciation," she gurgled "Often l feel
1t almost futile to try to influence our
cold parish audiences; their attitude
is so stolid, so unimaginative. AS you
must have realized, in the pulpit, they
are so hard to lead into untrodden
paths. Let us take the way home by
the lanc.' she added coyly, leading Oft
the road down sheltered by-way.
The lane was rough, and the lady,
tightly and lightly shod stumbled neat.
IT, and grasped her escorts arm for
support-and retained it for comfort.
what horizons your sermons have
spread before us-and. yet,"-she ne5-
itated,-"I often wonder, as my eyes
wander over the congregation, how
many besides myself really hear your
message, really see what you see"
Her hand trembled on his arm, and
Maxwell was at loss, though anX-
ious not to seem unresponsive to Vir-
ginia's enthusiasm for spiritual Wis
ion.
II feel that my first attention has
to be given to the simpler problems,
here in Durford,' he replied. But l
am glad If l haven't been dull in the
process"
Dull? No indeed-how can you say
that! To my life-you will under
stand?" (she glanced up with trem'-
lous flutter of eyelids) you have
brought 80 much helpfulness and
and warmth" She sighed eloauently.
Maxwell was no egotist, and vas
always prone to see only an imperson,
FL Significance in parish compliments.
A more self conscious subject for con-
fidences would have replied less open-
ly.
~ am glad-very glad But you must
not think that the help has been one
sided. You have seconded my efforts
so energetically-indeed l don't know
what 1 could have accomplished with
out such whole hearted help as you
and Mrs. Burke and others have Civ.
en-
To the optimistic Virginia the d.
vision of the loaves and fishes of his
personal gratitude was scarcely heed.
ed She cherished her own norton