The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-09-21
EveniingChat

Ministers Of the Gospel are not
supposed, generally speaking, to be
takers Of chance, but it occasionally
happens that one does and gets away
with it. There is a parson in this
town who recently took a chance and
came out none the worse for It.
1t was Saturday afternoon, the Par.
son had enough work ahead to keep
him comfortably occupied with per.
haps an hour in which to review his
sermon for the coming Lords day. SO
he did not welcome the interruption
which came in the person of an aged
man who, acting as a messenger OF
Dan Cupid solicited the services of the
Parson in marrying couple on the
ragged edges of the city. Dan Cupids
messenger was aged and was poorly
dressed and he offered no suggestion
as to a conveyance in which to take
the parson to the scene of the mar.
rage, and the distance he Calculated
to be six or seven miles" But he was
so persistent in his request that the
heart OF the good man was moved
and he began to scout about as to
ways and means. One Of the Parsons
acquaintance was a taxi cab driver
who had taken him on many similar
journeys, so calling him over the tel.
ephone he put the case up to him. 1t
wasn't promising looking case, in
fact it was far from it, but il the
taxi driver was game to take chances
with him he agreed to divide the fee,
share and share alike, if there was
any fee. The driver was game, and
in short while the Parson, the Mes.
senger of Dan Cupid and the taxi
driver were speeding on their way.
over the bridge that spans the river
they went, bowling along the paved
thoroughfare. Presently the city
streets came to an end and the car
travelled swiftly the country roads,
winding up and over a hill down
through pleasant valley and finally
at the direction of the messenger, up
over a steep and rather rough hill
down again into the valley until they
came to what might ly termed a
jumping off place. Here they were In.
formed by their guide that the rest
or the journey must be made on
foot and the strange trio made their
way through the fields until they came
upon q little hut almost picturesque
in its poverty and it was here they
were told the couple awaited who
wished to be made man and wife.
Inside the hut the conditions were
not promising. The taxi driver began
to figure the price of gasoline and to
recall the steepness of the hills he had
climbed and the Parson wondered Just
what he had chosen for his text for
the next days sermon anyhow.
In a few minutes the bridegroom
and his bride to be, both past early
youth appeared, and with all the dig.
nifty and solemnity of the usual mar.
riage occasions, the sacred rights were
performed. When the Parson extend.
ed his hand to the groom to offer his
congratulations he was halted while
the groom drew from his pocket n
roll of bills, peeled off one and handed
1t to the minister as he grasped his
hand. The taxi drivers eyes grew big
with wonder for his faith by this time
had been shattered, and the parson
obligingly held the bill so that the V
was plainly visible.
One half of S. is $3.50, calculated
the driver, and that wasn't so bad af.
ter all for a few hours work. And the
minister of the Gospel had added a