New-York tribune., 1920-03-06
The Coming Totoer
John 7.a4

JOnn u ~
Among forgotten Yankee legends, one
Is Of the Reverend Joseph Huntington.
II byssus, amber, myrrh and nard were
mine,
Then might fttingly Herewith en-
shrine
The gentle memory Of this old divine.
"Pattern Of learning" long ago was he
Among the churches round confessed
to be;
Example Of extensive charity~-
So did they epitaph him when he died,
With many words Of eulogy beside.
Otis said that certain stricter brethren
found
His views of Hell wsr. not precisely
His mighty homilies arc all forgot,
And not soul now cares a single jot
IF he was truly orthodox or not;
Naught save It's linkage to = greater
Preserves tho casual mention Of his
For in the roomy manse that rises still.
Though altered since his day.. on Cow
l. entry hill,
Through sallust's "wars" or vergil's
| epic tale
The worthy pastor led young Nathan
Turning, one fancies, from the stately
Sometimes, to speak Of how the land
was vext;
And how, in evil days, who loved that
land,
Having done all, would in whole armor
One day a stranger reached tho
manse's door,
So oft swung wide to needy ones be-
fore;
Himself member Of tho cloth de-
Who thus. thus to friends in Massachusetts,
Pictured his many miseries; and, in
brief,
Besought Of Parson Huntington relief.
otis Saturday," tho kindly parson
"Then DER the Lords Day, brother,
| take a bed,
Sit by our hearth, and break with us
our bread"
(In those far times the constables
On Sunday travelling from town to
town.
No further words were needed to pre-
Upon the stranger, who then told his
tale.
He came, he said, from Susquehanna's
vale.
All his possessions were abruptly laid
In utter ruin by an Indian raid;
lie had escaped the tomahawk through
fight,
And, much afflicted in his sudden
Had thus far made his way as best he
The kindly dominic, now much i'm
Was doubly gracious to his cleric
guest,
Inviting him the pulpit to adorn
And preach the sermon Of the morrow
morn.
"'Twould i'll become mo in the garb I
To do so much as mako the shorter
pray'r,"
Replied the stranger. "Pray you, have
Upon nth, that It score. for I have garments
The pastor said, mot long since made
for me,
But never worn. They'll suit you to
T."
The clothes we're quickly brought, as
quickly tried
"A signal fit!" tho host, admiring,
cried. 90
The stranger voiced both gratitude
and pride;
Then forthwith said: III do not pre-
sumo,
My generous friend. permit that to my
room
| may for meditation soon retire"
by all means, sir" Pen, paper, ink
and fire
We're punctually supplied. "And should
l keep
sleep?"
NAY, sir, now yoa shall toll and
The parson said; and both laughed
DER the jest.
Betimes next day the household was
astir.
The parson, with a loud "Good morn
ing, sir!"
Raped vigorously upon the guestroom
door.
No answer-and he listened for
Then stepped within, and in a startled
Perceived the stranger was no LONGER
there. "e0A
Some shabby raiment, tossed upon
Nema5reddand snrsad- al'0' on the mantel
A sheet hess of sermon paper, at whose
In bold, round script those lines tho
parson read:
"The text give to those I leave be-
hind me,
Isl 'Ye shall seek mo, and ve shall
not find me,
And where I am. thither ye cannot
John z, 34." A moment dumb
The good man stood; then. with
hearty peal
OF laughter, hastened to his mornino
meal. r.
Visiting British poets who want to
read American stuff are likely to be
recommended to far worse ESSAYS than
G. S. BIS. If we were a publisher. we'd
as soon lose money on a book of
e. 5. BIS verse as anybody else's.
Examination in journalism
Q.-What does person do when he
advocates, desires, is mildly in favor
OF, wishes, Graves for, wants, fails to
oppose. or thinks that perhaps he might
not object to, certain thing?
Ale urges.