Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-03-18
Asleep in Church.


81 had got so used TO seeing Mary
Ann Joy sleep in church that thought
nothing of it," said Aunt Amelia Bates,
land MIR. Pease, when he was alive,
didn't mind il much. But when young
Mr.. Boyd came candidating he too
very particular notice of il. He spent
the Sunday with us, and while | was
getting dinner on the table heard
him talking with Andrew. who was
the sister that slept all the time was
preaching p says he.
"'Oh, that was Mrs. Mary Ann Joy,
says Andrew. Il hope il didn't dis
turb you?'
"'I must confess that it did, says
the minister. i have always held that
If a preacher had any sleepcrs in his
congregation it was his own fault
But Mrs. Joy didn't give me a chance,
he says, laughing. SHE began to nod
the minute | had given out my text.
| couldn't help watching her and spec
ulating whether should be able TO
rouse her.
"'Oh, you would soon get used to
Mary Ann said Andrew. She always
has a nap through sermon time, who
ever is in the pulpit
"'Well,' says Mr.. Boyd, should
almost say that it would be better for
her to stay at home and have her nap
by herself She gets no good of the
sermon, and she certainly is not in.
spring to others.
AT that | felt called upon to step
into the room and put in my word
Mr.. Boyd says, If you knew as
much about what Mary Ann Joy goes
through as do, don't believe you'd
! begrudge her a chance to drop asleep
almost anywhere. Late last night
Mary Ann was most likely bending
over her mending, hurrying to get il
done before the clock struck twelve
At five O'Clock this morning she was
up building the kitchen fire. OF
course it is Sunday, but she has the
milk of seven cows to take care Of and
meals to get for the hired men, to say
nothing of the rest OF the family. Next,
she was getting six children, includ-
ing her husband, who needs as much
help as any Of them, ready for shurch.
"'When Mary Ann finally drops
into her pew says, its about her
first taste of Sabbath rest She gets
a different kind of rest there in church
from what she could at home, even il
she does miss the sermon, and the SER
mon isn't everything
"a was almost afraid that | had been
little too outspoken Mr.. Boyd was
really fine young man even il little
toyish; and he had given us a most ex-
cellent sermon from the text, And let
us not be weary in well doing But
I he took il all in good part and said that
now that he knew the circumstances
he was almost glad that he hadn't been
able TO disturb the good sisters rest
Toward night we went out to get
little air and who should come along
the road but Mary Ann herself. We
stopped her for chat, and the minis
ter made himself very pleasant. She
was on her way TO old lady Burnham's,
mile farther on. The old lady was
bedridden, and Mary Ann was in the
habit of going Sunday afternoon to
carry her some dainty and read to her
"'I thought this morning, though,
says she, that should have to let il
90 this time; for our horse has cast
a shoe, so that couldn't ride, and !
was little more tired than common.
But felt better after church, and then
| remembered your text, Mr.. Boyd
"And let us not be weary in well do
ing
"After' she had gone on, the minis
ter turned to me. No, as you say,
says he, the sermon isn't everything
wonder IL any Of the rest of my con-
gregation got as much inspiration
from my sermon as that poor woman
did from my text?'"