Year: 1878

CHAPTER V.


One afternoon the ladies OF the church
were busily engaged at the sewing society,
when the oft discussed and heartily debated
subject OF the closed organ was brought up.
oIt is a burning shame for the thing to sit
there idle Sunday after Sunday, excepting
for the two or three songs at Sunday-school
We had hard enough time to get it, fussing
and disputing, and now that it is here no
body thinks of touching it. l believe I'll
speak to Brother Arnold about it. Ruth
Allison would play in a moment if he was
to ask her" and having delivered this speech
one of the good sisters leaned back in her
chair perfectly satisfied. "Well, like music
as much as anybody" replied another, "but
hate quarrel, and just as sure as that
organ is opened there Will be one, now mind
what 1 say. And 1 do pity the preacher if
he gets mixed up in trouble of that sort.
Here lately he looks as if something was on
on his mind anyhow. Have you noticed it,
Sister Smith," Eyes; 1 said the other day
he looked down in the mouth. But maybe
he is having his own troubles. / see
he doesn't go 10 Brother Allison's
as much as be did. Like enough
he and Ruth have had a falling out They
would make a good match now, wouldn't
they? 1 have thought all along there would
be wedding there before conference. 1t
seems to me that her grandpa is falling and
the old lady isn't very spry, and Ruth would
be dreadful lonesome if they were to drop off
sudden; but il she and Brother Arnold were
married, the old folks would feel safe about
her. l know she likes him. At that instant
Mr. Arnold's landlady spoke: He gets
letters from some lady in the city mighty
often. OF course l never pry into other
peoples business, but / can't help seeing
them when the desk is wide open. Some
times after he gets one he locks blue for an
hour. He is gong up to the city the first Of
next week. He spoke about it last night to
the doctor / haven't the least idea who the
lady is; perhaps she isn't anything to him,
and maybe she is" The conversation was
here interrupted. by the entrance of the
minister. He did indeed look care worn,
and weary, but he always answered any
questions as to his health by insisting that
he was WELL" Physically, he was, for he
did an amount of work that an invalid could
never have performed Day and night he
labored, visiting, preaching, studying, pray
ing, and yet nothing brought peace to the
restless heart He tried to lay all his trou-
bles before the Lord as he prayed, but the
consciousness that he was not acting frankly
and honestly settled like heavy shadow
over his soul, and he could see no light in
the future. He chatted pleasantly few
moments with the ladies, settled disputed
points as to services. dates, bsptismals and
finance and with pleasant good afternoon" !"
was about to leave the room, when he was
stopped by the question: Brother Arnold,
can't we have the organ played at church?
II you will speak 10 Ruth Allison know
she will play it. 1t is ridiculous to let il sit
there locked up, looking for the whole world
like it was afraid to open its mouth. We are
all in favor of it. What do you ssy?'
Would it please majority of the church
members2'' "Yes, everybody but few
croakers and they would make
fuss about anything. Go ask
Ruth; see If she will play. She is
the only girl that Will please most of the
people II she consents we can have choir
meeting and you can announce it at the
prayer meeting tonight We Will wait
until you come back" Thus hidden he
could not refuse. OF late he had not been
much at Mr.. Aliens, unless he was quite