Year: 1872

that they might get we'll, or if they had IA
vorable turn, the old anxiety, with something
of the former apprehension, reappeared-pro.
wing that the mental disquietude was born of
their expectation of life, not of their fear of
death. Thus was established clear analogy
between mental and spiritual anguish under the
same circumstances. As 10 have seen, they
who are badly hurt, or seriously i'll, experience
suffering in going back to life, while the down.
ward path to death, both for the body and
soul, is paved with smoothness and serenity.


A SAUSAGE STORY. III B.. ~.


A good many years ago, when the Method
lists were rather unpopular in the Eastern
States, a witty divine of that denomination
was serving his second year in a country town
in New England. It was rather remarkable
in those days for the Conference. 70 send the
same minister two successive years to the same
church, especially in country town but it
was done in this instance, and it seemed to be
entirely satisfactory to- all concerned! The
clergyman enjoyed the confidence and love of
his own church, and parish, and he had, by
his piety and fidelity to the cause of Christ,
won the respect and confidence Of all good
people who knew him, outside Of his own par.
ish. So the other two churches, Congregation
al and Baptist, had begun to manifest spirit
of tolerance toward him and his church, quite
unusual for them. .


About thanksgiving time, regular atten-
dant of the Baptist church died; the Baptist
minister was sick, and the Congregational
minister was out Of town. Under the circum-
stances it was decided to invite the Methodist
minister to conduct the funeral services. The
invitation was accepted, and at the proper
time the good clergyman started for the house
Of mourning. He had some four miles to
travel on foot, and, to save distance; left the
road and went across fields and through woods.
Near this by.way wherehe was travelling there
lived an old lady-a member of his own
church. As he was so near, he thought he
would call moment The old lady did not
90 to church very often; it was too far from
her home, and she was lame, too she was,
therefore, of course, overjoyed to zee her min
lister, and what he had intended should be d
momentary call was prolonged into quite
visit, in spite of all his effortstoge sMsy.


The old lady was making sausags when he
called. At last he told her he must 90, but
she said he must wait q minute while she put
up mess for him to carry home with him.
He tried to explain to her the impropriety of
her plan under the circumstances, but she was
inexorable; take the sausages he must, and
she could fix them so they would be no incon'
venience to him, and the matter need not
come to the knowledge of any one else.


The sausages were neatly done up in white
cloth and snugly pinned and put in the pock,,
cts of his swallow-tailed coat behind, a parcel
in each pocket. .s- n:a-n..e,.


Then he hurried away. Innocent, kind
hearted old lady! she did not imagine what
grief shame, modification and sorrow OF heart
this little act would cause her minister; and
he, in his hurry to make up lost time, little
dreamed what awaited him in consequence Of
the old lady's gift. .:a .i,,.a..


When be arrived at the house Of the de-
ceased he found large company waiting.
The neighbors from far and near had assem-
bled to pay their tribute of respect, and per-
form the last sad Offices that the living can
perform forsthe dead; some had come with
carriages, and their horses were hitched to
surrounding trees, fences and posts. They
had allowed their dogs to follow them. There
was large gathering Of men and boys about
the door yard, waiting for the minister, who
was late the women had mostly gone inside,
and the dogs were exchanging civilities or un:
civilities, in true dog style, as they happened
to take a liking, or disliking, to each other
trotting about with their tails rolled up in
rigid coils, scratching the ground, aside at a
time, causing the dust to fly, and casting ap..
proved glances, or uttering low growls of
warning, according as they felt toward each
other. '". '.''.: .'.'. ..'.'


Wher, the minister arrived he was recog-
nized, shook hands with such as he was ac'
quainted with, and was introduced to others.
He had hurried to get there in time, had got
heated up, and warmed the sausages in his
pockets. They we're very savory, and were
emitting fragrance that came IN contsct
with the olfactory nerves of the hungry dogs.
The latter left of their attentions to each
other and began to snuff for the source of the
pleasant odor, which they highly appreciated;
and they soon traced it to the minister. They
clustered about him in very friendly man.
ner, but no notice was taken Of them, and
when he went into the house they went
too. .' " ...i" '-'"..


A prayer was offered at the residence, du.
ring which the dogs smelled out the where
abouts Of the savory meat exactly, and in
the doing of this they greatly annoyed the
minister, and caused his cheek to burn and
his heart to ache. After the prayer the corpse
was carried to the church, which was near by,
and thither the whole company followed,
where the services were to be more protracted.
The dogs went, too, and soon after the minis
ter took his place in the pulpit they began to
skirmish around his coat pockets. If it bad
been anywhere except in church, or on any
occasion except funeral, the dogs would
have been cudgeled and sent away but as 1t
was no one wished to disturb the quiet sanct''
ty of the place, by the yelping ofdogs. They
seemed to comprehend the situation, and made
the most of it. They went up into the pulpit
a single one at time-two and three at
time. Sometimes two companies would meet
coming down from opposite sides OF the pull
pit, but all centering behind the minister,
whose only means of defence was kicking out
behind at them, by guess; but the dogs we're
wary, good at dodging, and none got hit.


Thus the service went on. The mental an
guish of the good minister cannot be des'
cribed but there was no alternative-he must
proceed as best he could. At last, to his great
relief, he was about to close his part Of the
service by pronouncing the benediction-
already closed his eyes and raised his hands
for this purpose-when worthy deacon OF
the Baptist church wished to have the minis,
ter read notice. The deacon was man OF
rather diminutive size, and walked as lightly
rs cat. He had approached the pulpit with
The notice in his hand, unperceived by the