OP COUNTRY AND CITY 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 V : ' \ 
 
 \\
 
 OF CALIF. LIBRARY. LOS ANGELA
 
 GOLD TINSEL AND TRASH 
 
 STORIES 
 
 OF 
 
 COUNTRY AND CITY 
 
 BY REV. ERASMUS W. JONES 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 The Captive Youths of Judah^ The Adopted Son of the Princess Llangobaith: 
 A Story of North Wales, etc 
 
 NEW YORK: HUNT &> EATON 
 
 CINCINNA TI: CRANSTON & STOWE 
 
 1890
 
 Copyright, 1890, by 
 
 H U N T & E ATOM, 
 
 NEW YORK.
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 QOME of these stories have appeared as 
 |M short serials in the Northern Christian 
 Advocate. I have been often requested to 
 publish them in book form. In looking them 
 over it was found that they would make but 
 a small volume, and " Gold, Tinsel and Trash," 
 " The Conspiracy," and " I Took You with 
 Guile," were added to the number. While 
 in the main they bear particularly on Meth- 
 odist usages, they are designed to interest 
 and benefit all the branches of Zion, and 
 check, in a measure, the rising tendency 
 among professed Christians to indulge in 
 worldly and unholy amusements. 
 
 E. W. J. 
 
 Utica, N. Y., 1889. 
 
 2130921
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 GOLD, TINSEL AND TRASH. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. " DUST TO DUST," AND A COWARDLY PLOT 7 
 
 II. THE ARCH-DECEIVER BROUGHT TO GRIEF 19 
 
 III. CONFESSION, DEFIANCE, AND AN INVITATION 29 
 
 IV. A BIRTHDAY-PARTY AND AN ACCIDENT 39 
 
 V. A METHODIST MEETING, AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT 
 
 OF IT 53 
 
 VI. ANOTHER BLUNDER, AND AN EXIT 64 
 
 VII. THE " BEST SOCIETY " ANALYZED 73 
 
 VIII. A MEETING AT FARRINGTON'S, AND " THE COMING 
 
 OF ARTHUR." 82 
 
 IX. IN SEARCH OF A MODEL, AND How IT WORKED 93 
 
 X. RAILROAD CALAMITY, A SCREAM, AND THEN JOY.... 106 
 
 OTHER STORIES OF COUNTRY AND CITY. 
 
 SHARP WORDS ON OLD FLINTROCK CIRCUIT 113 
 
 THE MAN WITH THE RUFFLED SHIRT ; OR, MY FIRST WEEK 
 
 ON L CHARGE 166 
 
 JOHN'S WIFE'S BROTHER : A THANKSGIVING STORY 202 
 
 THE CONSPIRACY : A STORY OF THE MEDES AND PERSIANS.. 218 
 
 SUNNY MEMORIES OF CONFERENCE CHUMS 241 
 
 " I TOOK You WITH GUILE " *. 256 
 
 THE GREAT REVIVAL AT TONVILLE 264
 
 GOLD, TINSEL AND TRASH. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 "DUST TO DUST," AND A COWARDLY PLOT. 
 
 rpHE fever had subsided, and reason had resumed 
 the throne from which it had been banished for 
 more than three weeks. But such had been the 
 severity of the attack that there was hardly any 
 hope that nature would rally. Dr. Thomas, a 
 physician of wide repute, had faithfully attended to 
 the sick man, and nothing which skill and personal 
 friendship could accomplish had been wanting. 
 Some two days after the fever had turned the 
 sufferer expressed a wish to be left alone with the 
 doctor for a few minutes, and the attendants left 
 the room. 
 
 " Well, doctor," said Mr. Trevor, in a very faint 
 voice and with a pleasant smile, " I understand the 
 situation perfectly. I am about to emigrate, and I 
 am fully prepared for the voyage. My mind is 
 calm and my spirit tranquil. That religion which 
 I embraced in my early youth sustains me now. 
 I am very happy, and perfectly reconciled to the 
 will divine. I simply wished to tell you this, and 
 nothing more."
 
 
 8 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 11 Gordon," said the doctor, " the providence that 
 takes you away in the midst of your days and in 
 the height of your influence is mysterious; but in 
 the light of heaven we shall clearly understand it. 
 The grace so richly bestowed upon the husband 
 and father will grandly sustain the wife and 
 children. I must now leave. I will call again in 
 the morning." The physician left, and the attend- 
 ants re-entered the sick chamber. 
 
 The next day, after the departure of the doctor, 
 the sick man spoke to his wife, who, with his hand 
 in her own, was close to his pillow. 
 
 " Jennie, while I have yet a bit of strength I 
 would like to have once more family prayer. Let 
 Arthur and Alice be called in." 
 
 In a few moments, accompanied by their pastor, 
 the children came into the room, and, sobbing, they 
 stood by the side of their father's dying bed. 
 
 He cast upon them a loving smile and said : " My 
 sweet, loved ones, your papa is about to leave you. 
 You have been very good children, and in the bright 
 hereafter we shall all meet again. We will pray 
 together once more. Kneel down where I can put 
 my hand on your heads." 
 
 The mother and children fell on their knees close 
 together, within the reach of the father's right 
 hand. All others in the room bowed before the 
 Lord, while in faint accents and with a face illu- 
 mined that good man offered his last prayer. 
 When it was over he affectionately kissed his wife 
 and children, and bade them farewell. He sank into 
 a quiet slumber, and in the afternoon, without a
 
 ''Dust to Dust,-' and a Cowardly Plot. 9 
 
 struggle or a groan, the happy spirit passed away 
 to the " Bright Forever." 
 
 Marvindale at the time of our story, thirty years 
 ago, had reached a population of three thousand, 
 and was noted for its many attractive features. It 
 stood on both sides of a river which, owing to a 
 large number of tributary springs, never became 
 low. Its water privileges were very fine, and many 
 of its citizens were engaged in milling. Within a 
 mile of the place there was a small lake, surrounded 
 by delightful groves, which rendered the vicinity in 
 the summer season a favorite resort. There were in 
 the village quite a number of stores, the most 
 prominent of which was owned and conducted by 
 Hon. James Mason. 
 
 Gordon Trevor until his sudden sickness had 
 been a man of great business energy. But his strict 
 attention to worldly matters did not retard his 
 religious activity. He was one of the most efficient 
 and liberal official members in the village Methodist 
 church. His death spread a deep gloom over the 
 whole vicinity, and his funeral was the largest ever 
 witnessed in Marvindale. 
 
 Mrs. Trevor was an accomplished, amiable, and 
 pious lady. Arthur was a splendid specimen of 
 young humanity in body and mind, sixteen years of 
 age. Alice, two years younger, was fair in person, 
 kind in disposition, sprightly, and, with her brother, 
 already a member of the Christian Church. 
 
 Although Mr. Trevor in his milling enterprise 
 was a successful man of business he was by no 
 means rich. At the widow's request his friends
 
 io Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 sold the mill property for a sum which, after pay- 
 ing all indebtedness, left the family in moderately 
 comfortable circumstances. 
 
 Fortunately for the bereaved household there 
 was in the village a very excellent academy, into 
 which Arthur had entered some months before his 
 father's death, while Alice preferred to remain 
 awhile longer in the district school, under the 
 training of a very superior teacher. The academy 
 had flourished for years under the good manage- 
 ment of Professor Lewis. 
 
 After Mr. Trevor's death Arthur, with a thought- 
 fulness and piety seldom found in a boy of his 
 years, solemnly vowed to his heavenly Father that 
 in all his movements at school and elsewhere he 
 would aim to comfort his mother and protect his 
 sister. With this holy pledge stamped upon his 
 memory and graven upon his heart the boy took 
 hold of the various branches of study with renewed 
 energy. 
 
 Attending the academy at this time was a boy 
 about one year older than Arthur, by the name of 
 Mark Floyd. His father was a wealthy brewer 
 residing in C , about fifty miles from Marvin- 
 dale. Floyd was a good scholar, but selfish beyond 
 measure, and in order to accomplish his ends 
 would often resort to deception and falsehood. He 
 was domineering and arbitrary. His money, which 
 seemed to be abundant, he freely shared with those 
 boys who flattered his vanity and put up with his 
 selfishness. In this way he found a few in his own 
 class that were ready to run at his bidding. His love
 
 "Dust to Dust,'' 1 and a Cowardly Plot. 1 1 
 
 of being admired was immoderate, and this, more 
 than any thing else, had urged him onward in his 
 studies. The success of others filled his mind with 
 jealousy. There were many in the school who did 
 not know the depth of this youth's depravity, and 
 among them was Arthur Trevor. 
 
 Mark was aware that Arthur was mastering his 
 studies with astonishing rapidity, and that his own 
 superiority in his class was in some danger. Such 
 a disaster would be terrible. And so, from a low 
 motive, he applied himself to his studies with in- 
 creased vigor. In his recitations he appeared to 
 good advantage, and more than one of the teachers 
 in well-chosen words had bestowed praise upon the 
 manner he and Arthur mastered their lessons. 
 This did not at all please Mark. The equal praise 
 bestowed upon Trevor made him wretched, and his 
 countenance denoted displeasure. How widely 
 different Arthur felt ! He was delighted with the 
 praise bestowed upon his young friend, and thought 
 all the more of him for his perseverance and in- 
 dustry. One afternoon after having received the 
 praise above mentioned, when the school had been 
 dismissed, Arthur, noticing a frown upon Mark's 
 face, addressed him in the most pleasant manner. 
 
 " Floyd, after those high compliments from your 
 teacher I cannot account for your displeased ap- 
 pearance." 
 
 " If I am displeased," was the curt reply, " it is 
 simply my own business. I presume you think 
 that to be put on an equality with yourself is a 
 great compliment."
 
 12 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 " Mark, your words are unkind and uncivil," said 
 Arthur, with some feeling. " It gave me pleasure 
 to hear your perfect lessons, and I embrace the first 
 opportunity to congratulate you." 
 
 " And in doing this you congratulate yourself," 
 said Mark. 
 
 "Not at all," said Arthur; "I would rather be 
 praised by my schoolmate." 
 
 " I am not in that mood just now," said Mark, 
 "and a fellow that is so wonderfully delighted by a 
 little praise from his teacher doesn't stand in need 
 of any more praise on the same day." 
 
 " I am sorry to find you in such an unfriendly 
 spirit," said Arthur. " Can it be possible that you 
 are displeased because my lessons have been praised 
 as well as your own ? Mark, I cannot afford to 
 have imperfect recitations in order to please you 
 or any one else. I am going to do my very best, 
 and so are you. If you leave me behind I shall 
 rejoice in your victory. If you find yourself 
 behind, which is not probable, can't you rejoice 
 in mine ?" 
 
 To the relief of Mark a number of the boys 
 joined them, and Arthur Trevor in a thoughtful 
 mood left the room and slowly walked toward 
 home. 
 
 Floyd well knew that his treatment of Arthur 
 was not at all in harmony with polite usages, and 
 did not feel quite easy. But his selfishness out- 
 weighed his better judgment, and very unworthy 
 and degrading purposes were readily admitted 
 into his ungenerous soul. Trevor, who had never
 
 "Dust to Dust" and a Cowardly Plot. 13 
 
 showed him that deference which some other boys 
 had, must not be permitted to remain his equal. 
 
 The more Arthur reflected upon the brief con- 
 versation between himself and Floyd, the more that 
 student fell in his estimation. His amiability and 
 loving disposition did not at all interfere with his 
 moral courage, decision of character, and keen sen- 
 sitiveness to an insult. Therefore it will not be 
 wondered at that after calm reflection on the situ- 
 ation he became more determined than ever to 
 apply himself diligently to his books, and strive in 
 a fair and honorable manner to reach a high mark 
 in his studies. 
 
 The Hon. Judge Mason was considered by far 
 the wealthiest man in Marvindale. When young 
 he had studied law, and graduated with high honors 
 in that department. He had been repeatedly elected 
 to the Legislature, and subsequently to the State 
 Senate. He had also served for some years as 
 county judge. He might have easily reached higher 
 distinction if he had permitted his friends to pre- 
 sent his claims. He chose, however, in the midst 
 of his popularity, to retire from politics and devote 
 himself to the interests of his mercantile business. 
 He was highly popular with the masses. With this 
 his brilliant talents had much to do ; but his kind 
 heart, his wonderful benevolence, and his unblem- 
 ished public record weighed more than his fine 
 abilities. He was ever ready " for every good word 
 and work." He was a devoted member of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church in the village and of 
 its Quarterly Conference. He took deep interest
 
 14 Gold, Tinsel and Trash, 
 
 in all educational measures. He was specially 
 interested in the Marvindale Academy, and to 
 him much of its success was justly attributed. 
 There was one annual " Mason prize," twenty dol- 
 lars in gold, to a gentleman of the graduating 
 class, for the best original oration in composition 
 and delivery, with a ten-dollar prize for the best 
 original essay from one of the lady graduates. In 
 addition to this he would often surprise other 
 classes with irregular prizes, given for their encour- 
 agement and advancement. His family consisted 
 of a wife and one daughter, a young lady then in 
 her twentieth year. 
 
 On the morning following Mark Floyd's ill- 
 natured remarks to his young classmate Professor 
 Lewis, at the close of recitations, addressed the class 
 of the second year as follows: 
 
 " I am happy to inform you that as an incentive 
 to study, and for the encouragement of faithful 
 scholars, Hon. Judge Mason, with his usual liberality, 
 has put in my hands two valuable prizes, to be 
 competed for by members of this class at a time 
 to be mentioned hereafter : ten dollars for the 
 best original oration, in composition and delivery, 
 and five dollars for the second best. The compe- 
 tition is confined to young gentlemen. This will 
 make a lively entertainment aside from our usual 
 exercises at the close of the term. Those who will 
 take a part in this contest will please hand in their 
 names within a week from to-day. The names will 
 not be made public until the evening of the com- 
 petition. It is not expected that the orations will
 
 "Dust to Dust^ and a Cowardly Plot. 15 
 
 be equal in merit to those of gentlemen of riper 
 years. Remember that they must be original. 
 You may be tempted to borrow. Trample on the 
 temptation and be honest. You may now retire." 
 
 This caused lively a talk among the members of 
 the class. All the boys were at home in declaiming, 
 but an original oration was something they had 
 never undertaken. Some shook their heads and 
 declared that it was beyond their ability. Mark 
 was silent, and from his behavior it was impossi- 
 ble to understand his purpose. He most earnestly 
 coveted the prize, but there were obstacles in the 
 way, and how could they be removed ? He well 
 knew that in showing his ill-feeling toward Arthur 
 he had seriously blundered and had injured his own 
 chances. He saw that he must use different tactics 
 or fail. On this day, after school in the afternoon, 
 he met his young schoolmate, and in a very polite 
 manner asked him to go with him to his room 
 for a few minutes. Arthur readily complied, and 
 they were soon seated in a well-furnished apart- 
 ment. 
 
 " Trevor," said Mark, "yesterday my head ached 
 badly. Under that bad feeling I felt cross and 
 used language that I would not have used under 
 other circumstances. I hardly knew what I was 
 saying. I hope you will let that pass and say noth- 
 ing about it." 
 
 " I will do that most gladly," said Arthur. " You 
 ought to be thankful that in spite of headache you 
 can get such splendid lessons." 
 
 " O," said Mark, wondering whether there was
 
 1 6 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 any sarcasm in Arthur's reply, " I had mastered my 
 lessons before the headache came on." 
 
 " That was fortunate," said Arthur, smiling, ''and 
 I would advise you to master your temper as well 
 before you get another attack." 
 
 " That is good advice," said Mark, hiding a rising 
 resentment. " But what do you think of Mason's 
 new notion? " 
 
 " I think it is very kind in him," was the reply ; 
 " but to ask an original oration from fellows of our 
 ages is something new." 
 
 " And I should say perfectly unreasonable," said 
 Mark, in a sneering tone. 
 
 "That cannot be," answered Trevor; "Judge 
 Mason and Professor Lewis would not propose any 
 thing unreasonable." 
 
 " This time I think they have," said Floyd. 
 " What can boys of seventeen and eighteen pro- 
 duce in the shape of an original oration ? They 
 will be laughed at. And will not such wretched 
 failures discourage the class instead of advancing 
 it ? I will have nothing to do with it, and I am 
 informed that this is the feeling of the whole 
 class." 
 
 " I can hardly believe that you have been correctly 
 informed," said Arthur. " Professor Lewis knows 
 what the class can do, and I am not going to 
 despise his judgment." 
 
 " You may do as you please," said Mark. " I say 
 again that I believe the boys will follow my ex- 
 ample and that there will be no competition." 
 
 Here the conversation was brought to a close by
 
 "Dust to Dust" and a Cowardly Plot. 17 
 
 the coming in of two members of the class, and 
 Arthur quietly departed. 
 
 " Well, boys, you are here a little sooner than I 
 expected," said Mark, " and it doesn't look much 
 as if I was to entertain my friends. To-day it 
 must be on a small scale, hoping for something 
 better in the future." 
 
 He then opened a cupboard, and placing before 
 them a good supply of oranges, nuts, candies, and 
 cakes, asked them to help themselves and to feel at 
 home ; which request, to all appearance, was cheer- 
 fully complied with. 
 
 " Baker, did you ask Tom Jones and Fred Will- 
 iams to come ?" asked Floyd. 
 
 " I did," was the reply, " but they declined in 
 terms that you would not consider complimentary." 
 
 "Just as I expected," said Mark. "Those two 
 chaps and Arthur Trevor are jealous of my stand- 
 ing in the school, and they would be glad to injure 
 me if they could do it on the sly." 
 
 " They can't do it !" cried Thompson, inspired by 
 a plentiful supply of oranges. " Hurrah for Mark 
 Floyd! He is our leader, and we are ready to 
 follow." 
 
 " You pay me too much honor, gentlemen," said 
 Mark, " but I thank you for your cheering words." 
 
 " By the way," asked Baker, " what does Arthur 
 think of this original oration business?" 
 
 " He thinks the job is too heavy for the class," 
 said Floyd, "and in this I agree with him. Since 
 his name is mentioned I will give you the nature 
 of a good round joke which I am going to play on
 
 1 8 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 him, and of course you will assist me. I assured 
 him that I was to have nothing to do with this con- 
 test, that it was altogether beyond our powers, and 
 that this was the sentiment of the whole class. I 
 am of the opinion that under this impression he 
 will not hand in his name. He is the only one that 
 I fear, and I have resorted to this little trick to 
 switch him off while our train passes. What think 
 you of that ?" 
 
 " Good for you !" was the response. 
 
 " Now," continued the leader, " let us finish our 
 arrangements without delay, and let them be known 
 to no living person outside of our circle. Professor 
 Lewis will not reveal names." 
 
 Having furnished an outline of his intended 
 movements, and his companions having satisfied 
 themselves with their leader's delicacies, the party 
 broke up, and before the setting of the sun the 
 names of Floyd, Baker, and Thompson were handed 
 to Professor Lewis as competitors for the prize.
 
 The Arch-Deceiver Brought to Grief, 19 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE ARCH-DECEIVER BROUGHT TO GRIEF. 
 
 "VTOTWITHSTANDING Arthur's defense of 
 i\| Judge Mason and the principal, the words of 
 Mark had left some impression on his mind. If the 
 rest of the boys were to stand aloof, of course there 
 would be no competition. He wondered that such 
 a good and ready speaker should look with disfavor 
 upon a measure which presented him such an ex- 
 cellent opportunity to win new honors. Well, he 
 would think the matter over, and would be in no 
 haste to hand in his name. 
 
 One evening, as the mother with her two children 
 sat in their comfortable parlor, the sister thus 
 opened the conversation : 
 
 " Arthur, the girls all say that the first oration 
 prize will fall either to you or Mark Floyd, and 
 nearly all hope that you will be the lucky fel- 
 low." 
 
 - " I thank them for their good wishes," said the 
 brother; " but Mark ridicules the whole thing, and 
 says that he and the rest of the class will have 
 nothing to do with it. He was very anxious to win 
 me over to the same opinion." 
 
 " Now, that is very strange !" said Alice. " It is 
 not at all like him and the rest of the class ! 
 Arthur, I don't believe that he told you the truth."
 
 2O Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 " If he did tell the truth," answered the brother, 
 " I don't see any use in handing in my name." 
 
 " My boy in this matter should not be governed 
 by the action of his classmates," said the mother. 
 " He should inquire what is right in the premises, 
 and what are the wishes of Professor Lewis." 
 
 " That is so, mother," said Arthur. " I told Mark 
 as much. To-morrow ends the week. I will give 
 Professor Lewis my name and will begin to think 
 of a theme." 
 
 " You ought to have done it before, Arthur," said 
 the mother, in a pleasant tone. " You will always 
 treat Mark Floyd with proper civility, but he is not 
 the one to be admitted into your confidence. You 
 may possibly find out before long that his advice to 
 you on this point was not prompted by honest 
 feelings." 
 
 The door-bell rang, and presently the smiling 
 countenance of Professor Lewis was seen in the 
 room. He began at once with the object of his 
 visit. 
 
 " My chief business is with you, Arthur ; but I am 
 glad to see you together, and please so remain. 
 Arthur, I have wondered why you have not given 
 your name as a competitor for the oration prize. 
 If there are any obstacles in your way that you feel 
 free to mention I will be glad to remove them, if 
 within my legitimate power." 
 
 " We were conversing on that very subject when 
 the bell rang," said Arthur. " Some days ago 
 Mark Floyd told me positively that he would have 
 nothing to do with this contest, and that the other
 
 The Arch-Deceiver Brought to Grief. 21 
 
 boys had come to the same conclusion. He said 
 so much that I have hesitated in regard to the 
 matter. But by the advice of my mother I shall 
 most gladly hand in my name to-morrow." 
 
 There was on the professor's countenance a 
 mingled expression of sorrow and pleasure as he 
 replied : 
 
 " Arthur, the obstacles can be very easily re- 
 moved. I will not mention individuals, but I will 
 assure you that I have the names of a fair number 
 of the members of your class that will enter the 
 competition. The names must be all in to-morrow. 
 Arthur, please call at my room to-morrow evening 
 at nine o'clock, and hand in your name. If during 
 the day, at any time before that hour, you are asked 
 by any of the boys if you have handed in your 
 name, please give them a very emphatic 'No /' ' 
 And the professor, with a restored smile, bade the 
 company " good-night." 
 
 " Arthur, don't you now see through Mark's 
 plot?" asked Alice, with much feeling. "He 
 wickedly lied in order to get you out of the way." 
 
 " But Professor Lewis did not say that Mark's 
 name is on the list," said Arthur. " He may not 
 have lied in that after all." 
 
 " But he did lie in that ! " said Alice, with much 
 spirit. " Didn't I watch the professor's counte- 
 nance ? In my opinion Mark's name heads the list, 
 and very likely it was handed in on the very day 
 when he assured you that he would have nothing 
 to do with it." 
 
 "Then he is a very much worse boy than I
 
 22 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 thought he was," said Arthur, reflectively. " Let 
 us hope, Alice, that he is not quite so bad as that." 
 
 " It is very good in you, my boy, to talk in this 
 manner," said Mrs. Trevor. " I am pleased with 
 your kind spirit. We will hope as best we can ; 
 but, as things appear now, I greatly fear that Mark 
 Floyd, for a very selfish purpose, has deliberately 
 told you an untruth." 
 
 "And it would be just like him to lie again by 
 saying that an oration written by another person 
 was his own," said Alice. 
 
 " Not quite so fast, my darling," said the mother. 
 " It will be soon enough to judge of that after the 
 oration is delivered. Let us join with Arthur in 
 hoping." 
 
 The next day young Trevor attended school as 
 usual. Mark and his associates seemed cheerful, 
 and yet they showed a degree of nervousness. 
 Was Trevor's name given to Professor Lewis? or 
 would it be within the limited time? were questions 
 that gave Floyd much uneasiness. If up to that 
 time he had not taken that step the probability was 
 that he had abandoned the thought. They would 
 try and gain this coveted information. Mark had 
 given full directions how to proceed. 
 
 The school was out for the afternoon, and the 
 scholars were on their way to their respective 
 homes and boarding-houses. In the most friendly 
 manner Baker asked his young friend, 
 
 " Trevor, do you think that I am responsible for 
 the imperfect manner in which I recite my lessons 
 when I do my very best ? "
 
 The Arch-Deceiver Brought to Grief. 23 
 
 " I think that the most of your recitations are 
 very good," said Arthur ; " we all fail sometimes." 
 
 " I fail very often," said Baker, " and you never 
 fail. If I had the ability that you and Mark mani- 
 fest I would not hesitate a moment to enter this 
 contest. I wonder that such a bright fellow as 
 Mark Floyd should refuse to engage in it. Trevor, 
 you will have an easy victory, for of course you 
 have handed in your name." 
 
 " Of course / have not," said Arthur, with studied 
 force. " Mark assured me that all the boys were 
 going to stand aside." 
 
 " It would be embarrassing to be the only speaker," 
 said Baker, " and, for one, I don't blame you." 
 
 By this time their roads parted. Each went his 
 way well pleased with the conversation. 
 
 In half an hour Floyd had his company together 
 in order to hear Baker's report. - 
 
 "The scheme has worked splendidly," said Baker. 
 " As far as Trevor is concerned the coast is clear." 
 
 " Give me his exact language ! " cried Mark. 
 
 This was soon done to the perfect satisfaction of 
 the leader. " Ha ! ha ! " he cried, " We are going 
 to have things our own way ! Keep shady, boys ! 
 Mum is the word. Let us stand together. You 
 know that I am not backward in rewarding my 
 friends. Make perfectly free with those oranges. 
 There are plenty more where they came from, and 
 my purse is far from being empty." 
 
 At nine o'clock that night Arthur Trevor's name 
 completed the list of competitors. 
 
 It was a late hour and the door was locked. In
 
 24 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 one hand Mark held a letter which he had just read, 
 and in the other a certain manuscript which de- 
 noted a fair degree of age. He seemed to be in 
 deep reflection, as if balancing possibilities. Upon 
 the whole he appeared pleased, and yet not quite 
 free from fear. He well knew that he was contem- 
 plating the performance of a dishonest act. He 
 tried to believe that it partook of the nature of a 
 joke, but that effort was vain. He was determined 
 to make the venture. His deceptive, lying course for 
 the past two or three weeks had greatly strength- 
 ened him in his dishonest career. He had read 
 both the letter and the manuscript, and was revolv- 
 ing in his mind the contents of both, especially 
 those of the letter. He looked at it again, and gave 
 it a second perusal. It ran thus : 
 
 "And so you stand in need of a little help, eh? 
 Well, Mark, I am in the same fix myself. I am not 
 in need of an ' original oration ; ' I have stacks of 
 them laid away. If by exchanging commodities we 
 can help each other let us proceed to business. 
 Drink I must have. Drink I will have ! It is kill- 
 ing me, yet I cling to it for dear life ; I am about 
 half drunk now. But, degraded as I am, I will say 
 to you, beware of the bewitching devil ! I am in 
 the power of a demon, and my moral powers are 
 crushed. I expect to live and die a drunkard. 
 
 " Now to business. I send you an original ora- 
 tion. It was never printed. My chum at college 
 said it was prime, and copied parts of it into his 
 diary. It was many, many years ago, and five hun-
 
 The Arch-Deceiver Brought to Grief. 25 
 
 dred miles from Marvindale ; so that there is not 
 the least danger that it will ever give you any 
 trouble. Mark, you are not engaged in an honora- 
 ble business ; but that is your own look-out. I am 
 in need of money ; so let us hurry up matters. If 
 the oration suits you, copy it, burn the original, and 
 send me ten dollars. I will pledge to you my eter- 
 nal secrecy. JOHN BUDLONG." 
 
 " I think I will do it, Jack," said Mark to himself. 
 " The parts that are too smart I will tone down to 
 my own level. I will put in a sentence here and 
 there ; just enough to make it ' original.' Ha ! ha ! 
 Yes, Jack, I'll do it, and, sot as you are, I know you 
 will never go back on me. This time I must not 
 only win the prize, but I must excel. So, Jack, for 
 the present I bid you ' good-night.' " 
 
 Soon after all the names had been handed in, Pro- 
 fessor Lewis privately informed each competitor 
 that the contest would take place in four weeks at 
 the Presbyterian church. From the nature of the 
 situation, as the reader fully understands, the con- 
 testants were as retired in their preparations as 
 circumstances would permit. 
 
 The day arrived, and the exercises were to begin 
 at 8 P. M. The notice had been widely circulated, 
 and much interest was manifested on the part of 
 the people. The villagers in large number hastened 
 to the commodious building, while hundreds came 
 from the adjoining country. 
 
 The audience was called to order by Professor 
 Lewis, who said : " Ladies and gentlemen, it is
 
 26 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 not a common practice to ask for original orations 
 from the class of the second year. But in many 
 instances a departure from settled customs has 
 proved to be a healthy improvement. We have 
 not deemed it expedient to have a printed pro- 
 gramme. You will be the more interested in learn- 
 ing the names of the competitors as one by one 
 they are called and appear on the stage." 
 
 The first speaker was Mr. Baker. He chose for 
 his theme " Truthfulness." He was followed by 
 Mr. Thompson, on " The Elements of Success." 
 Fred Williams was then announced, who gave the 
 audience " The Reward of Perseverance." He was 
 followed by Thomas Jones, who chose " Cicero " for 
 his theme. Mark Floyd then marched on the stage 
 in a graceful manner and spoke on " Life's Respon- 
 sibilities." He left the platform under the full 
 conviction that he was the last speaker for the 
 evening and that the first prize was ready to drop 
 into his hand. Smiles were exchanged between the 
 plotters, but when the name of Arthur Trevor was 
 called Floyd's countenance turned pale. The theme 
 was " Moral Integrity." The young orator left the 
 rostrum amid loud cheering. 
 
 " While the adjudicators are getting ready their 
 report," said Professor Lewis, " the audience will 
 be entertained with vocal and instrumental music." 
 
 In about twenty minutes Dr. Parker stood on the 
 stage and said, "Your judges have fully agreed on 
 the following brief adjudication : Mr. Baker's ora- 
 tion possesses many valuable thoughts. The de- 
 livery was on too high a pitch, and less violent
 
 The Arch-Deceiver Brought to Grief. 27 
 
 gestures would have been an improvement. Mr. 
 Thompson's oration possessed many ' elements of 
 success.' It was marred by several grammatical de- 
 fects and was not thoroughly committed to memory. 
 Mr. Williams's oration is creditable as a composition, 
 and the delivery, upon the whole, was commenda- 
 ble. Mr. Jones might have selected a subject more 
 suitable to his age, but his effort was worthy of 
 praise. Mr. Trevor, for a person so young, showed 
 wonderful proficiency both in matter and oratory. 
 Your adjudicators are extremely sorry to be com- 
 pelled to state before this audience that Mr. Floyd 
 is not legitimately in the contest. The prizes are 
 for original orations. They have in their possession 
 the most positive proof that the one he delivered 
 was originally written many years ago by a young 
 man at college. We hope that Mr. Floyd will be 
 able to show that he was mistaken in regard to the 
 terms of the contest. 
 
 " The first prize is awarded to Arthur Trevor, 
 and the second to be equally divided between Fred 
 Williams and Thomas Jones." 
 
 This was followed by loud applause. The vic- 
 tors were called on the stage and publicly rewarded. 
 While the band played the large audience dispersed, 
 well pleased with the entertainment and with the 
 verdict of the judges. 
 
 Dr. Parker, who read the adjudication, was John 
 Budlong's chm at college, who had copied parts 
 of the oration into his diary, as mentioned in the 
 poor drunkard's letter to Mark Floyd. 
 
 As the reader may well judge, Mark and his
 
 28 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 dupes were overwhelmed with confusion. They 
 hastened together to the chief plotter's head-quar- 
 ters. So sure was he of receiving the first prize that 
 he had made preparations for a gay time of feast- 
 ing on a large scale. The disappointment was 
 crushing, and his defeat double. He not only failed 
 of getting the prize, but was also disgraced before 
 the whole assembly. He could not plead ignorance, 
 for on this very point the class had been faithfully 
 warned by Professor Lewis. Mark's countenance 
 denoted anger and defiance, while his two compan- 
 ions showed a degree of shame and some sorrow. 
 
 " Well, boys," said Floyd, with a forced smile of 
 indifference, " we have been badly worsted. Baker, 
 Arthur must have lied to you when he said that his 
 name had not been handed in." 
 
 " I presume it was handed in that evening," said 
 Baker. " I don't believe that Arthur Trevor ever 
 told a lie. The lying was all on our side, and the 
 punishment, at least a part of it, has quickly fol- 
 lowed." 
 
 " I should judge by your whining tone that you are 
 going to play the coward," said Mark, with a sneer. 
 
 " Call it what you choose," said Baker, " but for 
 days I have been ashamed of the part that I was 
 acting, and I have no particular fault to find with 
 the manner in which it has terminated." 
 
 " And I would advise such cowards to leave my 
 premises, and make their humble confessions to the 
 powers that be," said Mark, in an angry mood. 
 
 " The best advice you ever gave me," said Baker, 
 " and I will take it under my serious consideration."
 
 Confession, Defiance, and an Invitation. 29 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 CONFESSION, DEFIANCE, AND AN INVITATION. 
 
 ON Monday morning, after chapel service, Pro- 
 fessor Lewis said: " I have a painful duty to' 
 perform, and it must be done in the presence of the 
 whole school. A most cowardly plot of deception 
 and falsehood was concocted to keep away a fellow- 
 student from participating in the late oration con- 
 test. The chief mover in this iniquity was Mark 
 Floyd. In addition to this he has been guilty of 
 dishonesty in presenting as his own before the 
 audience the production of another person. Mark 
 Floyd, what have you to say for yourself in view of 
 this disgraceful conduct?" 
 
 " I have no confessions to make, and I ask for no 
 favors," was the spiteful reply. 
 
 Without making any remarks on Floyd's lan- 
 guage the professor went on, " I am sorry to know 
 that in this proceeding Mr. Floyd was assisted by at 
 least two members of his class. Of this we have 
 abundant proof. I trust that on the part of these 
 two gentlemen a more becoming spirit will be mani- 
 fested than that which we have just witnessed." 
 
 At this point Mr. Baker left his seat and handed 
 Profes. c or Lewis a folded paper. The professor first 
 read it to himself, and then, in harmony with the 
 request of the subscribers, he read it before the 
 whole school :
 
 30 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 " We, the undersigned, confess with shame and 
 sorrow that, in yielding to the persuasion of a 
 member of our class to use deceptive and false 
 measures for the purpose of keeping Arthur Trevor 
 from the oration competition, w y e were ungentle- 
 manly, unkind, and even wicked. We most hum- 
 bly ask the forgiveness of Professor Lewis, Judge 
 Mason, Arthur Trevor, and the whole school. If 
 punishment cannot be avoided, we pray that it may 
 be of such a nature as to spare as much as possible 
 the feelings of our parents and friends. 
 
 "JOHN BAKER, 
 
 " JAMES THOMPSON." 
 
 " I would say to these two young men that, 
 although their conduct in this matter was all they 
 confess it to be," continued the professor, "yet, in 
 making this frank statement before the whole 
 school they show that they are capable of noble 
 and worthy deeds. Mr. Floyd, you would better 
 call back your defying words, and join with these 
 young men in their confession." 
 
 "Never!" cried Floyd. " I detest the sneaking 
 cowards." 
 
 "Then I have only to say," said Professor Lewis, 
 "that John Baker and James Thompson are sus- 
 pended for forty-eight hours, and that Mark Floyd 
 is hereby expelled. You will now quietly go to 
 your respective classes, and- diligently attend to 
 your studies. Let what you have witnessed this 
 morning be an incentive to all to follow in the 
 paths of truth and magnanimity."
 
 Confession, Defiance, and an Invitation. 31 
 
 Judge Mason's brother, Hiram, was a rich 
 merchant in the city of New York. At an early 
 age he had left the country for the metropolis, and 
 procured a situation as an assistant book-keeper in 
 a large house. Such was his proficiency in this de- 
 partment, together with his moral integrity and the 
 interest he manifested in the success of his employ- 
 ers, that he was soon promoted. In the course of 
 a few years his services were considered so essential 
 to the house that, for fear he might be induced 
 to accept offers from other houses, they offered him 
 a share in the profits, and he became a junior 
 partner. In about five years after the formation of 
 this partnership he married a young lady from the 
 country, with whom he had become acquainted 
 during his school-days, the daughter of a farmer in 
 good circumstances. She was well-educated, fair 
 in personal appearance, slightly vain in her aspira- 
 tions, a little inclined to claim superiority over her 
 equals, and yet possessing a very commendable 
 degree of kindness, sympathy, and affection. Such 
 was Mary Downer, who captivated the heart of the 
 thriving young merchant of the metropolis. She was 
 taken to a fine mansion, well furnished, with com- 
 petent servants to do her bidding. The married 
 pair lived happily. The wife, although cherishing 
 an excellent opinion of herself, entertained a far 
 higher opinion of her husband ; and it gave her 
 unbounded pleasure to believe that Hiram Mason 
 had but very few equals, if any, on this terrestrial 
 ball. This was well, and it served to keep Mrs. 
 Mason's aspirations within a circle that was not
 
 32 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 extravagant. At the time of our story they had 
 been married about nineteen years, and had an only 
 child, a daughter, verging on seventeen. By this 
 time Hiram Mason was rich, even in the New York 
 sense of the term. He stood at the head of a large 
 commercial house, and was considered worth at 
 least a million, while yet only forty-five years of 
 age. At his fine mansion on Fifth Avenue he was 
 the same kind, genial man that he was twenty 
 years before. Parties attended, and given, where 
 so often " vanity of vanity" made itself prominent, 
 failed to make our merchant a gay worldling. 
 While yielding to his wife's wishes in all things 
 that did not involve a sacrifice of moral principles, 
 his soul was often sick in view of the utter worth- 
 lessness of scores and hundreds who moved in what 
 was termed " the best society." He was a full 
 believer in orthodox Christianity, but had never 
 identified himself with any branch of the visible 
 Church. In his younger years he had sat under the 
 Methodist ministry, but since his marriage he had 
 gone with his wife to a church of another com- 
 munion, of which she was a member at the time of 
 our story. Helen, the daughter, was exceedingly 
 amiable, and her affectionate nature was visible in 
 her countenance. Her strong love for her parents 
 showed itself on all occasions. She possessed in 
 rich abundance the noble moral traits of her father. 
 She had shared in the privileges of the Sabbath- 
 school of the church she attended, and had often 
 listened to interesting remarks touching Christian 
 doctrines both from her teachers and superin-
 
 Confession, Defiance, and an Invitation. 33 
 
 tendent. She was not a stranger to serious thoughts 
 in regard to her spiritual condition, and often felt 
 a longing desire to be a genuine Christian and a 
 member of the Church. But the deportment and 
 aspirations of those of her associates who did belong 
 to the Church were of such a nature as to repel her 
 from seeking that relation. In them she looked in 
 vain for that consecration and self-denial of which 
 she had read so much in the New Testament. And 
 what would it avail her to unite with a church 
 where such a large proportion of the members 
 vied with non-professors in the strife for worldly 
 pleasure ? 
 
 She was young, but for years these inconsist- 
 encies proved to be stumbling-blocks in the path 
 of Helen Mason. Hitherto she had said but little 
 in regard to this point, but occasionally she would 
 startle her mother with questions touching vital 
 experimental piety that would make Mrs. Mason 
 uncomfortable for hours. 
 
 The mother in her lively imagination gave her 
 daughter and only child a most splendid future. 
 First, she saw her a reigning belle a star of the 
 first brilliancy, a leader in fashionable circles, ad- 
 mired by a dozen of the metropolis's wealthiest 
 young men; after this the honorable lady of a 
 splendid mansion, leaning fondly on the arm of her 
 husband, while men in livery hastened to act her 
 pleasure. The mother pictured spacious halls, 
 sparkling diamonds, costly costumes, enchanting 
 music, and graceful cotillons. Let us hope that 
 high Heaven has in store something infinitely more
 
 34 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 brilliant and honorable than that for the daughter 
 of Hiram Mason. 
 
 Mark Floyd, while on his way homeward, put 
 together with considerable ingenuity a string of 
 lies which measurably satisfied his father. But in 
 less than a week the brewer received a long letter 
 from Professor Lewis giving a minute account of 
 the whole matter, together with the defiant spirit 
 his son had shown on the Monday following the 
 prize contest. The father, although a rough, 
 swearing, immoral man, had sense . enough to 
 know that Professor Lewis's version was the correct 
 one. His subsequent interview with Mark was a 
 scene of intense passion. The parent was exceed- 
 ingly angry and the son stubborn and defiant ; so 
 much so that the rich brewer saw fit to give Mark 
 a very thorough shaking. This he did with perfect 
 ease, for he was a large man and physically power- 
 ful. This was not the first boisterous interview 
 between father and son, nor the first time that 
 Mark had tried to account for his conduct with a 
 falsehood. The shaking was a new process. But 
 instead of proving a" savor of life unto life," in the 
 case of this depraved boy it had the contrary 
 effect. While suffering this brief but sharp chastise- 
 ment he fully made up his mind concerning his 
 future course. The next morning he was not to be 
 found on the premises. He had left for parts 
 unknown, and for his traveling expenses he had 
 burglariously taken from his father's office the 
 moderate sum of four hundred dollars. The father,
 
 Confession, Defiance, and an -Invitation. 35 
 
 being perfectly satisfied that Mark was the thief, 
 and being abundantly rich, made no ado about the 
 theft nor did he trouble himself in regard to the 
 whereabouts of his son. 
 
 One morning, while at breakfast, a servant 
 brought Mr. Hiram Mason a number of letters. 
 He hastily glanced at the different directions and 
 selected one. 
 
 'This is from Marvindale," he said as he opened 
 it. 
 
 "Yes, and from Uncle James," said Helen, when 
 she saw the familiar handwriting. 
 
 The letter was as follows : 
 
 " MARVINDALE, May 15, 18 . 
 
 " DEAR HiRAM: As a family we are well and 
 happy. We unite in the most earnest manner in 
 sending you and yours an invitation to spend a few 
 weeks this coming summer at Marvindale and 
 make our house your most welcome home. We 
 long to see you and enjoy your society. We have 
 not the attractions of the popular watering resorts, 
 but we have a beautiful village, a delightful lake, 
 trusty boatmen, and the most healthy region in the 
 State. I am sure my charming young niece would 
 enjoy our country life splendidly. You know we 
 have a commodious house, and if it would please 
 you to bring some friends with you it would cer- 
 tainly please us. 
 
 s ' The closing exercises of our academy, when a 
 large class shall graduate, will take place on the 25th
 
 36 Gold, Tinsel and Trash, 
 
 of June. This will give Marvindale a lively appear- 
 ance, and I think you would be pleased with the 
 proceedings. Let us hear from you soon, and 
 please do gratify us in this our most urgent request. 
 " Yours, for myself and family, 
 
 "JAMES MASON." 
 
 " Well, my dear, what think you of that ?" asked 
 Mr. Mason, addressing his wife. 
 
 " I had purposed to go to Newport or Saratoga," 
 was the answer. " It must be rather dull in that 
 little village. There are but very few there who 
 move in the best society." 
 
 " And what do you mean by ' the best society ?' ' 
 asked her husband, looking at Mrs. Mason with 
 some earnestness. 
 
 " I mean such society as we mingle in in this 
 city, or at Saratoga the society we meet at our 
 evening parties," said the wife. 
 
 " I understand," said Mr. Mason, with a meaning 
 smile. "I have watched what you call 'the best 
 society' for years, and, to tell you my honest opin- 
 ion, I consider it, as a whole, superficial and trashy, 
 abounding in vanity, conceit, and mental weakness. 
 I would gladly exchange it for one where the peo- 
 ple make free use of common sense." 
 
 " My dear, I am sorry to hear you speak so before 
 your daughter, who is just being introduced into 
 society," said Mrs. Mason. 
 
 " Mary, I speak chiefly on our daughter's account," 
 said Mr. Mason. " I should be exceedingly sorry 
 to see her following in the vain and frivolous foct-
 
 Confession, Defiance, and an Invitation. 37 
 
 steps of very many young people who move in what 
 is termed ' the best society,' whose great effort in 
 life seems to be to outstrip each other in devotion 
 to dress and gayety, while their moral and intel- 
 lectual natures are sadly neglected. If in Marvin- 
 dale Helen would not find a large number of young 
 people-who are far better entitled to the term ' best 
 society' than hundreds who claim it in New York I 
 am very much mistaken." 
 
 " I would be sorry to take Helen anywhere against 
 her will," said Mrs. Mason, looking at the daughter, 
 who seemed to be deeply interested in the conver- 
 sation. " Where would you rather visit this sum- 
 mer, dear; at Newport or Marvindale?" 
 
 " My dear mamma, you should not consult my 
 wishes at all," said Helen. " I shall be glad to fol- 
 low my parents. But since you have asked me I 
 will say that I have not the least desire to go to 
 Newport or Saratoga, and that nothing on earth 
 would give me more pleasure than to visit our dear 
 relatives in Marvindale. And, mamma, even if I 
 had arranged to go somewhere else that letter from 
 my dear Uncle James would have changed my mind 
 at once." 
 
 " That settles it," said Mrs. Mason. " But, Helen, 
 you are a strange child, I must say. You know John 
 and Maud Farrington talked about going with us 
 to Newport. I am afraid they will be disappointed. 
 Perhaps they will be pleased to accompany us. Your 
 uncle says that we can bring friends, and it would 
 make it more agreeable for you." 
 
 " Not for me, dear mamma," said the daughter.
 
 38 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 " I would rather be free with my Cousin Hattie, to 
 go and come where and when we pleased, and not 
 be tied to any city friends, especially those of the 
 Farrington stamp." 
 
 " Helen, you should not permit yourself to speak 
 like that of one of the first families in the city," 
 said the mother, with some feeling, while the father 
 indulged in well-pleased laughter. 
 
 " Mary," said he, " I cannot, for my life, see what 
 you find in the Farringtons to admire. They are 
 rich, it is true, and they make quite a show. Far- 
 rington is a good fellow in his way. His wife is 
 proud and haughty. Maud is much like her. John 
 is a silly, conceited dandy, and a very worthless 
 member of society." 
 
 " Why, my dear Hiram ! What has come over 
 you this morning?" said his wife. " I never heard 
 you talk like this before." 
 
 " Well, Mary, to tell you the truth, ' ' was the reply, 
 " I am heartily sick of hearing inferior and worthless 
 persons pronounced 'the best society,' simply be- 
 cause they live in palaces and have servants in liv- 
 ery. I don't wish to have Helen fall into such a 
 delusion, and I am happy to know that she is not 
 inclined that way. If John and Maud Farrington 
 desire to go with us, by all means let them come, 
 and if you will not get more than enough of their 
 society before we return I shall be disappointed." 
 
 Mrs. Mason, for all this, was not displeased with 
 her husband. Even when he opposed her in some 
 of her propositions she was still firm in the opinion 
 that he stood nearer perfection than any other man.
 
 A Birthday-Party and an Accident. 39 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 A BIRTHDAY-PARTY AND AN ACCIDENT. 
 
 sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky. The 
 day had arrived in which the inhabitants of 
 Marvindale and the regions about were deeply inter- 
 ested. There were exhibitions in painting and 
 drawing, exercises in vocal and instrumental music, 
 recitations, declamations, original essays and ora- 
 tions from a large graduating class composed of 
 young ladies and gentlemen. Among the specta- 
 tors in a favorable part of the building were found 
 our friends from New York, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram 
 Mason, their daughter, and a young gentleman men- 
 tioned in the last chapter who had concluded that 
 his presence would greatly add to the comfort and 
 importance of the company. 
 
 To Helen the exercises in all their features were 
 interesting. She listened with pleasure and aston- 
 ishment to superior playing by young ladies brought 
 up from their infancy in the country, and to original 
 essays which proved that their authors were young 
 maidens possessing cultured minds. She gazed on 
 superior oil-paintings and fine pencil-drawings. She 
 listened to eloquent declamations and talented ora- 
 tions ; all this from young people the majority of 
 whom had never seen a large city. She compared 
 these performances with the abilities of many of
 
 4O Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 her New York acquaintances, who formed what her 
 mother termed "the best society," and the com- 
 parison in her mind was any thing but flattering to 
 her gay companions of the metropolis. The class 
 clothed itself with honor. Arthur Trevor took the 
 lead and stood the highest, but they all did grandly, 
 and never had the closing exercises given better 
 satisfaction. 
 
 When the company had reached the spacious 
 parlors of Judge Mason Helen was the first to 
 express her feelings touching the day's doings, and 
 this she did in her usual warm and impressive 
 style. 
 
 "Why, Cousin Hattie," she cried, "I am per- 
 fectly astonished and delighted ! Every thing was 
 splendid !" 
 
 " I am really glad, Cousin Helen, that you have 
 been so well pleased," was the modest reply. "I 
 had some fears that the exercises would fail to meet 
 your expectations." 
 
 " O Hattie ! they were far beyond what I ex- 
 pected," was the reply. 
 
 " I must agree with Miss Helen, that for a 
 country exhibition it was quite creditable," said 
 John Farrington, in a lofty, patronizing way. 
 
 " And I must inform Mr. Farrington that his 
 language does not at all agree with mine," said 
 Helen. ' For a country exhibition,' indeed ! John, 
 those exercises would have been a credit to any 
 academy in the city of New York. Do you know 
 of one young lady within the circle of your 
 acquaintance that ever appeared t9 better advan-
 
 A Birthday-Party and an Accident, 41 
 
 tage at the close of a four-years' course than did a 
 number of those ladies to-day ? Do you know of 
 one young man of twenty years in your set that 
 can eclipse in talent, deportment, and scholarship 
 those young men of to-day, especially Arthur 
 Trevor ?" 
 
 "Well, really," answered Mr. Farrington, with 
 some embarrassment, " come to think it over, I 
 don't know that I can." 
 
 " Then why use the language ' for a country ex- 
 hibition ?' " asked Helen. " I think you had better 
 call back those words." 
 
 " I call them back, Miss Helen," said the van- 
 quished John. " The words were not well chosen." 
 
 This brief colloquy, and especially the way it 
 ended, pleased well the company. Even Mrs. Hiram 
 Mason enjoyed the easy manner in which her 
 daughter had quitted herself. But in deference to 
 the feelings of the millionaire's son she saw fit to 
 say : 
 
 " Helen, dear, I am afraid that in your enthusiasm 
 over the exercises your language to Mr. Farrington 
 was not as gentle as it ought to have been." 
 
 " My dear mamma will remember that Mr. 
 Farrington and myself are not strangers to each 
 other," said Helen. "There is no danger that a 
 little plain talk will give offense; is there, John?" 
 
 " Not the least bit !" said John. " Mrs. Mason, 
 your daughter's words are all right, and she never 
 stood higher in my estimation than she does this 
 minute." 
 
 This bit of effusion was received in silence, and
 
 42 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 it was plain that on the minds of all present it left 
 an unfavorable impression. 
 
 In a few days after this Judge Mason, in his 
 usual happy way, said at the breakfast table : " In 
 a little over a week my young niece here will reach 
 the seventeenth anniversary of her birthday. If in 
 harmony with the feelings of her parents, as well as 
 her own, I would consider it a very great pleasure, 
 as well as an honor, to give her a birthday-party. 
 Nothing would please our young people better 
 than to have an opportunity to show their respect 
 for one who a few days ago spoke so nobly in their 
 praise." 
 
 " O Uncle James," cried Helen, with her face 
 glowing, V how kind you are ! I am not worthy of 
 such particular notice. But if papa and mamma 
 are willing I am sure I shall be delighted." 
 
 "To be sure we are willing," said her mother, 
 "and your uncle is very kind. Of course the com- 
 pany will be select, and not large." 
 
 " We can leave all that to the superior judgment of 
 this family," said her husband. "Any company 
 that they shall see fit to invite will be select enough 
 for us and an honor to our daughter." 
 
 "Should the weather be agreeable," said the 
 judge, " we shall go to one of the groves on the 
 lake shore. The young people will enjoy swings 
 and boating. We shall not be able to confine the 
 company to any exact age, but my sister may rest 
 assured that all of them will be highly respectable ; 
 not in point of wealth, but in that of morals." 
 
 This was said so kindly that Mrs. Hiram Mason
 
 A Birthday- Party and an Accident. 43 
 
 in conscience could find no fault ; and yet she felt 
 _that in those kind accents there was a slight reproof, 
 and, furthermore, there was in her mind a degree of 
 conviction that it was deserved. 
 
 The day arrived and the weather was charming. 
 The preparation was perfect, and nothing was want- 
 ing to make the birthday-picnic a perfect success. 
 About thirty young people had been invited from 
 the village and its surroundings. There were also 
 a few married persons, particular friends of Judge 
 Mason's family. Helen rendered herself highly 
 agreeable to all. She was lively and cheerful, with 
 a happy smile for each. Never before had she 
 looked so lovely in the sight of her parents. 
 
 From the judge's residence they rode to the grove 
 in a number of carriages. Helen's mother intended 
 to have her daughter ride with herself and husband 
 and in company with Mr. Farrington. But in a 
 playful mood, as the young metropolitan stood ready 
 to hand her into the carriage, with a pleasant laugh 
 she stepped into another one, and, to the great 
 amusement of her father, sat by the side of Arthur 
 Trevor. 
 
 " Helen, darling, this is your carriage," said the 
 mother, while Farrington 's countenance denoted a 
 degree of displeasure. 
 
 " O no, mother dear," said the girl ; " on this day 
 you must permit me to mingle freely with my 
 country friends." 
 
 "All ready!" cried Judge Mason, and the for- 
 ward carriages moved, while Mr. Farrington, with a 
 disappointed visage, took his seat by the side of
 
 44 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 Mrs. Mason, and in a short time the company ar- 
 rived at its destination. 
 
 The facilities for enjoyment were all that could 
 be desired. The grove was enchanting, and the 
 lake mirrored the heavens above with the tall trees 
 that grew on its banks. There were boats in 
 abundance, and many of the young men from their 
 early childhood had been perfectly at home in the 
 management of a "skiff." Helen had never before 
 experienced such a perfection of social pleasure, 
 and the joy of her heart beamed in her countenance. 
 She distributed her words and smiles among all, and 
 her village and country friends were charmed with 
 her natural and spontaneous kindness. To this gen- 
 eral enjoyment there was one exception. John 
 Farrington was not happy. He was respectfully 
 treated by all, but he was not a center. The young 
 people were too much bent on having lively enjoy- 
 ment and showing their respect to their young friend, 
 the queen of the party, to lavish attention upon a 
 person who seemed to consider himself their su- 
 perior. 
 
 For some time Arthur Trevor had noticed that 
 Farrington looked displeased, and it gave him some 
 uneasiness. In the goodness of his heart he greatly 
 desired to make his friends from the city cheerful 
 and happy, and, volunteering his remarks chiefly to 
 Miss Helen, he said : 
 
 " I would be really pleased, Miss Mason, to have 
 Mr. Farrington join us." 
 
 "Then by all means ask him, Mr. Trevor," said 
 Helen, with a pleasant smile.
 
 A Birthday-Party and an Accident. 45 
 
 " Perhaps an invitation from yourself personally 
 would be more acceptable," said Arthur. 
 
 " On this occasion there is no necessity for such 
 formality," said Helen. "An invitation from you 
 in behalf of the company will be sufficient." 
 
 So Arthur hastened to the spot where the young 
 man stood, when the following conversation took 
 place : 
 
 " Mr. Farrington, you are respectfully invited to 
 join us in our innocent merry-making." 
 
 " Do you represent any one besides yourself?" 
 asked the New Yorker, a little stiffly. 
 
 " You are invited in the name of the whole 
 company. That was my instruction from Miss 
 Mason." 
 
 " It would have pleased me better if Miss Mason 
 had come herself." 
 
 " I ventured to give her that opinion before I 
 started, but she did not deem it necessary." 
 
 "And I don't deem it necessary to accept this 
 kind of invitation." 
 
 "lam afraid," said Arthur, "that our country 
 ways fail to give you pleasure. Miss Helen, how- 
 ever, seems to be well pleased." 
 
 "So I see," said the young man ; "Miss Helen 
 can adapt herself to any kind of society." 
 
 " Of course you mean any good and respectable 
 society," said Arthur, feeling somewhat hurt ; " and 
 so can any young person who is endowed with a 
 fair degree of amiability and common sense. Miss 
 Helen is glad to join in any society selected by 
 Judge Mason." With that Trevor left, and with a
 
 46 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 slight peculiar smile on his lips he rejoined the 
 company. 
 
 " And John does not come, eh?" said Helen. 
 
 " Mr. Farrington does not accept the invitation." 
 was the answer. 
 
 " Let no one be troubled on that account," said 
 the young beauty. 
 
 Just then her father and mother were slowly pass- 
 ing by. Helen rushed up to them, warmly embraced 
 them, and cried out, 
 
 " Is not- this most delightful ? I never was so 
 happy in all my life !" 
 
 "But why is not Mr. Farrington with you, my 
 dear?" asked the mother. 
 
 " I cannot tell his reason, mamma," said Helen ; 
 " he has been politely invited to join with us and 
 has flatly refused." 
 
 " I will go and see John myself," said the mother ; 
 " I think I can persuade him to join you." 
 
 " If the young gentleman cannot consent to be 
 one of this company without being persuaded, let 
 him keep away," said the father in a tone which 
 the mother well understood. " Now, darling, go and 
 join your young friends, and be as happy as you 
 possibly can." And off the maiden ran, with a 
 heart full of genuine pleasure. 
 
 The judge, being one of the politest men in the 
 world, treated Farrington with every mark of re- 
 spect, and although he thought it strange that he 
 stood aloof from the young people, he said not a 
 word which would indicate that he had even no- 
 ticed it.
 
 A Birthday-Party and an Accident. 47 
 
 " We have a pleasant retreat here, Mr. Farring- 
 ton," said the judge. 
 
 "Most lovely!" was the answer, and desiring to 
 throw some covering over his sulkiness he added, 
 " For an hour I have been admiring the bewitching 
 scenery." 
 
 Soon, the young friends in a merry procession 
 were seen approaching the spot where the elderly 
 people sat. Helen's face beamed with joy. Her 
 maiden associates had beautifully decorated her brow 
 with choice roses and flowers. They came on, 
 waving bright little banners, and singing : 
 
 " In friendship sweet and joy complete, 
 From city, hill and dale, we meet ; 
 
 H 
 
 We deck her brow with roses gay, 
 On this her joyous natal day. 
 
 " From yonder city great and grand, 
 She comes and joins our rural band ; 
 With banners gay we join the lay 
 On Helen Mason's natal day. 
 
 " May angels bright in robes of light, 
 Watch o'er our friend from morn till night ; 
 And thus we sing, and honors pay 
 To Helen on her natal day." 
 
 This feature was a surprise, even to Judge Mason, 
 and it pleased him wonderfully. The parents were 
 affected to joyous tears. When the singing ended 
 Helen ran to her uncle and warmly embraced him. 
 
 " O my dear Uncle James, how can I ever thank 
 you enough for this day's enjoyment? And how 
 can I ever sufficiently thank these my young friends 
 for what they have done ?"
 
 48 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 " I am a thousand times rewarded, my dear niece, 
 by the happy expression of your countenance," 
 said the judge. 
 
 % " And 1 will venture to answer for the young peo- 
 ple, including myself," said Arthur Trevor, "that 
 to us the day has been one of unmixed pleasure, and 
 that we esteem it an honor to be permitted to join 
 in this delightful anniversary." 
 
 " And I will say in behalf of Mrs. Mason and 
 myself," said the New York merchant, " that we 
 thank you all for the manner in which you have 
 treated our daughter. From what I saw at your 
 closing exercises the other day, and from what I 
 have witnessed on the present occasion, I am well 
 convinced that refinement and intelligence are 
 plants that thrive most beautifully in villages and 
 country towns. Providence has cast my lot in the 
 metropolis, and I have prospered in business; but 
 the remembrance of my country life and the society 
 of my early days grow dearer to me every day I live. 
 I am heartily glad to enjoy your society even for a 
 short time. As a family we shall go home greatly 
 profited by this visit to Marvindale. Should you 
 come to New York, call and see us ; and I will as- 
 sure you that you will find the same smile on our 
 faces at our residence in the city as you do to-day 
 on the shores of this charming lake." 
 
 This brief address was loudly cheered. Farring- 
 ton saw that he had missed his opportunity. He 
 knew that any complimentary remarks from him 
 after his treatment of the young company would not 
 answer, and for once he wisely held his peace.
 
 A Birthday-Party and an Accident. 49 
 
 Attending this party there was a Mrs. Armstrong, 
 a relative of Mrs. Judge Mason. She was a young 
 widow whose husband had been dead about four 
 years. She had with her an only child, a little girl 
 six years of age. Lily was charming, and lively in 
 her temperament. Throughout the day she had 
 been an object of interest, and her brilliant childish 
 remarks drew the attention of all. 
 
 It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and 
 some eight or ten of the young people, with a num- 
 ber of others, were standing near a bridge crossing a 
 deep stream which a few rods below emptied into the 
 lake. Mrs. Armstrong and Lil^were also there. 
 The child in merry glee ran hither and thither and 
 was in the very height of enjoyment ; now in the 
 bushes, then on the green grass, again on the bridge. 
 She was perfectly fearless, and her mother during 
 the day had often warned her against going too near 
 the lake embankment. The little one, on a full run, 
 had crossed and recrossed the bridge several times, 
 and no one thought that she would place herself in 
 any dangerous position. When no eye happened to 
 see her she partially climbed the railing of the bridge, 
 stooped over, lost her balance, and fell into the 
 deep waters below. In falling the child screamed, 
 and her cry was answered by a loud wild wail from 
 the whole company. They ran in frantic terror 
 and cried for help. Not far way Arthur Trevor, 
 with Helen and some others, stood. The cry brought 
 him to the spot in a few seconds. The child was 
 struggling in the water and drifting into the lake. 
 
 To throw off his shoes, coat, and vest, was but the 
 4
 
 5o Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 work of a moment. He ran down the embankment, 
 plunged into the water, and swam for the current. 
 Lily by this time had sunk, but Arthur well knew 
 that she would come up where, he was not so sure. 
 On the shore among the ladies there was a contin- 
 ued wail of weeping, while the swimmer kept a 
 sharp look for the appearance of the child. Fortu- 
 nately her little struggling form reached the surface 
 close by. A few bold strokes, and Lily was saved. 
 Then on the shore the weeping was converted into 
 a shout of thanksgiving. Arthur, with his charge, 
 did not have to swim ashore, for another young man 
 promptly reached him with a boat, and they were 
 soon landed. The child, owing to the short time 
 she had been in the water, was soon restored and 
 tenderly cared for. 
 
 The gratitude of the mother cannot well be ex- 
 pressed. She fell on her knees, clasped her hands, 
 looked up, and cried," I thank thee, O myheavenly 
 Father, for restoring to me my only precious dar- 
 ling!" She rose, and with a countenance that can- 
 not be described cried, " Where is he ? O, where is 
 he?" She saw Arthur, ran up to him, and silently 
 kissed his cheek. There were many others present 
 that would have gladly done the same, but by a 
 process of self-denial they did not obey the impulse. 
 His praise was on every tongue, and the city Ma- 
 sons were loud in their admiration of his noble act. 
 
 " This is in keeping with his whole movement," 
 said Judge Mason to his brother's wife. " Every 
 few days we hear something to his credit. He is an 
 honor to his mother and an ornament in society."
 
 A Birthday-Party and an Accident. 51 
 
 " I believe you, brother," said Mrs. Mason, with a 
 tear in her eye. " How he plunged into the water 
 from that high embankment, and how nobly he ac- 
 complished his purpose ! I shall not forget the scene 
 as long as I live." 
 
 John Farrington, who had wandered away to 
 nurse his sulkiness, now returned, and was aston- 
 ished to see on the countenance of Mrs. Hiram Ma- 
 son signs of deep feeling. 
 
 " O, Mr. Farrington," she cried, "we have had 
 such a time in your absence ! Little Lily Arm- 
 strong fell into the river from the bridge, and was 
 carried by the current toward the lake. And you 
 should have seen Mr. Trevor's grand plunge into the 
 river to save the drowning darling which he did ! 
 O it was noble!" 
 
 " To those who had never witnessed diving or 
 plunging I dare say the sight was very interesting," 
 said Mr. John Farrington; "but to me, after hav- 
 ing seen some of the finest exhibitions in diving, 
 Mr. Trevor's exploit would have been a very tame 
 affair." 
 
 Mrs. Mason looked at him in perfect astonish- 
 ment, and for the first time she utterly despised 
 him. She made no reply. Her daughter, however, 
 with suppressed indignation answered : 
 
 " So, then, we are to understand that in your esti- 
 mation the sight of a brave young man who at a 
 moment's warning plunges into the stream from a 
 high embankment and saves the life of a little girl 
 that has already sunk, and restores her to her 
 almost frantic mother amid the joyful shouts of the
 
 52 Gold, Tinsel and Trash, 
 
 spectators, is a very tame affair compared with the 
 sight of a few worthless fellows that dive for the 
 amusement of the crowd, from whom they get a few 
 pennies. Surely there is no accounting for taste !" 
 
 " But I thought your mother referred to the sim- 
 ple plunging," said the rebuked dandy, getting him- 
 self still deeper in trouble. 
 
 "Ah! now I understand," said Helen; "you 
 thought that mamma was excited over the beauty 
 of the plunge, and not over the saving of the child." 
 And with a peculiar smile, which the young man 
 did not enjoy, she joined her young companions. 
 
 About four in the afternoon it was deemed ad- 
 visable to retire from the grove. With the excep- 
 tion of John Farrington all had been greatly de- 
 lighted. The guests, with their friends, returned to 
 the village in the same order as they came and 
 scattered to their various places of abode.
 
 A Methodist Meeting. 53 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 A METHODIST MEETING, AND WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF IT. 
 
 IT was Saturday afternoon, at the tea-table, and 
 the conversation turned upon the religious serv- 
 ices in the village on the morrow. The guests from 
 the city had spent one Sabbath in Marvindale, and 
 on that day there were no public services in the 
 Methodist church, the minister having been called 
 away. Rev. James Bunting had now returned, and 
 would officiate on the Sabbath and administer the 
 sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 " We have a most excellent minister ; at least 
 so we think," said Mrs. James Mason. " He is 
 thoroughly devoted to his pastoral work and very 
 able in the pulpit. The church is in a far better 
 spiritual condition than it has been for many years." 
 
 " We never go to a Methodist meeting," said 
 Mrs. Hiram Mason. " We shall go to-morrow, 
 however. It will be quite a novelty." 
 
 " It strikes me, my dear, that ' novelty ' is not 
 exactly the proper word to use in regard to relig- 
 ious worship," said her husband. 
 
 " Sister meant no more than that the mode of 
 worship would be somewhat different from that of 
 her own Church," said Mrs. James Mason. " I 
 think, however, she will forget all about the novelty 
 when she hears Mr. Bunting."
 
 54 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 "It can't be possible that this village minister 
 can surpass in eloquence our own Dr. Darling," 
 said the New York lady. " We are charmed with 
 his preaching every Sabbath." 
 
 " I cannot say as much for our minister," was 
 the reply. " Instead of charming us with eloquence 
 his terrible earnestness often makes us tremble. 
 Like the prophet of old, he shows ' the house of 
 Israel their transgression' and pronounces a woe 
 upon those ' who are at ease in Zion.' ' 
 
 "For my part," said Mrs. Hiram Mason, "I 
 don't fancy such preaching. Do you, husband?" 
 
 "I cannot say that I do, Mary," said her hus- 
 band, with a smile. " We are not apt to fancy any 
 preaching that rebukes us for our sins and short-com- 
 ings. But it is not always the preaching we fancy 
 that will do us good. You say we are charmed 
 with Dr. Darling's preaching. But what good does 
 it accomplish ? Does it lead any one to true repent- 
 ance and to cry for mercy?" 
 
 " I am sure that a large number have united with 
 the church under his ministry," answered his wife. 
 
 " I admit that," said her still smiling husband. 
 " But does their church membership interfere in 
 the least with their former behavior? Just think 
 them over. Do they not attend dances, theaters, 
 comic exhibitions, play cards, and drink wine just 
 exactly as they did before, while the prayer-meet- 
 ing is turned over to a mere handful of old persons? 
 It strikes me that it is high time for that church 
 and congregation to hear preaching that they would 
 not fancy."
 
 A Methodist Meeting. 55 
 
 ''I know where a pretty big share of Mr. Darling's 
 seven thousand dollars a year comes from," said 
 Mr. Farrington, who had listened with some interest 
 to the conversation. " Our family would never sub- 
 mit to any attack on dancing, theaters, card-playing, 
 and respectable wine-drinking. There is no danger 
 that Dr. Darling will be such a fool as to indulge in 
 any such Methodist nonsense." 
 
 " I would respectfully remind Mr. Farrington that 
 we are the guests of a Methodist family, and that we 
 are sitting at a Methodist table," said Helen. 
 
 "Ah, surely," said John; "I might have chosen 
 different words." 
 
 Mr. Farrington 's unmannerly blunder put a stop 
 to the conversation in that line, and, by the in- 
 genuity of Judge Mason, it was easily diverted to 
 another channel, and every thing was pleasant. 
 
 In good season on Sabbath morning the judge's 
 family, with their guests, were seated in the large 
 and beautiful church, which was well filled. The 
 services were opened by a most attractive reading 
 of Isaiah liii. Then was given out the familiar 
 
 hymn : 
 
 "All hail, the power of Jesus' name," 
 
 and soon the thrilling melody of old " Coronation" 
 filled the house. This was followed by a most 
 earnest and impressive prayer, in which the man of 
 God seemed to plead as in the immediate presence 
 of the Almighty. Another hymn was given out : 
 
 " Forever here my rest shall be," 
 and the pathetic "Avon," in melting strains, was
 
 56 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 sung by hundreds of sweet voices. The text was 
 announced: "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, 
 he is a new creature : old things have passed away ; 
 behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5, 17. 
 A very brief synopsis is given : 
 
 It is evident from the text that all men are not in 
 Christ. There are thousands of regular members in 
 evangelical churches throughout the land who are not 
 in Christ, and never have been. If we are in Christ 
 in the sense of the text we have been "justified by 
 faith," experienced a genuine change of heart, 
 "transformed by the renewing of our minds," "be- 
 gotten again unto a lively hope," " have peace with 
 God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We are 
 " new creatures." We possess the mind and 
 nature of the Saviour, and our spiritual hearts 
 beat in happy unison with the great heart of the 
 Redeemer. "Old things have passed away." 
 Every thing that is not in harmony with the mind 
 of Christ is abandoned, and the whole bent of the 
 soul is heavenward. This is the New Testament 
 view of those who are in Christ. And I rejoice to 
 know that such Christians are found by the tens of 
 thousands. They come out from the world, deny 
 themselves, take up their cross, and follow their 
 Lord and Master. But I am sorry to confess that 
 there are thousands in the churches who make a 
 profession of love to Christ who prove by their 
 behavior that they are " lovers of pleasure more 
 than lovers of God." 
 
 " Brethren and sisters, ' the world will love its 
 own,' and we are not at all astonished when we
 
 A Methodist Meeting. 57 
 
 see the non-professing throng rushing after vanity, 
 
 " ' And vainly strive with earthly toys 
 To fill an empty mind.' 
 
 " But the situation becomes more alarming when 
 among these are found thousands who profess to 
 be the disciples of the humble Nazarene and 
 members of his visible Church. Many of these are 
 leaders in worldly gayety, fashionable dances, and 
 regular patrons of theaters. They are in the 
 Church, but we fail to find in them a single element 
 of vital godliness. 
 
 " Let no one think that I am drawing upon my 
 imagination in order to make a picture. I am 
 dwelling upon sorrowful and sad truths ! Is it any 
 wonder that non-professors stand aloof from the 
 cause of Christ when members of the Christian 
 Church are found rushing into the most frivolous 
 wordly gatherings ? 
 
 " But here let me say, with St. Paul, ' Beloved, we 
 are' persuaded better things of you.' Although I 
 thus speak to the glory of God let it be known that 
 the members of my charge have come up to a 
 high degree of spirituality, and they look upon 
 these carnal pleasures as worthless trash. With the 
 poet they can sing, 
 
 '"Vain, delusive world, adieu.' 
 
 "At the communion to-day we expect the bap- 
 tism of the Holy Ghost. Spirit of burning, come ! 
 Let us now sing, 
 
 " ' When I survey the wondrous cross 
 
 On which the Prince of glory died.' "
 
 58 Gold, Tinsel and TrasJi. 
 
 The familiar tones of " Rockingham" were now 
 heard, and the audience " filled his courts with 
 sounding praise." 
 
 The minister said that all members in good 
 standing in other evangelical Churches were cor- 
 dially invited to the table of the Lord. 
 
 The sacrament season was deeply affecting. God 
 was in his holy temple ! A hallowed spiritual at- 
 mosphere filled the sanctuary. Heaven seemed 
 very near, "and glory crowned the mercy-seat." 
 It was a season long to be remembered, an exhibi- 
 tion on a small scale of the raptures of the upper 
 sanctuary. 
 
 The friends from the city remained until the com- 
 munion was over, and the Mason family were deeply 
 interested. Mrs. James Mason asked her sister to 
 go with her to the table. She shook her head, but 
 her countenance denoted nothing in the shape of 
 indifference or displeasure. On the contrary, there 
 were tears in her eyes and her lips quivered. 
 
 Soon after returning from the church the com- 
 pany, with the exception of Farrington, was seated 
 in the parlor, when Helen, in the fullness of her 
 young heart, broke out : 
 
 "O, my dear Auntie Mason, your minister is 
 wonderful ! I never had such feelings in all my 
 life ! I shall remember that meeting as long as I 
 live !" 
 
 " I trust, my dear, that you will sweetly remem- 
 ber it after you have passed away from the scenes of 
 earth," said her aunt. 
 
 " Every word he said in regard to pleasure-seek-
 
 A Methodist Meeting. 59 
 
 ing professors of religion was true. The members 
 of our own church in the city are living proof of the 
 correctness of what he said. Now, mamma, dear, 
 is not that so ?" 
 
 " It is so, my darling," said the mother in a low 
 voice that was not quite steady. " Thanks to your 
 father, I have not indulged in those things myself, 
 but I have justified them in others. I am free to 
 confess that the last two hours have produced a 
 wonderful change in my mind. I only wish that all 
 the members of our church had heard what the min- 
 ister said and had witnessed the whole of the impres- 
 sive service." 
 
 " Mamma, I have longed to be a Christian for a 
 long time, and I have tried to pray in secret. But 
 I knew that I could have no spiritual enjoyment in 
 a church where nearly all the young are almost 
 wholly given up to worldly pleasure." 
 
 The father was deeply and favorably affected by 
 the words of his wife and daughter. Turning to 
 his brother he said : 
 
 " James, there seems to have been a special prov- 
 idence in that kind letter aS invitation you sent us. 
 I never in my life so much desired to be a true Chris- 
 tian as I did this morning under your minister's 
 preaching." 
 
 " Hiram, you are 'not far from the kingdom of 
 heaven,'" said th > >udge, with his face glowing 
 with happiness. " God is preparing you and your 
 family for a grand mission, and in his own good time 
 he will tell you what it is." 
 
 Here Mr. Farrington joined the company, arid,
 
 60 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 not knowing the situation, volunteered one of his 
 blundering and offensive remarks. In all probability 
 he had bestowed upon his first sentence some labor, 
 and expected it would produce an effect. 
 
 " Well," said he in a pompous way, " this morn-' 
 ing we have had a clear demonstration of the won- 
 derful effect of animal magnetism." 
 
 " And were you one of the animals magnetized, 
 Mr. Farrington?" asked Helen. 
 
 " I should think not," said John, with a touch of 
 resentment. " It requires but a fair degree of cult- 
 ure and intelligence to be proof against that kind 
 of preaching." 
 
 " I see," said Helen. " You have been protected 
 from the minister's animal magnetism by your cult- 
 ure and intelligence. Papa, mamma, and myself, 
 have been wonderfully affected by his preaching. 
 According to that, it must be owing to our lack of 
 culture and intelligence." 
 
 " Miss Helen, I think you are indulging in a joke," 
 said John. 
 
 " I am in sober earnest," said Helen. 
 
 "I am very much astonished," said Farrington. 
 " Had I known, my language would have been 
 somewhat different. I give you all credit for cult- 
 ure and intelligence." 
 
 " And still we were not protected from the influ- 
 ence of the sermon," said Hiram Mason, with a 
 peculiar smile. " Mr. Farrington, please explain." 
 
 Just then lunch was announced, and to Mr. Far- 
 rington 's great relief he was excused from the un- 
 pleasant task of harmonizing contradictions. Soon
 
 A Methodist Meeting. 6 1 
 
 he was thoroughly engaged in something for which 
 he was far better qualified than for the discussion 
 of philosophical points. 
 
 On Sabbath evening again the guests attended 
 service at the same church. First they went into 
 the prayer-meeting held in the large session-room, 
 which was well filled. The meeting was conducted 
 by the minister. The singing was grand and inspir- 
 ing and the prayers earnest and reverential. Several 
 ladies led in vocal prayer. This Helen had never 
 witnessed before. Then came a season of speaking, 
 in which a large number took a part. Our three 
 friends were deeply interested in the testimonies 
 they heard, and astonished at the intelligent man- 
 ner in which the speakers expressed themselves. In 
 this meeting Arthur Trevor took an active but a 
 modest part, and in his remarks he affectionately 
 urged his young friends to seek without delay the 
 salvation of their souls. 
 
 In the public service the church was thronged, 
 and the Gospel was " in the demonstration of the 
 Spirit and with power." The closing part was 
 deeply pathetic, and the meeting ended amid a halo 
 of glory. 
 
 Our friends were again in the same parlor, and they 
 fondly hoped that John Farrington, in view of his 
 humiliating defeat in the afternoon, would see fit at 
 this time either to remain silent or say something 
 that would be moderately sensible. But in this 
 they were disappointed. Being pretty well con- 
 vinced that hitherto he had not been very fortunate 
 in his manner of expression, he was pleased with
 
 62 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 the conviction that he was now prepared to say 
 something that would please the company, espe- 
 cially the family of Judge Mason, and in this con- 
 fidence he proceeded: 
 
 " I have noticed one thing : Marvindale has a 
 fair number of pretty girls. I sat in a very good 
 position to see their faces, and made it my special 
 business this morning to compare several of them 
 with some of my young lady acquaintances in the 
 city, and I must say that in beauty of countenance 
 they stood the test well." 
 
 For a few moments there was perfect silence. 
 
 " It was exceedingly fortunate for Mr. Farrington 
 that Judge Mason's pew was so favorable to his 
 peculiar mode of worship, " said Mrs. Hiram Mason, 
 in a tone of voice and with a facial expression which 
 John had never heard and seen before, and he began 
 to fear that his speech had not proved to be a 
 success. 
 
 "John," said Helen, "to-morrow, under your 
 own signature, send what you told us to the Herald 
 and Tribune. Of course you can enlarge on the 
 wonderful physical perfections of these Marvindale 
 beauties that took your whole attention during the 
 hour of worship. And you might say that this 
 peculiar devotion of yours protected you from a 
 strong current of animal magnetism issuing from 
 the pulpit." 
 
 "And this is the pay I get, eh, for praising up 
 these country girls?" said John. 
 
 "Mr. Farrington," said Mrs. Mason, "the account 
 you have given us of the working of your mind this
 
 A Methodist Meeting. 63 
 
 morning under that wonderful sermon was shocking, 
 and you deserve a rebuke." 
 
 "We'll now attend to family devotion," said 
 Judge Mason, while his daughter placed before him 
 the sacred volume. He read the first portion of the 
 fifth chapter in the gospel by Matthew, embracing 
 the beatitudes. This was followed by a most earnest 
 prayer, closing with that of our Lord, in which the 
 company vocally united.
 
 64 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ANOTHER BLUNDER AND AN EXIT. 
 
 AS far as John Farrington was susceptible of any 
 thing approaching affection, Helen Mason, more 
 than any other person, had touched that very small 
 department of his heart. She was fair, intelligent, 
 sparkling in conversation, and the only daughter of 
 a wealthy man. What more could he ask ? Mrs. 
 Mason, touched, and that not very lightly, with a 
 fashionable infirmity which is anti-republican as well 
 as anti-Christian, had smiled upon this young son of a 
 millionaire, and had seen in him very satisfactory 
 materials for a son-in-law. But from time to time she 
 had witnessed very clear evidences that her daugh- 
 ter was not favorably inclined in that direction. He 
 often called at her home, and Helen always treated 
 him with familiar kindness. But after his departure 
 she would laugh at his egregious blunders and silly 
 remarks, to the amusement of her father, but not of 
 her mother. 
 
 Some plain and yet very kind family conversa- 
 tions which took place between the receiving of 
 Judge Mason's invitation-letter and their leaving 
 for Marvindale had somewhat moderated Mrs. Ma- 
 son's opinion touching this young man of fortune. 
 But she still clung with considerable tenacity to 
 those pictures of Helen's future which her fancy
 
 Another Blunder and an Exit. 65 
 
 had drawn in such brilliant colors. Her candid 
 judgment, when permitted to come to the front, 
 told her plainly that John Farrington was not a per- 
 son of moral worth, and that he was deficient in 
 those points that would attract persons of talent and 
 culture. But then he belonged to one of the " first 
 families" and moved in the higher circles. 
 
 In several of the conversations alluded to, her 
 husband in his own peculiar way had analyzed before 
 her what she insisted on calling " the best society," 
 and the process had revealed to her unwilling eyes 
 a state of things that greatly disturbed her. It 
 seemed to be a candid investigation. But could it 
 be possible that that which for generations had 
 been called "the best society" was three fourths 
 counterfeit, and so much of the counterfeit in the 
 church to which she belonged ? She had great con- 
 fidence in her husband's judgment, but, for once, 
 was he not mistaken? Mrs. Mason was perplexed 
 even before she left the city. 
 
 Hiram Mason's expressed opinion of John Far- 
 rington 's mental powers caused his wife to pay 
 closer attention to the sayings and behavior of the 
 young man, and to her great mortification she found 
 that nearly every thing he said justified the correct- 
 ness of her husband's words. He had a fair com- 
 mand of language, but generally it clothed superficial 
 and absurd ideas; and thus it continued until, as 
 the reader knows, she became thoroughly disgusted 
 with him. 
 
 On Monday morning at the breakfast-table John 
 appeared a little gloomy and not overwell pleased.
 
 66 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 They naturally concluded that this was owing to 
 the reprimand of the night before. From his sullen 
 looks, however, they drew the consoling thought 
 that now at least he would confine himself to listen- 
 ing. But this was not so to be. Knowing that 
 he must soon return he deemed it prudent to offer 
 a few remarks. 
 
 " I was just thinking of what that young Trevor 
 said in the prayer-meeting last evening. His words 
 were these : * Religion is profitable unto all 
 things.' ' 
 
 "John," said Helen, "Mr. Trevor did not use 
 the word ' religion,' but 'godliness.'' ' 
 
 " It means the same thing exactly," said John. 
 " And what rank nonsense that is ! I wonder if god- 
 liness is profitable to thieving, robbery, forgery, and 
 a dozen other things I could name? Godliness 
 would knock every one of them in the head." 
 
 " And would not that be profitable, Mr. Farring- 
 ton ?" asked Helen. 
 
 The question was not exactly a logical one, and 
 the young lady knew it, but it was enough to baffle 
 John on the spot. 
 
 " Why let me see profitable ? Yes, I suppose 
 so," said he. " I wonder if that is what the fellow 
 meant ?" 
 
 "No, it was not," said Helen. "By the way, 
 whom do you mean by the fellow ; Arthur Trevor, 
 or the author of the sentence?" 
 
 " I mean Trevor, of course. I was not aware 
 that he was quoting from an author," said John. 
 " And who was the author?"
 
 Another Blunder and an Exit. 67 
 
 " It was orginally used by an aged clergyman in a 
 letter to a young minister," said Helen. 
 
 " But that doesn't prove that the sentence is cor- 
 rect," was his reply. " Aged ministers often write 
 very foolish things." 
 
 " We are in the habit of believing that this old 
 gentleman's writings are perfectly correct," said 
 Miss Mason. 
 
 " Perhaps, for the information of the company, 
 you will give us the old dominie's name, and that 
 of the young chap to whom he wrote," said John. 
 
 " For your own personal information I'll do it," 
 said Helen, with a smile. " The elderly gentleman 
 was St. Paul. The young minister was Timothy. 
 You will find the 'rank nonsense' in his first 
 letter, fourth chapter and eighth verse." And tak- 
 ing a small Testament from her pocket she read : 
 " But godliness is profitable unto all things, having 
 promise of the life that now is, and of that which 
 is to come." 
 
 Let not the reader suppose that John Farrington 
 was overwhelmed with confusion. He was not of 
 that make. He felt somewhat humiliated, and it 
 grieved him to have his ignorance of the Scriptures 
 so exposed. But in such trials he was always won- 
 derfully sustained by his conceit, and so he simply 
 said : 
 
 " It would have been much better for Trevor to 
 have mentioned the name of his author." 
 
 During that morning the young man put his 
 things in order ready for a departure. Before leav- 
 ing he desired to have a few words with Mrs. Hiram
 
 68 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 Mason and daughter, and the interview was soon 
 granted. 
 
 " I am of the opinion that I have devoted as much 
 of my time to this stupid place as I can afford. I 
 am fully determined to leave on the afternoon train, 
 and no effort or persuasion on the part of any one 
 can change my mind," said John. 
 
 " Of course you will act in this matter as you think 
 best," said Mrs. Mason. "I know enough of this 
 family to assure you that you are welcome to re- 
 main here as long as you can make it agreeable to 
 yourself. I think, however, you will find no one 
 that will be inclined to persuade you to remain 
 longer at a place you pronounce ' stupid.' ' 
 
 " My rank and position, as belonging to one of 
 the richest families in the city, and moving in the 
 best society, entitle me to a little more notice from 
 these country fellows, and, to tell you the truth, I 
 have not received that treatment from yourself and 
 daughter which I had a right to expect. I cannot 
 put up with it, and I am going to join my friends 
 at Newport, where the people understand good 
 manners." 
 
 " Mr. Farrington," said Mrs. Mason, " I could 
 easily answer your insulting language in terms of 
 severity, but, as you are going to leave, I will say 
 no more. Come, Helen, my dear, we have had 
 enough of this." And the mother and daughter 
 left the room. 
 
 In the afternoon a carriage came after John and 
 his trunks, and in a very stiff and pompous manner 
 he bade the family of Judge Mason good-bye.
 
 Another Blunder and an Exit. 69 
 
 On the following Sabbath at the Methodist church 
 there were very clear evidences of divine power. 
 Such were the manifestations of God's Spirit in his 
 convincing influences during the evening sermon 
 that the minister, instead of dismissing the congre- 
 gation as usual, went down to the altar and said : 
 
 " I am well convinced that there are many in this 
 assembly who are ' weary and heavy laden' and de- 
 sire spiritual rest. Under this conviction I cannot 
 close this meeting without giving such persons an 
 invitation to come forward and kneel at this altar 
 while we sing." 
 
 A large number, mostly young persons, went for- 
 ward, and the space was nearly filled with weeping 
 penitents. The exercises continued for an hour. 
 So great was the feeling that a meeting was an- 
 nounced for Monday evening. The revival spread, 
 and continued nightly for several weeks, and some 
 two hundred professed conversion. Among these 
 were found Hiram Mason and his daughter, while 
 the mother, who was already a church member, was 
 ' transformed by the renewing of her mind.' ' 
 
 While the meeting was yet in progress Mr. and 
 Mrs. Mason were under the necessity of leaving 
 for the city, while Helen was permitted to remain 
 a little longer. 
 
 At an afternoon visit at Mrs. Trevor's there were 
 together, besides the family, Judge Mason, wife, 
 daughter, and niece. Rev. Mr. Bunting and the 
 revival naturally came up as subjects of conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 " In a few weeks he must leave us for another
 
 70 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 field," said Judge Mason, "and, of course, in one 
 sense we all feel sorry." 
 
 " Is not that an unfortunate feature in your 
 church government, Uncle James?" asked his 
 niece. 
 
 "Sometimes it has that appearance," was the 
 answer, " but, in reality, I think it one of the most 
 favorable things in our church polity. To this, in 
 all probability, we are indebted for the presence of 
 Brother Bunting among us. And where he goes 
 next, the people will have no reason to complain of 
 the itinerancy." 
 
 " I readily see those points," said Helen, " and I 
 thank you for calling my attention to them." 
 
 " People often say, ' It is too bad for ministers 
 to leave when all would be glad to have them 
 stay,' " said the judge. "But are not such part- 
 ings a thousand times more pleasant to the min- 
 isters than if the people were glad to get rid of 
 them ?" 
 
 " They are, certainly," said his niece; "and to 
 the people also." 
 
 Just then an expressman called at the door with 
 a small package for Arthur Trevor. Alice took it 
 and handed it to her brother in the presence of the 
 company, and said : 
 
 " Arthur, be very careful in the unpacking, for it 
 may contain some dangerous explosives." 
 
 " It is rather small for that," said the brother, 
 " and I don't think of anybody at this moment- that 
 would wish to hurt me." 
 
 " It may be possible that Mark Floyd has sent
 
 Another Blunder and an Exit. 71 
 
 you his compliments," said the sister, laughing. 
 " But come, let us see what you have." 
 
 The brother, with some embarrassment, opened 
 the package, and, after a number of unfoldings, he 
 came to a splendid heavy gold watch and chain. 
 On the casing was engraved beautifully the follow- 
 ing : 
 
 " Presented by Mrs. A, L. Armstrong, as a token 
 of gratitude, to Mr. A rthur Trevor, who saved her 
 only child from drowning'"' 
 
 Arthur was deeply affected and the company 
 greatly rejoiced. 
 
 " In this case it has been more blessed to give 
 than to receive," said the judge. 
 
 " It is a magnificent present !" said Mrs. Mason. 
 
 "And it comes from a magnificent lady, " said 
 Mrs. Trevor. 
 
 " And to a magnificent gentleman, why don't you 
 say, Hattie ?" said Helen. 
 
 " But my city cousin was too quick for me," said 
 Hattie. 
 
 " Let us call it magnificent all around," said 
 Alice. 
 
 The afternoon was spent most cheerfully. The 
 Trevors were highly pleased with Helen .Mason, 
 while the young lady was delighted with the 
 Trevors. 
 
 It was the first evening after the arrival of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Mason in New York, and soon after sup- 
 per. The servants had been summoned to meet 
 the master and mistress in one of the parlors.
 
 72 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 There they sat in mute astonishment, not knowing 
 why they were thus called together, some of them 
 seriously fearing that their services would be no 
 longer required. They were not kept in long sus- 
 pense, for Mr. Mason spoke : 
 
 " I have called you together for household wor- 
 ship, and to inform you that from henceforth this 
 house is to be a house of prayer. At this hour of 
 evening, daily, at the ringing of the bell, you are 
 respectfully requested to meet at this room for 
 family devotion. I trust that this change will be 
 pleasing and profitable to you all. In time of 
 prayer it will please Mrs. Mason, Helen, and myself 
 to have you kneel." 
 
 He then opened the sacred book and read in an 
 impressive manner the 91 st psalm : " He that dwell- 
 eth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide 
 under the shadow of the Almighty." The reading 
 being ended they all reverently knelt, and Hiram 
 Mason offered unto the Lord his first family prayer. 
 He was not without some embarrassment. It was 
 something of a cross, but it was faithfully taken 
 up, and the Lord wonderfully blessed him. The 
 prayer was earnest and simple. The language of 
 the tongue was the expression of a full and honest 
 heart. When the worship was over, the servants 
 quietly left, to attend to their various duties, 
 greatly astonished and well pleased. That family 
 altar erected that evening at the residence of Hiram 
 Mason was never taken down.
 
 The "Best Society" Analyzed. 73 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 THE " BEST SOCIETY " ANALYZED. 
 
 rpHE next evening, soon after family prayer, 
 the bell rang, and Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Darling 
 called, and were ushered into the parlor, where 
 they were soon joined by Mr. and Mrs. Mason. 
 The meeting, of course, was a happy one, after an 
 absence of several weeks. 
 
 " And so you have returned in excellent health 
 and spirits," said Dr. Darling, directing his remarks 
 to Mrs. Mason. "And how did you enjoy your 
 country visit ? I was afraid that it would prove 
 rather dull." 
 
 "And so was I, before we started," said Mrs. 
 Mason, " and I so expressed myself. But I have 
 been happily disappointed. To me, as well as to 
 Mr. Mason and Helen, it was by far the most de- 
 lightful and profitable summer visit we ever expe- 
 rienced." 
 
 "That is very high praise indeed," said Dr. 
 Darling, " especially when it comes from a person 
 who has visited Newport and Saratoga. What 
 could there be in a village like Marvindale to give 
 you such exquisite pleasure?" 
 
 " Several things," said Mrs. Mason. " The people 
 there are so good, kind, affectionate, and intelligent, 
 that they won my heart in spite of my former
 
 74 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 foolish and blind views in regard to country people. 
 Then came Helen's birthday-party, which her uncle 
 gave her. It was a time of perfect social enjoy- 
 ment. But the grand feature of our enjoyment 
 was of a spiritual nature." 
 
 " That must be a new feature in a summer resort, 
 and we must hear all about it," said Mrs. Darling, 
 casting a sly, merry glance at her husband, which 
 Mrs. Mason noticed. 
 
 She then rehearsed to the minister and his wife 
 all about their experience in connection with Mr. 
 Bunting and his most wonderful pulpit powers, the 
 nature of his sermons, the picture he drew of fash- 
 ionable worldlings in the Church, the sacrament 
 scene, the prayer-meeting in the evening, the spir- 
 ituality and devotion of the young people, the ser- 
 mon on the following Sabbath evening, the altar 
 service, and the grand revival that followed. " Mrs. 
 Darling," she said, with her face beaming, "it was 
 wonderful beyond description. During those meet- 
 ings I had a clear view of myself as a cold, formal, 
 fashionable woman of the world in the Church, 
 wholly destitute of that spirituality that insures 
 ' fellowship with God through our Lord Jesus 
 Christ.' Through the influence of those meetings, 
 which my proud spirit once despised, I have found 
 genuine consolation, and so have my husband and 
 daughter." 
 
 " We have now reached a point where I must 
 turn you over to Dr. Darling," said the minister's 
 wife in a tone that strove to be amiable. " I will 
 say, however, that we heard something of this from
 
 The "Best Society" Analyzed. 75 
 
 our young friend, Mr. Farrington. We thought 
 that perhaps it was one of his pleasant jokes, but 
 your own story corroborates all that the young 
 man said." 
 
 " As far as I can judge," said Dr. Darling, " this 
 Mr. Bunting is one of those sensational preachers 
 who are capable of producing religious excitements 
 that are of no benefit either to the world or the 
 Church." 
 
 " With all due respect to your judgment, Dr. 
 Darling,"-said Mr. Mason, promptly, " I must say 
 that your estimate of the gentleman is wholly erro- 
 neous and unjust. He is a quiet, modest man, a 
 profound scholar, and deeply spiritual. He moves 
 the people by his entire consecration to his work, 
 and his earnest, eloquent pleadings with those who 
 sit under his ministry. He is as free from the 
 sensational element as was Peter at the house of 
 Cornelius." 
 
 " I would do the man no injustice," said Dr. 
 Darling. " I dare say he understands the class of 
 minds he has to deal with. Such preaching would 
 utterly fail before a highly-cultivated audience." 
 
 " I think you are mistaken again ; worse than you 
 were before," said Mr. Mason, with a peculiar smile. 
 " From Sabbath to Sabbath he stands before a 
 highly-cultivated audience, very much more so, in 
 my opinion, than your own city congregation." 
 
 "Mr. Mason," said Dr. Darling, perfectly aston- 
 ished, " I think you are laboring under a sad mis- 
 take. Mr. John Farrington assures me that they 
 are lacking in refinement and culture."
 
 76 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 This was altogether too much for Mr. Mason's 
 gravity, and in spite of an effort he broke out into 
 loud laughter. 
 
 "Pardon this rudeness, doctor," he said, " if it 
 must come under that name ; but that was a little 
 more than I could stand." 
 
 "And yet I fail to see where, in what I said, the 
 laugh comes in," said the minister, who was not 
 easily offended. 
 
 "I will tell you," said Mr. Mason. "The au- 
 thority you produced for believing that the Marvin- 
 dale people lacked in refinement and culture seemed 
 to me as highly comical. A young man that is 
 notoriously deficient in those traits, and who makes 
 himself detestable by his ignorance and lack of 
 good manners, is hardly the right person to sit in 
 judgment on the refinement and culture of a com- 
 munity." 
 
 " I was not aware that Mr. Farrington was defi- 
 cient on those points," said the pastor. " I have 
 often met him at evening parties, and from the 
 society in which he mingles I took it for granted 
 that he was on a par with his fellows." 
 
 " We know, my dear, that Mr. Farrington is not 
 what you may call brilliant," said Mrs. Darling. 
 " But then, as long as he moves in the best society 
 he must be respected as such." 
 
 " I have had a good deal to say for years about 
 ' the best society,' " said Mrs. Mason. " I now look 
 upon the term as it is used, as a sham and a cheat. 
 I confess that I was a part of that cheat myself. 
 What is there in what is called in this city ' the best
 
 The "Best Society" Analyzed. 77 
 
 society that entitles it to that superlative distinc- 
 tion? Is it a high grade of morality, amiability, 
 intelligence, and a hearty enlistment in all measures 
 of moral reform ? Not at all. What is called ' the 
 best society' abounds in frivolous characters given 
 up to dress, dances, and theaters. Now, in all can- 
 dor, Mrs. Darling, why should such a society be 
 called 'the best?' " 
 
 " But you should remember, Mrs. Mason, that in 
 this society there is a large number of church mem- 
 bers," said Mrs. Darling. 
 
 "I know there is," was the answer; "but in a 
 multitude of cases they outdo non-professors in 
 their devotion to worldly gratifications, and, to all 
 appearance, they are ' lovers of pleasure more than 
 lovers of God." 
 
 " Could the village preacher hear your words, 
 Mrs. Mason, he might well be proud of his achieve- 
 ment," said the pastor. 
 
 " Don't give the village preachertoo much credit," 
 said Mrs. Mason, " for through the instrumentality 
 of my husband my eyes were partly opened to see 
 these things before I left the city." 
 
 " Well," said Dr. Darling, "we are right glad to 
 see you home. I am not sorry to see this great 
 change in you and Mr. Mason. Your strong lan- 
 guage has furnished me materials for reflection. It 
 may be true that in our best society, as we call it, 
 is found much counterfeit. I will look into this mat- 
 ter a little closer. I thank you for your plain, fearless 
 words. I am comparatively young and inexperi- 
 enced, and what I have heard may do me good."
 
 78 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 They rose to leave, and the parting on both sides 
 was perfectly friendly. 
 
 Helen had been at home two days. Her mother 
 had gone out, and the daughter sat alone in the par- 
 lor, thinking over in a happy frame of mind the 
 wonderful things she had seen and heard in Mar- 
 vindale, while her young heart throbbed with grateful 
 emotions. The bell rang, and in a few moments 
 Clara Downing and Grace Doyle rushed into the 
 room and warmly embraced their young friend. 
 
 "Why, Helen!" said Clara,' " that country visit 
 must have agreed with you, for you look splendid." 
 
 "Thank you, Clara," said Helen; "my time 
 passed away delightfully. I never was so happy 
 before." 
 
 " And did you find a cultured society in such a 
 place?" asked Grace. 
 
 "Indeed I did!" said Helen, smiling. "The 
 young people were so intelligent that at times I felt 
 embarrassed." 
 
 " Helen Mason, I am perfectly astonished !" cried 
 Clara. 
 
 " And so am I," said Miss Doyle. 
 
 "But why should you be astonished?" asked 
 Helen. " With good educational advantages, sitting 
 under the ministry of talented ministers, with ready 
 access to large libraries, I don't see why they should 
 not be as intelligent, and more so, than those who 
 live amid the excitement of a large city." 
 
 " Helen, we will not debate with you, for you 
 will beat us every time," said Clara, "and we like
 
 The "Best Society" Analyzed. 79 
 
 you all the better for it. But now to business. 
 There are to be unusual attractions at the Broad- 
 way Theater to-morrow night. We are going with 
 our brothers and we greatly desire the pleasure of 
 your company. We shall call with the carriage at half 
 past seven. If you are not otherwise engaged we hope 
 that you will go with us. It will be splendid!" 
 
 "I airi not otherwise engaged," said Helen, in a 
 firm voice. " But, girls, let me tell you, once for all, 
 that I shall never again go to a theater, nor to any 
 party where they dance and play cards." 
 
 " Helen Mason ! What has come over you ?" said 
 Grace Doyle. 
 
 "While away I have experienced, as I believe, a 
 genuine change of heart. I have fully consecrated 
 myself to the Lord for time and eternity. This is 
 also the experience of papa and mamma. O, girls, 
 I love you dearly ! You are members of the Church, 
 and is this constant running after worldly pleasure 
 consistent with the religion of the meek and lowly 
 Saviour, who said that in order to be his disciples 
 we must deny ourselves and take up the cross?" 
 
 "But if it is wrong," said Clara, "why doesn't 
 Dr. Darling say something about it, either in the 
 pulpit or out of it?" 
 
 " Perhaps he has never seriously considered the 
 subject," said Helen. " He may yet. If on your 
 knees you consult your Saviour, He will never advise 
 you to attend theaters and dances." 
 
 The girls thought it was time to go, but before 
 leaving they fondly kissed the fair lips from which 
 had dropped those earnest, solemn words.
 
 8o Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 One morning before the breakfast-hour, while 
 Mr. Mason was examining the pages of one of his 
 morning papers, his eyes rested on a paragraph 
 which greatly moved him. 
 
 "Call in your mother, Helen," said he, with his 
 face beaming with gladness. " I find something 
 here that both of you will be glad to hear." 
 
 In a few moments Mrs. Mason was in the room, 
 and both mother and daughter waited for a further 
 revelation. The father read the following : 
 
 " At the session of the W Conference, which 
 
 closed its labors yesterday, Rev. George Bunting, 
 D.D., was transferred to New York East Confer- 
 ence and appointed to the St. Thomas Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, in this city. It is understood 
 that, aside from his profound scholarship, the gen- 
 tleman is one of the most effective pulpit orators 
 in the Church. His success at Marvindale was 
 wonderful." 
 
 Helen was the first to respond, which she did 
 by clapping her hands. " Once I did not look favor- 
 ably upon this moving among Methodist ministers ; 
 but see how beautifully it has worked in this case !" 
 
 " Beautifully indeed !" said the mother. " As an 
 instrument in God's hand he has done for us a won- 
 derful work that we shall never forget. I feel as if 
 we ought to put ourselves under his pastoral care." 
 
 " O, mamma, dear, I am so glad to hear you say 
 that!" cried Helen. " I am almost sure that papa 
 feels as I do." 
 
 " I had no intention of asking your mother to 
 change her church relation," said the father. "I
 
 The "Best Society" Analyzed. 8 1 
 
 fully believed that God, by his Spirit, would lead us 
 all in the right way. As I feel now I am strongly 
 inclined to avail myself of the tender care of that 
 good man who, under God, has led us into the fold 
 of Christ." 
 
 In due time the minister arrived and preached 
 his first sermon to the people of his new charge. 
 The house was crowded, and the ministry was " in 
 the demonstration of the Spirit and with power." 
 The audience was deeply affected, and hearty re- 
 sponses were heard from brethren whose hearts 
 were full. 
 
 Before the benediction was pronounced one of 
 the church officials stood in front of the congrega- 
 tion and said that Dr. Bunting would be glad to 
 take by the hand any and all who would C9me up 
 to the altar after the meeting was closed. A large 
 number went forward and were introduced to the 
 new pastor. They were all strangers. At last came 
 three a husband, wife, and daughter. 
 
 "Bless the Lord! Here we meet again," cried 
 the minister, and the hand-shaking was exceedingly 
 cordial. There was no time then for prolonged con- 
 versation, but they gave him the street and number 
 of their house, and he promised to call on a certain 
 day of that week which he did and on the next 
 Sabbath the family was received into the church ; 
 the mother by letter, the father and daughter on 
 
 probation. 
 6
 
 82 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A MEETING AT FARRINGTON'S AND "THE COMING OF 
 ARTHUR." 
 
 T^ETVVEEN Helen and her Cousin Hattie there 
 [j was now formed a regular correspondence of 
 the most affectionate nature. The following will 
 show the reader the state of Miss Mason's mind 
 and throw light upon the situation : 
 
 NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 18 . 
 
 " DEAR COUSIN HATTIE : I thank you from 
 the depth of my heart for all of your good letters, 
 and especially for your last. I have read it over 
 and over, and it has yielded me a great deal of 
 pleasure and profit. I am very glad to know that 
 your new minister met such a warm reception and 
 that he is doing such a grand work. I had some 
 fears that the overwhelming popularity of Brother 
 Bunting would prove to be unfavorable to his suc- 
 cessor. Those fears were groundless. The Method- 
 ists adapt themselves most grandly to their wonder- 
 ful itinerancy. I have formed a large circle of new 
 acquaintances, young ladies of moral worth and 
 deep piety. Their conversations prove to me ex- 
 ceedingly valuable, so different from the fashiona- 
 ble talk that I have heard for many years. 
 
 " Since it became known to our former set that 
 we have forever abandoned theaters and dancing-
 
 A Meeting at Farrington' s. 83 
 
 parties many of them treat us coldly, and some 
 spitefully. But I have reasons for believing that we 
 have convinced several that ' the pomp and vanity 
 of this wicked world ' can never be harmonized with 
 the religion of Christ. 
 
 v. \Ye are heartily engaged in church work. In 
 addition to the regular meetings, which we greatly 
 enjoy, we have a number of organizations, one of 
 which is the Systematic Benevolent Society. In 
 this mamma takes a very active part, and with the 
 hearty consent of papa contributes large sums of 
 money. I am a member of the Society myself, and 
 together we often go to the abodes of the poor and 
 destitute, examine the circumstances, distinguish be- 
 tween vice and virtue, and then we consult together 
 as a Society in regard to the most needy and deserv- 
 ing. Through this benevolence and a kind word of 
 advice we not only cheer the hearts of hundreds but 
 we gently lead them to the Saviour and the Church. 
 " Every day I fondly think of Marvindale and the 
 few happy weeks I spent there. What a society of 
 young people ! They are splendid ! Alice Trevor 
 I dearly love her. Her ringing sweet laughter is 
 yet in my ears. And her tall, straight, handsome, 
 intelligent brother. I almost added captivating ; 
 but you see I didn't. The list is too long to men- 
 tion by name. They are all down on my book of 
 remembrance. Kind love to my dear uncle and 
 aunt and many others. Write often, my dear Hat- 
 tie, to your COUSIN HELEN." 
 
 Mr. Farrington 's father, or John's grandfather, was
 
 84 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 a rich man, and when he died left a vast amount of 
 city property to his only son. Like his parent, this 
 son was a keen business man, temperate in his hab- 
 its, and somewhat quiet in his manners. His wife 
 was of a different temperament, fond of society and 
 well known as a leader in fashionable circles. By 
 her orders her family had a private box at several 
 theaters and opera-houses, and the Farrington car- 
 riage was very elegant. In addition to this she was 
 a member of an aristocratic church, and was as at- 
 tentive to her monthly communion as she was to 
 her weekly theaters and dances. This costly round 
 of amusement did not at all disturb her husband, who 
 knew that, owing to the abundance of his income, 
 there was not the least danger. Sometimes he 
 would accompany his family to those gay gather- 
 ings, but oftener he stayed at home. 
 
 The Farringtons contributed largely to the sup- 
 port of the church, and it was chiefly through Mrs. 
 Farrington 's influence that Rev. Dr. Darling had 
 received a call to become the pastor of " Mount 
 Zion." 
 
 It was now over three % months since that conver- 
 sation took place, when the minister and his wife sat 
 in Mr. and Mrs. Mason's parlor soon after their re- 
 turn from Marvindale. The words of truth and 
 soberness to which the pastor of Mount Zion list- 
 ened at that time were not forgotten. He left the 
 house under a degree of conviction that the wonder- 
 ful change in that worldly, fashionable woman was 
 not brought about by a fanatical enthusiast. In 
 addition to this there arose in his mind the serious
 
 A Meeting at Farringtoris, 85 
 
 question, " Has my ministry among this people been 
 of the evangelical apostolic stamp ?" This question 
 he revolved in his mind, but he would wait awhile 
 and examine it more thoroughly before he would 
 decide upon an answer. He would watch the result 
 of this sudden transformation and see if the Mason 
 family would persevere in their new departure. 
 This he did, and in the father, mother, and daugh- 
 ter he saw a most beautiful specimen of Christian life. 
 In each of them the fruit of the Spirit was found in 
 rich abundance. 
 
 On one Sabbath evening, when there was no serv- 
 ice in their own church, Rev. Dr. Darling and his 
 wife availed themselves of the opportunity of hear- 
 ing Dr. Bunting. They went in late, and took their 
 seat near the door, where but few noticed them. 
 The MetKodist minister on that Sabbath evening 
 was in one of his most effective moods ; eloquent, 
 learned, convincing, persuasive, and pathetic. When 
 the meeting closed Dr. Darling and his companion 
 hastened away, and said but little until they reached 
 their home. 
 
 " Well, my dear," said the minister, "we have 
 heard the Rev. Dr. Bunting." 
 
 "We have," said the wife, "and without asking 
 your opinion of the man and the sermon I am quite 
 ready to give mine. I think it was a grand specimen 
 of gospel preaching." 
 
 " I perfectly agree with you," said the husband. 
 " I never was more interested in a sermon in all my 
 life. I am now fully convinced, my dear, that my 
 ministry has not been of the right stamp. I have
 
 86 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 not purposely neglected my duty. A new light has 
 broken upon me, and by God's help I will be faith- 
 ful to my convictions." 
 
 "And God will help you, my dear," said Mrs. 
 Darling as she kissed his heated brow. 
 
 They knelt together before the Lord and made a 
 new consecration. They rose from their devotion 
 under a sense of God's favor and approbation. 
 
 It was evening, and there sat together in Mr. 
 Farrington's elegant parlor the family, with a num- 
 ber of others, ladies and gentlemen, who had met to 
 consult in regard to some particular church arrange- 
 ments. These having been disposed of, the con- 
 versation, as usual, branched out into different sub- 
 jects. 
 
 " Mrs. Farrington," said Mrs. Randall, " what has 
 happened to Dr. Darling? I am sure that of late he 
 has greatly changed in his manner of preaching, and 
 in my opinion the change is decidedly an unfavora- 
 ble one. I am sure this could not have escaped 
 your notice." 
 
 " O no, indeed," said Mrs. Farrington ; " we have 
 noticed it and talked about it among ourselves. It 
 gives me great uneasiness, for you know that through 
 my influence chiefly Dr. Darling secured his promi- 
 nent position among the city pastors. This change 
 is visible not only in his pulpit efforts, but also in 
 every thing else. His remarks at the close of the 
 last communion service in regard to those church 
 members who patronize theaters and who are never 
 seen in the prayer-meeting were exceedingly out of
 
 A Meeting at Farrington' s. 87 
 
 taste. I was perfectly astonished and very much 
 provoked." 
 
 " He might have known that his remarks would 
 have been offensive to a great many," said Mrs. 
 Randall. "Those who enjoy prayer- meetings of 
 course are at liberty to attend them. As for me, I 
 think they are decidedly flat. His sneering allusion 
 to the theater would be more becoming in a Meth- 
 odist preacher than in the pastor of Mount Zion." 
 
 "So I say!" said John Farrington in a loud 
 voice. " I had more than enough of that stuff in 
 Marvindale, and we can't tolerate it in our church. 
 It will not take long for mother to put a veto on Dr. 
 Darling's lingo and stop his nonsense." 
 
 " If your mother has such ready power over lingo 
 and nonsense I would advise her without any delay 
 to try her hand on you," said his father, with an 
 expression of countenance that was not amiable. 
 
 "John has his outspoken, blunt way," said the 
 mother, in a manner apologetic. " Dr. Darling has 
 no truer friend than John Cicero Farrington." 
 
 " Does any one know of any reason for this change 
 in Dr. Darling?" asked Mrs. Randall. 
 
 " I think I do," said Miss Grace Doyle, a young 
 lady before mentioned. " Soon after Helen Mason 
 returned from the country, Clara Downing and myself 
 went to see her, and before we left we invited her 
 to accompany us to the Broadway Theater on the 
 next evening. She then told us that she had at- 
 tended theaters and dances for the last time. Her 
 words and her manner so affected us that we have 
 not attended a theater since. We went and con-
 
 88 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 suited our minister, and he frankly told us that from 
 the conversation he had with Mr. and Mrs. Mason, 
 and from watching their daily lives, he became con- 
 vinced that his ministry had not been what it ought 
 to have been. He feared that many of the mem- 
 bers of his church were ' lovers of pleasure more 
 than lovers of God. ' He seemed to feel very deeply, 
 and said that, God helping him, he would try and do 
 better. He prayed with us and advised us not to 
 attend theaters and dances. That, in my opinion, 
 accounts for the change in Dr. Darling's preaching." 
 
 " Upon my word !" said Mrs. Farrington, in rather 
 an angry tone. " The change is bad enough, but to 
 think that it was brought about by listening to 
 those insane Methodists is humiliating beyond de- 
 scription. Ho, ho !" 
 
 " You may call the Masons ' insane Methodists' if 
 you choose," said Miss Doyle, " but their insanity has 
 rather a strange way of showing itself, I must say." 
 
 " Grace," said the elder Mr. Farrington, " I would 
 be pleased, for one, to know the features of this 
 Mason insanity." 
 
 "Well," said Grace, with a smile, " they are ex- 
 ceedingly kind, amiable, affectionate, and intelligent. 
 Each evening at a certain hour after supper, all the 
 servants assemble with the family in one of the par- 
 lors for prayers. They attend strictly to Sabbath 
 service as well as to their class-meeting and prayer- 
 meeting during the week. Mrs. Mason and Helen 
 are daily engaged in works of benevolence. They 
 go among the poor, the sick, and the destitute, and 
 give freely of their money for nearly all charitable
 
 A Meeting at Farringtoris. . 89 
 
 institutions. That is the way this insanity shows 
 itself, Mr. Farrington," said Grace. 
 
 " Thank you," said the man of the house. "It 
 would be a grand thing if such insanity were con-* 
 tagious. But in a little gathering like this it is not 
 pleasant to get into disputations, so let us touch 
 upon some other subject." 
 
 "Just as you please, Mr. Farrington," said his 
 wife, and, feeling very confident that in one gentle- 
 man present she would find an ally, she continued, 
 " but I would like to hear a few words from Mr. 
 Barnard." 
 
 " I am afraid that Robert will be too plain- 
 spoken," said his wife. " Sometimes he is a little 
 harsh in his remarks. I think you would better 
 excuse him." 
 
 "Yes, please excuse me," said Mr. Barnard. "I 
 am but a poor judge in such matters, and Kate is 
 right." 
 
 "You are a member of our church," said Mrs. 
 Farrington, " and you ought to have something to 
 say." 
 
 "I belong to the church," said the candid Bar- 
 nard, "but I don't pretend to be a Christian ; and 
 if I did pretend, who under heavens would be such 
 a consummate fool as to believe me ? Kate and 
 I go to meeting on Sunday morning, and in the 
 afternoon, if the weather is fine, we drive to Cen- 
 tral Park. On week nights we go to the theaters 
 and dances, and never think of going to prayer- 
 meeting, where a few Christians meet. That is the 
 kind of life / live ; and is not this true in regard
 
 90 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 to more than half of our members ? And until 
 very lately there was nothing in Dr. Darling's 
 preaching that interfered in the least with this 
 kind of life; and, to tell you the truth honestly, I 
 secretly despised him and his jingling, ornamental 
 essays, when his own church members by the scores, 
 and I among them, were on a full run toward hell. 
 Now I begin to like him. I hope he will give us 
 what we deserve, and I will stand by him. If any 
 church on earth needs ' hell and damnation' preach- 
 ing we are just that very church." 
 
 "Well," said Mrs. Farrington, greatly disap- 
 pointed, " things are taking a strange turn, I must 
 say. Grace, please give us some music, and that, I 
 presume, will be acceptable to all." 
 
 Miss Doyle went to the instrument and played 
 one of her brilliant pieces and ended with a song. 
 
 One morning, before Mr. Mason had left his house 
 for his place of business, a letter from his brother 
 was handed to him which read thus : 
 
 " DEAR HiRAM : Without delay, and with the 
 greatest pleasure, I answer your letter. Arthur 
 Trevor is just the young man you need. I have 
 tried him thoroughly, both as book-keeper and 
 salesman, and he has given perfect satisfaction. 
 He has in him all the elements of a successful 
 merchant. In addition to his business capacity he 
 is amiable and kind so much so that from his 
 childhood he has been a universal favorite and, 
 better than all, he is deeply pious. Of course I
 
 A Meeting at Farrington's. 91 
 
 shall not mention the subject to him. I leave that 
 to you. He will undoubtedly accept your offer with 
 thanks, for, with all his humility and gentleness, he 
 has much ambition. When Arthur Trevor leaves 
 Marvindale tears will freely flow. But it will be far 
 better for the young, man. Our love to sister and 
 niece. Your brother, JAMES." 
 
 " He will be such a help in our church," said 
 Helen, in a voice that was not quite firm. " Mamma, 
 don't you >think he will be splendid in our Sabbath- 
 school?" 
 
 " Arthur Trevor will be splendid in any place, 
 my dear," said the mother. 
 
 "I will write to him at once," said the father. 
 The following letter was penned, and reached Mar- 
 vindale the next morning. 
 
 " MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND : I write to you on 
 a matter of business. Our trade of late has greatly 
 increased, and I need an assistant book-keeper. 
 Judge Mason assures me that you are fully compe- 
 tent for that position as well as for other depart- 
 ments in my store. I will give you a fair salary 
 and put you on the way for promotion. If you can 
 accept the position please let me know when to 
 look for you. Yours truly, HlRAM MASON." 
 
 The answer promptly came, which was as follows : 
 
 " MR. MASON, DEAR SIR : I thank you for your 
 kind offer. After having consulted my mother and 
 Judge Mason I gladly accept the position, with the
 
 92 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 full purpose, to the best of my ability, to give you 
 satisfaction. In two weeks from to-day, Providence 
 permitting, I will take the morning train for New 
 York. Respectfully yours, ARTHUR TREVOR." 
 
 At the time appointed the young man was met 
 at the depot by Mr. Mason, and was taken to an 
 excellent boarding-house, in close proximity to the 
 store, and furnished with very comfortable quarters. 
 
 On the next morning he was shown by Mr. 
 Mason through every department of the vast build- 
 ing and given to understand that, for his own benefit, 
 he would not be wholly confined to book-keeping. 
 It was evident that the interest the proprietor felt 
 in this young man was deeper and of a different 
 nature from that taken in the generality of his 
 clerks. 
 
 Nothing had been said to Mr. Bunting by the 
 Masons in regard to Arthur's coming. They 
 thought they would give the pastor a surprise. 
 Although the young man sat in the pew with them 
 the minister did not see him. At the close of the 
 sermon Arthur's church letter was handed to the 
 minister. He looked it over, and his countenance 
 changed. He then remarked: "I am delightfully 
 surprised. I hold in my hand the church letter of 
 a young brother from my former charge, with whom 
 I have been well and happily acquainted for two 
 years. If the young man were not present I might 
 say much more." He then read the letter, and 
 commended Arthur to the affectionate regards of 
 the membership.
 
 In Search of a Model, and How it Worked. 93 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 IN SEARCH OF A MODEL, AND HOW IT WORKED. 
 
 REV. DR. DARLING became still more pointed 
 and convincing in his sermons and more 
 spiritual in his pastoral visitations. Dissatisfaction 
 increased on the part of the majority, led on by 
 Mrs. Farrington, while a good number seemed to 
 be well pleased with the new departure. The 
 pastor, rather than stay in a divided church, saw fit 
 to hand in his resignation, in which he admitted the 
 sad. failure of his ministry. He had no unkind 
 word for any one. He soon received a number of 
 calls, and finally became the pastor of a strong 
 church in a western city. Mount Zion remained in 
 a bad state, Mrs. Farrington running the machinery 
 with a high hand. The few devoted ones sought a 
 more congenial home, and the church, like her 
 former Laodicean sister, increased in goods and 
 wanted nothing. 
 
 One day there came into Mr. Mason's store a 
 well-dressed gentleman and inquired for the pro- 
 prietor. He was shown to the private office. 
 
 "Mr. Mason," said the stranger, "my name is 
 Ostrander. Here is my card. My father for.many 
 years has been in trade at New Orleans. Our 
 business has so increased that we have concluded 
 to build a new store on an extensive scale. At the
 
 94 . Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 request of my father I came north in search of a 
 perfect model. I have been informed by several 
 merchants that your building, in many respects, is 
 the most convenient in the city. I would take it as 
 a great favor to be shown through your house." 
 
 " It will give me the greatest pleasure to show 
 you through the building myself," said Mr. Mason, 
 rising. " We shall begin at the bottom." And both 
 left the private office. The proprietor showed the 
 stranger through every part. Their stay below was 
 somewhat protracted. Every door was carefully 
 examined and marked down in a blank-book which 
 the stranger held in his hand. They then went 
 into the parts above. When the survey was ended 
 they re-entered the street floor. The southern 
 gentleman expressed himself as perfectly delighted 
 with the building, and in very strong terms thanked 
 Mr. Mason for his great kindness. 
 
 At that moment Arthur, from a distant part of 
 the store, had a full clear view of the stranger's 
 face, and was startled to find that he was none 
 other than his former classmate at Marvindale, 
 Mark Floyd. His first impulse was to go and 
 speak to him, but he concluded to keep out of his 
 sight, and wait to hear from Mr. Mason the nature 
 of the interview. From what he had learned of 
 Floyd after his expulsion from school he was well 
 convinced that at this time he was on some errand of 
 mischief. The stranger, with a polite bow, left the 
 building, and Mr. Mason returned to his private 
 office with strengthened opinions concerning the 
 perfections of his large house.
 
 In Search of a Model, and PLw it Worked. 95 
 
 In about an hour after this, Arthur, wishing to ask 
 Mr. Mason some questions touching a little discrep- 
 ancy between certain figures, went into his private 
 office. These were soon adjusted. 
 
 " Arthur, did you notice that young man with 
 whom I went through the building about an hour 
 ago?" asked Mr. Mason. 
 
 " I did indeed," was the reply ; " I know him well, 
 and I have been wondering what he wanted." 
 
 " You know him well !" said Mr. Mason, in aston- 
 ishment. " I don't see how that can be. He told me 
 his name was Ostrander, and his father a merchant 
 in New Orleans ; that they intended to build a 
 new store, and wanted to secure a good model." 
 
 " I am not mistaken in the man," said Arthur. 
 " His name is Mark Floyd. His father is a rich 
 brewer. Mark was my classmate for a year and a 
 half in Marvindale. He was expelled for deception 
 and lying. He went home, robbed his father of 
 four hundred dollars, and ran away. In all proba- 
 bility he belongs to-day to a gang of thieves." 
 
 "Arthur, sit down," said Mr. Mason. "We 
 must talk this matter over a little more. If you 
 are correct it has a very serious appearance." 
 
 " Mark Floyd has several peculiarities of features," 
 said Arthur, " and by me they could not be mis- 
 taken. He is a constitutional liar and a depraved 
 wretch. By a deception that may claim ingenuity 
 he has got a full knowledge of the interior of this 
 building and what it contains." 
 
 " And what is your explanation of this strange 
 movement, Arthur?" asked Mr. Mason.
 
 g6 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 " It admits of but one explanation," was the an- 
 swer. " That fellow, with his comrades, has an eye 
 on this building, with burglarious intentions. If it 
 would be pertinent in me to give advice I would say 
 that the store should have a double outside watch." 
 
 " I am so thankful that you happened to see the 
 villain and recognize him," said Mr. Mason, by this 
 time well convinced that Arthur was correct. " We 
 shall be on our guard, and I will see that the watch 
 shall be strengthened." 
 
 In a room reached through dark, winding, mys- 
 terious passages, were assembled at a late hour of 
 the night about a dozen men in rough high rev- 
 elry. Owing to the depth of their hiding-place 
 and its remoteness from other apartments their 
 boisterous proceedings did not disturb any quiet 
 sleepers. This was one of their rare jovial nights in 
 which they were permitted by their chief to indulge 
 freely. 
 
 " Well, Nero," said the chief, who was perfectly 
 sober, addressing himself to Mark Floyd, " have you 
 found a right model for your new store at New Or- 
 leans ? " 
 
 " Prospects grand ! " said Nero. " Abundant 
 treasures ! Success sure ! " 
 
 " Three cheers for Nero ! " said the chief. But 
 the company refused to cheer. 
 
 " No disrespect must be shown to your superior ! " 
 cried the chief. 
 
 "We don't receive the skulking coward as our 
 superior ! " cried " Rob Roy."
 
 In Search of a Model, and Hoiv it Worked. 97 
 
 " That we don't, by along shot ! " cried another. 
 
 " Silence, you drunken fools ! " cried the chief 
 again. " Have you no regard for your sacred obli- 
 gations ? " 
 
 " Much more than Nero has," answered " Robin 
 Hood." " We meet dangers, but he skulks. We bear 
 his insolence no longer." 
 
 The chief saw at once that threatening would not 
 answer, and said : " To-night, my boys, you are 
 somewhat heated ; to-morrow you will be sorry for 
 what you have said. In our very next operation 
 Nero will take the most dangerous post." 
 
 To this there was no reply, but sneering counte- 
 nances plainly told that Mark Floyd was detested 
 by the majority of the gang. His selfishness and 
 conceit were as visible in the New York burglar as 
 in the Marvindale student. 
 
 One Tuesday afternoon Mr. Mason received by 
 mail this strange communication : 
 
 " Mistar Maysun this is munda look out for thirsta 
 nite the man from neu ar leens wil bee a rownd 
 plees thro this in tha fiar, wan hoo nose." 
 
 Mr. Mason at once sent a boy to inform Arthur 
 that he was wanted at the private office, and in a 
 few minutes the proprietor and his clerk were 
 closeted together. 
 
 "Trevor, how is this to be explained?" asked 
 Mr. Mason. 
 
 " It is often said ' there is honor among thieves/ " 
 said Arthur, " but they often quarrel and betray each 
 other. Mark Floyd could never remain long in any 
 society without creating enemies. In my opinion
 
 98 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 this is one of them, and he desires Mark to fall into 
 a trap." 
 
 " But does not this warning endanger himself? " 
 asked Mr. Mason. 
 
 " He well understands that he is not to be one of 
 the number," said Arthur. " The gang in all may 
 number twenty, when only four or five are employed 
 at the same time." 
 
 "Arthur," said Mr. Mason, "Your theory is rea- 
 sonable. We should reveal this matter to the chief 
 of police. Let us go at once." 
 
 In a short time they were in the office of that city 
 official, and they revealed to him the whole, from 
 beginning to end. 
 
 " And from all this what is your theory ? " asked 
 the chief. 
 
 Mr. Mason referred him to Arthur, who briefly 
 and clearly gave the officer the same view as he had 
 given Mr. Mason. 
 
 " Young man," said the chief, smiling, " when you 
 wish to leave Mr. Mason's service come to me, and 
 I will put you on the detective force. Your theory 
 is perfectly correct, and I am very confident that we 
 are about to grab a gang of burglars that have so 
 far escaped. Mr. Mason, I will have a strong force 
 of my best men at your place on that night, and I 
 believe I shall have to see that sport myself. I 
 shall be the fir,;: one to call. I will have on no 
 uniform. See that I am directed at once to your 
 private office. The others will follow at short in- 
 tervals, in citizen's dress, and let them also be shown 
 to your office. Last of all shall come a small chest
 
 In Search of a Model, and How it Worked. 99 
 
 marked ' For Mr. Mason.' This shall contain a 
 number of things that we shall need. Say nothing 
 about it to any one ; I will see that the preparations 
 will be complete." 
 
 It was Thursday, just after dinner. " Mary," said 
 Mr. Mason, " I will eat supper down town. I have 
 a certain business transaction to see to of such a 
 nature that it will keep Arthur and myself busy 
 until a very late hour." 
 
 " O well, that is all right," said Mrs. Mason ; "you 
 have told me, and I shall not be uneasy." 
 
 The night was rainy, dark, and tempestuous. 
 The winds howled and there were but few pedes- 
 trians seen in the streets. Mr. Mason had told one 
 of his clerks that he expected a number of gentle- 
 men to call upon him that evening and that they 
 were to be conducted into his private office. 
 
 Mr. Snyder, the chief, arrived first, and was fol- 
 lowed by four more at short intervals, and at last 
 came the chest before mentioned. 
 
 " Trevor," said Mr. Mason, " the night is so very 
 rough, give the order from me to close the store at 
 once. Let the lights be left as they are." 
 
 The order was given, and soon all the clerks had 
 dispersed and the doors were locked. 
 
 The front half of the store's basement was ele- 
 gantly fitted up and contained among other things 
 many valuable articles in gold and silver. The room 
 back of this contained unopened packages. In the 
 rear were two doors opening into an alley. Into 
 this basement the police force, with Mr. Mason and 
 Arthur, entered. They soon reached the rear.
 
 IOO 
 
 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 " Mr. Mason," said Snyder, " did your friend from 
 New Orleans pay much attention to this room ? " 
 
 " More than to any other part," was the reply. 
 " He examined the rear door very closely, and in- 
 quired about the width of the wall." 
 
 " Exactly," said the chief. " This is the only 
 place where they can force an entrance, and it will 
 take them but a short time to enter the room." 
 
 " But how?" asked Mr. Mason, with some aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 " Well," said the chief, "they can easily Dislodge 
 those stones and make an opening for the smallest 
 of their number to get through, who will then re- 
 move those iron bars. They can do that with far 
 less noise than to break that heavy door." 
 
 " But can they do all this without being overtaken, 
 by the watch ? " asked Mr. Mason. 
 
 " To-night they can," answered the smiling chief, 
 " for I have ordered the watch not to molest them 
 unless they see them coming out of this building 
 unarrested. But where is to be our hiding-place ? 
 The performance will be in this room, and of very 
 short duration. They are to be suddenly knocked 
 senseless and handcuffed before they know what 
 is the matter. Mr. Mason, I see a door there ; does 
 it lead into a room ?" 
 
 " It does," was the answer, and the door was 
 opened. 
 
 " This is just the place," said Snyder. " Tom 
 and Fred, you go after the chest, and we shall p'ut 
 ourselves in working order." 
 
 The chest was brought and carried into the hid-
 
 In Search of a Model, and Hoiv it Worked. 101 
 
 ing-room. Each officer put on his uniform, armed 
 himself with a heavy club and a revolver, and pro- 
 vided himself with a pair of handcuffs. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Mason and Mr. Trevor will go up and 
 extinguish the lights and then come down and stay 
 with us in our little room, where we shall wait for 
 our guests. It is a grand night for burglars, and I 
 don't think they will neglect it," said Mr. Snyder. 
 
 This order was at once obeyed, and in a few 
 minutes Mr. Mason and Arthur returned. 
 
 " One thing more," said the chief: "they must 
 not be permitted to enter that front basement. 
 They will break that lock in a second. Place some 
 heavy substance in front of that door ; something 
 that they cannot easily remove. This will give us 
 a little better advantage to dispose of them." 
 
 This was soon done. " Now let us get into that 
 room and make ourselves as comfortable as we can 
 until we are relieved." 
 
 In a moment all was silent and dark. Seven per- 
 sons sat together in the little waiting-room. Not 
 a whisper was heard. Nothing seemed to astonish 
 Mr. Mason more than the confident, manner in 
 which the chief spoke and acted. The theory 
 of Trevor seemed plausible, but, after all, did it 
 amount to any thing stronger than a probability ? 
 These were questions that somewhat troubled 
 Mr. Mason in that dark, silent .hiding-place. If 
 the burglars should not appear their situation 
 would be somewhat ludicrous. The storm raged 
 in all its fury, and the darkness in the alley was 
 deep. The hours passed away, and a clock in a
 
 IO2 Gold, Tinsel and Trash, 
 
 neighboring steeple struck the hour of midnight. 
 The chief sat next to Mr. Mason. In about ten 
 minutes after the clock struck Mr. Mason felt his 
 hand gently tapped by that of the officer. He 
 listened with all his powers, but could not hear a 
 sound. He felt the same tapping again, and now, 
 indistinctly,- he could hear a certain movement on 
 the outside. His heart beat quickly. It soon be- 
 came evident that the wall was attacked. There 
 was no pounding, but by some method the stones 
 were being removed with but very little noise. Be- 
 fore long, substances fell on the inside. Mr. Snyder 
 and his men now all at once rose to their feet. The 
 watchers could now hear busy footsteps. More 
 stones fell into the room, and from a brief stillness 
 it was clear that the opening was completed. The 
 crawling through was but the work of a few mo- 
 ments, and one of the gang was in the room. He 
 felt for the door, removed the iron bars, and the 
 door was opened. How many came in was not yet 
 known to the officers, for as yet burglars and all 
 were in darkness. The door was quickly shut and 
 barred. 
 
 " Cover the opening, Nero, before we uncover the 
 lanterns," said a voice on a very low key. 
 
 "That is done, worthy chief," said Nero. 
 
 " Now we are all safely in," said the master burg- 
 lar. "Light!" And in a moment light there was. 
 Through slight openings Snyder and his men saw 
 five persons standing on the floor. 
 
 " Now, my men, you are to reap the biggest har- 
 vest of the year," said the chief burglar. " Nero,
 
 In Search of a Model, and Hoiv it Worked. 103 
 
 who knows all about the building, will conduct you 
 to those valuables that will take the least room. 
 Beyond that door you will find articles in gold and 
 silver. Let each depart well loaded. Now, to work !" 
 
 " I see there are heavy boxes resting against the 
 door," said Nero, " but we can easily remove them." 
 
 " Let them be removed at once," said the com- 
 mander ; and, while the robbers were in the act of 
 removing the heavy obstructions, quick as lightning 
 the policemen fell upon them, and by well-directed 
 blows from heavy clubs the five burglars were laid 
 senseless on the floor. 
 
 " On with their ornaments, my brave lads!" said 
 the chief, and instantly their hands were bound 
 together. 
 
 " Ha, ha, ha!" cried Snyder. " This is the neat- 
 est job that I have witnessed in years. While they 
 are coming to let us have a smoke." And he handed 
 his men some cigars. 
 
 As the prisoners recovered consciousness and 
 looked around, the curses were terrible, and not fit to 
 be mentioned here even with the assistance of dashes. 
 
 " Gentlemen, I think you have slept long enough," 
 said Mr. Snyder. " It is high time for you to start 
 for your lodgings. I shall be very happy to enter- 
 tain you as my guests this stormy night." 
 
 " A thousand curses on your head ! " cried Nero. 
 
 " Ah ! I think I hear the voice of Mark Floyd, 
 Esq., the once brilliant orator of Marvindale Acad- 
 emy," said Mr. Snyder. "Hail, Nero! I fear the 
 new store at New Orleans will prove a failure. By 
 the way, would you not be pleased with a sight of
 
 IO4 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 one of your schoolmates Arthur Trevor, for in- 
 stance? Here he stands." 
 
 " Mark," said Arthur, " I am sorry to find you in 
 this situation." 
 
 This would have affected some pretty hard char- 
 acters into tears. But not so Mark Floyd. He 
 broke out in the most abusive language imaginable. 
 
 " Enough of this," said Mr. Snyder. " My men, 
 help those fellows to their feet and march them to 
 the station-house." And this was done. 
 
 Mr. Snyder remained. " Now," said he, " I have 
 a bit of information to give you. You wondered 
 why I felt so positive in regard to this matter. 
 About two hours before you and Mr. Trevor came 
 to my office the other day I received this letter, 
 which, owing to its horrid spelling, I will read to 
 you myself: 
 
 " ' MR. CHIEF OF POLICE : I belong to a gang 
 of burglars, and I know I am a hard, miserable 
 wretch ; but when a man shows me kindness I don't 
 forget it. Six years ago I stole some goods from 
 the store of Hiram Mason and was arrested. I told 
 him I was very sorry. He talked to me like a father, 
 pleaded for me before the judge, and my sentence 
 was very light. Now, a part of this gang and I am 
 telling you the truth, so help me God is going to 
 rob this Mr. Mason's store on next Thursday night, 
 led by Nero, the meanest devil that ever breathed. 
 That man's store is not going to be robbed if I can 
 help it; and if those that will go at it get nabbed 
 so much the better. Now you know all about it. I
 
 In Search of a 'Model, and How it Worked. 105 
 
 send you this because I have not forgotten the 
 kindness which Hiram Mason showed this poor 
 wretch six years ago. I am going to leave the gang 
 to-night. THAT is ALL.' " 
 
 " Mr. Mason, I presume you remember this fel- 
 low," said Snyder. 
 
 " Very well, indeed," was the reply; " and his state- 
 ment is perfectly correct." 
 
 "Your communication came from the same chap," 
 said the chief, " and he has repaid your kindness 
 with compound interest. Now I'll go. This matter 
 will cost you but little time or trouble. It is not 
 often that I accompany the boys, but this time I 
 could not withstand the temptation." 
 
 The prisoners pleaded guilty, and were sentenced 
 to State piison for terms varying from seven to fif- 
 teen years.
 
 io6 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 RAILROAD CALAMITY, A SCREAM, AND THEN JOY. 
 
 A RTHUR'S great proficiency in store and bus- 
 _/\ iness matters was on the increase. He had 
 the full confidence of his employer, and his kind, 
 amiable ways won the regard and respect of his 
 fellow-clerks. His fine, manly appearance and gen- 
 tlemanly bearing were highly complimented by all 
 who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. In the 
 church, also, his influence was constantly increasing. 
 To his mother and sister he was deeply devoted, 
 and the correspondence between them was uniform 
 and affectionate. 
 
 How Rev. Dr. Darling was progressing in his 
 western church may be known from the following 
 part of a letter written to the Mason family : 
 
 "DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER MASON: It is 
 now over a year since I became the pastor of this 
 church, and the Lord has been better to me than 
 all my fears. My feeble efforts have been blessed in 
 the salvation of many souls. I have learned much 
 from my former failure, and I am ' determined to 
 know nothing among men save Jesus Christ and 
 him crucified.' Our social meetings are spiritual 
 and largely attended. 
 
 " I look back with gratitude to that interview we
 
 Railroad Calamity, and then Joy. 107 
 
 had in your parlor on an evening soon after your 
 return from the country. The weighty and solemn 
 truths which then fell upon my ears astonished me, 
 and became the foundation of a better life and a 
 more spiritual experience. 
 
 " Mrs. Darling joins me in sending affectionate 
 regards to yourselves and Miss Helen. 
 "Yours, in the Gospel, 
 
 "JOHN DARLING." 
 
 Arthur Trevor had now been in the employ of 
 Hiram Mason for three years, and had reached the 
 age of twenty-four. He had received special priv- 
 ileges and advantages in the large emporium from 
 his very first advent. He was very deep in his em- 
 ployer's confidence. Mr. Mason often had business 
 to attend to in country towns and villages, and in 
 this he had found that Arthur was perfectly reliable. 
 
 On an errand of this nature he had been sent to 
 a town on the western border of Massachusetts, 
 and it was not certain how long he would have to 
 remain. One morning, just before breakfast, Helen 
 was the first one to open the morning papers. She 
 was by herself in one of the parlors. She was at- 
 tracted by this heading: "A SERIOUS ACCIDENT 
 ON THE HARLEM ROAD. A LARGE NUMBER BADLY, 
 AND SOME FATALLY, INJURED!" She passed the 
 details of the accident in search of the names of the 
 injured, and among the first she saw "Arthur Trevor, 
 of New York, ribs and arm broken, with severe 
 bruises on face and head. It is feared that he 
 received serious internal injuries." The maiden
 
 io8 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 uttered a loud scream and began to sob aloud. Both 
 parents rushed into the room in a moment. 
 
 " Helen, my child, what is the matter? Tell me 
 at once!" said the father. 
 
 " O, papa, forgive me for screaming! I couldn't 
 help it!" cried the girl. "I did not know that I 
 was so nervous. Railroad accident, and Arthur is 
 terribly, if not fatally, injured !" 
 
 " Your screaming was perfectly natural, my child, " 
 said the father. " Show me the article !" 
 
 By this time Mrs. Mason was louder in her weep- 
 ing than was the daughter, while the father, with 
 quivering lips and a pale countenance, examined the 
 article. 
 
 "It says, ' The wounded that were able to travel 
 reached the city last night,' " said Mr. Mason. 
 " Heaven grant that he may be among the num- 
 ber ! " He ran out of the room, rang a bell, and his 
 coachman stood before him. 
 
 "Now, Edward," said he, "have the double car- 
 riage ready as soon as you possibly can. Mr. Trevor 
 is badly hurt. Make all haste, my man." 
 
 " My dear, while Ed is getting the carriage ready 
 we will just take a bite to keep us from fainting. 
 You must go with me !" said Mr. Mason. 
 
 " And, Hiram, we must bring him home with us 
 if he is able to ride," said Mrs. Mason, through her 
 tears. 
 
 " That is my intention," said her husband. " Let 
 us take with us a few pillows. Helen, darling, bring 
 them down." 
 
 In a few minutes the carriage was hastening at a
 
 Railroad Calamity, and then Joy. 109 
 
 rapid rate toward Trevor's boarding-house, and 
 Helen was in her chamber bowed before her heavenly 
 Father in behalf of one who was very dear to her 
 heart. 
 
 The boarding-house was reached. Mrs. Mason 
 went to the parlor, while her husband hastened to 
 the office. 
 
 " Mr. Rogers," he asked, " has Trevor arrived ?" 
 
 "Mr. Trevor is here and much injured," said 
 Rogers ; " but his injuries are not of a dangerous 
 nature. He has a broken arm and a badly bruised 
 face and head." 
 
 " Then you think his condition is not danger- 
 ous?" said Mr. Mason, with his face brightening. 
 
 " Nothing dangerous, I '11 assure you, ' ' said Rogers. 
 
 " Thank Heaven !" said Mr. Mason, and hastened 
 to inform his wife. 
 
 He then returned to the office and informed Mr. 
 Rogers that under the circumstances he thought it 
 was best to take Trevor with him to his own house. 
 Mr. Rogers was of the same opinion, and said : 
 
 " I am sure that you can do better for him than 
 we can. We sent for Dr. Bailey early this morning 
 and but here he comes." 
 
 The doctor, accompanied by Mr. Mason and Mr. 
 Rogers, went up to Arthur's room. He was lying 
 down partly dressed, with his head bandaged. He 
 reached out his left hand, which was eagerly grasped 
 by Mr. Mason. 
 
 " For a short time they have spoiled your beauty, 
 Mr. Trevor," said the doctor, in a cheerful voice; 
 "but in two or three weeks we'll have you as good
 
 HO Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 as new. Pretty hard knocks, I must say, but fort- 
 unately they'll leave no permanent marks. Have 
 you any broken ribs?" 
 
 " My ribs are all right," said Arthur. " I have a 
 broken arm, with a bruised head and face, and so 
 far as I know that is the extent of my injury." 
 
 "Let us feel that broken arm," said the physi- 
 cian. " See how gently I can do it ! That will do 
 for the present. Mr. Mason and his good wife have 
 their carriage below, and they claim you as their 
 guest for a few weeks. Before noon I will call to 
 put your arm in good shape and to attend to your 
 face and head." 
 
 The young man was deeply affected, even to tears. 
 " I am sorry to give you so much trouble, Mr. Ma- 
 son," said he. 
 
 " Not another word, Arthur." 
 
 The young man was assisted. Shawls were put 
 over him, he gently walked down and was met by 
 Mrs. Mason with a smile that touched his heart. 
 Pillows were arranged, and he was placed in a com- 
 fortable position. The husband and wife joined 
 him, and the carriage moved very slowly while Ar- 
 thur's aching head rested on the bosom of Hiram 
 Mason. 
 
 At the Fifth Avenue mansion the young man 
 received every attention that kindness and affection 
 could bestow. Here it would be an easy matter to 
 dwell at length upon a dozen little incidents that 
 occurred during those few weeks. He suffered 
 much bodily pain and some fever. On the other 
 hand he experienced unspeakable bliss in the full
 
 Railroad Calamity, arid tJien Joy. 1 1 1 
 
 assurance that his genuine love for Helen Mason 
 was no stronger than that of the young lady for 
 him, and that all this was in perfect harmony with 
 the feelings of Miss Mason's parents. 
 
 Arthur in the early morning following the accident 
 had caused a dispatch to be sent to his mother assur- 
 ing her that his injuries were not serious, and she 
 heard from him almost daily while he was an in- 
 valid. 
 
 He was cordially greeted by all in the store when 
 he resumed his duties, and at the church there was 
 much rejoicing on seeing his face and on hearing 
 his voice again. 
 
 In about one year from the time of the accident, 
 and when that scream from Helen showed her nerv- 
 ousness, or something else expressed in one syllable, 
 that fine residence was crowded with smiling guests. 
 It was evident from the line of elegant carriages 
 seen in that part of the fashionable thorough- 
 fare that the occasion was not one of small impor- 
 tance. Judge Mason and his family were there. 
 Mrs. Trevor and her beautiful Alice were present. 
 Mrs. Armstrong and her sweet Lily were among 
 the guests. Clara Downing and Grace Doyle moved 
 quickly hither and thither. There was a large rep- 
 resentation from St. Thomas's Church. Under the 
 circumstances a clergyman was necessary, and Rev. 
 Dr. Bunting was chosen, who was present with his 
 amiable wife. The ceremony was brief and im- 
 pressive. Arthur Trevor and Helen Mason were 
 pronounced " husband and wife, in the name of the 
 Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
 
 1 1 2 Gold, Tinsel and Trash. 
 
 Helen was not separated from her parents. In 
 the same commodious house they lived as one 
 family, in the enjoyment of health and happiness. 
 Arthur became a partner in the business, a man of 
 wealth and great influence. Helen, with her mother, 
 continued in her labor of love among the poor, while 
 hundreds arose and called her blessed.
 
 OTHER 
 
 STORIES OF COUNTRY AND CITY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 THE CONFERENCE. 
 
 A HARD charge was old Flintrock. That lit- 
 \ tie word "hard" has several significations, 
 especially when applied to circuits. Sometimes it 
 conveys the idea of the amount of labor to be 
 accomplished, sometimes the long and difficult 
 distance between the appointments, and sometimes 
 it refers to the temper and disposition of the peo- 
 ple. The word when applied to Flintrock means 
 all of these together, and if the reader can think 
 of any other kind of "hard " in all probability 
 that old circuit was then entitled -to it. At 
 nearly all of the appointments things were in a 
 loose condition. The congregations were small, and 
 lacking in proper attention. Young people often 
 trifled during prayer and preaching and had gone 
 unrebuked. The brethren, many of them, had no
 
 1 14 Stories ef Country and City. 
 
 family altar. The prayer-meeting had a sickly ex- 
 istence, and the class-meeting was attended by only 
 a few. Financial affairs were sadly neglected, and 
 only two or three brethren could be found in the 
 official board that cared any thing about the matter. 
 The minister's salary was always put down at a low 
 figure, and even that small sum was never paid in 
 full. There was but one Methodist church on the 
 whole charge, and that was at the village from which 
 the circuit took its name. But there were several 
 out-appointments, where preaching was had once in 
 two weeks at the respective school-houses. Some 
 of these were not far from the village, but the breth- 
 ren would carelessly stay at home until the " once in 
 two weeks" would come around. Some of them 
 said that the folks at the " Rock" were rather "stuck 
 up," and they were charged with pride and exclu- 
 siveness. Official members would invariably get 
 tired of their minister before the end of the first 
 year and demand a " change." Yes, Flintrock was 
 a hard circuit, and the ministers knew it, and to be 
 "read out" for that well-known spot was never con- 
 sidered a feather in any body's cap. 
 
 The year had come to a close and the itinerants 
 were on their way to Conference, which was held 
 
 that year at N . In those days they were not 
 
 conveyed in elegant railroad coaches rushing along 
 at the rate of thirty or forty miles an hour, for this 
 was over forty years ago. The majority of them 
 drove their faithful ponies and were often two or 
 three days on the road, stopping at the houses of 
 good Methodists, where, as a rule, they found a
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit, 1 1 5 
 
 hearty welcome. Well, they would reach their des- 
 tination, and as fellow-laborers would exchange 
 most friendly salutations. I think the demon- 
 stration of good feeling in those days was more 
 enthusiastic than at our modern Conferences. It 
 is possible that their extensive circuit-riding and 
 their battles with winter storms and oppressive 
 summer heat were more conducive to an overflow 
 of soul than are our modern little stations and our 
 one appointment itinerancy. In richness of apparel 
 they were far behind our modern preachers. Their 
 "allowance" was very small, and in many instances 
 it was not paid. They flourished no gold watches 
 or costly sleeve-buttons. Their suits were plain 
 both from principle and necessity. 
 
 Among these hardy sons of the ministry at this 
 Conference was found John B. Sharp. His preach- 
 ing talents were excellent, and with the ministers he 
 was a favorite. He had the rare faculty of combin- 
 ing great plainness of speech and an excellent tem- 
 per. In completely demolishing an opponent, or 
 in administering reproof in "words that burned," 
 his countenance would give unmistakable proof of 
 a kind spirit and good intention. While others, in 
 softer words, would give mortal offense, involve 
 themselves in trouble and fail in their object, Brother 
 Sharp would gain his point and retain the good will 
 of those whom he rebuked. The appointments he 
 filled were not of the first class, and sometimes they 
 were not of the second. There was something 
 which no one ever knew that kept him down. His 
 inferiors one after the other marched into good sta-
 
 Ii6 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 tions. This, of course, he noticed, but he did not 
 complain. He was cheerful and happy, and never 
 asked for any particular favor of either bishop or 
 presiding elder. For two years he had served the 
 Fairport appointment with such a degree of success 
 that the Watchford Station was very anxious to se- 
 cure his services. 
 
 Rev. Samson Keener at this time was the presid- 
 ing elder of Sahara District. He was a powerful 
 preacher, especially on points bearing on distinctive 
 Arminian theology. He was just such a man as 
 high Calvinists would be sorry to meet in public 
 debate. Once, before they knew his strength, they 
 made that mistake. They were put to flight with 
 terrible slaughter. Let not Brother Keener be 
 blamed for his non-intercourse with his preachers 
 touching their destination. At that day among the 
 presiding elders that was considered a rule clothed 
 with more than ordinary sanctity and very seldom 
 departed from ; and if occasionally through his 
 nomination and influence an appointment was made 
 that seemed to be wholly destitute of human wis- 
 dom it gave the people an opportunity to gaze in 
 wonder on the mysterious workings of that Prov- 
 idence whose ways are past finding out. 
 
 A few days before the session of this Conference 
 two brethren representing the Quarterly Meeting 
 Conference of the Watchford Station called on the 
 presiding elder, and the following conversation took 
 place : 
 
 " Brother Keener, we have called to see you in re- 
 gard to our next minister," said Brother Candor. " We
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 117 
 
 thought there would be no harm in asking for a cer- 
 tain brother if there was nothing in the way." 
 
 "That is a very delicate point!" answered the 
 elder, looking profoundly solemn. " Your interests 
 will be sacredly regarded in the cabinet. But when 
 preachers ask for a particular charge, and charges 
 ask for a particular preacher, it has a tendency to 
 block the wheels of our glorious itinerancy." 
 
 " Our regard for the itinerancy is fully equal to 
 yours, and we know something of Methodist Church 
 polity," answered Brother Candor. " We put forth 
 no claim. How can a simple and respectful request 
 of this nature have a tendency to clog the wheels 
 of the itinerancy?" 
 
 " Brother Candor, with all due respect to your 
 age and ripe judgment," said Brother Keener, "I 
 must say that you are not expected to know these 
 things as well as I do. Such requests give us a vast 
 amount of trouble." 
 
 "Then, as far as I am concerned," said Brother 
 Candor, looking the presiding elder in the face, 
 "you are released from all further trouble. I am 
 prepared to go home and report this interview to 
 my brethren." 
 
 "And so am I," said his companion, Brother 
 Earnest, rising, as if ready to start. 
 
 This independence was something that Samson 
 Keener was not in the habit of encountering, and, 
 knowing the influence of these men, he saw at once 
 that it would not answer for them to leave in their 
 present mood, and he hastened to give the interview 
 a more friendly turn.
 
 1 1 8 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " O, no, brethren!" he said, with some astonish- 
 ment. " I did not mean to cast any reflection on 
 you. I have always found you to be good men and 
 true. Who is the preacher that you have in view?" 
 
 "John B. Sharp," was the answer. 
 
 "Indeed! Your aspirations are quite moderate," 
 said Brother Keener. " Watchford is one of our 
 best stations, and you are aware that Brother Sharp 
 has never filled that grade of appointments." 
 
 " Yes, we are well aware of that," said Brother 
 Earnest, "and to us it has been a matter of wonder 
 for years why a man of such splendid preaching tal- 
 ents, with other perfections to match, has been kept 
 away from our good stations, while some of them, 
 at least, have been filled by men of very inferior 
 abilities." 
 
 " I am not aware that that has been the case," 
 said the presiding elder, with evident displeasure. 
 " You pay but a poor compliment to the combined 
 wisdom of the Bishop and presiding elders." 
 
 " We don't deny the wisdom," said Brother Can- 
 dor ; " we only fail to see it ; that is all." 
 
 " I will give your request the consideration it 
 deserves," said the elder, with some stiffness of man- 
 ner ; and soon the brethren departed for their homes. 
 
 " Watchford ! Whom do you nominate for this 
 station, Brother Keener?" asked the Bishop. 
 
 " Brother Minus," was the response. 
 
 " I have no wish to interfere with the legitimate 
 business of another presiding elder," said Brother 
 Fairhead, " but it seems to me that that strong sta-
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 1 19 
 
 tion needs a person of more commanding pulpit 
 talent than that young brother possesses." 
 
 " Bishop," said Brother Keener, " Brother Minus 
 is a very promising young minister; a fine scholar, 
 and a graduate of Middletown. He has lately mar- 
 ried the daughter of one of our wealthiest laymen. 
 Sister Minus is exceedingly kind, amiable, and be- 
 nevolent, as I know by experience." 
 
 Brother Minus was written down for Watch ford, 
 although several of the presiding elders pronounced 
 it a " bad fit." 
 
 It soon came around again to the Sahara District. 
 
 " Whom do you nominate for Flintrock ? " asked 
 the Bishop. 
 
 " May it please the Chair," said Brother Keener, 
 " before I make the nomination I wish to say a few 
 words in regard to this circuit. In many respects 
 it is hard to serve. The majority of the members 
 of the Quarterly Conference are peculiarly consti- 
 tuted, and I have to make a change almost every 
 year. They need a strong mart, and, fortunately, 
 I have a brother on my District that will answer 
 their purpose exactly. I nominate for Flintrock, 
 John B. Sharp." 
 
 " Bishop," said Brother Sweet, " I cannot look 
 upon that nomination with favor. Brother Sharp 
 is one of our best preachers, and I have thought 
 for years that we have not done him justice. I 
 have a good station on my District where they would 
 receive him with open arms. He is a grand good 
 man, and to send him to Flintrock borders on the 
 abusive."
 
 I2O Stories of Country and City. 
 
 Much was said/r<? and con on this question, when 
 at last the Bishop remarked : " I am very confident 
 that Brother Sharp's worth and talents are high. I 
 am deeply interested in the man. Fliiitrock has 
 been humored until it has become insolent. Instead 
 of yielding to their unreasonable demands and fool- 
 ish whims Brother Keener ought to have adminis- 
 tered to them a severe reproof. It is evident that 
 the circuit is cursed with worthless church officers 
 who ought to be displaced or reformed. I think 
 Brother Sharp would do the work. If I send him 
 there I want him to have his own way, and I think 
 he will come forth all right. But I will not appoint 
 this excellent man to Flintrock without his full and 
 cheerful consent. If he objects I will give him a 
 station worthy of his talents. Brother Keener, 
 please ask Brother Sharp to call at my room this 
 evening at seven o'clock." 
 
 The presiding elder could not instantly make up 
 his mind whether he was pleased or otherwise, and 
 so he left it an open question. On that evening 
 Brother Sharp had a long interview with the Bishop 
 and came away with a smiling countenance. 
 
 At the close of the Conference the appointments 
 were read in a clear, distinct voice, and it was no- 
 ticed by several that a faint smile touched the Bish- 
 op's lips as he read, " Flintrock, John B. Sharp.''
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 121 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE FIRST WEEK ON OLD FLINTROCK. 
 
 IT is sad to think that nearly all of the perplex- 
 ing difficulties on this circuit were owing chiefly 
 to the lamentable inefficiency of a large number of 
 its official members. In addition to a lack of en- 
 ergy they manifested a spirit of opposition to every 
 thing in the shape of improvement or progress. 
 Several ministers had undertaken in soft words to 
 awaken them from their stupidity, but they were 
 invariably met with either frowns or indifference. 
 Their annual changing of ministers was, upon the 
 whole, as pleasing to the retiring itinerant as to the 
 Quarterly Conference. Indeed, to many of the 
 preachers who had served them this had constituted 
 the most pleasing reflection of the whole year. In 
 most cases they had been men of quiet habits, peace- 
 able disposition, and moderate abilities. They com- 
 prehended the situation and saw that it needed a 
 desperate remedy ; but they lacked the moral cour- 
 age to enter the fight. Under the conviction that 
 they were not adequate for the emergency they left 
 things as they found them, and perhaps worse. In 
 the seclusion of their own study at the parsonage, 
 when no official member or any one else was nigh, 
 they would often tell these brethren in very plain 
 language what they thought of them. Those were 
 brave words, and had they fallen on the ears of 
 those negligent officials, instead of those inani-
 
 122 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 mate volumes and papered walls, perhaps they 
 would have accomplished some good. But these 
 peaceable brethren thought it was not advisable to 
 create strifes, and hoped that some one would yet 
 find his way to Flintrock that would give these 
 worthless officials the shaking they deserved. 
 
 These lay brethren, ludicrous as it may seem, were 
 nevertheless anxious for a revival. " Our paying 
 members are dying off," they would say, " and quar- 
 terage is getting scarce, and unless we get a rousing 
 ' reformation ' it will be hard to get the preacher's 
 pay." Yes, they longed for a reformation, not for 
 the glory of God and the salvation of souls; that 
 was not in their official line ; neither was it for the 
 sake of the preacher, but rather for their own profit 
 in dollars and cents. Where is the circuit minister 
 of long standing that has not heard words like those 
 from some official brethren ? These men in the 
 midst of their moral stupidity would clamor for a 
 revival and demand of the presiding elder to send 
 them a man that would " get up a reformation." 
 
 Here it may be well to let the reader have a little 
 knowledge of some of the members of the Flintrock 
 Quarterly Conference. 
 
 Brother Goodier was a steward and class-leader, 
 a man of some wealth, and a devoted Christian. He 
 was liberal in his contributions, active in every de- 
 partment of the work, and a regular reader of the 
 church paper. 
 
 Brother Tighter was a wealthy steward, but paid 
 no attention to the duties of his office. He was a 
 penurious worldling. The support he gave the Gos-
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 123 
 
 pel was shamefully meager. He took no church 
 paper, and his house had no family altar. 
 
 Brother Pompey was also a steward, and a very 
 loud talker. He was of a swaggering disposition, 
 quite illiterate, and abounding in slang expressions. 
 He was just as apt to be in the right as in the wrong. 
 There was in him a vein of kindness, and he was 
 not stingy. He took no church paper. 
 
 Brother Sly was also a steward, and always ren- 
 dered a cheerful assistance in keeping down the 
 preacher's salary to the lowest figure. He was 
 known among the young people as " Old Human 
 Natur',' ' on account of his never-failing habit of using 
 that term in all of his conversations. Of course he 
 took no church periodical. 
 
 Brother Gruntly was a class-leader, but fortu- 
 nately he never officiated in that line. He always 
 conferred that honor upon the preacher. He was 
 much given to grumbling and was at home in fault- 
 finding. No Advocate in his house. 
 
 Brother Trembly was a good man in his way, but 
 greatly lacking in moral courage. In the official 
 meeting he would quietly submit to wrong meas- 
 ures rather than come in contact with the majority. 
 His wife insisted on having the Advocate. 
 
 Brother Wiser was an excellent class-leader and 
 steward, and always stood with Brother Goodier for 
 reform, and was invariably voted down. He had 
 taken the Advocate from its origin. 
 
 There were others in the official board but they 
 were indifferent, or even worse than that. 
 
 Brother Goodier had just returned from Confer-
 
 124 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 ence, which he generally attended if not too far 
 away. No sooner was he seated than his daughter, 
 a beautiful young lady of eighteen, said : 
 
 " And now, dear papa, tell us who is to be our 
 minister for this year. I am almost afraid to hear. 
 But, whoever he may be, he will be better than we 
 deserve." 
 
 " Ella," said her father with a look she failed to 
 comprehend, " when I tell you his name you will be 
 perfectly astonished." 
 
 " Well, we may as well learn our fate at once," 
 said she, " let us hear his name." 
 
 " My child," said the father, " you will be glad 
 to hear that we are to have Brother Sharp." 
 
 " What ! John B. Sharp !" cried the girl in utter 
 astonishment. 
 
 " That is the very name," said her father. 
 
 Ella in ecstasy ran up stairs to impart the news 
 to her mother. They both came down smiling. 
 " What a strange thing to send that splendid man 
 to this place !" said Mrs. Goodier. " I am afraid 
 that he feels sore about it." 
 
 " No, he cheerfully consented to come," said the 
 father. " It is all right." 
 
 Here Walter, the son, a young man of twenty, 
 came in with the closing part of old " Denmark " 
 on his musical lips, to which he did splendid justice, 
 
 " Firm as a rock His truth shall stand, 
 When rolling years shall cease to move." 
 
 " O, Walter !" cried his sister; " guess whom we 
 are going to have for our new minister."
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 125 
 
 " Some one we don't deserve, as I learn from 
 your laughing eyes," said Walter. " I pity him 
 from the bottom of my heart." 
 
 " What would you say, Walter, if I were to tell 
 you that John B. Sharp was the man?" asked the 
 sister, with a sly look. 
 
 " I would say that Miss Ella Goodier was for 
 once indulging in the most improbable fiction," 
 said the brother. 
 
 " And yet, in sober earnestness, he is the very 
 person," said Ella. 
 
 The brother for a while looked upon his sister in 
 silent astonishment, and then, turning to his father, 
 said : 
 
 " Father, what does this mean ? I am really 
 astonished. Well, John B. has a mind of his own 
 and the courage of a lion. He would not be afraid 
 to meet a whole regiment of devils. If I am not 
 mistaken there will be some sharp words on Old 
 Flintrock between this and next Conference." 
 
 The new minister arrived in due time, and for 
 a few days, with his wife and two daughters, was 
 entertained at the friendly residence of Brother 
 Goodier, with whom he was well acquainted. From 
 this faithful steward he gained all the information 
 that he could desire touching the temporal and 
 spiritual condition of the charge. 
 
 " These are discouraging truths to reveal to our 
 new minister," said Brother Goodier, with tears in 
 his eyes. 
 
 " I was fully aware that things were in a bad shape 
 when I consented to come," said Brother Sharp.
 
 126 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " I am constantly praying for wisdom to move in 
 harmony with the will of God. I shall endeavor to 
 be kind to all, but at the same time I must lift up 
 the standard of Christian holiness, and stand by the 
 'equirements of our Church Discipline. I have a 
 very comfortable assurance that my labors will be 
 blessed in reclaiming the backslidden and in the con- 
 version of souls. 1 ' 
 
 On Sabbath morning at Flintrock the congrega- 
 tion was very large. The minister delivered his 
 message with " energy and power." He had perfect 
 liberty, and the sermon produced a strong impres- 
 sion. At the close of the last hymn he asked the 
 congregation to be seated, as he had a few more 
 words to say in which he was sure they would be 
 interested. 
 
 " I thank you for the deep and respectful atten- 
 tion you have paid this morning to the preached 
 word. Your earnest, solemn countenances prove to 
 me that you come to the house of God to hear the 
 Gospel, and not to satisfy your curiosity by gazing 
 on a stranger. After having thus spoken in your 
 praise I am sorry to say that to this general atten- 
 tion and solemnity there has been a slight excep- 
 tion. Throughout the service I have been greatly 
 annoyed, and so have others, by the rude and tri- 
 fling behavior of four young persons in the gal- 
 lery. Such conduct in the house of the Lord can- 
 not be tolerated, and I would kindly entreat those 
 young persons from henceforth to abstain from be- 
 havior that is not only a violation of all the prin- 
 ciples of good manners but also displeasing to God.
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 127 
 
 I hope these words will be kindly received ; but let 
 it be clearly understood, and you are at liberty to 
 proclaim it far and near, that no rude behavior in 
 the sanctuary during divine service shall go unre- 
 buked." 
 
 The benediction was pronounced and the people 
 went to their homes. The closing remarks of the 
 minister gave great satisfaction to all except the 
 very few whom we shall mention hereafter. He 
 was praised for his noble decision, and in the class- 
 meeting, in which he was not present, there was a 
 general good feeling as the result of their first Sab- 
 bath service. 
 
 In the afternoon the minister had an appointment 
 at the "Yellow School-house," about four miles from 
 the village. The house was full. The aspect of the 
 congregation was less intelligent and less thoughtful 
 than at the village. They had a choir made up o 
 young people, who evidently " magnified their 
 office." The minister spoke with great freedom and 
 power. The general attention was good, but the 
 singers behaved badly. There was the irrepressible 
 whisper and winking, and they went so far as to ex- 
 change views on slips of paper, and Brother Sharp, 
 only in fewer words than at the church, spoke of the 
 trifling spirit manifested on the part of a few, and 
 hoped he would never witness the like again. 
 
 After class-meeting he went home with Brother 
 and Sister Gruntly, who lived close by. They were 
 sociable and friendly, but there appeared to be an 
 effort about it, and it was evident that their minds 
 were not at perfect ease. Tea was soon ready and
 
 128 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 the minister was invited to sit at the table in another 
 room. As he entered the dining-room he noticed 
 the exit of a young lady into the kitchen on whose 
 countenance rested something very much like a 
 frown. He noticed also that this young woman 
 was one of those who had figured prominently in 
 the school-house choir. 
 
 The meal was progressing, while the conversa- 
 tion lagged. 
 
 " Where is Sallie ?" asked the father, looking 
 around. 
 
 " Sallie wishes to be excused," said the mother, a 
 little stiffly. 
 
 " Methodism is not what it was when I was a 
 boy, Brother Sharp," said Brother Gruntly, in a tone 
 far from being cheerful. 
 
 " For which I am very thankful," said Brother 
 Sharp. " We certainly ought to have made some 
 fine advancement in forty years, and I am glad to 
 know that we are progressing finely." 
 
 " I guess we have been progressing back- 
 ward," said the man of the house, and he smiled 
 in view of what he considered a very happy 
 hit. 
 
 " No. Our course is onward and upward in every 
 respect," said the minister. " We are progressing 
 splendidly in piety, education, and liberality. Have 
 you read Dr. Banks's article on that point in the last 
 Advocate?" 
 
 11 1 don't take the Advocate," was the answer. 
 
 " I am sorry," was the reply. " I think if you 
 were well posted in regard to the working of our
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 129 
 
 Church you would never say again that we were 
 progressing backward." 
 
 " There is too much pride in the Church," was his 
 next. 
 
 " If there is any, of course there is too much," 
 was the answer. " But was not that the complaint 
 when you were a boy? According to the number 
 there was as much pride in the Church then as there 
 is now, although it did not show itself in the same 
 way." 
 
 " Then we didn't build costly churches with soft 
 cushioned seats and worldly fixings," said Brother 
 Gruntly, with the conviction that he had made a 
 point. 
 
 " That was owing to poverty, and not humility," 
 said the preacher. " I believe that God is well 
 pleased with well-furnished churches if the people 
 are able to build such. As to seats, I don't see 
 why it is worse to sit on cushions in church than at 
 home," pointing smilingly to a finely-cushioned 
 rocking-chair near by. 
 
 The meal was over, and the company returned to 
 the parlor to give room to Sallie, who soon resumed 
 authority. 
 
 " Well, Brother Sharp, you gave us a powerful 
 sermon and no mistake, but I fear that what you 
 said afterward will break up the choir," said Bro- 
 ther Gruntly, feeling relieved after a performance 
 he somewhat dreaded. 
 
 " It would be a blessing to the Church if all such 
 choirs were broken up at once," said Brother Sharp, 
 
 without the least hesitation. " They are a moral 
 9
 
 130 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 nuisance. A thousand times better to have no 
 singing than that offered by those who have not 
 sufficient regard for divine worship to conduct them- 
 selves with decency. I am always glad to encour- 
 age well-disposed and well-behaved young people 
 in their efforts to sustain a choir, but when they 
 fancy that being in a choir gives them a license to 
 trifle, giggle, and pass written slips of paper around 
 during divine service they should be undeceived at 
 once. Such choirs, where I have any thing to say, 
 unless they alter their ways, will certainly be broken 
 up. Singing is a part of our public worship, and 
 should never be conducted by a class of irreligious 
 triflers. If they reform, and behave themselves, 
 well. If otherwise, I shall consider myself doing 
 God's service in breaking up the choir." 
 
 These words may seem to the reader as having 
 been spoken on a high key, with an animated coun- 
 tenance and corresponding gestures. This was not 
 the case. They flowed smoothly over the smiling 
 lips of the minister in gentle accents, and Brother 
 and Sister Gruntly were astonished to listen to such 
 strong language in such a mild spirit. 
 
 Here the conversation ended, and soon the faith- 
 ful itinerant was on his way toward the evening ap- 
 pointment at " Coon's Hollow," five miles away. 
 
 The school-house was well filled. They had a 
 well-trained choir, who paid the most respectful at- 
 tention, and from first to last there was nothing 
 that approached levity or rudeness. The minister 
 was happy in his work, and at the close of the meet- 
 ing two young men rose for prayers.
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 131 
 
 After the service the preacher went home with 
 Brother Wiser, where he remained that night. The 
 family consisted of the parents, two sons, and one 
 daughter. The sons were hardy young farmers, 
 free from all bad habits, but as yet had not em- 
 braced religion. John was twenty-five and George 
 twenty-one. Julia was eighteen, fair in form and 
 features, with a well-developed mind and a de- 
 voted Christian heart. The family was universally 
 respected. Brother Sharp was perfectly at home 
 under their hospitable roof, and found to the joy of 
 his soul that Old Flintrock Circuit could boast of 
 some bright jewels. 
 
 The next morning, soon after breakfast, the new 
 pastor, with a heart full of the consolation of the 
 Gospel, was on his way toward the village, where 
 loving hearts waited for his return. 
 
 The closing remarks on Sabbath morning, although 
 highly pleasing to the congregation at large, did not 
 give satisfaction to all. The four young persons allud- 
 ed to were Frank Pompey, William Sly, Grace and 
 Charity Tighter. The three brethren, from what 
 they had already heard, were well aware that their 
 children were the objects of the minister's remarks. 
 But instead of standing by their faithful pastor they 
 secretly cherished a degree of hardness. In point of 
 property they stood on something of an elevation, 
 and their children figured in what they considered 
 good society, and never before had they been re- 
 ferred to as lacking in good manners. It is true he 
 had not pointed his finger toward them, but all knew
 
 132 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 whom he meant. The fathers, however, were at a 
 loss how to exhibit their resentment. They knew 
 that the minister had made a very favorable impres- 
 sion on the audience, but this bold movement of his 
 which touched their family pride must not pass 
 without further notice. They did not stay in the 
 class-meeting, they hardly ever did, and, living in 
 the same neighborhood, they slowly walked together 
 toward home. 
 
 " Well," said Brother Tighter, in carefully meas- 
 ured words, " we have a man that can preach, there 
 is no mistake about that." 
 
 " I like his sermon tip-top," said Brother Pompey, 
 in a loud voice. "Brother Humbler can't hold a 
 candle to him. Didn't he rattle it off, though! I 
 thought I was going to like him first rate. But I 
 don't know. I don't think it looked well for a 
 stranger like him to come down on our young folks 
 like a thousand o' brick. If he had left well enough 
 alone and pronounced the benediction it would have 
 been some dollars in his pocket, I'll bet you on that. 
 He gave us a good pail of milk and then kicked it 
 all over." 
 
 "The brother don't understand human natur', 
 that's sartin," said Brother Sly. "Supposin' they 
 was a little mischievous. Sakes alive! what of it? 
 It ain't in the natur' of youngsters to sit stock still 
 as we do. A preacher ought to understand human 
 natur'. If he gets the young people mad he will 
 get a mighty slim donation." 
 
 " If the brother knew that his remarks was going 
 to hurt the feelings of members of the official board,"
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flint rock Circuit. 133 
 
 said Brother Tighter, well pleased with the remarks 
 of his companions, "I think he wouldn't speak as 
 he did. I guess he will be glad to explain matters 
 a little more to our liking." 
 
 " When it comes handy I will give him a piece of 
 my mind and tell him what's what," said Brother 
 Pompey. 
 
 " He is to call at my house to-morrow afternoon," 
 said Brother Tighter, " and if you and Brother Sly 
 should happen to come around about that time we 
 may tell the brother something that will do him 
 good." 
 
 "All right," said Pompey. " Let us happen to be 
 around about that time. Ha, ha! Happen, eh? 
 Sly, will you be on hand ?" 
 
 " I'll try to," was the answer. " I don't know as 
 I'll have any thing to offer, but I do hope that our 
 minister will study human natur'." 
 
 They had now reached a point of the road where 
 they had to separate, and each went to his home. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 BROTHER POMPEY GETS THE WORSE OF IT. 
 
 n T7T7ATCHMAN, what of the night?" asked 
 V V Brother Goodier, with his ever-welcome 
 smile, when Brother Sharp returned on Monday 
 morning. 
 
 "The day is breaking, bless the Lord!" was the 
 cheerful, ready answer. " I am happy in my work.
 
 134 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 At the Hollow two anxious souls rose for prayers, 
 and the signs are glorious!" 
 
 " At that appointment we have some of our best 
 members," said Brother Goodier. " They pull to- 
 gether in every good measure. How did things 
 appear at the Yellow School-house?" 
 
 " With the exception of their choir, who behaved 
 badly, every thing looked favorable," was the reply. 
 " As in the morning, I delivered a short message on 
 that point. I think there will be no occasion for 
 repeating it." 
 
 " May Heaven bless you for your prompt and fear- 
 less course!" said the class-leader. 
 
 " It will all come out right in the end," said the 
 minister. " I trust that my plainness of speech will 
 always flow from a kind heart. From a few I may 
 meet with coldness and even opposition, but it will 
 be of short duration, and the end will be glorious. I 
 look for a revival." 
 
 "Amen!" loudly responded Brother Goodier, 
 who seemed to drink in the spirit of his pastor. 
 " Old Flintrock Circuit has not seen a revival in 
 many years, but I believe it is coming. Bless the 
 Lord!" 
 
 In the afternoon, in harmony with his promise, the 
 minister walked as far as Brother Tighter's mansion. 
 The girls saw him approaching and felt somewhat 
 inclined to shun him, but, having understood from 
 their father that his remarks at the close of the ser- 
 mon were to be criticised by Brother Pompey and 
 Brother Sly, they concluded to remain. 
 
 Notwithstanding their parents' sympathy and
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 135 
 
 their own wounded pride, there was in their minds 
 all the time the uncomfortable secret conviction 
 that the minister was right and that they were 
 wrong. Sometimes this inward impression would 
 assume shape, and laugh at the inconsistency of 
 Methodist parents in upholding their children in 
 wrong-doing. Still, they tried to hope that the new 
 minister would be somewhat punished during the 
 interview. They had some fears that he would 
 recognize them as the disturbers of the meeting, 
 but they concluded that he would not. Their con- 
 clusion was correct. 
 
 Sister Tighter had some noble qualities. In her 
 younger days she had enjoyed much of the power 
 of religion and was a real worker in the church. 
 Of late years she had in a great measure lost her 
 spirituality, and with her husband had become some- 
 what worldly. Still she had great respect for the 
 cause of God. Her daughters were her heart's great 
 treasure, and in justice to the young women let it be 
 said that, notwithstanding their levity in the sanc- 
 tuary, they possessed many valuable traits of char- 
 acter. 
 
 Brother Sharp was met at the door by Sister 
 Tighter, who received him with faultless politeness 
 and with a very fair imitation of cordiality. The keen 
 eye of the experienced minister saw in a moment 
 that every thing was not exactly right. He was 
 introduced to the daughters, who, in spite of their 
 efforts to appear composed, showed much nervous- 
 ness. But by the perfect and charming ease of 
 Brother Sharp and the fascinating nature of his
 
 136 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 conversation, they soon regained their natural- 
 ness. Brother Tighter, in view of what was to 
 transpire, did not fully succeed in throwing off 
 restraint. 
 
 The conversation was going on with fair success, 
 depending mostly on the ready abundance of the 
 new pastor, when Brothers Pompey and Sly hap- 
 pened to come. They had also happened to put on 
 their "Sunday suits," in anticipation of happening 
 to meet the new minister. After a formal introduc- 
 tion Brother Sharp saw at once that their coming 
 was not accidental. 
 
 " Glad to see you," said Brother Pompey. " Hope 
 for better acquaintance. Somehow or 'nother I 
 didn't get a fair chance to speak to you yesterday." 
 
 " Perhaps you expected to meet me in the class- 
 meeting," said the minister, in true honesty. " My 
 afternoon appointment did not grant me that great 
 pleasure." 
 
 This was an unintentional shot that was felt by 
 others than Brother Pompey, and, no reply being 
 convenient, there was a short pause. 
 
 " You had a rousing congregation and no mis- 
 take," said Pompey, in a loud voice, "and you gave 
 us an all-fired smart sermon. There is no going 
 back on that. We think that old Samson Keener 
 is a pretty big gun, but I guess the old fellow's got 
 to cave in." 
 
 To this speech the minister seemed to be perfectly 
 indifferent. He neither smiled nor frowned, but 
 looked very much as if nothing had been said ; but 
 in his mind he was weighing and measuring the man
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 137 
 
 who had let loose such a volume of sound. His 
 estimate was exceedingly correct. 
 
 " A large portion of the audience was made up 
 of young people," said Brother Tighter, preparing 
 the way. " I don't know when I have seen so many 
 of that class together before." 
 
 "And upon the whole," said the minister, "a 
 more earnest and attentive company of young peo- 
 ple I scarcely ever witnessed." 
 
 "Gracious! elder," cried Brother Pompey, on 
 an elevated key, "that don't jibe exactly with that 
 setting out you gave them before you pronounced 
 the blessing." 
 
 " It harmonizes exactly with what I said yester- 
 day," said Brother Sharp, in a pleasant tone of voice. 
 "The 'setting out,' as you -call it, referred to only 
 four persons in that large assembly." 
 
 Here the two sisters blushed. 
 
 "Young people are easily offended," said Brother 
 Sly, " and it is a great thing in a minister to under- 
 stand human natur'." 
 
 "Young people are not easily offended," said 
 Brother Sharp, in his earnest style. " They are not 
 nearly as sensitive as those who are advanced in 
 years. They often get out of the way, but as a 
 general thing they are not obstinate and mulish. 
 As to human nature, I have studied it all my life, 
 and I think that I understand it pretty well. As a 
 proof that I have some knowledge in that line I 
 will simply say that your object in meeting me here 
 to-day is to call me to an account for what I said 
 yesterday."
 
 138 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 This was said in a manner so gentle and kind that 
 it had a double effect. They were completely taken 
 back, and even Pompeyfelt his courage giving way. 
 He soon rallied, however, and said, " Well, I guess 
 the elder has hit it this time. Tighter thought that 
 this 'ere matter ought to be talked over a little ; and 
 without going around Robin Hood's barn I am 
 going to tell you at once that that speech of your'n 
 at the close of the meeting don't set very easy on 
 some minds." 
 
 " I am very glad to hear that, Brother Pompey," 
 said the minister, with his usual smiling ease. 
 " Speeches and sermons that sit easy don't do 
 much good." 
 
 " But I mean that our young folks can't be lect- 
 ured in that way without getting riley," said Pom- 
 pey, "and if you get the youngsters down on you 
 then you are a goner, and we thought we would 
 better tell you." 
 
 " I have been eighteen years in the ministry, and 
 my experience with young people has been quite 
 extensive," said Brother Sharp. " I have never per- 
 mitted rude behavior in the house of God to pass 
 by unmentioned, and I never shall. I have had no 
 occasion to mention the subject to the same con- 
 gregation more than once. It will be so on this 
 charge if older heads do not interfere. Don't you 
 borrow trouble about me. The Lord may have 
 given me as well as yourselves a fair degree of com- 
 mon sense. The young people referred to will be 
 all right in a short time unless they are injured by 
 bad advice and bad examples from those who are
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flint rock Circuit. 139 
 
 older. They may not have had the religious train- 
 ing that your children have had. They may have 
 been brought up in families where there are no family 
 altars. I most earnestly desire their salvation." 
 
 " We were only thinking," said Brother Tighter, 
 " that if the young people should go against you 
 your quarterage would come middlin' kind of hard." 
 
 " Brother Tighter," said the minister, with a broad 
 smile, bordering on a laugh, " the young people 
 will not go against me. They never did and they 
 never will. As to quarterage, that shall never pre- 
 vent me from doing my whole duty. I am not 
 troubled about it in the least. My support will 
 come plentifully. If it does not come through you 
 stewards it will come in another way." 
 
 " That sounds kind o' independent," said Brother 
 Pompey. 
 
 " Not at all," was the reply; " I depend on God 
 and I have faith in the people." 
 
 "We find it pretty hard scratching to pay the 
 ministers," said Pompey, " and it ain't allus they 
 get paid up." 
 
 " And we ministers know it," said the preacher. 
 " Flintrock is understood to be the meanest circuit 
 in the Conference. You never pay your ministers, 
 and there is an impression among our preachers 
 that the majority of the official brethren don't care 
 whether they are paid up or not." 
 
 " Do you have that impression, Brother Sharp ? " 
 asked Brother Tighter. 
 
 o 
 
 " Yes, I do," was the answer. " How can I have 
 any other impression ? It is indifference on the
 
 140 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 part of stewards that causes this perpetual deficiency. 
 I know that a few do the best they can ; the rest 
 are drones. Think you that on this large circuit, 
 with all its wealth, the small pittance of four hun- 
 dred dollars could not be raised by men who had a 
 heart in the work and the welfare of the minister 
 in view? And another thing that shows indiffer- 
 ence or penuriousness, or both, is the shamefully- 
 small sum paid by wealthy members of the official 
 board." 
 
 " I swan ! that is plain talk for a new-comer, " 
 said Pompey ; " I don't know what to make of it. 
 How you can give it to us right and left in that way 
 and still keep as cool as a cucumber is more than 
 I can understand." 
 
 " With such an opinion of us," said Tighter, " it 
 must have been very painful for you to come among 
 us." 
 
 " I was consulted by the Bishop in regard to it at 
 an early part of the Conference," said the minister. 
 " He would not have sent me here without my full 
 consent. If I had said no, he would have given me 
 one of the best stations in the Conference. I said 
 yes, and came to Flintrock." 
 
 " Now, if that don't beat all creation ! " cried Pom- 
 pey. " What do you think of that, Tighter ? " 
 
 " And you have no doubt in regard to your quar- 
 terage ? " asked Brother Tighter, without paying 
 any attention to Pompey. 
 
 " Not a bit," said Brother Sharp ; " I have faith in 
 God and I have faith in the people." 
 
 " The people will do fust rate if they are carefully
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 141 
 
 handled," said Brother Sly ; " it is not every minister 
 that understands human natur'." 
 
 " Well," said Pompey, " somehow or 'nother we 
 hain't stuck exactly to the point. Brother Sharp 
 don't soften down the least mite on what he said 
 yesterday. It's too all-killing bad to have the young 
 people turn against him at the very start." 
 
 " Brother Pompey," said the minister, " I will 
 ask you one question. Do you positively know 
 of even one young person that is offended with 
 what I said yesterday, aside from those four I re- 
 ferred to? " 
 
 " Well, when it comes to knowin' for sartin," said 
 Pompey, with some embarrassment, " I can't say 
 that I do." 
 
 " I will ask another question. Do you really be- 
 lieve that any other young persons are grieved with 
 my words? " 
 
 " Hokie ! " said Pompey, in the vain endeavor to 
 extricate himself, " the elder would make a smash- 
 ing lawyer. I guess he would make out a case right 
 or wrong." 
 
 " But you don't answer the question," said the 
 smiling minister. 
 
 " Well, let me see ; what was it ? O, yes. Wai, 
 since you squeeze a fellow right down to it, I guess I 
 may as well own up that I don't really believe that 
 any of the young folks was hurt except those young- 
 sters that thought they would have a little fun," 
 said Brother Pompey, wiping his face. " But I 
 reckon it is time for me to be moving ; it is pretty 
 near milking-time."
 
 142 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " It is the same with me," said Brother Sly, look- 
 ing for his hat. 
 
 " Before these good brethren leave," said Brother 
 Sharp, " let us have a word of prayer. We have 
 pleasantly conversed together in regard to the in- 
 terests of the Church of Christ. In these matters 
 we are to seek wisdom of the Lord. It gives me 
 pleasure to meet with you, and I trust that our com- 
 ing together thus will be blessed of the Lord. Brother 
 Tighter, are these young ladies in the church ?" 
 
 " No, they have not yet made a start," was the 
 reply. 
 
 " I am sorry," said the minister, with a look that 
 was all kindness and Christian love. " How much 
 good they might accomplish if they would only give 
 their young hearts to the Saviour ! Young ladies, I 
 hope to see you genuinely converted to God. We 
 will now call upon our heavenly Father." 
 
 The sisters had been attentive listeners to all 
 that had been said, and from his first sentence the 
 minister had continued to gain in their estimation, 
 and more than once their cheeks burned with shame 
 as they thought of their behavior in the house of 
 God. The words of Brother Pompey had never 
 sounded to them so decidedly flat, and they were 
 pleased to see his embarrassment. They firmly re- 
 solved that they had trifled in the sanctuary for the 
 last time. The preacher's few words addressed to 
 them before engaging in devotion had reached their 
 hearts, and although they had not bowed in prayer 
 for many years they knelt down as if drawn by 
 some magic power.
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 143 
 
 The prayer was deeply impressive. With holy 
 ardor the man of God implored the divine Spirit to 
 rest upon all present and upon the Church of Christ. 
 He remembered the unconverted, and especially the 
 young people. There were no vocal responses. 
 From that company they could not be expected. 
 But when the prayer was ended there was a moist- 
 ure in those sisters' eyes which Brother Pompey no- 
 ticed with perfect astonishment. 
 
 The two officials left, and the reader will be glad 
 to know from their own lips their estimation of the 
 interview. 
 
 " I tell you, Brother Sly," said Pompey, " I 
 guess we have come out through the little end of 
 the horn. I tell you he is just as keen as a razor. I 
 feel just as if I had been drawn through a knot-hole. 
 I never was so whittled down in all my life, and it 
 looked all the time as if the fellow didn't half try. 
 When he talked about the small contributions from 
 official members didn't he hit the nail smack on the 
 head? I am not very big on the pay, but I fork over 
 as much again as Brother Tighter. He gave us a 
 drubbing, but somehow or 'nother I like him better 
 than I did two hours ago. How is it with you, 
 Sly?" 
 
 " Well," said Sly, " it was a little tough to listen 
 to some things he said, but I have made up my 
 mind that after all Brother Sharp understands hu- 
 man natur'." 
 
 " Wasn't that prayer of his'n a stunner, though ! " 
 said Pompey. "And didn't it beat all to see them 
 girls drop on their knees just as if they had been
 
 144 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 struck by lightining ! I'll bet my old hat that some- 
 thing is going to happen, and I guess we'd better 
 git out of the way." 
 
 The two men now came to the end of the road 
 and parted. 
 
 The minister tarried but a short time after the 
 brethren had left, promising to call again with his 
 family before long. 
 
 " Well, Luke," said Sister Tighter, " the meeting 
 didn't go off just as you expected." 
 
 " Not quite," was the reply, " but perhaps it is 
 just as well." 
 
 "Yes," said his wife, with some feeling, "and a 
 thousand times better. My eyes have been opened 
 to see things in a very different light from what I 
 have ever seen them before. When Brother Sharp 
 came here this afternoon I did not feel right toward 
 him, simply because of what he said yesterday. 
 Now I feel different. I love him as a faithful serv- 
 ant of Jesus Christ, and I am going to stand by him. 
 Girls, what do you think about it by this time ? " 
 
 " Mother," said Grace, " I think Mr. Sharp is per- 
 fectly splendid ! I have not the least hardness to- 
 ward him, and, to tell you the honest truth, I am 
 heartily ashamed of my conduct yesterday, and I 
 ask my parents' forgiveness while I promise never 
 to do so again." 
 
 " And that is the way I feel," cried the younger 
 sister, bursting into tears. 
 
 "You have not had the religious training which 
 the children of Methodists ought to have," said the 
 mother, with tears in her eyes. " I hope from hence-
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 145 
 
 forth to set a better example before my children. 
 Luke, who is there in the official board that pays so 
 little quarterage? " 
 
 " I don't know exactly what the brethren do pay," 
 was the evasive answer. 
 
 " Well," she said, " I was glad that that did not 
 hit us. We have many short-comings, but we are 
 not guilty of withholding from our minister a gener- 
 ous support." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE "RECEPTION," AND SOMETHING ABOUT LUKE 
 TIGHTER. 
 
 ON the next "Sabbath at the church the congre- 
 gation was larger than on the Sabbath previous. 
 Grace and Charity Tighter sat with their parents 
 down stairs and paid the most earnest attention. 
 This produced a very happy effect in the minds 
 of many who feared that things would turn out 
 otherwise. Frank Pompey and William Sly were 
 seated in the gallery, and their behavior was blame- 
 less. The text was, '' Woe to them that are at 
 ease in Zion." It was a sermon long to be remem- 
 bered on account of its deep searching power. Sev- 
 eral attended the class-meeting who had neglected 
 it for years, and made humble confession of their 
 backslidings. 
 
 In the afternoon the appointment was at the 
 " Quaker Settlement." There was a fine congrega- 
 tion, and the singing was conducted by a choir of 
 
 well-trained singers. During the opening prayer 
 10
 
 146 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 the minister was much disturbed by the rude be- 
 havior of a young man and a young woman sitting 
 very near the desk. Before announcing another 
 hymn he said : 
 
 " I stand before you as a stranger for the first 
 time. I hope that our relation as preacher and peo- 
 ple will be pleasant and profitable, but at the very 
 start I must give you to understand that I shall 
 never tolerate any trifling behavior in this place dur- 
 ing divine service. I have been greatly shocked by 
 a shameful levity on the part of two young persons 
 during our opening prayer. I hope that I shall 
 never witness this again during any part of religious 
 worship." 
 
 There was a general expression of satisfaction 
 manifested by the audience at this fearless stand 
 taken by the preacher. On this occasion the text 
 was, " Why stand ye here all the day idle? " 
 
 Before the congregation was dismissed a very 
 respectable-looking gentleman asked permission to 
 say a few words. The permission was given. 
 
 " I wish in the presence of this congregation to 
 thank the reverend gentleman for his plain words 
 touching unbecoming behavior in a place of worship, 
 especially during the solemnity of prayer. This be- 
 havior, I am happy to say, is confined to a very few 
 persons, and if it had been met by other ministers 
 as it has by this gentleman it would have disap- 
 peared long ago. I am not a professing Christian, 
 although I ought to be, but I am a lover of good 
 order and good manners. I again thank the rev- 
 erend gentleman for his timely remarks."
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 147 
 
 The audience were on the point of cheering, 
 when Brother Sharp pronounced the benediction. 
 
 The gentleman was a wealthy farmer of the 
 vicinity by the name of Edward Gates. He pos- 
 sessed brilliant talents and had been a member of 
 the Legislature a number of times. He very politely 
 asked the minister to call on him at his convenience. 
 
 The pastor took tea at Brother Trembly's, and 
 was treated with much cordiality. 
 
 " I was terribly scared to hear you talk so after 
 prayer," said Brother Trembly. " They richly de- 
 served it, I know, for they are always cuttin' up, but 
 when preachers scold it makes me feel nervous and 
 unpleasant. I don't blame you one bit, but any 
 thing of that kind spoils my meeting. But now 
 that 'Squire Gates has backed you I feel better. I 
 wish I was not so nervous." 
 
 "You had better wish you weren't so foolish," 
 said Sister Trembly, with a good-natured laugh. 
 " You ought to have cried amen to what the minis- 
 ter said, instead of feeling nervous. I felt as if I 
 wanted to pat him on the back." 
 
 The evening appointment at the village was a 
 grand success. 
 
 On the next Sabbath the " Yellow School-house " 
 was crowded. Before the service commenced Bro- 
 ther Gruntly whispered to the minister that there 
 was no choir, with a "Didn't I tell you so?" ex- 
 pression on his countenance. The members of the 
 choir were all present, but had concluded to show 
 the new minister that their fun during meeting 
 was not to be interfered with without a show of
 
 148 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 resentment. There they sat, under the silly im- 
 pression that their " pouting " was going to create 
 a panic. Brother Sharp was one of the best singers 
 in the Conference, and in that line he was fully pre- 
 pared for any emergency. 
 
 "I am informed," said he, "that there is to be 
 no singing by the choir this afternoon. For this 
 accident, which often occurs, Methodists are gener- 
 ally pretty well prepared. If you have no objec- 
 tion I will be your chorister for this service at least. 
 You are all invited to join in the song of praise. 
 We'll sing five verses of the first hymn, to the tune 
 of' Northfield.' Let us arise and praise God." 
 
 The audience, with the exception of the choir, 
 stood up. The people sang as they had never be- 
 fore, and the old school-house rang with the sound 
 of pure melody. 
 
 The prayer was earnest and impressive, and in a 
 particular manner the young people were presented 
 before the Lord. 
 
 Next was sung, " When I can read my title clear," 
 to the tune " Ortonville," and, it was grand. Then 
 a powerful sermon was preached from the text, " For 
 why will ye die ?" 
 
 The evening meeting at the Hollow was a time 
 of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The 
 seekers had found peace and were happy in their 
 first love. The prospects were brightening, and the 
 itinerant's heart was glad. 
 
 One afternoon and evening, when the minister 
 and his family were fairly settled in their new home.
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 149 
 
 a circuit gathering of a friendly social nature, which 
 was well called a "reception," was found at the 
 parsonage. Its object was to give the minister a 
 welcome and to carry also in the line of eata- 
 bles much more than would be necessary for that 
 one occasion, the balance, of course, to remain at 
 the preacher's house for the benefit of the inmates. 
 At Flintrock these gatherings were quite popular, 
 especially among the young people, not so much on 
 account of the eatables as of the "good time"they 
 enjoyed together. Unfortunately, former pastors, 
 under the bad advice of some of the brethren, had 
 reluctantly consented to let the youth indulge in 
 those boisterous and vulgar plays made up of silly 
 ditties, running, screaming, and kissing. Many of 
 these ministers had been sick at heart in witnessing 
 these rude performances in their own house, but, be- 
 ing new comers, advised by official brethren, they 
 had lacked in the moral courage to carry out their 
 own convictions of duty. 
 
 There was a large company of young people in 
 a commodious front room up stairs. The evening 
 was advancing. 
 
 "Come, isn't it about time for us to commence 
 playing?" said Fred Nimbler, jumping up and stand- 
 ing in the middle of the floor. 
 
 " I am almost sure that playing will not be pleas- 
 ing to our minister," said Walter Goodier. 
 
 " O, fiddlesticks !" cried Fred. . " We always have 
 playing at receptions. Why should he object more 
 than other ministers ?" 
 
 "Other ministers have objected," said Walter,
 
 150 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " but yielded to the wishes of others. Our last 
 preacher, with tears in his eyes, said to father that 
 he never was so disgusted with any thing in his 
 life." 
 
 "Well," said Fred, defiantly, " we'll have our play 
 any way; come on, girls!" 
 
 " No girl that respects herself will do any thing in 
 a minister's house that would hurt his feelings," said 
 Ella Goodier. 
 
 "And so I say," responded Grace Tighter. "We are 
 here to respect our minister, and not for a frolic." 
 
 This from Grace caused much astonishment, for 
 heretofore she had been a leader in these perform- 
 ances. 
 
 Just now the loud voice of Brother Pompey was 
 heard on the stairs, and presently he was in the 
 midst of the company. 
 
 " Mr. Pompey," said Fred, "we were just about 
 starting a play, when Walter interfered and said he 
 thought Mr. Sharp would not like it." 
 
 " I swow," said Brother Pompey, " I don't know 
 what the minister does think of these huggin' bees. 
 I am glad, though, that Walter did stick in a word. 
 Thisyellin' and squealin' and kissin' and huggin' 
 and tearin' dresses and tippin' over chairs I don't 
 think a mighty sight of myself." 
 
 This was followed by a laugh and some applause, 
 which did not at all displease Brother Pompey, who 
 was conscious that he had made the best effort of 
 his life. 
 
 " To me a reception is not worth a cent without 
 a play," said Fred, showing a degree of displeasure.
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 1 5 1 
 
 " Well," said Pompey, " I am not much of a judge 
 on the worth of victuals, but at the table a while ago 
 I thought I saw a red-headed, big-mouthed chap of 
 your size putting himself outside of a pile of biscuit, 
 butter and cheese, pies and cold chicken, corn-beef 
 and cabbage, pork and beans, and cold ham and 
 pickles, that I would call worth a good deal more'n 
 a cent." 
 
 Here was another laugh at the expense of Fred, 
 and Pompey considered himself a hero. 
 
 " Some one might ask the elder," said Julia Nim- 
 bler. 
 
 "Would we not stand better in his estimation," 
 said Walter, " if for his sake we voluntarily give up 
 a practice which at any place is of very doubtful 
 propriety, and especially so at the house of a min- 
 ister? We are here to welcome our preacher, as 
 Grace so properly remarked, and not to satisfy our 
 desire for fun. I believe that I speak the sentiment 
 of the great majority of this company, and I move 
 that we dispense with playing, not only for to-night, 
 but on all occasions when we meet in the interest 
 of the church or pastor." 
 
 " I second that motion," said Grace Tighter. 
 
 "Brother Pompey will put it to vote," said Wal- 
 ter. 
 
 " Now let every mother's son and daughter of you 
 sit down !" cried Brother Pompey, with his loud 
 voice. " If you can't get seats just squat right 
 down on the floor. I don't know as I can do this 
 kind of business right up to the handle, but I will 
 pitch in the best way I know. Now let all of you that
 
 152 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 think as I do, that Walter Goodier has hit the nail 
 right smack on the head, and will agree to do as he 
 wants you to, stand up quicker than you can say 
 skat!" 
 
 They were on their feet in an instant, without a 
 single exception. Fred Nimbler saw how matters 
 stood, and gladly put himself with the majority. 
 
 " Well, now, if that don't beat the Dutch !" cried 
 Pompey, well pleased with the response, and feel- 
 ing that his own eloquence had strengthened the 
 vote. " If my wife was here she would be tickled 
 half to death, for she is awfully down on huggin' 
 bees." 
 
 The evening was spent pleasantly, and at a season- 
 able hour the whole company was invited to come 
 together down stairs, where Brother Sharp addressed 
 them as follows : 
 
 " I thank you all for your presence and kind re- 
 gards. Within a few hours I have formed the ac- 
 quaintance of a large number. Our coming thus 
 together must be profitable as well as pleasant. I 
 hope soon to visit you at your houses and do what 
 I can for your spiritual benefit. I thank these young 
 people fpr their worthy deportment at the house of 
 their minister. I have known of parsonages that 
 have been disgraced by rude plays and amusements 
 of very doubtful propriety. I am glad that the 
 young people of Flintrock can enjoy themselves for 
 an hour or two without resorting to these frivolities. 
 Young people, you have my hearty thanks. Let us 
 now unite in prayer." 
 
 The prayer was an earnest supplication in be-
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 153 
 
 half of the people of his charge, and the reception 
 reached a happy conclusion. 
 
 " Lucy," said Brother Tighter to his wife one 
 morning, " it is time for us to be looking up some- 
 thing for our minister. Quarterly meeting comes 
 next Saturday. I guess we can let him have some 
 of that corn-beef, can't we ? " 
 
 " Perhaps he doesn't want corn-beef," said his 
 wife, rather dryly, " and if he does he would want 
 a better article than we've got." 
 
 " I know it isn't first rate," said her husband ; 
 " but what is good enough for us is good enough 
 for him." 
 
 " It is not good enough for us," said his wife, 
 rather sharply, " and let us hear no more about 
 that." 
 
 " Well, how are we off for lard?" asked Luke. 
 
 " But how do you know that Brother Sharp is in 
 need of lard ? He t may have already more than 
 he needs," said Lucy, in a manner that made her 
 husband stare. 
 
 " But what shall we give him ?" asked her hus- 
 band, with a degree of impatience. " I must not go 
 to the Quarterly Conference without quarterage." 
 
 "I don't intend that you shall," answered his 
 wife ; " but did you ever think that ministers, as well 
 as other people, need money?" 
 
 " Money !" cried Brother Tighter. " I never pay 
 money." 
 
 " But you will pay money after this, or I will pay 
 it myself," said the wife, in a most emphatic manner.
 
 154 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " Why, Lucy, what has come over you ?" asked 
 the almost frightened husband. 
 
 " You will find out pretty soon what has come 
 over me," was the stern reply. " That afternoon 
 when Brother Sharp was here with Brother Sly and 
 Brother Pompey he said that for years some of the 
 official members on this charge had been shamefully 
 stingy in their contributions. I had always thought 
 that in addition to the little provision you carried 
 to the preacher you paid also a liberal sum of 
 money. I have just learned to my shame that I 
 was mistaken. Now, Luke Tighter, you ought to 
 be ashamed of yourself! Here you are, one of the 
 most able farmers in the church, with abundance of 
 cash at your command, and all the poor ministers 
 have got from you for years has been a little lard, 
 sausage, turnips, and onions ; and for these you 
 have charged more than you could get for them in 
 the market. Now, Luke Tighter, perhaps you know 
 what has come over me." 
 
 "I wonder where you got your news?" said 
 Tighter. 
 
 " I got it reluctantly from those that know all 
 about it," was the reply. " And now this wicked 
 work must be stopped. Let poorer people, if they 
 must, pay their quarterage in onions and turnips, 
 but we pay money. And in view of your past 
 stinginess I want you next Saturday to pay in cash 
 ten dollars for this quarter, with the promise of three 
 more tens during the year. What do you say to 
 that ? " 
 
 " I would like to say that you was crazy,"
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 155 
 
 said Luke, in amazement, " but I guess I hadn't 
 better." 
 
 " Luke Tighter, I am perfectly sane, and I never 
 was more in earnest in my life ! " said the wife. 
 " Now that the girls are away, I want the matter 
 settled right here. I would be ashamed to have 
 them know it. I have worked hard to earn this 
 property, and my wishes are entitled to some respect. 
 I want you to pay forty dollars this year for preach- 
 ing, and that in money. What do you say?" 
 
 " Why, Lucy, if you are really in earnest, and you 
 look very much as if you were, I'll do it, of course," 
 said Luke. 
 
 " There ! " said the wife, with a pleasant smile on 
 her face, " let the past be forgotten." She went into 
 another room, and in a few moments her clear voice 
 was warbling " Coronation." 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 THE CHARGE REDEEMED-A WONDERFUL LOVE-FEAST. 
 
 AT the quarterly meeting there was a large rep- 
 resentation from every part of the circuit. The 
 Saturday afternoon congregation was a marvel in 
 point of numbers. The presiding elder looked 
 around in astonishment, and could hardly attribute 
 this wonderful change to his own popularity. Never 
 had he seen the like at Old Flintrock. At the Quar- 
 terly Conference nearly all of the official members 
 were present, and every thing wore a cheerful ap-
 
 156 Stories of City and Country. 
 
 pearance. Brother Keener was in his best humor, 
 and the preacher in charge wore a smiling counte- 
 nance. Brother Goodier was the secretary. The 
 minister's financial report was very encouraging. 
 The secretary now took out of his pocket a roll 
 of bills amounting to thirty dollars which he had 
 collected in view of the quarterly meeting. Brother 
 Wiser reported twenty-five dollars from Coon's Hol- 
 low. Brother Gruntly reported a smoked ham and 
 a bushel of apples from the Yellow School-house, 
 and Brother Trembly fifteen dollars from the Quaker 
 Settlement, ten of which he was requested to say 
 came from Squire Gates as a token of thanks to the 
 minister for his timely service to those triflers dur- 
 ing prayer. This created a smile. 
 
 " Is there any more quarterage to be handed in ? " 
 inquired the presiding elder. Brother Tighter left 
 his seat, walked up to the altar, and, to the astonish- 
 ment of the secretary, handed him a ten-dollar bill. 
 
 "How much do you wish to pay?" asked Bro- 
 ther Goodier, preparing to make change. 
 
 " I wish to pay ten dollars for this quarter and 
 thirty more during the year." This was said so that 
 all could hear. But in order to make it more em- 
 phatic the delighted secretary said aloud, " Brother 
 Tighter this year will pay forty dollars in cash ! " 
 The astonishment was profound and almost em- 
 barrassing. 
 
 " It is no wonder that you look astonished," said 
 Brother Tighter; " I am astonished myself. If you 
 wish to thank any body you may thank my wife. 
 She had just found out how much I paid for preach-
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 157 
 
 ing, and the way I had to take it was a caution. I 
 was glad to come to terms forty dollars in cash. I 
 am inclined to think that Lucy is right." 
 
 This created a degree of merriment, and some 
 other close-fisted officials present thought the matter 
 over and concluded to double their subscription. 
 The quarterage was beyond all expectation, and the 
 future looked bright. The love-feast on Sabbath 
 morning was noted for humble confessions of past 
 unfaithfulness and solemn vows for the future. At 
 the public service the church was crowded. Bro- 
 ther Keener had a good time, while the quarterly 
 collection far exceeded his claims. 
 
 On the following Sabbath at the Yellow School- 
 house all the members of the choir were in their 
 seats ; they sang heartily, paid strict attention to 
 the preaching, and a number of them seemed to be 
 much affected. Brother Sharp took tea again at 
 Brother Gruntly's, and this time Sallie, with a smil- 
 ing countenance, sat at the table. 
 
 Just before the minister entered his carriage Bro- 
 ther Gruntly said, " I guess things are going to work 
 all right after all. I was afraid it was going to 
 break every thing all to pieces. The singers have 
 had a meeting, and after much talk every one of 
 them voted that you were right and that they were 
 wrong ; and they have signed a paper drawn by our 
 Sallie, saying that they will never again whisper and 
 giggle in meeting. Don't that beat all?" 
 
 " I am very glad to hear such good news," said 
 Brother Sharp. " We have only to do our duty, and 
 God will take care of his cause." He then left for
 
 158 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 the Hollow, where they had another pentecostal 
 shower. 
 
 Seeing the minister could not attend the Sabbath- 
 school, on account of his many appointments, he 
 consented to teach a Bible class at the parsonage 
 on each Wednesday evening. This was largely at- 
 tended, and in addition to his explanatory remarks, 
 addressed to their intellect, his earnest application 
 of Bible truths was leaving a decided impression on 
 their individual hearts. The weekly prayer meet- 
 ings throughout the circuit were gradually increas- 
 ing in spirituality and in attendance. This was 
 specially true at the village. Many of the young 
 people attended, and their countenances denoted 
 genuine interest. The second quarterly meeting, 
 which was conducted by the pastor, was a season of 
 great interest. The text on the Sabbath was, "Pre- 
 pare ye the way of the Lord ; make his paths 
 straight." The people were given to see that all 
 that was necessary in order to have God among 
 them in a sweeping revival was the " preparing the 
 way," and it was evident that this was going on. This 
 favorable state of things was not brought about by 
 an accident. It was chiefly, under God, the result of 
 an untiring effort on the part of their minister. He 
 had begun with the official members. With the ex- 
 ception of two or three, their influence for years had 
 been ruinous to the charge. For this it required 
 profound skill, invincible courage, perfect honesty, 
 and abundant love. In these requisites the man of 
 God abounded. From the first he had set his heart 
 on saving these brethren from their chronic stu-
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flint rock Circuit. 1 59 
 
 pidity, their criminal indifference, and their wicked 
 worldliness. In a very short time he thoroughly 
 understood them, administered his medicinal doses, 
 and looked up to Heaven for success. He showed 
 them their sins, and their transgressions to the house 
 of Israel. He also visited from house to house, 
 arid as far as opportunities presented themselves 
 he conversed with the unconverted part on the all- 
 important subject of religion. On all occasions he 
 had held up the banner of holiness and honored the 
 requirements of the Discipline. His exhortations at 
 the prayer meetings and the Bible class produced 
 deep conviction. Add to this his powerful and 
 earnest ministry, in which, with a tongue of fire, he 
 denounced sin in the world and in the Church, and 
 this favorable state of things will not seem strange. 
 
 In the fall of that year the pastor became con- 
 vinced that " the set time to favor Zion " had in- 
 deed come. Throughout the charge on the part of 
 a great many there was an earnest longing for the 
 salvation of souls. The moral firmament gave un- 
 mistakable promise of " abundance of rain." After 
 a full consultation with the brethren he concluded 
 to commence a protracted effort in the village church. 
 For some two weeks this meeting had been an- 
 nounced, and it was known far and near. Monday 
 and Tuesday evenings were to be devoted to church 
 work: humiliation, confession, and prayers for the 
 baptism of the Holy Ghost to fall upon believers to 
 prepare them to labor for souls. The meeting 
 opened with the evident presence of God. There 
 was a complete prostration before the Lord. There
 
 160 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 were free confessions of worldliness, pride, penuri- 
 ousness, neglect of family and private prayers and 
 the social meetings of the church. There were 
 hearty shakings of hands between church members 
 who for years had treated each other coldly. These 
 meetings, although announced for the special bene- 
 fit of church members, were attended by many of 
 the unconverted. 
 
 On Wednesday evening Brother Sharp preached 
 to a crowded house. He stood before them look- 
 ing somewhat pale, while deep solemnity rested on 
 all. He felt the weighty responsibilty of the hour. 
 He took his text: " Then how wilt thou do in the 
 swelling of Jordan ? " The closing part of this ser- 
 mon was thrilling, grand, and terribly solemn. Al- 
 ready, and before the invitation was given, there 
 were groans of penitence heard in different parts of 
 the church. The minister, leaving the pulpit, con- 
 tinued his words of fire as he came down to the 
 altar, and there without an intermission he invited 
 all who wanted a Friend to stand by them in the 
 "swelling of Jordan" to come and kneel at the 
 altar. No sooner were the words spoken than from 
 all parts of the house there was a rush forward. 
 Some wept aloud and cried for mercy; others were 
 silent and solemn. The altar was soon more than 
 filled, and seats were vacated to make room for 
 mourners. Then followed a season of prayer, and 
 many souls were set at liberty. Thus continued 
 the meetings in interest and power for some six 
 weeks, while about two hundred had professed to 
 have found salvation. The converts were from all
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 161 
 
 parts of the circuit, and far beyond. Nearly every 
 family had been reached. The charge was com- 
 pletely revolutionized. All the young people in 
 the minister's Bible class were converted. Among 
 these were the sons of Brother Pompeyand Brother 
 Sly and the daughters of Brother Tighter. At the 
 Quaker Settlement a number had embraced relig- 
 ion, among others Hon. Edward Gates, whose con- 
 version was very bright and clear. At the Yellow 
 School-house all the members of the choir had sur- 
 rendered, and Miss Sallie Gruntly was a thorough 
 worker. At the Hollow Brother Wiser's two sons 
 were among the saved, together with a score of 
 others. Shouts of praise vibrated through the val- 
 leys and echoed on the hill-sides. 
 
 Brother Sharp's donation was the largest by far 
 ever heard of in that part of the country. In cash 
 and other valuables it amounted to two hundred 
 and fifty dollars. In the evening among the young 
 people there was nothing heard of that famous 
 " needle's eye that doth supply," but their young 
 voices blended sweetly in, 
 
 " How happy are they who their Saviour obey." 
 
 The quarterage also came in abundantly, and the 
 itinerant received much more than his allowance. 
 By a unanimous vote he was asked to return for 
 the second year, which, of course, he did, and the 
 work progressed gloriously. Improvements became 
 the order of the day. The church at the village 
 was thoroughly repaired and beautified. Brother 
 
 Tighter, at this time without an order from Lucy, 
 11
 
 1 62 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 headed the subscription with a liberal sum. In this 
 he was followed by Brother Sly, whose " human 
 natur'" had of late greatly improved, and even Bro- 
 ther Gruntly freely gave twenty-five dollars. A 
 new church was built at the Quaker Settlement 
 chiefly through the liberality of Esquire Gates, 
 while Brother Trembly had wonderfully improved 
 in moral courage. The Yellow School-house was 
 enlarged and painted a more attractive hue, but for 
 years afterward it was known by the same old term. 
 At the Hollow a neat church was built, and paid 
 for before it was dedicated. 
 
 The last love-feast of the second year was a time 
 of shouting and tears. Their beloved pastor, who 
 had done so much for them, was about to leave. 
 The testimonies were very numerous ; but \ve can 
 allude to only one. 
 
 Brother Pompey, with great tears running down 
 his cheeks, cried out : " I am a poor, crooked stick, 
 the best way you can fix it : but, thank God and 
 Brother Sharp, I think I am in better shape than I 
 was two years ago. I was a church member, I know ; 
 but what good will that do when you have no more 
 religion than a snipe ? I thank God for what Bro- 
 ther Sharp did for me. I once undertook to haul 
 him over the coals at Brother Tighter's. I shall 
 never forget that. It didn't take hire long to take 
 all the starch out of me, and I went home deter- 
 mined that I would never again make a big fool of 
 myself. Ever since that afternoon, brethren, I 
 have been trying to toe the mark a little better. I 
 know I often get out of the way, and they tell me
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flint rock Circuit. 163 
 
 I use too much slang. I think I am getting over 
 that. Any how I am going to try my level best. 
 Every now and then I have a big tussle with the 
 old fellow, but I generally down him before we get 
 through. He hates awfully to give me up, and 
 sometimes he is as polite as a basket of chips ; but 
 I tell him : ' You can't come it, Mr. Devil, and you 
 would better scud.' Brother Sharp, that dressing 
 you gave us at Brother Tighter's that afternoon made 
 us squirm, but it was the best thing that ever hap- 
 pened to us. At our house we are a happy family. 
 I read the Scriptur' and my wife and the boys do 
 the praying. I pray in secret every day, but I 
 dasn't venture this old runaway tongue of mine to 
 do that kind of business before folks. God bless 
 you, Brother Sharp ! and, whoever our new preacher 
 may be, you may bet your life that Brother Pompey 
 will come up to the scratch, and stand by him 
 through thick and thin." 
 
 In spite of the betting phrase these remarks were 
 well received, because every man, woman, and child 
 knew that they were uttered in perfect sincerity. 
 
 At the next Conference Brother Sharp was sent 
 to Watchford, where the congregation had greatly 
 diminished under the preaching of Brother Minus. 
 Here again, as in all his previous appointments, he 
 was eminently successful. For years after this he 
 served the most prominent appointments. After 
 that he was a very popular presiding elder, and 
 was repeatedly a delegate to the General Confer- 
 ence. 
 
 Here it may not be amiss to note a brief conver-
 
 164 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 sation between Brother Sharp and his former pre- 
 siding elder, which took place years afterward. 
 
 "Ah, Brother Sharp," said Samson Keener, "is 
 it not very clear to your mind that I was under 
 divine direction when I nominated you for Old 
 Flintrock?" 
 
 " I have never been so impressed, Brother Keen- 
 er," was the smiling reply. " I think it would have 
 been more in harmony with the will of God if, in 
 unison with the modest and respectful request of 
 the brethren from Watchford, you had nominated 
 me for that station." 
 
 " But does not the wonderful success that followed 
 your labors at Flintrock prove most conclusively 
 that the nomination was from the Lord ?" 
 
 " No ; it proves nothing of the kind. My being 
 appointed by the Bishop in harmony with my own 
 will, after a friendly consultation, may have been 
 pleasing to God, but that does not prove that he 
 looked with favor upon the nomination. And even 
 if the whole thing had been wrong my labors might 
 have been blessed in the salvation of souls. The 
 will of God touching ministerial appointments is not 
 to be learned by their success or failure. And so, 
 my dear Brother Keener, I do not think that my 
 nomination for Flintrock was at all inspired by the 
 Holy Ghost." 
 
 Samson Keener made no reply. Perhaps he did 
 not feel quite sure that the nomination of Brother 
 Sharp for that hard charge was prompted wholly by 
 motives that would bear a pleasant recollection. 
 
 Flintrock became a desired field. At present the
 
 Sharp Words on Old Flintrock Circuit. 165 
 
 original ground embraces two prominent stations. 
 The older members have gone to their reward, while 
 their children and grandchildren carry on the work. 
 Brother Sharp is now advanced in years and wait- 
 ing for his discharge. Walter Goodier is a worthy 
 minister in the effective ranks, and his sister Ella, as 
 a loving wife, cheers the declining years of a noted 
 Methodist minister.
 
 j 66 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 THE MAN WITH THE RUFFLED SHIRT; 
 
 OR, 
 
 MY FIRST WEEK ON L CHARGE, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 THE JOURNEY AND MY FIRST SABBATH. 
 
 I BONDER if this is the case with the generality 
 of my brethren in the ministry. It is so with 
 me, at least. I now look upon many things as com- 
 paratively trivial that in my early days I considered 
 as exceedingly sinful. I am often astonished at 
 myself when I compare my present feelings and 
 views with those that I cherished forty years ago. 
 I am inclined to think that in this I relate the ex- 
 perience of a great number. They may, or may 
 not, be ready to make the public confession that I 
 do. Let that be as it may, I must say that in this 
 year of grace, from some reason or other, I am not 
 troubled, pained, tortured, and agonized by reason 
 of the style of brethren and sisters' costumes, espe- 
 cially the sisters' bonnets, as I used to be when I 
 was much younger in the ministry than I am to-day. 
 I have often been led to inquire, Is not this change 
 of mind and feeling the result of a gradual back- 
 sliding from the simplicity of the Gospel and from
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 167 
 
 that ardent zeal for the glory of God which I felt 
 in my younger days ? Was not my judgment at that 
 time, when warm in my first love, a safer one on this 
 point than the one I now exercise after so many 
 years of mingling more or less in fashionable and 
 worldly societies? These questions, gentle reader, 
 have been well considered. I have been for hours 
 on the witness stand, and I have undergone a thor- 
 ough cross-examination, and I am justified at the 
 bar of my own conscience, at least, in the views that 
 I hold, and I trust that they are in harmony with 
 the will divine. 
 
 This may be considered as rather a strange way 
 of commencing a story. Well, I have never taken 
 any lessons in that line. I know nothing of the 
 rules of story-telling or story-writing. I am not sure 
 that there are such rules. If there are, I am not 
 bound by them more than I am by Claude's Essay 
 011 the Composition of a Sermon. I think I shali_ 
 be able, before I get through, to tell my story, and 
 if I see fit to put the moral at the top, or in the 
 middle, or at the bottom, that is simply a matter of 
 taste. 
 
 It was in the summer of 18 . The Conference 
 
 was closed, and my field of labor was to be L 
 
 charge in Northern New York. It was by no means 
 a " responsible " charge, as the term is sometimes 
 used by Methodist ministers, and to be read out for 
 that place was not considered a very high compli- 
 ment, although it was a "fair" appointment. But 
 at that time I was young, vigorous, hopeful, and 
 confident ; and with cheerful hearts the little fam-
 
 1 68 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 ily started for the new circuit. The journey was 
 long, about one hundred miles, under the burning 
 heat of a July sun. Of course we wondered and 
 wondered why it was necessary to send us so very 
 far away. We did not say it was wrong. O, no! 
 In those days I was exceedingly " loyal," and looked 
 upon the appointments coming from the Bishop and 
 his advisers as having the signature of Jehovah at- 
 tached. My views on that point also have been 
 slightly modified since. But we reached the end of 
 our journey. It was Saturday afternoon. We had 
 been directed to put up at the hospitable mansion 
 of " Father Rogers," and they were expecting us. 
 
 This family at that time consisted of the parents 
 and their only daughter, Alice, a young lady about 
 twenty-two years of age. Father Rogers had long 
 been a local preacher and a class-leader, and was 
 universally loved. He was well versed in theology, 
 and in conversation he was easy and agreeable. 
 Sister Rogers was very much like him. Alice had 
 shared in good advantages, and her manner was 
 cordial and mirthful. She was richly dressed and 
 had on her person a few articles of jewelry. I in- 
 wardly sighed, and wondered if she was a Methodist. 
 We were received with the warmest Christian sym- 
 pathy, and within a very short time we felt perfectly 
 at home. The children had thrown off restraint, 
 and already Alice had become a great favorite. 
 
 On that evening the itinerant and his family were 
 glad to seek an early rest. The household bowed in 
 humble adoration, and we offered unto the Lord 
 our evening sacrifice.
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 169 
 
 The next morning was clear and bright. The fam- 
 ily was up betimes, and without any noticeable 
 haste or hurry the work was completed, and we 
 were ready for the service a long time before the 
 hour arrived. The church stood but a short dis- 
 tance from the house and was visible from the room 
 in which the venerable man and myself sat. 
 
 " Well, Father Rogers," I asked, " what is the 
 spiritual condition of the members at large on this 
 charge ? " 
 
 "A positive knowledge of the heart belongs only 
 to God," was the reply; "but, judging from ap- 
 pearances, I trust that the members generally strive 
 to do their duty and make their way to heaven." 
 
 " I am glad to hear that," I replied. " You say 
 truly that God alone can read the heart. But to 
 me it is perfectly evident that the Methodist Church 
 is drifting fearfully from her ancient moorings 
 toward sure destruction. It has got so that in our 
 congregations you see no difference between the 
 world and the Church. Professing Christians are 
 as gay in their dress as the worldlings. In days of 
 yore Methodists were known by the simplicity of 
 their apparel ; but it is so no longer. Vital godli- 
 ness is departing from the Church, and we need not 
 be mistaken, for ' By their fruits ye shall know 
 them.'" 
 
 " I admit that by their fruits ye shall know 
 them, Brother C.," answered Father Rogers. " But 
 is it safe to take a mere article of dress or a piece 
 of jewelry as a proof of a wicked heart in one 
 whose daily walk and works give unmistakable evi-
 
 170 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 dence of love to God and of an earnest zeal for his 
 glory? When I was younger I used to feel very 
 much as you do. The sight of a little breastpin 
 on a Methodist sister, or a little artificial rose on 
 her bonnet, would shock me, and inwardly I would 
 conclude that such a person could not enjoy relig- 
 ion. I am still decidedly opposed to any vain 
 display. But a long life of experience in the Church 
 has convinced me that a few articles of dress, whether 
 plain or gay, are very unsafe criterions whereby to 
 judge of a person's religious excellence or moral 
 worth in a community." 
 
 " Father Rogers," said I, with a degree of warmth, 
 " while I greatly respect you for your age and piety 
 I am sorry to hear any thing from your venerable 
 lips that can in any manner be construed into an 
 apology for this worldly vanity in professing Chris- 
 tians. We are not to be ' conformed to the world,' 
 but to be ' transformed by the renewing of your 
 mind.' " 
 
 "And yet, Brother C," replied Father Rogers, 
 with a humorous smile, as he scanned me from head 
 to foot, "you seem to be pretty well conformed to 
 this world as far as its fashion is concerned. Your 
 coat is cut in the latest style-. Your pantaloons 
 are far from being in the fashion of the apostolic 
 age. Your neck-tie has a very modern appearance. 
 Your hat, yonder, is a magnificent ' stove-pipe/ and 
 your boots look to me as if they had been made 
 on a very fashionable and worldly last. I am well 
 pleased with your appearance. I am gratified to 
 see our new minister so tastefully clad. And yet
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 171 
 
 it seems to me that, from your own stand-point, 
 you must admit that, so far as dress is concerned, 
 you are somewhat 'conformed to this world.'" 
 
 All this was said so kindly and smilingly as to 
 impart double weight to every word, and I began 
 to feel that the veteran had with my own Scripture 
 put me in a position that was far from being com- 
 fortable, and I was glad to know that it was near 
 meeting-time. I replied, " As far as my garments 
 are concerned I will assure you that I have never 
 bestowed a thought upon their fashion or style. 
 They were ordered, they fit me, and I wear them. 
 That is all." 
 
 "And I think, Brother C.," said the veteran 
 again, " that it would be exceedingly unkind as well 
 as unjust in any one to accuse our new minister 
 of worldly conformity because he wears a suit of 
 clothes similar to those of his neighbors. The 
 proof of our moral transformation is not to be found 
 in the cut of a coat or the style of a bonnet. I have 
 learned to value people according to their moral 
 and religious worth, and not by their dress or pro- 
 fession." 
 
 I was certainly surprised to hear this language 
 from an old Methodist. I had never heard the like 
 before, and although I considered myself well pre- 
 pared to sustain my views on this point, for some 
 reason I found that I was confused, and a reply 
 was not quite ready. To my great relief Father 
 Rogers said : 
 
 " Let us be going. Brother C., we will resume this 
 talk some other time."
 
 1 72 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 The services proceeded as usual. The congrega- 
 tion was large and attentive. I felt a comfortable 
 degree of liberty, and was cheered during the ser- 
 mon by a number of responses in the shape of 
 " amen" and " glory," and once or twice an emphatic 
 ' hallelujah " echoed through the house. After an 
 earnest invitation for all the members to tarry for 
 class-meeting the benediction was pronounced. 
 
 A very fair number tarried, and, knowing that 
 before me stood the majority of the members of 
 the charge, I paid particular attention both to their 
 outward appearance and spoken experience. To 
 my sorrow I thought I saw clear exhibitions of pride 
 and worldly conformity. In the public service my 
 attention had been drawn toward a singularly- 
 dressed man, whom I instantly concluded to be a 
 vain worldling who came to make a display of his 
 singularity and to hear the new minister. Be it re- 
 membered that I arrived at this conclusion from the 
 man's apparel, and from no other cause. His de- 
 portment was perfectly correct and his attention 
 strict. But to me his dress was enough to settle 
 the question of his moral condition. He wore a 
 black velvet coat, a yellow vest, and white trousers, 
 from the waist of which hung a short, massive 
 gold watch-chain, ending with a couple of golden 
 seals. But what struck me more particularly was a 
 very fine white ruffle projecting from his shirt bo- 
 .som. Judge of my astonishment when I found this 
 ruffle-shirt ed gentleman in the class-meeting. I 
 looked around and examined the countenances of 
 those present in order to ascertain if others were
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 173 
 
 astonished as well as myself. But no ! Then it 
 was evident that the man was at home, and one of 
 the fraternity. I will mention but few names in 
 connection with this class-meeting, but enough to 
 answer our purpose. Brother Frothingham was 
 evidently poor. His garments denoted him as such. 
 He was glad that they had a minister at last who 
 was not afraid to preach against pride and popu- 
 larity. It was all dress and fashion, and the cause 
 of Christ was languishing. He had often asked their 
 former pastor to preach on pride, but he didn't do 
 it. But now he believed the set time to favor Zion 
 had come. Halleluiar ! Sister Frothingham be- 
 lieved in that religion that had life and power in it. 
 When God converted her she was converted all over, 
 soul and body. She felt it from the crown of her 
 head to the end of her toes. It pained her soul to 
 see Methodist sisters following the vain fashion of 
 a wicked world and thus giving the lie to their pro- 
 fession. At last I came to the man with the ruf- 
 fled shirt. Father Rogers with a smile spoke his 
 name " Brother Sterling." I looked upon him 
 with a degree of amazement and wondered what he 
 would have to say. He spoke on rather a low key, 
 but quite distinct. In a second I found that he 
 was an Englishman. " It is all of grace! It is all 
 of grace!" said Brother Sterling. "Twenty years 
 ago, in Old England, the good Shepherd found me 
 a poor wandering sheep on the barren mountains of 
 sin and unbelief, and led me into the fold, and ever 
 since then I have lain down in green pastures and 
 by the side of still waters. Brethren, if there is any
 
 1/4 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 good in me it is all of grace, and to God be all the 
 glory ! " All this from the man with the ruffled 
 shirt and the massive watch-chain ! There was a 
 ring of sincerity about what he said, and I found 
 on looking round a number shedding tears. I had 
 purposed to say something to this man touching 
 worldly conformity, but when he sat down I con- 
 cluded to let it pass. How thankful I have since 
 felt that I did not at that time follow the impulse ! 
 The class-meeting closed. The new minister was 
 introduced to many present, all of whom gave him a 
 hearty welcome with a warm invitation to call at 
 their houses. " I hope Brother C.," said Sister 
 Frothingham, " that you will not do as some of our 
 former ministers have done. They could make them- 
 selves mighty familiar in fine houses, where the 
 women folks dress in silks and play on the planner, 
 but their visits to the poor were few and far be-, 
 tween, and sometimes as scarce as hens' teeth." 
 I told Sister Frothingham that her being poor 
 would not prevent my visiting her. This answer 
 caused a general smile, which at that time I did not 
 understand. We scattered, and I returned to the 
 hospitable mansion of Father Rogers. 
 
 " Well, Brother C.," said the venerable local 
 preacher, after we were fairly seated, " you see that 
 
 we have a few at least in L that will take great 
 
 pleasure in giving you all due assistance in carrying 
 forward the dress-reform movement." 
 
 " I would not run from one extreme to another," 
 I replied. " I have no desire to see the sisters at- 
 tired in Sister Frothingham 's style. I was not at all
 
 The Man 'with the Ruffled Shirt. 175 
 
 pleased with her remarks. But I have often noticed 
 that there is a tendency in the poor members of 
 the church to charge pride on those who are in bet- 
 ter circumstances. So we must have charity for 
 Brother and Sister Frothingham." 
 
 " If you put down the Frothinghams among the 
 poor you will make a very great mistake," said 
 Father Rogers. "Mr. Frothingham is nearly the rich- 
 est man on the charge. He has all the appearance 
 of poverty, and I often think that he has all the ex- 
 perience of poverty. That coat that he wore to- 
 day has been his Sunday garment for fifteen years, 
 and it bids fair for years to come. Both he and his 
 wife are forever harping on pride and dress, and, 
 whatever may be the merit of the subject in itself, 
 from them it always does harm. Their influence in 
 the church is any thing but favorable. They gen- 
 erally make a great ado over every new preacher, 
 and invariably wish a change at the end of the first 
 year. You may look upon these remarks as being 
 uncharitable, but they have led so many new minis- 
 ters astray by their noisy demonstrations that I 
 deem it my duty to set you on your guard, and if 
 you find them better than my description I shall 
 greatly rejoice." 
 
 " But what about the man with the ruffled shirt, 
 Father Rogers?" I asked. " I certainly was favor- 
 ably impressed with what he said; but how can any 
 man that enjoys religion permit himself to indulge 
 in such vanity of dress? I had not the least idea 
 that he was even a professor of religion, much less a 
 Methodist. I certainly was surprised when I saw
 
 176 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 him in the class-meeting. The idea of a ruffle-shirted 
 Methodist!" 
 
 " Now we come back to our first point of discus- 
 sion," said Father Rogers, with a smile on his lips; 
 "and I wish for no better subject to test our theory 
 than this man of the ruffled shirt and the heavy 
 watch-chain. Ten years ago he came from England 
 with his two sisters, one a young lady and the other 
 a child of twelve years. The older sister married, 
 and now lives in the West. The younger is unmar- 
 ried and superintends the house for her bachelor 
 brother, who owns a large and beautiful farm about 
 two miles from this place. They came to this 
 country with regular certificates of membership, 
 and their Christian walk has been blameless. Bro- 
 ther Sterling dresses now very much as he did tlien. 
 The first time I ever saw him he had on a velvet 
 coat and a ruffled shirt. I never saw a person 
 more indifferent to the changing forms of fashion. 
 He is a man of property, and it is all at God's serv- 
 ice. He abounds in every good word and work, 
 temporally and spiritually. He is loved and re- 
 spected by the whole community. His attendance 
 at the sanctuary is constant. His contributions to- 
 ward the support of the Gospel are liberal and cheer- 
 ful. He well understands our theology and church 
 government. He is a ripe scholar and understands 
 several languages. He is as humble and unpretend- 
 ing as a child. His love and regard for the minis- 
 ters are proverbial. All this you will see for your- 
 self, and a vast deal more, between this and the next 
 Conference. Thus this man has stood among us in
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 177 
 
 all the beauty of holiness for a dozen years, and 
 those that know his moral worth are not disposed 
 to meddle with the style of his shirt or the weight 
 of his watch-chain." 
 
 Father Rogers waxed warm in the praise of his 
 English neighbor. I certainly was much surprised 
 to find my man of " worldly conformity " set up so 
 highly. I had all confidence in my worthy host, 
 and concluded that the account was correct. Again 
 I found my usual ready utterance wanting. I sim- 
 ply replied : 
 
 "It is very possible that I have wrongly judged 
 persons on account of my views of dress. I will 
 give the subject more consideration." 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 SOME PASTORAL CALLS. 
 
 np\VO days after this, in company with Father 
 Rogers, I called to see a number of the mem- 
 bers. After what I had heard on the Sabbath I 
 concluded that Sister Frothingham must not be 
 overlooked. On our way thither my faithful guide 
 remarked : " Brother C., in all probability your feel- 
 ings will be hurt more than once before you will 
 leave that house. If you escape you will be the 
 first Methodist minister that ever proved so fortu- 
 nate. It will be under the garb of pretended sanc- 
 tity. But be assured, my dear brother, that you 
 are not to judge of this charge by the Frothing- 
 
 hams. Our people are good and kind, and they 
 12
 
 178 Stories of Country and City, 
 
 never rush to the throne of judgment to pass a 
 sentence on their fellow-men." 
 
 I assured him in return that I was fully prepared 
 to meet all features of mind and disposition, and on 
 we trotted until we found ourselves in front of the 
 Frothingham mansion. We entered. It was evi- 
 dent from Sister Frothingham's habiliments that 
 on this afternoon she was not expecting " company/' 
 If she was acquainted with St. Paul's injunction, 
 " Let every thing be done decently and in order," 
 in all probability she had given it an exclusively 
 spiritual meaning, for the interior appearance of her 
 kitchen was far from being a proof that the good 
 advice had been heeded. We found her as we gen- 
 erally find the pictures of sweet rustic maidens in 
 the magazines shoeless and stockingless ; while her 
 hair was permitted to enjoy a holiday and run in 
 any direction its fancy might dictate. She was en- 
 gaged in spinning flax. 
 
 " Good afternoon, Brother C.," she said ; " you 
 have catched me in a fine fix. You see I yet stick 
 to the old fashions. I tell Simon what was good 
 enough for our fathers and mothers is good enough 
 for their children. ' A penny saved is a penny 
 'arned.' I don't run after every new-fangled notion. 
 It seems to me that the world is getting crazy after 
 new things, and the Church is as bad as the world. 
 Sit down, Father Rogers. Huldah, bring a chair 
 from the spare-room, and run to the back lot and 
 tell your father that the new minister is come. Sis- 
 ter C., I noticed, didn't stay in class Sunday. I 
 presume she was tired. I tell Simon that women
 
 The .Man with I he Ruffled Sliirt. 179 
 
 nowadays can't stand nothing. It wa'n't so when 
 I was young. If they would only take hold and 
 work as I did when I was a girl I guess they 
 wouldn't be such a puny, sickly set. When Sister 
 C. gets over being tired of course she will stay in 
 class. There was a good deal of fault found with 
 our other minister's wife on that account. If any 
 body should set a good example it should be the 
 minister's wife. Well, well, when I begin to talk I 
 don't know when to stop." 
 
 But she did stop for a while, not, however, be- 
 fore she had made a very unfavorable impression on 
 my mind. Her language in regard to my wife 
 touched me keenly, and I replied with as much com- 
 posure as I could command: 
 
 " Sister Frothingham, I am happy to inform you 
 that Mrs. C. is an ardent lover of our means of 
 grace, and is always present unless unavoidably de- 
 tained. I tell you this to relieve you from any 
 further embarrassment." 
 
 " And let me say in behalf of the wife of our 
 former minister," said Father Rogers, " that there 
 was but one family on the whole charge that ever 
 found fault with her. She was a beautiful specimen 
 of a true Christian lady, and in her absence I must 
 defend her." 
 
 " Conscience sakes ! Father Rogers, you needn't 
 get huffy about it ! " replied our sister. " I 
 guess there are no bones broken. When I 
 was " 
 
 But just in time to prevent another outpouring 
 Brother F. came in from the " back lot." It seems
 
 180 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 that he had witnessed our arrival and Huldah's 
 journey had been rendered short. 
 
 " Glad to see you," said he as he took my hand. 
 " Father Rogers, why didn't you put your horse in 
 the barn ?" 
 
 " O, we are not going to make much of a stay," 
 was the reply. " The horse is all right. Brother C. 
 thought he would like to make a few calls." 
 
 " How much of a family have you, Brother C?" 
 asked Brother F. 
 
 " I have a wife and two children," I replied. 
 
 " O, that ain't very bad," replied the man. " Some 
 of our ministers have so many children that they 
 figur' up pretty middlin' high for a weak charge ; 
 don't they, Father Rogers?" 
 
 " That is a point that gives me no trouble," replied 
 the veteran, with much earnestness. " When the 
 minister's claim is high the brethren pay accord- 
 ingly. They find no fault. If Brother C. had six- 
 teen children instead of two some would stick to 
 their old figure, and that a very low one." 
 
 Simon was evidently hit, but not much hurt. His 
 " well-beloved," seeing the situation, concluded to 
 come to the rescue, and so replied : 
 
 " It takes a heap more to support a preacher's 
 family than it used to. Twenty years ago they were 
 willing to live like common folks. But pride and 
 popilarity has crept into ministers' houses as well as 
 others. I often tell Simon that if they would live 
 and dress as plain as we do we wouldn't hear so 
 much complaining about money and quarterage and 
 such like stuff. But, dear me ! they are often as stuck
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 181 
 
 up as the world's people. I hope Brother C. will 
 not think that I am alludin' to his family ; but that 
 is true of some of our ministers, and Father Rogers 
 knows it." 
 
 " Father Rogers does not know it ! " was his em- 
 phatic reply. 
 
 " Nancy," interposed Brother F., " I guess we bet- 
 ter drop that subject ; you know Father Rogers and 
 us could never see alike on these matters. But from 
 some parts of Brother C.'s sermon on Sunday I 
 think he must side with us." 
 
 This put me in an uncomfortable position. I 
 utterly detested the spirit that prompted their re- 
 marks, and yet much of the language they used was 
 very much like my own, and no one knew it better 
 than did Father Rogers. I dare say that he rightly 
 judged my feelings and rendered very timely aid. 
 
 " It is hardly fair to draw Brother C. into this 
 talk," he said, with a restored smile. " He will have 
 plenty of time after this to make known his views, 
 and we hope to profit by them. We came here to 
 make a friendly call., and not to argue questions." 
 
 This, to my great relief, had the effect of chang- 
 ing the tone of the conversation, and in a few min- 
 utes we were more at ease. In the course of remarks 
 touching various church enterprises Brother and 
 Sister F. instinctively shrank from all measures that 
 required any thing in the shape of advancing money 
 or even labor. Designedly or otherwise, my good 
 Father Rogers touched on points that were pecu- 
 liarly adapted to show the new minister the close 
 and penurious disposition of the Frothinghams.
 
 182 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " Our church ought to be shingled over," said 
 Father Rogers. " In heavy rains it leaks in many 
 places." 
 
 " I guess a little patching would answer for the 
 present," said the man of the house. 
 
 " We have patched long enough. The house 
 needs a thorough shingling, and if we all do our 
 part as God has prospered us it can be easily ac- 
 complished," was the reply. 
 
 " How was the state of religion on your last 
 charge, Brother C. ? " asked Brother F., evidently 
 wishing to turn to something cheaper than shingles. 
 
 I replied, " There was a very good state of spirit- 
 ual prosperity when I left, and the finances were 
 attended to with punctuality." 
 
 " What we need on this charge is a rousing re- 
 vival," said Brother F., " and I hope that Brother 
 C. will be able to git up a reformation." 
 
 " I hope so too with all my heart," answered Fa- 
 ther Rogers. " Let the reformation commence at 
 once, and, to begin with, let the church be shingled. 
 But for this we must raise money. Come, now, let 
 us push this subscription " handing it to Brother 
 F. " I have put my name down for what I thought 
 was right, but if it is not enough I will give more. 
 In what way can we better start a reformation than 
 in showing proper respect for the sanctuary?" 
 
 Brother F. reluctantly took the paper, read the 
 heading, folded it up again, and handed it to Father 
 Rogers. Then turning to me inquired : 
 
 " How long have you been in the ministry, 
 Brother C?"
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 183 
 
 I told him I was commencing my sixth year. 
 
 " Brother Frothinghatn," said Father Rogers, 
 " Brother C.'s goods are at B. station, and they 
 must be brought up this week. You have good 
 strong horses and you will go after a load, won't 
 you? " 
 
 " Let me see," was the slow reply, while he 
 cast a glance toward Nancy. 
 
 " I guess," said Nancy, " that Simon has all he 
 can do with the horses at home this week. This 
 is a busy time with us. I dare say that Brother 
 Sterling can send teams for the goods ; he generally 
 does such things." 
 
 " So he does," was the reply, " and will most 
 gladly do it again. But is it best to permit that 
 good man to carry burdens which fairly ought to 
 rest on other shoulders ? " 
 
 " If he does it with pleasure," said Sister F., " I 
 guess it won't hurt him." 
 
 " It may not hurt him" was the reply ; " but it 
 will hurt those who will not touch these burdens 
 with one of their fingers." 
 
 " Brother Frothingham," said Father Rogers 
 again, " Brother C. would be glad to get a little 
 help in the line of money. He tells me that his 
 purse is pretty low. I guess we had better make him 
 up a little sum ; it will cheer him among strangers." 
 
 " Land o' mercy ! " cried Sister F. " I guess you 
 have come to a poor place for money. We have to 
 spare every cent we can rake and scrape to make 
 the last payment on the west farm." 
 
 " We have more turnips than we really need,"
 
 184 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 chimed in the husband. " I can spare Brother C. 
 a few." 
 
 " And I can let Sister C. have a little yarn," added 
 the wife. 
 
 " And in the fall we shall butcher a crittur, and 
 Brother C. can have a fore-quarter," said the -man 
 of the house. 
 
 " Well," said Father Rogers, " we have several 
 calls to make, and we must be going." 
 
 "You will pray with us, Brother C.," said Brother F. 
 
 Nancy stopped her wheel, and I tried to pray 
 with feelings which I never shall forget. The inter- 
 view had left on my mind a most painful impression. 
 During the prayer the responses of the man and 
 his wife were loud and frequent, " Amen " and " Bless 
 the Lord " being the favorites. 
 
 We left, and, once out of that house, I felt greatly 
 relieved, and came very near resolving that I would 
 never enter it again. 
 
 On that afternoon we made several short calls on 
 families belonging to the church. They were brief 
 seasons of genuine delight. The hearty Christian 
 welcome I received and the favor with which every 
 measure of Father Rogers was met convinced me 
 that my lot had fallen in pleasant places. 
 
 About four o'clock we came to the beautiful res- 
 idence of Brother Sterling. The premises were 
 nicely laid out, and in a manner indicating at once 
 that the design was not American. 
 
 " This is the English of it," said Father Rogers. 
 " Brother Sterling's taste is very fine. His knowl- 
 edge of farming and gardening is almost perfect."
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 185 
 
 We were met at the gate by the owner of the 
 house. Yes, sure enough, there he was the man 
 with the ruffled shirt. He was glad to see us. The 
 horse was put in charge of a servant and conveyed to 
 the stable, while Father Rogers and myself, in charge 
 of the worthy host, were conducted to the house. 
 
 He was attired much the same as he was on the 
 Sabbath ; but, from some reason, a wonderful change 
 had come over me, and I was not much discommoded 
 by his peculiarity. He at once in the most modest 
 and quiet manner led the conversation in a strain 
 that became to me delightful and even captivating. 
 
 Presently his sister came in, a fine-looking young 
 lady, still retaining that freshness of complexion so 
 strikingly visible in English countenances. I had 
 been introduced to her on the Sabbath, and this, 
 our second meeting, was free from restraint. I 
 thought her dress denoted a degree of worldly van- 
 ity, but her manners were so very agreeable and her 
 very nature so thoroughly happy that, for the time 
 being, at least, I postponed any mental reflection 
 upon her personal piety or Christian character. Her 
 real goodness of heart beamed forth in her smiling 
 lips and laughing, sparkling eyes ; and her intel- 
 ligence and culture stood out in her wide, prom- 
 inent brow and faultless address. It was evident 
 that she was every thing to her brother, who looked 
 upon her with eyes of deep affection. 
 
 '' We are truly glad that you have called on us," 
 she said, smiling. " You have come so late and your 
 visit will be too short. But I will not find fault ; I 
 dare say you have made other calls."
 
 1 86 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " That is true, Mary," said Father Rogers ; " but 
 I knew all the time where we were going to stop 
 and take tea." 
 
 " You are a downright good Father Rogers," said 
 Mary, with laughing eyes, " and see now if I don't 
 give you an extra good cup ; and now please excuse 
 me while I leave and try to make good my promise." 
 And Mary, clothed with smiles, left the room. 
 
 " That dear girl is a world of comfort to me," 
 said her brother. " She was left an orphan at an 
 early age, and when quite young she subjected me 
 to some care and anxiety. But since then she has 
 repaid me a thousand times. She is very happy 
 herself, and she appears to impart her nature to 
 those around her. It may not seem in the best of 
 taste to thus speak of my own sister, but to me she 
 is one grand source of joy and consolation. Her 
 vivacity does not intrude upon her devotion. Mary 
 is an ardent lover of our Lord Jesus Christ and 
 deeply attached to the Church of God." 
 
 " This is the united testimony of the whole com- 
 munity," said Father Rogers. " Mary is universally 
 loved and esteemed. She is an ornament in society 
 and a pillar in the spiritual Zion." 
 
 "Well, Brother C.," said the man with the ruffled 
 shirt, " we most cordially welcome you and your 
 family into our midst. Your name and former 
 labors are somewhat known to us. You have served 
 good charges and you have been well supported. 
 In point of wealth our charge does not stand as high 
 as some you have served. But you have come among 
 a warm-hearted people that will feel it a pleasure to
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 187 
 
 co-operate with you spiritually and see that your 
 temporal wants are all supplied. We invite you to 
 our homes and our hearts. Father Rogers will tell 
 you that, with perhaps one exception, the families 
 of our church are always a unit in regard to their 
 love for the pastor and his family." 
 
 I was certainly affected. Not so much by what 
 he said as by the manner in which it was spoken. 
 There was a peculiar affectionate earnestness in his 
 voice and way that is not easily described. And, 
 although the offensive ruffle was right before my 
 eyes and the golden seals at the end of his watch- 
 chain, I felt a certain moisture gathering in my eyes 
 while my heart was " strangely warmed." I briefly 
 replied : 
 
 " I heartily thank you, Brother Sterling, for your 
 cordial greeting. From what I have already seen 
 I am well convinced that I am among warm 
 friends." 
 
 " I tried to get Brother Frothingham to go after 
 a load of Brother C.'s goods to the B depot," said 
 Father Rogers, " but I did not succeed." 
 
 "You must have been sorely disappointed," was 
 the smiling reply. Then turning to me he inquired : 
 " How many loads will the goods make, Brother C. ? " 
 
 " The goods are well boxed," I replied, " and they 
 will make two fair loads." 
 
 " Brother C., I will send for the goods to-morrow, 
 and Father Rogers, you need not look any farther. 
 This is a favor that is generally conferred on me, 
 and perhaps on this account Brother Frothingham 
 felt a little delicate. Brother C. will find the par-
 
 1 88 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 sonage convenient and in good repair. By the way, 
 Father Rogers, how about that church shingling? " 
 
 " It should be attended to without any delay, 
 Brother Sterling," was the reply. " In rainy weather 
 the church is greatly injured. I have drawn a sub- 
 scription, and a sufficient amount should be raised 
 to complete the whole job." 
 
 " It may take you some time to circulate that 
 paper," said Brother Sterling. " The shingles had 
 better be procured at once and the work commenced. 
 I have more than half enough on my premises which 
 I don't need, and if you say how soon you can use 
 them I will see that they will be there. The rest 
 we can secure by the time they are needed. Let 
 us hurry this matter through." 
 
 " A blessing on your kind head and heart ! " said 
 Father Rogers, with some feeling. " I will agree 
 that on Monday of next week, at eight o'clock, there 
 will be a strong force of the brethren and friends on 
 the ground to make short work of it." 
 
 " All right," said the man with the ruffled shirt. 
 "The shingles will be on the premises on Saturday 
 afternoon.'' 
 
 While this conversation, and much more I might 
 mention, was going on, my mind could not help 
 contrasting this family with the Frothinghams. 
 There was another thing which often came up in 
 my mind as I witnessed the true devotion of this 
 man to the cause of his Master and the kind man- 
 ner in which he spoke of all. I thought how very 
 wide of the mark was my estimation of Brother 
 Sterling as I gazed upon him for the first time on
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 189 
 
 the previous Sabbath morning in the house of the 
 Lord. The conviction broke upon my mind with 
 unmistakable force that it was wholly unsafe to 
 judge of a person's spirituality or moral worth on the 
 one hand by an article of dress, or on the other by 
 a high-sounding profession. It was during my first 
 week on L charge that I promised God and my 
 own heart I should be more careful and charitable, 
 and that I should strive to the utmost of my ability 
 to give "honor to whom honor" is due. 
 
 In about an hour Mary returned to inform us that 
 tea was ready, and we sat down at a table richly 
 spread. The sister presided with ease and dignity. 
 Her remarks were perfectly suited to the occasion. 
 She was lively and brilliant, within proper bounds. 
 She wore what I considered a valuable breastpin, 
 and there was a very light gold chain around her 
 neck. These articles gave me some uneasiness for 
 a time, but such was the general flow of good feel- 
 ing at the table that I soon forgot all about the 
 ornaments and gave myself up to the charm of the 
 occasion. 
 
 After tea I asked Mary to give us some music. 
 To this she readily consented, but before commenc- . 
 ing she said, with a humorous smile: 
 
 " I am not sure, Brother C, but that this will give 
 Sister Frothingham an occasion for another lecture. 
 This, I presume, is the very 'pianner' to which she 
 referred." 
 
 " Mary ! " said the brother, " I know, dear, you 
 will say nothing unkind of Sister Frothingham." 
 
 " Not for the world, my dear Gordon ! " replied
 
 190 Stories of Country and Ciiy. 
 
 Mary. " I only feel somewhat concerned for the 
 safety of our new minister." 
 
 " Give us the music, Sister Mary," said I, " and I 
 will risk all harm." 
 
 " Very well," said she ; " and I call Father Rogers 
 to witness that I am not responsible for the conse- 
 quences." Then, as a kind of prelude, she gave us 
 an exhibition on the key-board which showed that 
 those notes were under the control of a master. 
 
 After one very brilliant instrumental piece she 
 sang, in a deep, full, rich soprano, the celebrated " I 
 know that my Redeemer liveth," with which Jenny 
 Lind had so recently thrilled the country. I had 
 not heard it from the Swedish maiden, but I pos- 
 sessed sufficient knowledge of music to know that 
 the piece at this time was very finely rendered. We 
 had it in its plain English fullness, without any of 
 that affectation and lisping which is often witnessed 
 at homes and concerts. 
 
 After half an hour of very pleasant conversation 
 Father Rogers deemed it advisable to leave. Again 
 the new pastor was requested to lead in prayer, and 
 a hallowed influence seemed to fill the room. It is 
 true there were no loud responses, but there were 
 silent invocations that accompanied the vocal prayer; 
 
 " And Heaven came down our souls to greet, 
 While glory crowned the mercy-seat." 
 
 Before we left the house Brother Sterling handed 
 me a twenty-dollar bank-note, remarking, " I dare 
 say it will come handy. If at any time you should 
 stand in need of pecuniary aid please let me know 
 it, for through the blessing of my heavenly Father
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 191 
 
 I am in circumstances where I can be of assistance 
 to you without in the least embarrassing myself, and 
 it will afford me much pleasure." 
 
 I looked upon the money with a degree of won- 
 der, for it was the largest sum I had ever received 
 at one time from a single person as " quarterage." 
 I tried to thank him as well as I could, and then I 
 thought of the man with the ruffle who sat before 
 me on Sabbath morning, and then I thought of the 
 minister in the pulpit who made up his mind that 
 that man was a vain worldling. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 IN WHICH ALICE GIVES A PIECE OF HER MIND. 
 
 ON our way homeward for some time the con- 
 versation was not very brisk ; but on my part, 
 at least, reflection was very busy. Father Rogers, I 
 have no doubt, pretty well knew what was going on 
 in my mind. I could readily see by his smiling coun- 
 tenance that he had been abundantly pleased. 
 
 The silence at last became a little embarrassing 
 to me and I started the conversation : 
 
 " Father Rogers, I find that your praise of Brother 
 Sterling was not at all exaggerated. He more than 
 justifies all you said." 
 
 " And you will find him the same kind, faithful, 
 reliable, benevolent soul the year round," said Fa- 
 ther Rogers. "And you can readily see by this 
 time, Brother C., how well we can afford to let him
 
 1 92 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 be his own judge in regard to the style of his dress. 
 His sister partakes largely of the same nature. You 
 have seen to-day that she is a cultivated, finished 
 young lady ; and yet there is not a respectable poor 
 person in this town whose society she would shun. 
 She is the first of her sex in deeds of charity, and 
 her kindness to the poor is well known. She is faith- 
 ful to all the means of grace, and never, in any 
 company, does she shrink from acknowledging her 
 Saviour. It is true, she wears a fashionable bonnet 
 and a gold watch. She can well afford it, and for 
 this Sister Frothingham pronounces her proud. I 
 never saw a young lady in all of my life that gave 
 more substantial proofs of genuine humility than 
 does Mary Sterling." 
 
 " Brother Rogers," said I, " I am free to confess 
 that after the conversation I have had with you on 
 this subject, and after what I have plainly witnessed 
 at the respective houses of Brothers Frothingham 
 and Sterling, my views on this point of pride have 
 been greatly modified. My theory of judging from 
 the mere dress led me to a most erroneous conclu- 
 sion. I condemned a most worthy servant of 
 the Lord, and gave unmerited credit for Christian 
 humility to persons of a worldly, penurious, and 
 uncharitable spirit. I deem it a duty and feel it a 
 relief to make to you this confession. The experi- 
 ence of the last few days I trust will prove to me a 
 most valuable lesson." 
 
 Father Rogers undoubtedly would have replied 
 but already we found ourselves at the gate, where 
 Alice and the two children stood ready to receive
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 193 
 
 us. Father Rogers took care of the pony, while 
 the rest of us went into the house, where Mrs. C. 
 sat with Sister Rogers. 
 
 " Well, Brother C.," said Alice, " I hope that you 
 have been well pleased with your first visits on 
 your new charge. Indeed, I know that with but 
 one exception you have been delighted with the 
 people." 
 
 "Why make that exception, Sister Alice?" I 
 asked. " Why could not all of our visits have been 
 pleasant? " 
 
 " I learned before you started that you were to 
 call on the Frothinghams," was the reply, " and that 
 fully answers your question. No person of fine feel- 
 ings, minister or otherwise, can remain at that house 
 for ten minutes without being utterly disgusted." 
 
 " Alice, my dear," remarked the mother, " you 
 are using strong language." 
 
 " I simply speak the truth, mother," was her reply, 
 "and the language is much milder than the case 
 would justify." 
 
 " But, my dear," said the mother, " it may be pos- 
 sible that Brother C. found things otherwise ; and 
 why should you thus express yourself in the absence 
 of any actual knowledge in the premises ? " 
 
 " My dear mother," said Alice, " it is not in the 
 absence of knowledge. It is true, I was not present, 
 and Brother C. has not divulged any thing that 
 transpired : but I am just as positive in my own 
 mind in regard to the nature of what he heard from 
 Mrs. Frothingham as if I had been present on the 
 
 spot. And now I am willing to test the correctness 
 13
 
 194 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 of what I have said. Brother C. had to be informed 
 that things were not thus and so when she was 
 young, and that the world was getting crazy, and 
 that the Church was running at the bidding of 
 pride and popularity, and a number of things she 
 tells Simon. And I will venture to say that Brother 
 C. had to listen to a lecture in regard to the duty of 
 ministers' wives and a mean thrust at their extrav- 
 agance. And if papa saw fit to ask for any money 
 for the minister or for church purposes I know he 
 did not succeed." 
 
 Such was the accuracy of Alice's sayings, as well 
 as the half-comical style in which they were deliv- 
 ered, that I actually broke out in laughter, in which 
 my wife saw fit to join. In justice to the daughter 
 I confessed that she was correct in every particular, 
 and that she had come out triumphantly. 
 
 In the midst of the merriment the father came in 
 and smilingly inquired, "Well, Alice, what note 
 have you struck now ? " 
 
 " Pa, I have said nothing naughty ; I was only 
 showing Brother C. how well I understood the nat- 
 ure of the entertainment they gave you to-day at 
 Brother Frothingham's." 
 
 " I don't consider that as a great exploit," replied 
 the father ; "anyone knowing the party could do 
 that. So, Miss Alice, you need not flatter yourself 
 as possessing any extra amount of mental penetra- 
 tion." 
 
 " I certainly don't, pa," said Alice ; " it was a 
 very easy matter indeed, and I told my mother so. 
 But I wonder if this state of things is to last for-
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 195 
 
 ever. How much longer must men and women of 
 piety, liberality, and intelligence, be insulted in our 
 social meetings by the coarse vulgarity of those ig- 
 norant, penurious mortals, who have no more public 
 spirit than a couple of owls? Only think of the 
 slighting manner in which they speak of our good 
 Brother Sterling, and of Mary, the best and dearest 
 creature on earth ! I tell you, pa, the whole church 
 is getting utterly sick of the everlasting slang and 
 cant of those two stingy souls. They destroy our 
 social meetings by their unkind and ungodly per- 
 sonality, and they abuse persons the latchet of whose 
 shoes they are not worthy to stoop and unloose ! " 
 
 " My daughter," said the father, " all you say is 
 strictly true, and it is not in my heart to blame you. 
 Your language may seem severe to Brother and 
 Sister C. ; but let them remember that we have had 
 to carry this grievous burden for many years, and for 
 my part I don't see how we are to be relieved." 
 
 " Sister Alice," said I, " our other visits, and es- 
 pecially the one at Brother Sterling's, were enough 
 to compensate us a thousand times for any little 
 reverses at another point." 
 
 My first week on L charge gave me very 
 
 clear insight of its workings. With the exception 
 of the Frothinghams I found the membership to be 
 friendly, kind, and liberal, according to their ability. 
 But far above all, in my estimation of that society, 
 stood the man with the ruffled shirt. During my 
 two years' stay on the charge I found him at all 
 times and places the same amiable, dignified, de- 
 voted and benevolent man. Unless unavoidably
 
 196 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 detained he was present at all the meetings, and it 
 was evident from his words and actions that he es- 
 teemed the service of the sanctuary far above every 
 thing on earth. During an itinerant life of forty 
 years I have seen hundreds of good and true men 
 officially connected with the Church, and the names 
 of many remain fresh upon the pages of my mem- 
 ory ; but in all my sojournings I have not seen one 
 equal in all perfections to Gordon Sterling. For 
 two years I saw him much, and the more I stayed in 
 his society the clearer and brighter to me shone his 
 moral excellencies. 
 
 During my stay among them several things oc- 
 curred worthy of mention. Mary Sterling became 
 the happy bride of a young man of great moral worth 
 and fine talents, the son of a wealthy farmer in an 
 adjoining town. By mutual agreement Mary was 
 to stay at home. Brother Sterling was greatly 
 pleased with the match, and it seemed as if they 
 had all things in common. 
 
 Alice Rogers also made the heart of a young itin- 
 erant glad by consenting to share his labors and 
 fortune. Rev. Mr. M. has been well known for years 
 as one of the most energetic workers in the Church, 
 and his refined, devoted, and spirited wife, has 
 always won a host of genuine friends. 
 
 Perhaps the most fortunate occurrence to the 
 charge during my administration was the withdrawal 
 by letter of Brother and Sister Frothingham from 
 the church. They became intolerable, and at last 
 in a .quiet way, at their own dwelling, I gave them to 
 understand that the church was much grieved with
 
 Tlie Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 197 
 
 their perpetual unkind insinuations, and that it was 
 my opinion that the brethren and sisters had a just 
 cause of complaint. 
 
 " Your opinion, is it?" replied Sister F. " Very 
 likely. I told Simon it wouldn't be a great while 
 before they would soap you over and get you into 
 their worldly ways. When you first came on this 
 charge I thought we had got a man that would 
 amount to something. I told Simon so. Said he, 
 4 Nancy, time will tell.' And, sure enough, time 
 has told, and here you are takin' sides with pride 
 and popilarity. If you had asked more of God's 
 advice and less advice from Gordon Sterling you 
 wouldn't be comin' to our house with such stuff in 
 your mouth." 
 
 " Sister Frothingham," said I, " you may abuse 
 me to your heart's content, and I can bear it with 
 but little inconvenience ; but I cannot sit quietly 
 and listen to disrespectful language touching Brother 
 Sterling." 
 
 Before Nancy had time to reply Simon said, 
 44 Brother C., if you have any idear that we think it 
 any privilege to belong to that proud church you 
 are awfully mistaken. I guess there are other 
 churches in the land, and they aint stuck up with 
 
 pride either, as they are at L . Last Sabbath 
 
 we went to the Red School-house, and there they 
 have the life and power. The way the minister 
 gave these gold-chain Christians a skinning was a 
 caution. My soul was fed under that sermon 
 and" 
 
 44 And so was mine," broke in Nancy. " I was
 
 198 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 glad to get somewhere where the people enjoyed 
 religion. I was telling Simon on our way home that 
 it was worth more than all the meetings we had in 
 six months ; and it is the livin' truth." 
 
 " And I was just going to tell Brother C.," con- 
 tinued Simon, with an air of threatening triumph, 
 " that a little more of that kind of talk of his'n 
 would just take us over to the Red School-house. 
 We had some talk about it ; didn't we, Nancy ? " 
 
 " So we did, Simon," was the quick reply ; " and it 
 would serve them just right if we were to leave at 
 once." 
 
 " And I have pretty much made up my mind to 
 do just so," said Simon, watching my countenance. 
 " And unless Brother C. backs down pretty mid- 
 dlin' quick he will soon find us members of another 
 church." 
 
 " Under ordinary circumstances it is not my 
 business to encourage withdrawals from the church," 
 said I; " but this is a case out of the ordinary line, 
 and I feel it to be my duty as a pastor to say to you 
 that unless you intend to act and speak differently 
 your withdrawal from the society will be a source of 
 joy and gladness to every member of our church 
 and congregation." 
 
 This was more than they expected, and for a 
 few moments they remained silent. But Nancy ral- 
 lied, and to my great relief she replied : 
 
 " Simon, this is enough. Let us get our letters 
 at once ! " 
 
 " Brother C.," said Simon, showing a high degree 
 of resentment, " I aint used to such a talk, sir, and
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 199 
 
 I aint going to stand it ! I want you, sir, to give us 
 letters. Let us have them now. Huldah, there is a 
 half sheet of paper " 
 
 " Never mind, "said I, interrupting him, "I gen- 
 erally go prepared for an emergency. I have paper 
 and ink ; your letters will be ready in less than three 
 minutes." 
 
 The letters were handed over, and without cere- 
 mony I left the house for the last time. To the 
 
 church at L their departure was hailed as would 
 
 be a deliverance from a common nuisance, while the 
 confidence of respectable outsiders was greatly 
 strengthened in the integrity of the church. 
 
 My two years on L charge were, upon the 
 
 whole, the most happy of my life. I never witnessed 
 warmer loves or truer friendships. But the parting 
 day at last arrived, and we had to bid adieu to our 
 many friends. The man with the ruffled shirt " loved 
 us to the end." In every movement he studied 
 our comfort and convenience. Free of charge his 
 men and horses were at our service. Such was the 
 man in every thing that was good that to me, even 
 me, his peculiarity of dress became attractive. His 
 ruffle was all right, and the jingle of his golden 
 seals became melodious. Heaven bless him ! We 
 parted in silence, and the itinerant with his family 
 turned his face toward his new field of labor. 
 
 Throughout the years I have had occasional cor- 
 
 respondence with some brethren in L . Brother 
 
 Sterling, although quite aged, is yet on the shores of 
 time, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. Here is a 
 part of a letter I received from him some time ago :
 
 2OO Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " I am yet climbing up Zion's hill. I am nearing 
 my heavenly home. What vast changes have taken 
 place on this charge since 18 , when you were our 
 pastor ! Father and Mother Rogers, as you know, 
 passed away to the better land many years ago, and 
 so have many others that you well knew. The 
 church is in a flourishing condition and our pastor 
 is greatly beloved. Mary, her husband and family, 
 are well and happy. Their son, Gordon, is to gradu- 
 ate next summer at Middletown. He is a fine young 
 fellow, and will enter the ministry. Rev. Mr. M. 
 and Alice have a son who, although quite young, has 
 begun to preach. They say he is very promising. I 
 am sorry to inform you that Mr. and Mrs. Frothing- 
 ham are out of the church. You will remember 
 that when you were with us they took letters and 
 joined the society that worshiped at the Red School- 
 house. But their extreme love of money made 
 them very unpopular in their new relation. Some 
 years ago, in some pork transaction, his dishonesty 
 became so manifest that he was arrested, and he 
 had to pay quite a sum to save himself from prison ; 
 and his wife being an assistant hi the fraud they 
 were both expelled from the church. Our love to 
 Mrs. C. We hear grand news of your children, and 
 we congratulate the parents. Albert and Mary 
 unite with me in sending their warmest regards. 
 " Yours in Christ, 
 
 "GORDON STERLING." 
 
 Since that day I have had much experience with 
 all kinds of temperaments and dispositions in the
 
 The Man with the Ruffled Shirt. 201 
 
 Church of Christ. I have seen pride arrayed " in 
 purple and fine linen," and I have seen it also in the 
 cheapest calico. I have seen humility in extreme 
 simplicity of apparel, and I have seen the same hu- 
 mility in rich attire. A fashionable garment or 
 bonnet is no proof of pride, and the reverse is no 
 proof of humility. The persons may be proud or 
 they may be humble ; but it is wholly unsafe to 
 judge them by their dress alone. And if there are 
 any of my young brethren in the ministry who, like 
 myself once, are disposed to measure an individual's 1 
 religion by the cut of a coat or the style of a hat, 
 let them remember my sad mistake in regard to the 
 man with the ruffled shirt, and wait for further de- 
 velopments.
 
 2O2 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 JOHN'S WIFE'S BROTHER. 
 
 A THANKSGIVING STORY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 NEIGHBORS AT VARIANCE. 
 
 IN a farming portion of Connecticut, known in 
 that town as The Flats, there lived, twenty- 
 eight years ago, two families which, as the term is 
 used, were well-to-do. Their respective farms were 
 models of culture and productiveness. The res- 
 idences were fine, the out-houses commodious, the 
 carriages of the most modern style, and the horses 
 among the most valuable in the town. These fam- 
 ilies lived within a half a mile of each other and 
 their land joined. The owners were David Brain- 
 ard and Richard Brown. Unfortunately, these two 
 men were very much alike in their mental temper- 
 ament. We say unfortunately, because their dispo- 
 sition was of an unfavorable cast. They were proud, 
 jealous, and retaliating ; especially so toward each 
 other. This antagonism had existed for many years 
 and was gathering strength by age. It began with 
 a line fence, over which they went to law, and ever 
 since then they \vere known as decided foes. Brain- 
 ard had a wife and one daughter. Katie was mild
 
 Johns Wife's Brother. 203 
 
 and lovely, just entering her eighteenth year. Brown 
 had a wife and five children. Emma, the oldest, 
 was married, and lived some six miles away. John 
 also had married, in his twenty-third year, and was 
 employed as a book-keeper in New York. Fred 
 was in his twenty-first year, a diligent worker on 
 the farm. There were also at home Mary and Alice, 
 one eighteen and the other sixteen. To the credit 
 of these wives and children it may be said that 
 they were much more sensible in their behavior 
 than were the husbands and fathers. We may as 
 well say here that Fred Brown and Katie Brainard 
 were often seen together, that they cherished for 
 each other feelings which simple friendship could not 
 explain, and that, finally, at a favorable opportunity 
 the yoijng man revealed to the maiden the real sen- 
 timent of his heart. 
 
 " Fred," said the young lady, " I thank you for 
 your love, and in return you have mine. It is as 
 full and pure as your own. But in view of the feel- 
 ings of your father and mine we must look for op- 
 position." 
 
 " Katie, I have looked that matter straight in the 
 face," said Fred. " I am ready to bear joyfully all 
 the opposition from my own father, and I would 
 most gladly, if I could, bear your share of trouble." 
 
 " I will gladly bear my own, dear Fred," was her 
 reply. " Let us hope that some good providence 
 will bring about a happy change in these two angry 
 men." 
 
 The pure-hearted twain were there and then be- 
 trothed, and they sought their respective homes.
 
 2O4 Stories of City and Country. 
 
 Before long Brown saw unmistakable evidences 
 of his son's partiality for Katie Brainard, and one 
 day he was summoned into the parental presence. 
 
 " Well, sir," said the father, " I am compelled to 
 believe that you pay special attention to the daugh- 
 ter of my inveterate enemy. What have you to 
 say for yourself? " 
 
 " It is even so, father," said Fred. " We are ex- 
 ceedingly fond of each other; and in this, I think, 
 we show much better sense than our fathers do." 
 
 " Your language is shameful, sir ! " responded the 
 father. " I am not here to argue. I command you 
 to pay no more attention to Dave Brainard's girl." 
 
 "I cannot obey your command," said Fred. "We 
 are engaged. I am fully prepared to take the con- 
 sequences. I have been a hard worker on this farm 
 for years, and in a few months I shall be of age. If 
 in consequence of my disobedience to your com- 
 mand in this matter you wish me to leave, just say 
 the word, and I shall be in the employ of some other 
 man before sundown." 
 
 The father saw that his son was terribly in ear- 
 nest, and was perfectly astonished to see that quiet 
 boy so aroused. He well knew that Fred's services 
 were indispensable, and yet how could he bear to 
 have his command disregarded ? He came to the 
 conclusion that he would try and retain Fred and 
 some of his own dignity at the same time. 
 
 " It is of no use to stay here any longer," he said, 
 in a much altered tone. " No, I don't wish you to 
 leave. What put that in your head ? You may 
 harness the horses and go to the mill after feed."
 
 Jo /iris Wife's Brother. 205 
 
 Thus terminated the interview, and it looked as if 
 Fred was ahead. 
 
 Let us now go to the Brainard mansion and wit- 
 ness an interview of the same nature, but of a much 
 milder type. This one daughter had much influ- 
 ence over her father. She was the pride of his eye 
 and the great treasure of his heart. 
 
 " Katie," said he, "are you not aware that in ac- 
 cepting the attention of Fred Brown you are show- 
 ing your father great disrespect? " 
 
 " My dear papa, I would not do such a thing for 
 the world!" said Katie. "Has Fred Brown ever 
 in his life treated you in an unbecoming manner?" 
 
 " No, Katie," said Brainard ; " but you well know 
 that his father is my enemy." 
 
 "Yes," said the daughter; "but Fred is very 
 sorry that his father treats you so. Does not that 
 make a difference, papa ? " 
 
 "Well, I think it does," said the father, slowly. 
 " But are you sure of that, Katie?" 
 
 " Perfectly sure!" said the daughter, with em- 
 phasis. 
 
 " Still," said the father, "in view of the circum- 
 stances I think you had better drop this thing." 
 
 " O, papa, I don't think that you really mean 
 that ! " said the girl, with a tear in her eye. " Is 
 there a finer or a more promising young man in all 
 this region of country ? Have you any thing against 
 him personally? Is there a single blot upon his 
 moral character? Is he not splendid in form and 
 features? And we have pledged to each other our 
 undying love ! Now, can my good papa, that I
 
 206 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 love so dearly, in view of all this tell his only Katie 
 to ' drop the thing ' ? " 
 
 " No, he can't ! " said the father, wiping away a 
 tear. " I am not going to punish two pure hearts 
 for the meanness of old Dick Brown." 
 
 The girl rushed into her father's arms and gave 
 him half a dozen kisses in a very short time. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE REBELLION AND A REVIVAL. 
 
 T INCOLN had been made President, and the 
 
 I j Rebellion was already a terrible reality. The 
 
 loyal North was in a blaze of patriotic excitement. 
 Drums beat, cannon roared, and banners waved in 
 the breezes. Regiments were formed and volunteers 
 by the thousands rallied under the flappings, of the 
 stars and stripes. Fred Brown felt that he could 
 willingly die in so grand a conflict. The conviction 
 in regard to his duty in this emergency came upon 
 him so heavily that he could find no peace. At 
 last, alone with his God, he fell on his knees and 
 consecrated himself to the service of his country. 
 In words that burned he told the family what he 
 had determined, and hoped that they would consent. 
 Their approbation was given amid copious tears. 
 The parting was bitter, both at home and at 
 Brainard's. 
 
 " Brave Fred ! " cried Katie, through her tears. 
 " Go, with my prayers and blessing ! I believe we
 
 Johns Wife's Brother. 207 
 
 shall meet again on The Flats, but if not, Fred, I 
 am yours forever." The lovers parted. 
 
 Fred became a member of a regiment organized 
 and completed in a distant city, and within a few 
 weeks of his departure from home he was on the 
 field. He was ever faithful in his correspondence. 
 In all his letters he declared that it was his firm pur- 
 pose to remain in the army until the Rebellion would 
 be crushed and peace fully restored. He believed 
 that it would be of no benefit for him to come home 
 on a leave of absence; told them to wait patiently, 
 and at the end of the war he would come to stay. 
 
 The two farmers continued in their antagonism 
 until the fall of the year 1863. In the church near 
 by there was a very deep religious feeling. A noted 
 revivalist was just commencing his labors there, and 
 his ministry was " quick and powerful." Among the 
 first to embrace religion was Katie Brainard, and 
 she immediately asked the prayers of the church 
 for her dear father. Through her importunity she 
 prevailed upon him to go with her one evening to" 
 the meeting. The minister preached on the forgiv- 
 ing spirit of Christ as contrasted with the vindictive 
 temper manifested in so many. The sermon pro- 
 duced a most wonderful effect. Brainard saw him- 
 self as in a mirror, and to him the sight was dread- 
 ful. Under a deep feeling he bowed in prayer, 
 made a humble public confession, and asked the 
 forgiveness of all those he had misused. No one 
 present doubted his sincerity. 
 
 The next day he hastened to the home of his neigh- 
 bor and made his humble penitential statement :
 
 208 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " Brown, for years I have treated you shamefully. 
 Last night the Lord, by his servant, showed me the 
 depth of my wicked heart ; I fell on my knees to ask 
 forgiveness, and now I ask your pardon also. Brown, 
 give me your hand." And he reached out his own. 
 
 " Not to-day," said Brown. " This is rather sud- 
 den. I'll think the matter over." 
 
 " Yes, do ! " said Brainard. " And may the Lord 
 lead you into the right way. I am glad that I have 
 done my duty. I would rejoice to see you at meet- 
 ing. Good morning, Brown, and may God bless 
 you ! " 
 
 After Brainard left. Brown could hardly believe 
 that it was a reality. Already he felt condemned 
 in view of the manner he had just treated his neigh- 
 bor. The more he thought of the matter the worse 
 he felt. He remained in a state of mental misery 
 during that night and the following day. The next 
 evening he found his way to the sanctuary. The 
 evangelist seemed to be inspired, and closed his dis- 
 course by inviting all who were " weary and heavy 
 laden " to come forward. A large number came, 
 and among them was seen the trembling form of 
 Richard Brown. After a season of prayer the seek- 
 ers were requested to speak, and he was the first 
 one to rise. 
 
 " My friends," said Brown, " I have lived a god- 
 less life. I have set a bad example before my chil- 
 dren. I have often been unkind and revengeful. 
 'Neighbor Brainard and myself have been enemies 
 for years. Yesterday, like a Christian, he came to 
 my house, with tears in his eyes and love in his
 
 Johns Wife's Brother. 209 
 
 heart, and begged my pardon just as if the fault was 
 all on one side. He reached out his hand and I 
 wickedly refused to take it. I have been in perfect 
 misery ever since. I view myself as a guilty sinner 
 before God. I have been conceited and self-right- 
 eous. I have treated Brainard spitefully for twenty 
 years. Before this congregation I ask his forgive- 
 ness, and if that hand is offered to me once more 
 O how quickly I shall grasp it ! " 
 
 Here the tall form of David Brainard was seen 
 marching down the aisle, and in a few moments two 
 friendly hands were gladly joined and all hardness 
 buried deep at the foot of the cross. 
 
 The meetings were a grand success. Brainard 
 and Brown became active members in the same 
 church, and were noted for their unity and harmony 
 in every measure pertaining to the society. 
 
 The spring of 1865 arrived, and, although the Re- 
 bellion was drawing near to its inglorious end, the 
 battles were sanguinary and closely contested. 
 Among these was the memorable conflict of Five 
 Forks. The carnage was fearful among both our 
 officers and men. The first account of it appeared 
 without many particulars. Later came a partial list 
 of the slain, and among these was found the name of 
 Fred Brown ! This news was crushing, and tears 
 freely flowed over the sad fate of one so dearly 
 loved. In a few days a letter came from his colonel, 
 to this effect : 
 
 "MR. BROWN, DEAR SIR: Already you have 
 
 heard the sorrowful news of the death of your son 
 14
 
 2io Stories of Country and City. 
 
 at Five Forks. Fred Brown was one of the bravest 
 of the brave. By the desperate force of the enemy's 
 charge our ranks were scattered and our regiment 
 divided. Your son throughout the day was in the 
 thickest of the fight. The burial of our dead, on 
 the second day, was attended to after dark, by the 
 light of lanterns, and without much order ; so there 
 is no hope of securing his remains. Your son was 
 a true Christian and a thorough soldier. 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 "CHARLES D ." 
 
 This news from the seat of war overwhelmed the 
 Brown family in sorrow, and not less deep was the 
 grief of one, at least, at the residence of David 
 Brainard. In solitude Katie poured out her feel- 
 ings before her heavenly Father. But a wise Prov- 
 idence has so ordered that time will assuage the 
 keen pangs of bereavement and heal in a measure 
 the crushed and wounded spirit. It was so here, 
 and gradually a calm resignation took the place of 
 excessive grief. 
 
 Richard Brown, notwithstanding the crookedness 
 of his former temper, had been fond of his children, 
 and on Thanksgiving of each year had given them 
 a most cordial welcome. 
 
 " Well, my dear," said the husband, " we have 
 abundant reason for thanksgiving this year, although 
 sadly afflicted." 
 
 " Let us at least try on that day to be cheer- 
 ful, for the sake of the children," said Mrs. 
 Brown.
 
 Johns Wife's Brother. 2 \ I 
 
 "Wisely said," was the reply. "I have thought 
 it would be well to invite our pastor." 
 
 " I am glad you have thought of it," said his wife ; 
 " what say you to my asking Katie ? " 
 
 " There is no one that I would rather welcome," 
 said Mr. Brown ; " she is one of the Lord's bright 
 jewels." 
 
 Just then Mary came in and said, " Papa, here is 
 a letter from John." It was soon opened and read 
 aloud : 
 
 NEW YORK, November , 1865. 
 
 " DEAR FOLKS AT HOME : Of course we are com- 
 ing! We would not miss it for a big pile. To us 
 it is the grandest day in all the year. How I love 
 that dear old mansion ! Little Freddie is talking 
 about it continually. By the way, you have often 
 heard my wife speak of her brother at the South. 
 He has been with us a few days, and a grand good 
 fellow he is. Although for years among the rebels 
 he is Union to the back-bone. We cannot miss our 
 Thanksgiving, and of course Jennie will not leave 
 her brother; and so she has concluded to bring him 
 along. I cannot tell exactly at what time we shall 
 arrive. You need not meet us at the depot ; we can 
 easily find conveyance. I think we shall be in time 
 for the service. Love to all, from 
 
 " JOHN AND JOHN'S WIFE." 
 
 " The dear boy ! " said his mother. " I am glad 
 that he is recovering his old cheerfulness. Yes, 
 Jennie often spoke of her brother in Virginia, and 
 we shall be right glad to see him."
 
 212 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " If he is any thing like his sister," said Mary, 
 " he will be good company." 
 
 " If he had been of Jennie's temperament," said 
 Alice, " he would not be a bachelor at forty-five. I 
 put him down as cold and unsociable." 
 
 " I think you will find yourself mistaken," said 
 Mary. 
 
 " We shall see," said Alice. " If he is an icicle 
 we shall put him under Katie Brainard's warm sun- 
 beams, and if he don't melt then he is a hopeless 
 case." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 THANKSGIVING AT THE BROWN MANSION. 
 
 r I iHE Thanksgiving of 1865 at last arrived, when 
 a saved nation poured forth its grateful offer- 
 ing at the shrine of the King of kings. The serv- 
 ice at the church was to be at eleven, and at the 
 Brown mansion there were high expectations for 
 the appearance of the New Yorkers. They came, 
 and were received with joy and welcome. John's 
 wife, as usual, was in high spirits, while her coun- 
 tenance beamed with life and intelligence; and her 
 brother, contrary to Alice's prediction, proved at 
 once that he could be highly agreeable. He was 
 tall, straight, and, from his appearance, might be 
 past forty. He wore a full beard thickly sprinkled 
 with gray. 
 
 "Blessed old home!" cried John, in perfect de- 
 light. " Thou art more dear to me than any spot
 
 Jo] ins Wife's Brother. 213 
 
 in the wide, wide world ! " And he gave his mother 
 and sisters a second edition of his very demonstra- 
 tive kisses. " We have passed through deep afflic- 
 tion," he continued, while tears filled his eyes ; " but 
 on this day we will be cheerful, and thank God for 
 restored peace and a thousand other blessings." 
 
 At the church the congregation was very large, 
 and the sermon by Rev. Mr. Powell was a fine pro- 
 duction and exceedingly appropriate. The termina- 
 tion of the war and the preserved Union were dwelt 
 upon in sentences touching and sublime. John's 
 wife's brother was deeply interested, and even af- 
 fected. The services closed, and the people, after 
 indulging in hearty greetings, departed to their 
 various happy homes. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Powell and his wife, with Katie Brain- 
 ard, in harmony with a previous arrangement, went 
 home with the Brown family, and a goodly number 
 was seated in the large parlor. 
 
 Soon the conversation became general and an- 
 imated. The parents thought they had never seen 
 John's wife so happy, and on that account they were 
 delighted. She was brilliant and witty beyond her- 
 self; and yet, at times, a certain moisture in her 
 eyes showed that she was not indifferent to the deep 
 sorrow that rested on the family. 
 
 " Brother," said John, " you don't wonder do 
 you? at the flow of spirit Jennie and myself show 
 on this occasion. It is not every New Yorker from 
 the country that can return on Thanksgiving to a 
 home like this." 
 
 " I don't wonder at all," said the gentleman from
 
 214 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 the South. " If ever I should become settled in 
 life I would like to find a quiet rest on a farm in 
 this part of the country." 
 
 " And I would advise you to hurry up," said 
 John. " You are getting old, and your chances are 
 not improving." 
 
 " John Brown, my brother is not old ! " said Jen- 
 nie, with some spirit. " He is younger than he looks. 
 If it were not for that horrid gray beard he would 
 pass for a young man, and some New England young 
 lady would fall in love with him." 
 
 " If I thought there was any hope for me in that 
 line," said the brother, " I would get rid of my gray 
 beard at once. That would be but a very short 
 job." 
 
 " Upon my word, mother," said Jennie, with her 
 eyes sparkling, " I believe this brother of mine has 
 been deceiving us with a false beard ! I will see, 
 sir, about that matter!" She ran up to him, sat 
 on his lap, and with one motion of the hand removed 
 the massive beard, and there sat before them, in 
 more than his former beauty, Fred Brown, whom 
 they had long mourned as dead ! 
 
 The scene then beggared description ; compared 
 with the reality all language must be tame. There 
 was one united spontaneous cry of perfect joy, with 
 a rush toward him of father, mother, and sisters, 
 who, for a time, overwhelmed him with their warm 
 embraces. It was a scene of blissful confusion. 
 They were intoxicated with delight. Katie wept 
 out her joy leaning on the bosom of Mrs. Powell. 
 Of course John and his wife, who had planned the
 
 Joliris Wife's Brother. 215 
 
 whole, were not moved in the same manner as were 
 the rest. But Jennie was perfectly delighted, and 
 in a rich warbling voice she sang : 
 
 "And we'll all feel gay 
 
 When Johnnie comes marching home." 
 
 " Well," said John, when comparative silence had 
 been restored, " perhaps this company would be 
 glad to know how my wife's brother happens to be 
 here, creating such an uproar at our Thanksgiving, 
 after his death and burial at Five Forks. Will he 
 please explain?" 
 
 " I can assure you, upon the most positive evi- 
 dence, that I was neither killed nor buried,*' said 
 Fred. " It is not strange, however, that my name 
 appeared among the slain, for on the afternoon of 
 the second day, until sunset, I was in the thickest 
 of the fight. The last charge of the enemy was 
 terrific beyond any thing I had witnessed. In some 
 way which I cannot explain, instead of having re- 
 treated with our men I found myself in a fighting 
 attitude in the midst of the rebels. It is a wonder 
 that I was not instantly shot or pierced through by 
 half a dozen bayonets. A Confederate soldier close 
 by said, in a kind voice : 
 
 " ' Better drop that musket, or you will be a dead 
 Yank in less than ten seconds.' 
 
 " I realized the situation, threw down my gun, 
 and was made a prisoner, and, as far as I know, the 
 only prisoner from our regiment. Our officers, being 
 confident that no prisoners had been taken, and, not 
 finding me among the wounded, concluded that I
 
 216 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 was among the slain who had been hurriedly buried 
 after dark. 
 
 " With others I was conveyed to a prison in the 
 far South, where we remained for months without 
 the least facility for correspondence. At last the 
 Rebellion was crushed, and after a tedious journey 
 we found ourselves at the military head-quarters in 
 Petersburg, Va. I reported myself as well as I could, 
 and learned that my name was among the slain. The 
 officers gave me papers and a free conveyance to 
 Washington. Here I was informed that my reg- 
 iment had been mustered out some two weeks 
 before. My statements were found to be correct. 
 The pay-rolls were examined and I received my 
 backpay for eight months. I might have sent a word 
 home, but I felt a strong desire to surprise you in 
 person. I went to New York. John and Jennie 
 were almost crazy with delight, and you see they 
 have not got over it yet. For this bit of deception 
 you must hold these New Yorkers responsible. 
 Jennie insists, and that correctly, that I am her 
 brother from the South. I am highly proud of 
 such a sister. Is not this a grand day to come 
 home on?" 
 
 "Our cup is full, and running over!" said the 
 happy father. " The Lord has given us beauty for 
 ashes and joy for mourning." 
 
 " We have met together on many a joyous occa- 
 sion," said the pastor, " but this is the happiest day 
 of my life." 
 
 Dinner was announced. Fred took the happy 
 and blushing Katie to the table, and all were seated.
 
 Johns Wife's Brother. 217 
 
 Rev. Mr. Powell asked a blessing suited to the occa- 
 sion, and a merrier company was never seen at a 
 Thanksgiving dinner. 
 
 It soon became known in the neighborhood that 
 the gentleman seen at church, and said to be 
 John's wife's brother, was Fred Brown in disguise. 
 The news ran like wild-fire. Early in the afternoon, 
 by special invitation, David Brainard and his wife 
 had the pleasure of grasping the hand of the re- 
 turned soldier. In the evening the hguse was grandly 
 illuminated, and the band from the neighboring vil- 
 lage, accompanied by hundreds, assembled in front 
 of the mansion and made the air vocal with shouts 
 and melody. 
 
 On the following Christmas morning, at the res- 
 idence of the bride, Fred Brown and Katie Brainard 
 were united in holy matrimony. Amid the good 
 wishes of a hundred guests the happy pair left for 
 Baltimore, where the bride had near relatives. On 
 their return, at the earnest request of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Brainard, Fred remained with them, and in time 
 became the manager of the large farm. He is at 
 present in the vigor of noble manhood, surrounded 
 by a charming wife and lovely children. The mother 
 delights to tell the younger ones the story of that 
 wonderful Thanksgiving day when, twenty-five 
 years ago, at their Grandpa Brown's, the company 
 was thrown into raptures by the return from the 
 South of Johns wife's brother.
 
 218 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 THE CONSPIRACY. 
 
 A STORY OF THE MEOES ANO PERSIANS, 
 
 - CHAPTER I. 
 AN AGED PRIME MINISTER. 
 
 ON that fatal night of Belshazzar's impious feast, 
 when the God of Israel was blasphemed by a 
 wicked sovereign in the presence of a thousand of 
 his lords, and when high and low officials were en- 
 gaged in drunken revelry, the legions of the Per- 
 sian prince on the bed of the drained Euphrates 
 found their way into the great metropolis of Chal- 
 dea. On that night Belshazzar was slain, and with 
 him, as such, passed away the Assyrian Empire. 
 
 When Cyrus had sufficiently regulated his affairs 
 at Babylon he took a journey to Persia. On his 
 way thither he went through Media to visit his 
 uncle, King Darius. After a brief stay in Persia he 
 returned to Babylon in company with his uncle, 
 where together they formed a scheme of govern- 
 ment for the whole empire. 
 
 The fame of Daniel, as one'who had served under 
 so many kings, was extensive. And since the 
 night of the fatal feast, when he explained to the 
 frightened potentate the mysterious handwriting
 
 The Conspiracy. 219 
 
 on the wall, he was held in greater reverence than 
 ever. 
 
 " This Daniel," said Cyrus to Darius the Mede, 
 "was brought from the land of Judah, a royal cap- 
 tive, about the commencement of Nebuchadnezzar's 
 reign. He was soon elevated to posts of honor 
 which he filled with wonderful skill and wisdom ; 
 and of all the persons within my knowledge I con- 
 sider this Hebrew sage by far the safest man to ap- 
 point as chief president." 
 
 " My brother's son speaketh wisely," answered 
 Darius. " But why may we not have a short inter- 
 view with this wonderful man ?" 
 
 "Nothing would please me better," said the 
 prince. " I will have him here without delay." 
 
 The ex-minister soon made his appearance. The 
 interview was long. At last the king asked : 
 
 " Is Daniel willing to serve the king in this capac- 
 ity, and thus shed honor upon the united empire of 
 the Medes and Persians?" 
 
 " For the short period I may tarry among mortals 
 my life will be consecrated to your service." 
 
 "Then, Daniel," said the king, " by our united 
 power and authority thou art appointed chief of the 
 presidents. We consider well thine age, and give 
 thee full liberty to procure assistance. But let the 
 oversight be purely thine. Thou art now released, 
 and may the gods prosper thee." 
 
 One year had passed away, and closeted together 
 were Ingron and Fragon, the two presidents under 
 Daniel.
 
 22O Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " It ill becometh the wisdom of the king to 
 place over our heads this exacting old Hebrew," 
 said Ingron. " The time for action has arrived. 
 He must be removed. But why come not the 
 princes?" 
 
 The door opened and four persons walked into 
 the apartment. 
 
 " Now we are ready," continued Ingron. " We 
 might have brought together more of the princes, 
 but we have made a wise selection. "What availeth 
 to us the dignity of our office, as long as we must 
 move at the bidding of this old man, petted and 
 spoiled at the tables of the kings of Chaldea ? To 
 this we can no longer submit. He must be removed 
 from office. In this movement are ye ready to as- 
 sist your superiors?" 
 
 "Ready, O most excellent Ingron!" was the 
 united response of the four princes. 
 
 "But we must have a cause of complaint," said 
 Bimrack. 
 
 "True, "said President Fragon, "and a cause 
 must be found. For this very purpose have we ad- 
 mitted you into our secret council." 
 
 The interview was long and earnest. Many meth- 
 ods were considered, and schemes introduced worthy 
 of their depraved authors. 
 
 " When and where shall be the place of our next 
 meeting?" asked Bimrack. 
 
 " In one week let us meet at the garden of the 
 castle, where the air will be balmy and the heat more 
 moderate," was the reply. " There we shall not be 
 interrupted, as we have been repeatedly at this time.
 
 The Conspiracy. 221 
 
 In order to be secure we shall enter the garden at a 
 late hour of the night." Further arrangements were 
 made and the company separated. 
 
 The day following this interview the tall bending 
 form of Fragon was seen hastening toward the office 
 of the Hebrew premier. He knocked, and was ad- 
 mitted with due respect. 
 
 " And is my friend, the worthy first president, to 
 be seen this morning?" 
 
 " My worthy master is in another apartment," 
 answered a youth in attendance. 
 
 " I wish to be shown into his presence." 
 
 The young man led the way, and Fragon, with a 
 countenance clothed in smiles and a heart overflow- 
 ing with malice, was conducted into the presence 
 of Daniel. 
 
 " I had the impression that my lord, the president, 
 was alone," said Fragon, " and I ask his forgiveness 
 for this interruption." v 
 
 "Thou art welcome at all times," said the first 
 president. "This is Apgomer, an old friend and a 
 companion of my youthful days." 
 
 " And one of thine own nation?" asked Fragon. 
 
 " Nay, my friend is a native Chaldean, as were 
 his parents before him," was the answer. 
 
 " Then together ye have witnessed the glory and 
 power of the kings of Babylon," said Fragon.- 
 " Upon the whole, have we not reason to pronounce 
 Nebuchadnezzar the greatest and most illustrious of 
 all kings? " 
 
 " I think this is true as far as the kings of Chal- 
 dea are concerned," said Daniel. " Of other kings
 
 222 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 I am not prepared to speak. If my worthy friend, 
 Fragon, is ready to pronounce the kings of Media 
 and^ Persia inferior to the king of Babylon he is at 
 liberty to do so." 
 
 " Nay, may the gods forbid that I should cherish 
 such a thought !" said Fragon, somewhat alarmed. 
 
 " It was under Nebuchadnezzar that our temple 
 in Jerusalem was destroyed and our people led into 
 captivity," said Daniel. "I received much kindness 
 at his hands, but I was not blind to his many faults." 
 
 "Thou speakest of thy captive countrymen," 
 said Fragon. " I fear that many of them are in 
 needy circumstances. This ought not to be. Gold 
 and silver in rich abundance flow into our treasuries. 
 Why not, therefore, direct a certain yearly sum for 
 the special benefit of this worthy people?" 
 
 " I am not aware that as a class they are in needy 
 circumstances," was the reply. "There may be 
 many individual cases of want, and, as far as they 
 come to my knowledge, I am not slow to relieve 
 them from my own private means. Such a step as 
 thou recommendest can never meet my approbation 
 unless first proposed by the king." 
 
 "I fear our excellent first president is over- 
 cautious," said Fragon. "But this is a matter I 
 would not urge. My chief object to-day is to ask 
 another favor. We have heard so much of the 
 superior style of Chaldean book-keeping, and in 
 order to learn and adopt your system we have ven- 
 tured, after hesitating long, to ask permission to 
 look over some of thy office-books. We shall retain 
 them but for a short time."
 
 The Conspiracy. 223 
 
 " The books are at thy disposal," said Daniel, "and 
 thou mayest return them at thy convenience." 
 
 " Thou art ever kind and obliging," said Fragon. 
 " May the gods be the sure support of our most ex- 
 cellent first president ;" and the conspirator left. 
 
 " May the gods curse him !" muttered t-he foiled 
 Fragon, when he had reached the street. " The 
 fortress is strong, but it shall be taken !" 
 
 44 What thinketh my good friend Apgomer of 
 President Fragon?" asked Daniel, with a smile. 
 
 " His words were kind," was the answer; "but 
 I am not so well convinced of his sincerity." 
 
 "Apgomer," said Daniel, "that man is my deadly 
 enemy. Every word he said was conceived in malice. 
 First, he endeavored to have me speak of Nebuchad- 
 nezzar as superior to the kings of Media and Persia. 
 He then with lying hypocrisy proposed that I 
 should take the nation's money and give it to the 
 Hebrews; and under a pretense of adopting a new 
 mode of book-keeping they ask for the parchments 
 in the hope of finding mistakes." 
 
 " O, the depravity of their hearts !" cried his aged 
 friend. " But their search will be vain." 
 
 The night was calm and beautiful. The bright, 
 full orb poured its silvery rays on the bosom of the 
 deep-flowing Euphrates. The garden had been 
 thronged with thousands of merry hearts who had 
 gone thither to enjoy the grandeur of the moon- 
 light scenes. But the hours had quickly fled, and 
 the moonbeams now fell on the perfect stillness of 
 the extensive inclosure. 
 
 The faithful keeper was about to close the mass-
 
 224 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 ive doors, when six men stood before him and 
 demanded admittance. 
 
 " At this late hour ye cannot be admitted ! " was 
 the stern reply. " In harmony with our rules the 
 people have all departed. Return to your lodgings 
 at once." 
 
 " Thou art a brave fellow, and an honor to thy 
 post," answered Ingron. "But look thou here! 
 Thou standest in the presence of two of the chief 
 presidents and four of the princes of the prov- 
 ince. Gaze on these stars!" 
 
 " I humbly beg the forgiveness of my lords, the 
 presidents !" cried the keeper. " I had no " 
 
 " Thou art a worthy keeper." interrupted Fragon. 
 "The night is sultry, and we wish for an hour to 
 enjoy the loveliness of the scene." And the six en- 
 tered the garden. 
 
 The conference was long and the conspirators 
 desperate and determined. But with all their in- 
 genuity and depth of malice they could find no 
 way by which to bring about their cruel design. 
 The books had been examined, and no mistakes 
 could be found. They were about to give up in 
 despair, for that night, when Bimrack said : 
 
 " I know of but one measure with which we can 
 ensnare the old Hebrew. It must be something 
 concerning the law of his God. Let us form a de- 
 cree, and prevail upon the king to sign it, that no 
 person within the province of Babylon shall offer 
 any prayer to any god but to the king alone for 
 the space of thirty days, and that in case of a vio- 
 lation the offender shall be thrown into the lions'
 
 The Conspiracy. 225 
 
 den. This puts all on an equal footing, and it will 
 shield us from suspicion. It pours homage at 
 the feet of Darius. Let us come upon him sud- 
 denly. It will flatter his vanity and he will sign 
 the writing. There is no human power that can 
 keep the old foreigner from the worship of his God. 
 We must expect to meet some difficulties. The 
 king must be deceived. We must unitedly affirm 
 that this movement has the sanction of the first 
 president. He will deny it. But the positive tes- 
 timony of six men will outweigh his denial." 
 
 With this the company was in ecstasy, and Bim- 
 rack was highly complimented for the ingenuity of 
 his scheme. They renewed their oath of fidelity to 
 each other and were ready for their departure. 
 
 "Hark!" said Scramo. "Heard ye not that 
 voice ? I fear that we are not alone in this garden !" 
 
 " We heard no voice," was the reply; " it is only 
 thy imagination. What did the voice resemble?" 
 
 " It resembled a human groan," was the reply. 
 
 A search was made, but too late. A door gently 
 opened on the garden-wall and a venerable Chal- 
 dean was safely lodged in his little chamber. 
 
 The work of shaping this law and giving reasons 
 for its enactment was given to Scramo. They 
 agreed to meet the next night, at the residence of 
 Ingron,to complete the arrangements, and they left 
 the garden of the castle. 
 
 The next morning at an early hour Apgomer 
 sought his friend Daniel, and revealed to him all 
 the wicked plottings to which he had secretly list- 
 ened on the night before. 
 15
 
 226 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " Let them proceed in their scheme of wicked- 
 ness," said the holy man. "The God in whom I 
 trust shall vindicate the honor of his own law. I 
 could easily frustrate all their malicious designs. 
 But the cause of Jehovah shall gather more strength 
 from a display of his power in preserving his servant 
 from harm. The life of Daniel will be as safe in 
 the lions' den as in the midst of his friends at home. 
 Let not Apgomer be troubled, and let our knowl- 
 edge of this plot be revealed to no one until the 
 proper time." 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 ROYALTY DECEIVED. 
 
 AGAIN the great city of Babylon was all excite- 
 ment, and expectation was raised to its high- 
 est pitch. The long-expected day had at last ar- 
 rived, and the grand entry of Darius, the Mede, was 
 momentarily expected by an enthusiastic, curious 
 throng. The new king was regarded by the Baby- 
 lonians generally in a favorable light. Such had 
 been the profligacy and tyranny of their late sover- 
 eign that any change was hailed with delight, and, 
 moreover, the mildness of Darius toward them on a 
 previous visit, when accompanied by Cyrus the 
 Persian, had greatly won their regards. Thousands 
 of the people had gone without the walls to meet 
 him, and tens of thousands were seen thronging the 
 
 ' O O 
 
 public ground in the vicinity of the royal palace. 
 The monarch's triumphant train appeared in the
 
 The Conspiracy. 227 
 
 distance, the shining spears and bright armor of his 
 guard glittering in the clear sunbeams, and soon, 
 amid enthusiastic shouts, they passed in through the 
 massive portals. 
 
 The king was not a man of strong moral worth 
 and true decision of character. He was rather 
 weak in mind, and easily flattered. Nevertheless 
 he was a person of tender feelings, and cruelty was 
 no part of his nature. He was greatly elated with 
 the warm reception he received at the hands of the 
 Babylonians, and now or never was the time for the 
 foul conspirators to try their power. They soon 
 entered the palace. 
 
 " Welcome into the presence of your sovereign !" 
 said the king, in a very pleasant mood. " Let the 
 full desires of your hearts be made known to the king, 
 and with pleasure he will grant your every request." 
 
 " O king, live forever !" said Scramo. " Thou art 
 a mighty ruler. Thy dominions are well-nigh un- 
 bounded. Thy rich possessions are found in every 
 clime. The name of Darius falls on the ears of the 
 kings of the earth, and they stand in awe. Now 
 thou knowest, O king, that the provinces are well 
 united, and may the gods forbid that they should be 
 otherwise. There are a few, however, within this 
 province who of late have given us reason to -be- 
 lieve that they do not consider the commands of 
 the king as absolute, and that in certain cases they 
 may be disregarded without any danger. This is a 
 poisonous plant that must be crushed in the bud. 
 We have had this subject under our most serious 
 consideration. We have thought over it with
 
 228 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 throbbing hearts. Some measure of a startling 
 nature must be resorted to that will impress upon 
 the minds of the inhabitants the matchless great- 
 ness of our new sovereign, and convince all that 
 when he commands he must be obeyed. There- 
 fore, O king, with thy supreme glory and the good 
 of the nation at heart, thy servants, the three presi- 
 dents and the princes, have enacted this law, and it 
 is now presented to thee for thy royal signature and 
 seal." And the parchment was handed to the king 
 with a trembling hand. 
 
 After reading it the monarch said : " If in your 
 superior wisdom ye have judged that this law is de- 
 manded I cannot see why I should refuse to give it 
 countenance." 
 
 '" The measure will be hailed with joy, O king, 
 among all thy loyal subjects," said Fragon ; " and let 
 those who dare disobey suffer the consequence. 
 From this day the name of King Darius will be a 
 terror to evil doers, and if he has any enemies they 
 will be put to shame." 
 
 " It is surely a peculiar enactment," said the 
 king, as he took the pen in his hand. " I fail to 
 see its strong points, but at this stage of my reign 
 I am not prepared to oppose a measure that is the 
 offspring of the combined wisdom of my realm. If 
 my Persian nephew were present I would deem it 
 advisable to have his opinion, but as he is off in the 
 wars I cannot avail myself of that." 
 
 So the king's name was given to the fatal parch- 
 ment and, moreover, it was sealed with the seal of 
 the Medes and Persians.
 
 The Conspiracy. 229 
 
 " The thing is done," said Darius. " Is there any 
 thing more?" 
 
 " We will no more trespass on thy time, O king," 
 said Bimrack ; " but will now return to our respect- 
 ive stations to carry out the pleasure of our illus- 
 trious sovereign." 
 
 The conspirators, with bounding hearts, made 
 their way in haste to the residence of President In- 
 gron, and swore to stand together in the malicious 
 falsehood. 
 
 The next day the streets of Babylon rang with 
 the proclamation of the new law. At first it was 
 thought by many to be a mischievous hoax. But 
 too soon it was known to be a reality. 
 
 Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was 
 signed, he laid aside his parchments, closed his eyes 
 for a moment in silent devotion, then rose and en- 
 tered his little chamber where for so many years 
 three times a day he had bowed before his God (a 
 dear spot that to the aged premier !), slowly moved 
 toward an open window,* and with his face toward 
 Jerusalem was soon engaged in humble prayer. 
 
 While thus engaged he heard a voice close by his 
 side : " We beg pardon for this intrusion. We will 
 not disturb our most excellent first president while 
 he makes his petitions to his God." 
 
 The Hebrew turned his head to see the receding 
 forms of the two presidents as they hastened to the 
 street below, and so he continued his supplications 
 to the God of his fathers. 
 
 Again the conspirators were seen in the presence 
 of the sovereign. " It is our painful duty, O king,"
 
 230 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 said the speaker, " to inform thee that Daniel, who 
 is of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee nor 
 the law thou hast signed, but maketh his petition to 
 his God three times a day." 
 
 "Daniel!" replied the king, "I know of no 
 Daniel but my worthy first president, whom ye say 
 assisted in making the law." 
 
 ''This same Daniel, O king, is the guilty one," 
 said Fragon. 
 
 " What !" cried the king, rising suddenly ; " Dan- 
 iel, noted for his wisdom ? Ye have been wrongly 
 informed. Beware how ye thus accuse the best man 
 in Babylon ! " 
 
 "We are eye-witnesses of his guilt, O king," 
 was the reply. " He daily makes his petitions to 
 his God." 
 
 "His God ! Who can but if say ye not that 
 Daniel was concerned in framing this law? " 
 
 " He was, O king !" 
 
 " To me it seemeth strange!" said Darius. " If 
 I find that in this matter I have been deceived I 
 swear by the gods I will pour vengeance upon your 
 guilty heads. I must see the first president and 
 learn more of this matter ere I take another step." 
 
 " Thou hast nothing to learn from him, O king, 
 contrary to the words of thy servants," said Fragon. 
 "What would avail his denial against the direct 
 testimony of six competent witnesses? The law 
 is supreme and must be executed, or the kingdom 
 of the Medes and Persians will be a by-word of 
 derision." 
 
 " Ye may now depart," said the king. " I cannot
 
 The Conspiracy. 231 
 
 give my consent to of this we can speak hereafter. 
 To-morrow call on the king and ye shall then learn 
 his pleasure." And the conspirators left with any- 
 thing but pleasurable emotions, while Darius at 
 once sent for Daniel. 
 
 " Thou standest before the king, O Daniel, ac- 
 cused of violating a law, chiefly of thine own mak- 
 ing, by offering daily petitions to thy God. What 
 meaneth all this? " 
 
 " I readily see that the king has been greatly 
 deceived in this matter," said the premier. " Thy 
 servant had nothing to do in framing a law repulsive 
 to his soul and an insult to his God. This enact- 
 ment came from mine enemies for the purpose of 
 my overthrow. For over four-score years I have 
 offered prayers to my God. When a little lad in 
 the land of Judah I was taught by a beloved mother 
 to lisp the name of Jehovah. From that time to 
 this, O king, at morning, noon, and eventide, I have 
 regularly offered my petitions. And is Daniel to 
 be frightened from his duty now in his old age ? 
 Nay, O king ! Sooner would I die a thousand deaths 
 than prove a traitor to the God of my fathers." 
 
 " Daniel ! " cried the king, " I will cut these lying 
 wretches to pieces. If thou sayest, this very hour 
 the words shall go forth." 
 
 " Nay. O king ! " was the reply. " The decree has 
 gone forth. Let the law have its course, and be 
 assured that not a hair of thy servant's head shall 
 be injured. No weapon formed against me shall 
 prosper. That same God who preserved alive the 
 three companions of my youth in the midst of a
 
 232 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 burning, fiery furnace can easily tame the lions and 
 make them as harmless as the lambs of the flock." 
 
 The king was affected even to tears, and said, 
 " This experiment must not take place. I know 
 the writing is signed. My heart is sad ! My soul 
 is sick. But vengeance will come in due time! 
 Daniel, thou mayest now depart." 
 
 " When the proper hour arrives the king shall 
 learn from other lips than mine the deep iniquity of 
 these foul conspirators. Let Jehovah use his own 
 measures for the vindication of his own law." And 
 the first president left the royal presence. 
 
 On that night Darius the Mede laid his head 
 on his pillow with the full purpose of delivering 
 Daniel. 
 
 Early on the morrow the conspirators in force 
 appeared again before the king. 
 
 " Ye are punctual," said the monarch, with a 
 meaning glance. " Since ye left me yesterday I 
 have had a long interview with the first president, 
 and from his venerable lips I learned that he had 
 no voice in framing this law that he has violated. 
 Now, notwithstanding your testimonies, which, in 
 point of law must outweigh the declaration of one 
 man, I freely declare to you my conviction that ye 
 are a band of unprincipled liars, fully bent on the 
 destruction of this Daniel." 
 
 At this plain royal truth the conspirators turned 
 pale. But Fragon, quickly recovering his self-pos- 
 session, replied : 
 
 " Then my lord the king can better believe a 
 man that defies his power, by boasting of his de-
 
 The Conspiracy. 233 
 
 termination to violate this decree at least three 
 times a day, than he can his faithful servants who 
 honor his laws and who desire to bring the guilty 
 to punishment. Let not the king be deceived by 
 the smooth tongue of this old Israelite, who, by the 
 eloquence of his lips, can give to truth the color of 
 falsehood and to deception the appearance of sin- 
 cerity. Remember, O king, that the decree has 
 gone forth and that it cannot be recalled. It is 
 well understood in the city that the first president 
 sets thy power at defiance, and thy decision is 
 watched for by tens of thousands, and if this 
 Daniel escapes punishment we may as well burn 
 up our statute-books. The question now to be set- 
 tled is not, How came this law to be enacted? 
 but, seeing that it is enacted, Will the king of the 
 Medes and Persians put it in force? Shall it be 
 told in the streets of this proud city that the king 
 has changed his mind, and is sorry for what he has 
 done, because one of his favorites has violated the 
 law?" 
 
 The interview was long and severe, and all the 
 weight of their hellish ingenuity was brought to 
 bear on the mind of the king. They failed to 
 convince him that Daniel's words were false ; yet 
 partly from a false view of consistency, but chiefly 
 from the advice of the first president, he gave his 
 signature to the death-warrant of the aged premier. 
 
 The news soon spread through all Babylon, and 
 the hour of the prophet's doom was well under- 
 stood. No man in the city was better known or 
 more loved than was the former prime minister of
 
 234 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar. The poor and needy had found 
 ready relief at his open door. The little children, 
 even, claimed the aged man as their particular 
 friend. The mothers broke out in loud weeping, and 
 the universal sympathy was with the condemned. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 RETRIBUTION. 
 
 day arrived, and in the vicinity of the first 
 president's residence stood groups of men and 
 women with sad countenances busily engaged in low 
 conversation. These gatherings gradually increased 
 into one solid mass. It was a solemn throng. The 
 stillness was broken by the appearance of several 
 platoons of soldiers, who formed a square in front 
 of the dwelling. The door at last opened and two 
 uniformed officers marched out. Next appeared 
 the sheriff, with the aged prisoner leaning on his 
 arm. 
 
 The procession was soon on its way toward the 
 dreadful spot, while the weeping of hundreds broke 
 on the air. They speedily reached the end of their 
 journey, where thousands had already gathered in 
 order to take a last sad look at their distinguished 
 fellow-citizen. 
 
 Daniel ascended some steps near by, and by the 
 permission of the king, who was present, proceeded 
 in a few words to address the vast throng :
 
 The Conspiracy. 235 
 
 " Babylonians ! Here in the presence of the God 
 of my fathers, whom I worship, in the presence of 
 my king, whom I respect, in the presence of this 
 throng, whose tears flow for my sorrow, and in the 
 presence of my accusers, who thirst for my blood, 
 I solemnly declare that, as first president of the 
 kingdom, I never was consulted in regard to the 
 making of this law that is about to consign your 
 aged servant to the lions. In honor to my king, 
 who now laments the sad fate of his unworthy- 
 servant, let me testify that, in order to persuade 
 him to sign a decree which had never entered his 
 heart, the most malicious falsehoods were poured 
 into his ears by those whose only object was the 
 overthrow of Daniel. For violating this law I ask 
 no forgiveness. Babylonians, I say no more. Ac- 
 cept my thanks for your tears. May Jehovah grant 
 you great prosperity when your aged friend shall 
 have passed away!" 
 
 Then turning to those whose painful duty it was 
 to lead him to the den he smilingly said : 
 
 "Now I am ready; conduct me thither." 
 
 The prisoner was seized by strong hands and con- 
 signed to his fate, while the throng dispersed in 
 sorrowful silence. 
 
 How sad was that night for royalty ! Filled with 
 remorse for having signed the fatal decree the king 
 passed the night in agony. With a heavy heart and 
 a throbbing brow he paced the length of his royal 
 bed-chamber, and thus did he converse in his 
 wretched seclusion : 
 
 " How he justified the king almost with his last
 
 236 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 sentence ! Why did I sign that silly and cruel 
 decree, by which the brightest jewel of my kingdom 
 is forever lost? How the multitude sympathized 
 with the noble prisoner ! How beloved in their 
 estimation was the aged Daniel ! What think they 
 by this time of my prudence and wisdom ? Will 
 his God indeed deliver him ? Is he not already torn 
 by the hungry lions? If he is not, no thanks to 
 me. Will not the people inwardly curse me? What 
 will my nephew, Cyrus, think of my power of dis- 
 cernment ? " 
 
 He threw himself upon his couch in the hope of 
 drowning his mental agony in slumber ; but the 
 precious boon was not granted. He tossed about 
 on his downy bed the very picture of wretchedness. 
 After a long while he fell into a doze and thought him- 
 self at the den of lions gazing on the bleeding, man- 
 gled form of the first president. Terror-struck he 
 leaped from his couch and found himself in his bed- 
 chamber. Another long soliloquy followed. Again 
 he strove to find repose in sleep, but no sooner were 
 his eyes closed than the imaginary roaring of lions 
 would startle and terrify the wretched potentate. 
 
 Let us fora while leave the unhappy monarch and 
 take a view of the hero of the lions' den. At first 
 he calmly walked to and fro, then he fell upon his 
 knees, and with uplifted eyes offered prayer to the 
 God of heaven. A number of young lions, quite 
 unused to such a sight, looked on in silent wonder. 
 They then ran together to the other end of the den, 
 where the old lion of all, the "lord of the manor," 
 and his aged companion, the old lioness, the mis-
 
 The Conspiracy. 237 
 
 tress of the establishment, were enjoying a com- 
 fortable sleep. A roar from one of the youngsters 
 served to awake the aged couple. Another young 
 fellow put his head close to that of his sire. I am 
 of the opinion from what followed that the young 
 chap told the old folks of something wonderful to 
 be seen atjihe other end of the den. 
 
 The old lion arose and slowly led the way. Close 
 by his heels followed the old lioness. Next in order 
 came the rest of the family. They soon arrived in 
 sight of the strange visitor. The leader paused 
 for a moment, but made up his mind that there 
 was nothing to fear. Daniel reached out his hand 
 and spoke. So with eyes half closed the old lion 
 slowly came up to the prophet and fondly licked 
 his hand. After having conquered his embarrass- 
 ment he uttered a low growl and looked toward the 
 rest of the company as much as to say, " Come this 
 way ; don't be afraid, the gentleman will not hurt 
 you." They slowly and silently gathered around 
 the man of God, and each one appeared to be par- 
 ticularly pleased to be permitted in some way to 
 come in contact with his person. And when the 
 darkness of night gathered around them the old 
 lion answered for his soft pillow, the old lioness lay 
 at his feet, the young lions stretched themselves on 
 either side to keep him warm, and soon the prophet 
 of Jehovah was fast asleep. 
 
 Early the next morning the king ordered his 
 chariot, and with a number of his lords he was soon 
 on his way toward the den of lions. He also sent 
 word for Daniel's accusers to be present. The royal
 
 238 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 chariot, as it moved through the principal thorough- 
 fares of the metropolis, attracted much notice. Its 
 destination was soon understood. And as there was 
 a faint hope in the minds of thousands that the God 
 of Daniel would interpose they were early at the 
 den. 
 
 The monarch in trembling accents ordered the 
 heavy door to be opened. This was quickly done. 
 Then in a tone of lamentation he cried with a loud 
 voice, "O Daniel, servant of the Most High, is 
 thy God whom thou servest able to deliver thee 
 from the lions? " 
 
 O, the breathless silence which followed ! A thou- 
 sand hearts trembled with deep emotion. But pres- 
 ently a voice as clear as a lute and as sweet as an 
 angel's harp ascended from the depth and fell upon 
 the ears of the throng : 
 
 " O king live forever! " 
 
 It was enough ! Gladsome shouts broke forth from 
 a thousand tongues. The sorrow was turned to joy, 
 and the name of the God of Daniel was greatly 
 praised. 
 
 In a few moments the Hebrew sage stood again 
 before the rejoicing throng. 
 
 An aged man was seen at this moment urging his 
 way through the crowd as if endeavoring to find 
 admittance into the presence of the king. His ven- 
 erable appearance and pleasant countenance served 
 to make him room. The throng parted, and soon 
 he was by the side of Daniel, who stood near the 
 king. 
 
 " This is my good friend Apgomer, O king," said
 
 The Conspiracy. 239 
 
 Daniel, " one of the companions of my early days. 
 He hath words to communicate to the king in the 
 presence of this throng, that will give thee to under- 
 stand clearly that this law was prepared on purpose 
 to ensnare thy servant." 
 
 " Let Fragon and Ingron, with the four princes, 
 stand in this direction ! " said the king, with an an- 
 gry expression of countenance. 
 
 The conspirators with pale faces obeyed. 
 
 "Now, Daniel," said the king, "thy friend may 
 give his testimony in a clear and loud voice." 
 
 " O king, live forever!" began Apgomer. " These 
 six men who now stand before thee are wicked and 
 deceitful. With lying words did they goto the king. 
 I listened to their midnight plotting. On the night 
 of the fourth day of the eighth month, at the castle 
 garden, these men did meet. I stood behind their 
 bower. Their words of malice fell on my ears. 
 There the law was first spoken of, and for the very 
 purpose of destroying the first president." 
 
 "Believe not this man, O king !" said the pale 
 and trembling Fragon. " He prepareth lying words 
 before thee !" 
 
 At this moment a young man whose countenance 
 denoted passion rushed to the side of Apgomer, 
 and without an apology began : 
 
 " Let not Apgomer be called a liar ! As well may 
 the gods lie ! Thy servant, O king, is the keeper of 
 the garden. Apgomer on that night was an inmate 
 of my house, which house is within the garden- 
 walls. Those six men at a late hour demanded 
 admission. Not knowing who they were I ordered
 
 240 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 them away. They gave me to understand that I 
 stood in the presence of the two presidents and four 
 princes. They were admitted and did not leave 
 until after midnight. I have no knowledge of their 
 errand. But be assured, O king, that Apgomer 
 never uttered a falsehood !" 
 
 "It is enough! It is enough!" cried the king. 
 " Seize the guilty wretches ! Let the cowardly liars 
 meet the doom they had prepared for my servant 
 Daniel ! Up, and throw them to the lions!" 
 
 No sooner were the words spoken than a score of 
 willing hands seized the trembling forms of the 
 conspirators, and amid the curses of an indignant 
 throng they were thrown into the depth of the den, 
 to meet a far different fate from that of the man of 
 God. 
 
 Daniel was taken into the royal chariot, seated by 
 the side of the sovereign, and the grand train moved 
 forward amid the triumphant shouts of delighted 
 thousands.
 
 Sunny Memories of Conference Chums. 241 
 
 SUNNY MEMORIES OF CONFERENCE CHUMS, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 WE DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY. 
 
 IT was in the summer of 185 . The Conference 
 met at one of our flourishing villages in northern 
 New York. I always looked forward to these sea- 
 sons with pleasant and even excitable anticipations 
 I was then, if not now, a one-horse preacher serving 
 a one-horse charge. But wait a moment, dear reader. 
 Before we proceed an inch further permit me to 
 explain what I mean by the term one-horse. If I 
 don't I fear that you will form a wrong opinion 
 as to the nature of that " charge," and also in re- 
 gard to the value I now place upon my then preach- 
 ing abilities. I do not use the term in its slang 
 meaning; and if you thought that I intended to 
 speak lightly either of my own talents or the 
 good people I then served you were grandly mis- 
 taken. I simply meant that at that time, and, in- 
 deed, at almost all other times, I served charges 
 that had a number of preaching appointments, and 
 were of an importance that demanded, in addition 
 to the regular minister sent from Conference, an 
 
 "assistant" in the shape of an itinerant horse. Now 
 16
 
 242 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 you understand why I called myself a one-horse 
 preacher and the circuit a one-horse charge. I am 
 sorry that those indispensable assistants were not 
 always provided for by the brethren in the " allow- 
 ance ;" but I am happy to say that mine were never 
 permitted to suffer. I could easily write creditable 
 memorials of these faithful helpers which would be 
 interesting to the reader, and especially to my fel- 
 low one-horse brethren. But I must pass along. If 
 John Wesley's views in regard to certain passages in 
 the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans are 
 correct, then in the resurrection of the brutes there 
 will be seen a glorious array of itinerant Methodist 
 horses anointed with the oil of gladness above 
 their fellows, while their joyful neighing shall echo 
 on the sides of celestial mountains. 
 
 Yes, I know I am moving rather slowly, as far as 
 the story is concerned. It is a way we get into, and 
 it is almost impossible for us ministers to break 
 loose from our old ways. This shows the great im- 
 portance of forming good and correct habits while 
 we are young. But I am gliding slowly and im- ' 
 perceptibly into my subject. 
 
 On arriving at the seat of the Conference I was 
 directed by the preacher in charge to the residence 
 of Mr. W., a prominent citizen of the village, 
 where, as he said, I would find a number of con- 
 genial spirits. It so proved. I was most cordially 
 received by the family, and to my great joy I found 
 that I was to share the society of four other minis- 
 ters whom I greatly admired and loved. We had 
 often met before, and soon our hearts were knit
 
 Sunny Memories of Conference C/iuins. 243 
 
 together in sweet Christian fellowship. I shall 
 always look back to those few days in their social 
 relation as forming one of the happiest periods in 
 my earthly pilgrimage ; and I am very certain that 
 this is the experience of those four brethren, for we 
 have often spoken of it in our subsequent meet- 
 ings ; and many a good, hearty, healthy Methodist 
 laugh we have had over the remembrance of that 
 most delightful week. Up stairs, aside from several 
 commodious lodging-rooms, we had a large sitting- 
 room richly furnished, where we could meet at any 
 time to enjoy each other's society. Here we would 
 often discuss points of interest connected with the 
 Conference ; but our greatest enjoyment flowed 
 from the relating of incidents connected with our 
 itinerant lives. These were numerous, and all of 
 them worthy to be preserved and remembered. I 
 have a few of them, and these were taken down at 
 the time, or soon after, for the purpose, I presume, of 
 preparing them, for the press ; but they were lost for 
 years, and the other day, in looking over a pile of 
 old manuscript, I came across the following, which 
 will give the reader some idea of our mutual enter- 
 tainnrent. I see they are numbered, and bear such 
 headings as at that time impressed my mind. Num- 
 ber i is headed, 
 
 " How I HAPPENED TO GET INTO A ' FIRST-CLASS 
 STATION."' 
 
 " I. don't say, mind you," said Brother L., "but 
 that as a rule you will find ' first-class preachers' on 
 ' first-class stations,' but there are very many excep-
 
 244 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 tions, and it is not always safe to judge of a minis- 
 ter's real strength by the appointments he fills. 
 These things in multitudes of instances have turned 
 upon a mere accident. In the great mind of Deity 
 it may not bear that construction, but as things go 
 among us that is just the word. Here /am. It is 
 well known to you that for fourteen years I con- 
 tinually served charges that were any thing but 
 popular, and that for the last ten years I have 
 been sent to some of the strongest stations in the 
 Conference. Do you suppose from this that it took 
 place from any improvement or change in me ? 
 Nothing of the kind. I tell you again, in my case 
 it was purely accidental. You may object to my 
 using that word. I don't quite like it myself, and 
 yet it is as good as any I can think of just now. I 
 don't know that I can better explain this than by 
 calling your attention to my own history and ex- 
 perience. 
 
 " I had served two years at Logtown, to the fair 
 satisfaction of the brethren and the members of my 
 congregation, and had gone to Conference under 
 the tearful benediction of many dear friends. I 
 cheerfully looked forward for another charge of 
 moderate pretensions. I had given up all idea of 
 ever serving a good station, because I had for so 
 many years served inferior charges, and I knew that 
 no first-class appointment would be likely to ask 
 for a person who had always traveled circuits. 
 When they come to a deadlock in the cabinet, you 
 know, the Bishop comes to the rescue, settles the 
 point, and says to the astonished presiding elders,
 
 Sunny Memories of Conference C/tuins. 245 
 
 'What I have written, I have written.' So it was 
 at this time. Until about one hour before the meet- 
 ing of the last session of the Conference my name 
 had stood for Pacific Charge, with which I was well 
 satisfied. While the Bishop and the elders were 
 just finishing up, a line was received from B Sta- 
 tion, signed by a brother whose will it was not 
 healthy to oppose, saying that Brother F. must not 
 
 be sent to B , that he could not be received, 
 
 and that the thing was exceedingly unfortunate. 
 What was to be done? ' Brethren,' said the Bishop, 
 ' I will make short work of this. Brother L. will 
 
 go to B , and Brother F. will go to Pacific.' 
 
 'Bishop!' cried the presiding elder in whose 
 
 district was B . (so I was informed), ' that will not 
 
 answer! B is a " first-class station." Brother 
 
 L. is a good man and a fair preacher, but he is not. 
 
 of that class that will answer for B .' ' Time 
 
 will show,' answered the Bishop as he closed his 
 portfolio and started for the Conference-room. 
 There were many astonished countenances when 
 
 my name was read out for B ; and no one was 
 
 more astonished than myself. 
 
 " With much fear and trembling, after having been 
 in the Conference for fourteen years, I started for 
 my first station, and that one of the best. Con- 
 trary to my expectations, the brethren gave me a 
 cordial welcome. On my first Sabbath I had great 
 liberty, and at once I found favor in the sight of 
 the people. In addition to a liberal salary they 
 gave me a magnificent donation, and at the close 
 of the year they unitedly asked for my return. I
 
 246 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 did return, and my second year was also a success. 
 From that time to this I have filled excellent 
 stations, and you would be astonished to see the 
 invitations I have had from official members of 
 ' first-class appointments/ brethren who would 
 have scorned the idea a few years ago. But am I a 
 better preacher than I was when I served Logtown, 
 Smoky Hollow, Hard Scrabble, Snake Hill, and 
 Pumpkinville? Of course not. I never hear the 
 term ' first-class station' without smiling, and I 
 invariably think of the simple accident that sent 
 your unworthy brother to be a pastor of such a 
 church." 
 
 Brother L., being the only "first-class station" 
 preacher in the company, the rest of us being " one- 
 horse," and naturally cherishing well a pretty fair 
 opinion of our respective abilities, we were greatly 
 pleased with his remarks, knowing that in him we 
 had a friend whose sympathy and fellow-feeling we 
 might safely depend upon. 
 
 Number 2 is headed, 
 
 "JACK AND POPPET." 
 
 " I am comparatively young among you Ameri- 
 cans," said Brother M., who was a genial Welshman. 
 " In my own experience in this country there have 
 been no incidents that would add any interest to 
 this occasion, and so you will please excuse me." 
 
 " No excuse, Brother M.,"said Brother L. "Give 
 us something from Wales, of any sort that you may 
 deem best ;" and in this he was joined by the 
 others.
 
 Suiiny Memories of Conference Chums. 247 
 
 "Well," said Brother M., "I will give you a 
 specimen of the manner in which the late Rev. Mr. 
 Richard of Abergwaen used to administer reproof, 
 when needed, at church meetings. He always made 
 use of figures, and his favorite was the horse. 
 
 " At one time a certain society was much grieved 
 with one of its official members, who. insisted on 
 having his own way in regard to every church 
 measure, and who, if it was not granted, would 
 show bad temper and utterly refuse to co-operate 
 with his brethren. In every thing he would be a 
 leader or nothing. He was a man of ability and 
 means, and when all would submit to his dictation 
 he would be liberal. But he was so selfish and ob- 
 stinate that it was very hard to get along with him. 
 Mr. Richard was aware of this, and at one of their 
 church meetings, when this obstinate man was pres- 
 ent, among other remarks he brought in his favor- 
 ite figure in this fashion : 
 
 " ' Yes, Jack is a good horse, but not as good as 
 Poppet. Poppet is easily managed and willing to 
 work at any time and at any place. Jack is a strong, 
 powerful horse ; but sometimes he is obstinate and 
 ugly, and often acts the worst when he is most 
 needed. Jack can draw splendidly, you understand, 
 but he must have his own way or he will not draw 
 a pound. Jack must be the leader or nothing. Put 
 him between the thills, or in the middle, and he will 
 not move an inch. Coaxing and threatening will 
 be useless. But let him be the foremost horse, and 
 he will show wonderful energy. Sometimes if he 
 doesn't get his own way he will fall into a violent fit
 
 248 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 of kicking, to the great danger of all who are near 
 him. You will understand that Jack in many re- 
 spects is a good horse, but he has these tricks. If 
 these were taken out of him he would be a valuable 
 beast, but it is hard to take a trick out of an old horse. 
 He is not like Poppet. Poppet is ever willing and 
 ready. He is not as strong as Jack, but is perfectly 
 reliable. He will work faithfully at all times and 
 in any sphere. You may put him in the shaft, or 
 in the middle, or foremost, and he will pull steadily. 
 You may put sacks of grain on his back to carry to 
 the mill, and he will move along most willingly. 
 Two or three of the children may get on his back at 
 once, and with the greatest pleasure he will take 
 them to school. Ah, every body admires Poppet ! 
 As for Jack, although a good horse in his way, he 
 is not to be trusted. It is not best to venture 
 to put a sack on his back to go to mill, nor the chil- 
 dren to carry to school. It would be a very danger- 
 ous experiment. Better far to depend on Poppet.' 
 
 " And in this way, without referring to names 
 nor directly to individuals, Mr. Richard would ad- 
 minister reproof that almost always produced a 
 favorable effect. I have already found that in 
 America, as well as Wales, we have some Jacks ; but, 
 thank Heaven, compared with our noble Poppets 
 they are very few." 
 
 Number 3 is headed, 
 
 "AN AFFECTING INCIDENT." 
 
 "Yes," said Brother S., with that deep solemnity 
 which was his on peculiar occasions, "We are to
 
 Sunny Memories of Conference C/tuins. 249 
 
 'weep with those that weep.' Every Methodist 
 minister has mingled in scenes of bereavement, to 
 administer comfort to the disconsolate. It was in 
 the early part of my ministry, and at the commence- 
 ment of the conference year on a new charge. On 
 a certain Tuesday, after a hard morning's study, I 
 thought I would devote a part of the afternoon to 
 visiting my parishioners and forming their acquaint- 
 ance. In my congregation on the Sabbath 
 previous I had noticed a lady in dark habiliments 
 which I naturally took as an evidence of bereave- 
 ment, especially as the expression of her counte- 
 nance suggested deep inward sorrow. I first called 
 at the house of Brother Stebbins, who was one of 
 my stewards. Sister Stebbins received me cor- 
 dially. She was ready and fluent in her conversa- 
 tion, and mingled her sentences with such a degree 
 of wit and pleasantry as to make me feel perfectly 
 at home. If she had a fault at all it was an over- 
 readiness to indulge too freely in hilarity. 
 
 " ' Sister Stebbins/ I said, ' I noticed in the con- 
 gregation on the Sabbath, in the third seat from 
 the altar, in the middle pews, a lady in black. She 
 seemed to be in deep grief. Who was she, and 
 where does she live?' 
 
 " ' O,' answered Sister Stebbins, ' that "was Sister 
 Thomas. She lives on this street, the third house 
 below ; on this side.' 
 
 " ' I should judge from her sorrowful appearance,' 
 said I, ' that she has lately passed through scenes x>f 
 bereavement.' 
 
 " I was pained at her reply, which seemed to me
 
 250 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 unsympathetic and trifling; and so, with as much 
 earnestness in my manner as would become a 
 stranger, I kindly replied : 
 
 " ' When you meet with a like bereavement you 
 will judge poor Sister Thomas with more tender- 
 ness.' 
 
 " Sister S. simply answered, ' Pardon me, Brother 
 S., but I will assure you I am not a hard-hearted 
 woman ;' and the subject was dropped. 
 
 " I parted with Sister S. and slowly walked toward 
 the mansion of Sister Thomas. She answered my 
 call in person, remarking, 
 
 " ' Brother S., I am glad to see you. I knew you 
 would call. My mind was just resting on some con- 
 solatory passages in your Sabbath sermon.' 
 
 " ' I am thankful,' said I, ' that any thing in my 
 humble discourse has served to cheer you in the day 
 of adversity.' 
 
 "' Thank you,' she replied, in a tremulous voice ; 
 'of course you have heard of it. Some think I go 
 too far ; but he was the idol of my heart. If not 
 with me in the street he was the first to welcome 
 me home. I miss him at morning, noon, and 
 night.' 
 
 " ' And how old was this dear object of your af- 
 fection ?' I asked. 
 
 " ' He had just completed his fifth year,' was the 
 reply. 
 
 " ' And what was the nature of his sickness ?' I 
 inquired, brushing away a tear. 
 
 " ' At first it was a cold,' she said, ' but it ended 
 in a fever. He knew me to the very last. I was
 
 Sunny Memories of Conference Cliums, 251 
 
 not aware that he was so near going. I knelt by 
 his little bed, but he heeded me not. ' Fido !' said 
 I, ''dear Fido, don't you know me?' He opened 
 his eyes, gently wagged his tail and died"!' 
 
 " Fortunately my hat was within easy reach and 
 the door was not closed. The next moment the 
 new parson was found making rapid strides toward 
 the parsonage, and I know that I heard the voice 
 of Sister Stebbins in laughter as I passed her door. 
 From that day I have had but little taste for dog- 
 matic theology." 
 
 Of course Brother S. preserved a grave counte- 
 nance throughout, and even at the close, when the 
 rest of us roared, he looked more solemn than ever. 
 If we thought that he had given us an overdrawn 
 picture we really pardoned him, as he had given 
 so telling a burlesque on a weak form of sentimen- 
 tality. 
 
 Number 4 is headed, 
 
 THE SOOTHING EFFECTS OF BREAD AND MILK 
 POULTICE. 
 
 "You see," said Brother J., "in those days I was 
 bashful and modest. Well, you may laugh as much 
 as you please. I suppose you think that those are 
 rather doubtful terms when applied to me, but it is 
 true. Perhaps you did not know me then. Years 
 have worked a great change. Since that time I 
 have mingled much in society, and I am not as I 
 used to be. I tell you again, brethren, without the 
 least joking, that there was a time when I was both 
 bashful and modest.
 
 252 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 "It was at a ministerial association in O . I 
 
 was sent to ' chum it' with my. dear Brother R., at 
 a certain house not far from the church. We took 
 an early s*upper, and having in another place eaten 
 a late dinner I scarcely took anything for tea. That 
 evening I preached, there were lengthy exercises 
 after the sermon, and the meeting closed at a late 
 hour. In company with my good Brother R. I 
 reached my lodging-place under the unmistakable 
 impression that I was very hungry. I hoped that 
 the good lady of the house would have asked, 
 ' Brother J., you have been laboring hard, wouldn't 
 you like a bit of something to eat ?' She certainly 
 ought to have asked me, and my brief answer was 
 all ready. But she didn't, and my hunger was 
 momentarily growing more alarming. You see, at 
 home I had been in the habit of having milk every 
 night. ' Bad habit?' I don't believe a word of it. 
 I have used it well, from a very early period, and 
 it agrees with me splendidly. But I am digressing. 
 At that moment things looked dark, and a night of 
 keen hunger stared me in the face. ' Why didn't I 
 ask ?' There ! now comes in the proof of my bash- 
 fulness. Ask ? No, indeed, and I fully made up 
 my mind to suffer. 
 
 '"Brother J.,' asked Brother R., 'What is the 
 matter with you?' 
 
 "' O, nothing serious,' I replied, 'I am a little 
 tired. The meeting, you know, was very lengthy.' 
 And I looked toward my hostess, hoping that this 
 would fetch her; but it didn't. 
 
 " By the way, on the week previous Brother R.
 
 Sunny Memories of Conference Chums. 253 
 
 had met with an accident by which his leg below 
 the knee was badly bruised, and at this time he was 
 quite lame and complained of pain. 
 
 " 'And what do you do for it, Brother R ?' asked 
 the lady. 
 
 " ' At night I poultice it thoroughly with bread 
 and milk,' answered Brother R., 'and if it will not 
 trouble you too much I will ask you to make me 
 some, and I will put it on when we get up stairs.' 
 
 "' Don't talk about trouble,' answered the little 
 woman, jumping up, ' I will have it ready in a little 
 while.' 
 
 " There, boys ! Aye, then did I see that my re- 
 demption was drawing nigh. I could actually feel 
 the aspect of my countenance changing, while men- 
 tally I exultingly cried, ' I am saved ! I am saved !' 
 
 "'In a case like this,' said Brother R., 'bread 
 and milk poultice is capital.' 
 
 "'There can be nothing better,' said I in an ele- 
 vated tone, ' if it is only applied in sufficient quan- 
 tity.' 
 
 " ' That's so,' said the lady, and I will make a 
 good lot.' 
 
 " And so she did, for I keenly watched the quan- 
 tity as well as the quality. It was all right nice 
 white bread, pure milk, and a clean shining tin 
 basin, and, better than all, ' a good lot' of it. 
 
 "'Will you need any assistance, Brother R?' 
 asked the lady. 
 
 " ' Brother J. will lend a helping hand when we get 
 up stairs,' was the answer. 
 
 " 'With the greatest pleasure,' I replied.
 
 254 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " After prayers we went to our chamber, Brother 
 R. leading the way, bearing in his hand the sover- 
 eign remedy, while in eager expectation I followed 
 on. When I revealed to my good friend the exact 
 situation, and the fortunate way of escape, he fell 
 into a fit of laughter. Well, he treated me with the 
 utmost generosity. The poultice was divided on 
 the most equitable terms. Our slumber was tranquil 
 and peaceful. Brother R. kept the secret at least 
 
 until after we left O . Since that event I have 
 
 increased faith in the soothing effects of bread and 
 milk poultice." 
 
 Those dear chums are yet in the work doing 
 vigorous service for the Master. A little humorous 
 indulgence now and then when released from the 
 severity of their labors does not in the least injure 
 their spirituality. Laughter is a gift from the Lord. 
 It may be abused, I know, like many other blessings; 
 but in thousands of instances it is a healing balm 
 for both body and mind. I know that at Conference 
 as well as other places we are to watch over our 
 spirits and retain, yea, increase our devotional feel- 
 ings. But in order to do this must every thing in 
 the shape of social mirth be banished ? I do not 
 thus understand Christianity nor the laws of our 
 being. Let all act freely, in harmony with the dis- 
 position and temperament which God has given 
 them, subject to the wholesome regulations of our 
 holy Christianity. I will not find fault with my 
 serious brother who hardly ever smiles. If that is 
 the result of his natural disposition I suppose he
 
 Sunny Memories of Conference Chums. 255 
 
 cannot help it. But I trust that he will have the 
 good sense to know that his perpetual solemnity is 
 no proof that he better answers the end of his crea- 
 tion than does his brother who obeys the prompt- 
 ings of his more jubilant nature and indulges in a 
 good, hearty laugh. Be it remembered that the 
 wisest of men has said, " There is a time to laugh 
 and a time to weep." A Christian minister, I trust, 
 will easily understand this, and act accordingly. 
 He will not be very apt to weep at a Fourth of July 
 celebration or laugh at a funeral.
 
 256 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 "I TOOK YOU WITH GUILE, 
 
 I VENTURE to say that, in this year of grace, 
 1890, no portion of our world under the hal- 
 lowed influence of our holy Christianity presents a 
 more intelligent class of people, touching the funda- 
 mental doctrines of the Gospel, than does that small 
 section of the British Isle known as the Principality 
 of Wales. It is readily admitted that, as far as 
 knowledge in the arts and sciences is concerned, 
 they are far behind their English neighbors ; but 
 that in theology and in deep attachment for relig- 
 ious worship they excel. This state of things, 
 however, is comparatively of a recent date. One 
 hundred and twenty years ago gross darkness cov- 
 ered the people, and the masses in Wales were ex- 
 ceedingly ignorant touching the most common 
 truths of the Christian religion. It is true that on 
 Sabbath morning they had a brief service in the 
 parish church, often conducted by unregenerated 
 and immoral curates. Few attended these services, 
 and less took any interest in them. The Lord's 
 day was given to ungodly diversions, drinking, 
 carousing, and often ending in fighting. 
 
 The wonderful awakening under the preaching of
 
 "/ Took You with Guile." 257 
 
 Whitefield reached Wales, and in many localities 
 the people by the hundreds, with tears of penitence, 
 turned to the Lord. Several men of talent, clergy- 
 men of the Established Church, who had mourned 
 for years over the desolation of Zion, joined in the 
 movement, and finally, by the force of circum- 
 stances, identified themselves with the newly-formed 
 Whitefield Methodist societies, and earnestly la- 
 bored in the face of the most bitter persecution. 
 
 At that early day there arose from among the 
 converts many men possessing strong natural tal- 
 ents, and, in the absence of regular clergymen, they 
 were commissioned by the churches to go forth as 
 lay preachers to call sinners to flee from the wrath 
 to come. 
 
 Among these exhorters, whose hearts burned with 
 love to God and with intense desire for the salvation 
 of their fellow-men, was one Thomas Hughes. He 
 had been a rough, swearing, drinking man. His 
 education was limited, but he had a strong mind, a 
 ready command of language, and a very fair knowl- 
 edge of the Bible and its doctrines. His conversion 
 was very clear. The thorough change was evident 
 to all, and his unadorned ministry was highly ac- 
 ceptable to the common people. 
 
 In many places these preachers, lay and ordained, 
 were persecuted most violently. Indeed, there were 
 vicinities where they could not stand up to preach 
 without endangering their lives. Such a spot was 
 Towyn y fferi, on the shore, between Llandudno 
 and Conway, in North Wales. 
 
 For a long time Thomas Hughes had felt a strong. 
 17
 
 m 
 
 258 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 spirit-drawing toward the wicked and desperate in- 
 habitants of this place, who from Sabbath to Sab- 
 bath assembled by the hundreds on the shore to 
 engage in their unholy diversions. He had never 
 been there, but their daring ungodliness was well 
 known far and near. Hughes had a dear friend a 
 confidential bosom friend by the name of Morris 
 Jones. They were often together, and Jones gen- 
 erally accompanied Hughes to his appointments, 
 and often assisted in the preliminaries. 
 
 "Morris," said Hughes one day, "for weeks I 
 have been impressed that it is my duty to preach 
 Jesus to that ungodly throng at Towyn y fferi. 
 They are rushing toward hell, and there is no one 
 to plead with them." 
 
 " I understand," said Morris, " that there is a 
 gang there of forty roughs, headed by a fighting 
 bully by the name of Dick Morgan, that are pledged 
 to roughly handle any preacher that will dare come 
 among them and open his mouth." 
 
 " Morris," was the answer, " let us take them with 
 guile. I am determined to visit their play-ground 
 on some Sabbath day, and that soon, if God wills, 
 and preach to them ' Jesus Christ and him crucified.' 
 I have matured a plan in my own mind which I 
 think will succeed. I have prayed over it, and I 
 am pretty well convinced that, by God's help, we 
 can manage those roughs, and perhaps save them. 
 Morris, will you stand by me ?" 
 
 "That I will, Tom," was the ready answer. 
 " Proceed in your own way, and may God bless 
 you !"
 
 " / Took You wit h Guile." 259 
 
 Word was sent to Towyn y fferi that in one week 
 from the following Sabbath there would be preach- 
 ing on the shore play-ground, but no mention was 
 made of the preacher or where he would hail from. 
 The roughs were delighted in view of their antici- 
 pated sport, and promised to themselves a day of 
 rare enjoyment. 
 
 The day arrived and the ground was covered by 
 hundreds. There were many among them who had 
 come in hopes of hearing the Gospel preached. 
 They felt no ill-will toward any preacher that de- 
 sired to make the people better. They knew that 
 Towyn bore a hard name, and they were sorry for 
 it. There were many more who, although wild 
 and ungodly, would not molest the man of God. 
 But the majority were in sympathy with the gang. 
 They did not intend to permit any dissenting rant- 
 ers to interfere with their Sunday sports, and it 
 gave them pleasure to know that the expected 
 preacher would be roughly handled. 
 
 Our two friends, Hughes and Jones, were early 
 on the ground. They mingled freely with the 
 gang and laid themselves down on the grass. There 
 was nothing in their exterior that in the least re- 
 sembled clergymen, and no one took any particular 
 notice of them. 
 
 Time was passing, The people were anxiously 
 looking for the appearance of the preacher and 
 getting somewhat uneasy. 
 
 After further waiting Dick Morgan said : " Boys, 
 the shouter has not dared to show his sanctimonious 
 Methodist face. His courage failed him. He has
 
 260 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 escaped a good shaking and a nice cold salt bath. 
 But, confound the fellow, he has robbed us of our 
 expected fun. He would have been here before this 
 time if he was coming. So let us begin some other 
 sport." 
 
 Here Hughes jumped up from his prostrate po- 
 sition and, in a manner quite unclerical, said: 
 
 " Well, my lads, as Morgan has said, there is no 
 sign of a clergyman. I shouldn't wonder if the fel- 
 low heard we were going to give him a rough one. 
 But don't let us be cheated out of preaching. I 
 have come a long distance. Let one of you stand 
 on that stone and give us a preach ! Why not ? 
 [Great laughter.] Let one of us occupy the pulpit, 
 and the rest will sing. I tell you, lads, it will be a 
 grand play, especially on Sunday." 
 
 " Bravo ! " cried the bully, with an oath. " Three 
 cheers for the stranger ! [Given with a will.] Ha, 
 ha ! Here is fun after all. Step on that stone and 
 fire away, stranger ! " 
 
 " I ought to have a book," said Hughes. 
 
 " Here is a book for you," said Morris Jones, " if 
 you only promise to preach for us." 
 
 " Well," said Hughes, " if you will only be civil 
 I'll try. Don't you laugh at me if I fail." 
 
 " I'll make them civil," said Morgan ; " and if 
 any one laughs at you or disturbs you in any man- 
 ner I'll break his head with one of these stones." 
 
 Hughes then stood on the stone and said : " I 
 believe that praying comes first, does it not?" 
 
 "Yes; pray," said Morgan, "and I will throw 
 in an amen now and then to make it lively.
 
 "/ Took You with Guile.' 1 261 
 
 I declare, this is the strangest kind of performance 
 I ever heard of! Somehow it doesn't look so funny 
 to me as it did a minute ago. But hurry up and 
 rush it through ! Go on, stranger." 
 
 " Let us pray," said Hughes, with a countenance 
 of indescribable solemnity. The prayer welled up 
 from the depth of an honest heart earnestly longing 
 for the salvation of those around him. The roughs 
 listened to the prayer with great attention, and al- 
 though, so far, they thought it was simply an imi- 
 tation, they felt a solemnity creeping over them 
 which they could not explain, and the bully did not 
 see fit to produce the promised amens. The prayer 
 closed, and it was loudly complimented by a great 
 many. One cried out at the top of his voice : 
 
 " I'll bet a crown there is not a parson in North 
 Wales that can beat that prayer! " 
 
 Mr. Hughes was just about to announce his text, 
 when Morgan cried out, " Not quite so fast, stran- 
 ger ! Singing comes next." 
 
 " O yes," was the reply; " I had forgotten." 
 He then gave out one verse: 
 
 " Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
 With all thy quickening powers." 
 
 Morris Jones started a familiar tune, in which many 
 united. Mr. Hughes then called their attention to 
 these words of St. Paul : " This is a faithful saying, 
 and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 
 came into the world to save sinners ; of whom I am 
 chief." He first gave a very graphic account of the 
 apostle's early history, how he gave countenance
 
 262 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 to the killing of Stephen and took charge of the. 
 garments of those who stoned him, and how after 
 this he became a bitter persecutor of the infant 
 Church, casting men and women into prison. Then 
 he spoke of his wonderful conversion and his sub- 
 sequent laborious life in the cause of God. The 
 preacher, as he proceeded, felt an unusual degree 
 of inspiration. He gathered spiritual power as he 
 went on. The people looked upon him with awe 
 and wonder as, with a tongue of fire, he spoke of 
 the wonderful change produced in the human heart 
 by the Gospel of Christ. Tears began to flow from 
 the eyes of many, and before the sermon was half 
 through the audience was under his complete control. 
 When it was perfectly safe he gave them to under- 
 stand that he was, indeed, the humble, unworthy 
 servant of Christ, who had sent his appointment to 
 Towyn y fferi, and that he had chosen that method 
 in order to get a quiet hearing. Before closing he 
 said : " Three years ago I was a poor miserable 
 slave of the devil, a wicked, swearing, drinking 
 wretch, fearing not God nor regarding man. What 
 money I earned, the most of it went for drink, while 
 my wife was broken-hearted and my children in rags. 
 This was my condition when a most powerful re- 
 vival of religion broke out in our village. I was 
 persuaded to attend the meetings. I was led to 
 see myself a guilty sinner against God. I fell on 
 my knees and cried to God for mercy. After some 
 days of weeping under a deep sense of guilt, God 
 saw fit to pour the balm of his love into my wounded 
 heart, and I was enabled to rejoice in hope of the
 
 " / Took You with Guile" 263 
 
 glory of God. I was received into the Church, and 
 since then, my friends, I have tried to live a Chris- 
 tian life. I became a sober, industrious man. My 
 wife is now happy and cheerful and my children are 
 well dressed. That is what the Gospel has done for 
 poor Tom Hughes, and I am very anxious for oth- 
 ers to feel its saving power. I thank you for your 
 candid attention. I greatly desire the salvation of 
 your souls. After the meeting closes you may treat 
 me as you deem best. If Dick Morgan thinks that 
 I deserve a shaking and a cold bath I will try to 
 bear the ordeal with Christian patience. I hope, 
 however, he will not find it necessary. Let us now 
 pray." 
 
 The closing prayer was wonderfully affecting. 
 The speaker pleaded with God in sentences the 
 most pathetic, while scores in the assembly were 
 strangely moved. 
 
 That rough gang was wonderfully tamed. The 
 bully was the first one to give the preacher the 
 friendly hand after he came down from his stone 
 pulpit. With a moisture in his eyes he asked Mr. 
 Hughes to come again, with the full assurance that 
 he would receive a respectful treatment. He went 
 again and again. A powerful revival followed his 
 labors and a large number embraced religion. 
 Among these was Dick Morgan, with many of his 
 former gang. They became respectable members 
 of society and pillars in the Church of Christ.
 
 264 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 THE GREAT REVIVAL AT TONVILLE, 
 
 CHAPTER I . 
 FOUR MINISTERS. 
 
 NO, Tonville is not the name by which you can 
 find it on the map. Story- writers are granted a 
 very liberal privilege in this line, and it is not always 
 that it is used with prudence. They often offend 
 eyes and ears with outlandish names. Tonville 
 is expressive in meaning and melodious in sound. 
 The first part of the word has no reference to any 
 kind or amount of weight. Two thousand pounds has 
 nothing to do with it. In Webster's we find a little 
 noun of three letters, with its signification, that will 
 satisfy the reader as to the meaning of Tonville. It 
 is now a flourishing village with a population of six 
 thousand. At the time of our story of course it was 
 not as large as it is to-day ; but even then it was 
 one of the most beautiful places of its size in the 
 Empire State. Its citizens were proud of it, and 
 claimed that their advantages were not inferior to 
 those of the cities. They had a first-class academy, 
 under the supervision of Professor Strong, a gradu- 
 ate of Harvard; a musical conservatory, directed 
 by Professor Peters, of Germany ; an opera-house
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 265 
 
 capable of seating fifteen hundred, and a dancing 
 academy over which Professor Hopper presided. 
 Many of Tonville's private residences were of a 
 very superior order. Strangers visiting the village 
 would linger long to admire their beautiful propor- 
 'tions. Flower-gardens abounded, which in their 
 season bloomed like Eden. It had its extensive 
 lawns, a square, and an ornamental park. It could 
 boast of a very competent band, which on summer 
 evenings sent forth sweet melody, on the wings of 
 the gentle breezes, to delight the listening hun- 
 dreds. Tonville had six splendid churches, four of 
 which were considered orthodox. Two hotels of 
 modern construction graced the village, the 
 " Union " and the " American," where choice ales, 
 wines, and liquors were dealt out with the most 
 finished politeness at bar-rooms rendered doubly 
 tempting by glittering splendor. From these drink- 
 ing-rooms there were ready entrances into commo- 
 dious billiard parlors, which were often thronged 
 until late hours of the night. The village had also 
 a number of elegant saloons domg thriving business. 
 And, not to be outdone by larger places, it furnished 
 a number of low groggeries, where those could be 
 accommodated who were no longer smiled upon at 
 the Union and American, and who were offensive to 
 the young bloods at the fashionable saloons. Such, 
 and very much more, was Tonville. 
 
 From an evangelical point of view, vital piety and 
 genuine spirituality at this time in Tonville were very 
 low. Even in the churches there were many that 
 were " lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God."
 
 266 Stories of Country and City, 
 
 Heaven's order had been seriously reversed. In- 
 stead of Christians by consecrated holy lives at- 
 tracting the world toward Jesus, the world, with its 
 multiform charms, was bringing church members to 
 its own level. While in the prayer-meetings of the 
 various churches a few faithful souls, with their be- 
 loved pastors, were struggling to keep up the spirit- 
 ual interest of Zion, scores of their brethren and 
 sisters at the same hours could be seen at parties, 
 comic exhibitions, the theater, and the dance. Let 
 it not be supposed that this state of things was 
 owing to a lack of energy and spirituality on the 
 part of the pastors. They were indeed men of God, 
 who without fear declared all his counsel. But the 
 worldliness of their communicants was more than a 
 match for their best efforts. It is no wonder that 
 they were measurably cast down, and often found 
 "weeping between the porch and the altar." 
 
 One morning Rev. Thomas Alvord, of the Bap- 
 tist Church, while in his study thinking over the 
 desolation of Zion, came to the conclusion that 
 something would have to be done ; and under that 
 impression he started for the Methodist parsonage 
 to see the Rev. John Lloyd. He found him in a 
 state of mind very much like his own. After a little 
 conversation they walked together to consult with 
 the Rev. Dr. Spicer, of the Presbyterian Church, in 
 regard to Tonville's moral and religious dearth. 
 They found the doctor's feelings in perfect harmony 
 with their own, and he was much more than willing 
 to enter into any measure which, under God, would 
 wake up the churches from their spiritual leUiargy.
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 267 
 
 " Let us ask Brother Latimer to come in and 
 join us in this conversation," said Dr. Spicer. 
 
 " I would be delighted to have him with us," said 
 Mr. Lloyd ; u I regard him very highly. But as an 
 Episcopal clergyman I fear that he will hardly be 
 willing to unite with us." 
 
 " He may not feel free to join personally in the 
 measures that we may propose," said Dr. Spicer, 
 " but I am sure that we shall have his sympathy and 
 prayers. He greatly laments the lack of spirituality 
 among his own members, and will gladly welcome 
 any movement that will bring the churches nearer 
 to God. His house is close by, and I would be 
 glad to have him invited." 
 
 " By all means let us ask him," said Mr. Alvord ; 
 and Dr. Spicer started for the residence of Rev. 
 William Latimer, the eloquent rector of St. Mark's 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 Mr. Latimerivas a finished gentleman, a polished 
 scholar, a fine pulpit orator, and withal a devoted , 
 Christian. Among his brethren he was known as 
 what is termed " low church." He firmly believed 
 that the form, liturgy, and manner of worship in 
 the Episcopal Church were more in harmony with 
 those of the apostolic age than any other form of 
 church worship. Yet he was free to confess that 
 all evangelical societies who worshiped the Father 
 in spirit and in truth formed the one holy catholic 
 Church of Christ on earth. His profound respect 
 for the views and offices of his superiors moderated 
 his utterances on these points in the pulpit. But 
 in social conversation among his parishioners he
 
 268 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 would without hesitation speak of other ministers 
 with great respect and acknowledge the validity of 
 their ordination. This liberality had much dis- 
 pleased a few influential members of his congrega- 
 tion ; but the majority of his flock were in harmony 
 with his views, and he was very popular among the 
 masses. At this time he had been the rector of St. 
 Mark's for about two years. 
 
 Dr. Spicer soon returned, accompanied by Mr. 
 Latimer, who was cordially received by the other 
 two. 
 
 " Brother Latimer bids us God-speed," said Dr. 
 Spicer. 
 
 " I am thankful for this mark of your confidence," 
 said the rector. " I deeply sympathize with the 
 object you have in view. For prudential reasons, 
 however, I must be much out of sight. Proceed, 
 brethren, and let me be a listener. I may have a 
 word to say before we part." 
 
 After an earnest prayer, Brother Alvord, as the 
 originator of the gathering, said that for a long 
 time he had been greatly troubled in his mind in 
 view of the low state of religion in his own church. 
 A large number of his members never attended the 
 weekly prayer-meeting, and on very trivial excuses 
 neglected the public service on the Sabbath. They 
 were prompt at all worldly gatherings, and some of 
 them attended dances and theaters. They were 
 not backward in those features of church work that 
 required no particular devotion, but they would not 
 deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow 
 Christ. And while such was the moral condition
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 269 
 
 of so many of the members of his church, what 
 could he expect from an unbelieving world ? 
 
 Brother Lloyd and Brother Spicer followed much 
 in the same strain. , The question was asked, 
 " What shall be done ? " The conclusion at which 
 they arrived was that, under the circumstances, it 
 was desirable to hold union revival meetings, and 
 that all in the village who favored such a movement 
 be invited to meet at the Baptist church on the 
 following Tuesday evening and express their views 
 as to the best method of proceeding. 
 
 Now, as the meeting was about to close, the Rev. 
 Mr. Latimer rose and said : " In a great measure 
 your experience is also mine. I mourn over the 
 worldliness of a large number of the members of 
 my church. They are absorbed in worldly amuse- 
 ments, and when in pastoral visiting I touch upon 
 personal religion they have no relish for the subject, 
 and for relief they quickly run to some secular 
 theme. Some are so given up to the world that 
 the solemnities of Lent, even, are disregarded. 
 Others, who observe this fast as a matter of form, 
 crowd their worldly pleasures to its very threshold 
 and rush into them again at its close with a 
 new relish. My heart is sick, and with Jeremiah I 
 am ready to cry, ' O that my head were waters and 
 mine eyes fountains of tears ! ' In view of the can- 
 dor with which you have told your experience on 
 this point it gives me relief to let you know the 
 feelings of my own heart. I trust that your antici- 
 pated meeting may be blessed of God ; and, although 
 I cannot be with you in the front, be assured
 
 270 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 that my influence will be in your favor, and I shall 
 be glad to know that my people attend the meet- 
 ings." Here the interview closed. 
 
 To the great delight of th pastors the meeting 
 at the Baptist church was largely attended. The 
 deliberations in regard to having a series of meet- 
 ings showed a strong desire to secure the services 
 of the talented evangelist, Rev. A. B. E., D.D. 
 A resolution to that effect was carried without a 
 dissenting voice. 
 
 The answer to the committee's letter was as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " DEAR BRETHREN : I can give you three weeks 
 in January. I am glad that there is a hearty union 
 of the churches. Commence the work at once. 
 ' Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths 
 straight. ' Let there be a union prayer-meeting four 
 or five times a week until I come. A great work is 
 
 in progress in W , and over three hundred have 
 
 embraced religion. To God be all the glory ! 
 
 " Your servant in Christ, A. B. E." 
 
 This letter was read at the next union meeting, 
 and gave great satisfaction. From that time a 
 prayer-meeting was held almost nightly, and the in- 
 terest was on the increase. 
 
 On the Sabbath preceding the coming of Mr. 
 E. the ministers preached sermons particularly 
 suited to the occasion. But what created the most 
 stir was the one preached by Mr. Latimer at St. 
 Mark's; especially the closing part of it. His text 
 was Luke ix, 49, 50. " And John answered and
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 271 
 
 said, ' Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy 
 name ; and we forbade him, because he followeth 
 not with us.' And Jesus said unto him, 'Forbid 
 him not: for he that is not against us is for us.' ' 
 
 The scope of the eloquent discourse was against 
 religious bigotry. While it is perfectly right for us 
 to have our strong preferences in regard to the 
 various branches of the Christian Church we should 
 never cherish that spirit that says, " Come not near 
 to me, for I am holier than thou." In closing he 
 said : " Beloved brethren, while we dearly' cherish 
 our own beloved Zion, and gladly believe that the 
 church of our choice in its mode of worship is nearer 
 the apostolic standard than any other, let us bid 
 God-speed to all branches of the church militant 
 which in the name of the Lord Jesus ' cast out 
 devils.' With a sad heart I am obliged to confess 
 that in this village worldly hilarity, carnal mirth 
 and unsanctified amusement have such a hold 
 upon the affections of scores, if not hundreds, of 
 church members that vital piety and genuine 
 spirituality are confined to a very small number. 
 Few indeed are those who can sincerely say, ' A 
 day in thy courts is better than a thousand.' Mul- 
 titudes whose names are found among the communi- 
 cants are under the influence of worldly fashionable 
 devils, who have taken away all of their devotion. 
 I am ready to welcome to our midst any brethren, 
 whether they follow with us or not, who in the name 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ cast out devils. It is an- 
 nounced that a celebrated revivalist is about to 
 commence his labors among us a man noted for
 
 272 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 his piety, moderation, and order. If there is any 
 value in history he certainly puts to flight evil 
 spirits. He follows not with us. Shall we there- 
 fore forbid him ? Nay, brethren ! If Mr. E., under 
 God, can arouse this village to a sense of its awful 
 condition, let all who love our Lord Jesus Christ 
 give him a hearty welcome. I have properly 
 weighed these words before giving them utterance. 
 I am fully prepared to defend them and stand by 
 them. May God deliver the Church from satanic 
 influence I' 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 HOW IT LOOKED TO MARY. 
 
 pOLONEL DUNBAR was a wealthy banker, 
 \j and his residence was one of the finest in 
 Tonville. He was friendly, cordial, highly intelli- 
 gent, and looked upon as a very valuable citizen. 
 He was a regular attendant at the Episcopal 
 church, but not a member. He had high regards 
 for Christianity, and was considered by many a 
 religious man. In his contributions he was liberal, 
 not only for the church which he attended, but his 
 generosity reached the others also. His wife's par- 
 ents, who had departed this life, were " high church " 
 Episcopalians, and their daughter, now Mrs. Dun- 
 bar, from her early childhood had very naturally im- 
 bibed the views of her father and mother. She 
 was a kind-hearted, intelligent lady, noted -for her 
 "high church" convictions. In early youth she
 
 Tlie Great Revival at Tonville. 273 
 
 had been confirmed, and her zeal for that interesting 
 branch of the church militant was very positive, if 
 not always "according to knowledge." With this 
 exclusiveness her husband had no sympathy, and 
 oftentimes in his pleasant way he would express his 
 opinion in plain terms. 
 
 Mrs. Dunbar was a leader in gay circles. She 
 frequented the theaters, and. was generally present 
 at all the fashionable dancing-parties. Her hus- 
 band would go to these gatherings, not because 
 they yielded him any satisfaction, but as company 
 to his wife. He often thought it strange that Mrs. 
 Dunbar and so many of her fellow church members 
 should be leaders in worldly gayeties; but such was 
 his regard for her feelings that never as yet had he 
 called her attention to the subject. In the common 
 acceptation of the term she was an excellent lady, 
 and amid all her gay and often deceitful surround- 
 ings there was in her a refreshing degree of sin- 
 cerity. Sometimes, when disputing with her friends, 
 and expressing herself in the most positive style 
 and in the strongest terms, she would unexpectedly 
 surrender, and in the most frank manner admit that 
 she had seen her mistake. They had one child ; a 
 daughter. She was fair in person, had a strong, 
 vigorous mind and ready utterance. Mary Dunbar 
 from her early childhood had been a lover of study. 
 Her advantages had been superior, and now, at 
 twenty, she was a ripe scholar. With her parents, 
 she was a regular attendant at church, but was not 
 a communicant. More to please others than from 
 
 her own inclination she would attend theaters and 
 18
 
 274 Star it's of Country and City. 
 
 dancing-parties. To her mother's astonishment she 
 would often beg for the luxury of staying at home. 
 She was the pride of her parents, and in the village 
 she was a, universal favorite. By common consent 
 she was considered the most beautiful young lady 
 in Tonville. She was perfectly free from vanity, 
 conceit, or haughtiness. Her smiles were bestowed 
 upon the deserving poor as well as the rich. In 
 company she would be attired in simple elegance, 
 while others displayed their tastes by " superfluity 
 of apparel." 
 
 Colonel Dunbar's parents also resided in Ton- 
 ville, with whom a widowed daughter, Mrs. Sin- 
 clair, stayed, devoting herself to the comfort of the 
 somewhat aged couple. These parents, with the 
 daughter, were faithful members of the Methodist 
 church. Mary Dunbarwas passionately fond of her 
 grandparents and her Aunt Martha, and no face 
 brought more sunshine into the home of the vener- 
 able twain than that of their smiling grandchild. 
 Grandma Dunbar, in her own sweet, impressive 
 manner had often spoken to Mary on the subject 
 of religion, and of the great importance of personal, 
 experimental piety. The young lady, with tears in 
 her eyes, would kiss her grandmother, thank her for 
 her good advice, and secretly wish that her mother's 
 religion was of the like stamp. 
 
 It was the afternoon of the Sabbath on which 
 Mr. Latimer had given his stirring sermon on 
 sectarian bigotry. Colonel Dunbar, his wife, and 
 daughter, were seated in the parlor. Hitherto the 
 subject of the morning discourse had not been
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 275 
 
 touched upon, although it was fresh and uppermost 
 in the minds of all. Perhaps they had only been 
 waiting for a convenient time. It was evident that 
 the father and daughter were delighted with what 
 they had heard, and there were unmistakable signs 
 that the mother was highly dipleased. The con- 
 versation was opened by Mrs. Dunbar, in whose 
 mind had accumulated a rich abundance of " high 
 church " sentiments which longed for permission to 
 be heard. 
 
 "Well," said she, "the walls of our church 
 echoed this morning to strange sentences, I must 
 say." * 
 
 " I honor them for their echo, my dear," said the 
 colonel. " Any sensible walls would have done 
 the same. I think the sentiments found an echo in 
 the hearts of the people." 
 
 " They found no echo in my heart," was the 
 reply. 
 
 "And so much the worse for your heart," said 
 the husband, with a very pleasant smile. " I always 
 liked Mr. Latimer's preaching, but to-day more 
 than ever." 
 
 " We have had ministers at St. Mark's that did 
 not trouble themselves about their parishioners' 
 amusements," said Mrs. Dunbar. "They left that 
 to our sense of propriety and attended to their 
 own legitimate business. We then went to church 
 and enjoyed the sermon, but now we often come 
 home and feel sore from an unjust chastisement 
 administered by one who would deprive us of our 
 few entertainments."
 
 276 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " But if Mr. Latimer fully believes that these en- 
 tertainments are destroying the spirituality of his 
 church is it not his duty, as a faithful watchman, to 
 warn his flock against their pernicious influence?" 
 asked her husband in a kind voice. 
 
 " At least he ought to do it in a different way," said 
 the wife. " It was altogether too much in the vein 
 of the sects. If it were not for his gown a stranger 
 coming in would have easily taken him for a Method- 
 ist minister." 
 
 " I agree with you there, my dear," said Colonel 
 Dunbar, smiling, " and the mistake of the stranger 
 would have been as complimentary to Mr. Latimer 
 as to the Methodist ministry." 
 
 " His sermons lack in that smooth, graceful, dig- 
 nified, and melodious oratory becoming the pulpits 
 of the Church," said Mrs. Dunbar ; " and, worse 
 than that, there was in the last part of his sermon 
 a shameful lowering of our standard to the level of 
 the sects." 
 
 "Not so, my dear," said the husband; "he 
 lowered no standard. He only said that the one 
 great Church of Christ on earth was composed of all 
 true believers, of whatever names or denomina- 
 tions." 
 
 " Very well," said the wife ; " and is not that put- 
 ting the Church on a level with the sects ?" 
 
 "Yes, it is," was the answer; "but it is not 
 lowering the Church's standard. It is simply 
 acknowledging that God's favorites are not confined 
 to any particular communion." 
 
 " Christ has but one Church, and of that Church
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 277 
 
 I am a member," said Mrs. Dunbar. " In her you 
 will find the only true ordination. And for an 
 Episcopal rector from the pulpit of the church to 
 put her on a level with these sects is a shame !" 
 
 " I am happy to believe that my dear wife is far 
 more charitable than her words, at least, would in- 
 dicate," said the father. 
 
 "Charity has nothing to do with it," said the 
 wife. " No charity can alter facts. The sects are 
 outside of the true Church, and all the charity in 
 the universe cannot make it otherwise." 
 
 "So thought Peter once," was the reply; "but 
 the vision gave him to understand that what God 
 had cleansed he was not to call common or unclean. 
 Let us be careful, my dear, that we do not look 
 with disdain upon those whom God has purified, 
 ' because they follow not with us.' ' 
 
 " That sounds well enough," said the wife, in a 
 more reflective mood. " But I say again that Mr. 
 Latimer, in putting us on a level with the sects, 
 did not act the part of a true churchman." 
 
 "My dear mamma," said Mary, "I think the 
 members of the church, at least, are complimented 
 by being put on a level with the 'sects,' as you 
 call them." 
 
 " That is a strange idea, surely," said the mother. 
 " Mary, what do you mean ?" 
 
 "I mean," said the daughter, in a quiet tone, 
 " that the members of the sects, at least in Ton- 
 ville, lead far more exemplary Christian lives than do 
 the members of our own church. I have watched 
 this point for years, and that is my conviction."
 
 278 Stories of Country and City, 
 
 " I am perfectly astonished to hear such language 
 from you, my daughter," said Mrs. Dunbar. " It is 
 wholly uncalled for. What is there in the conduct 
 of our church members to which you can object?" 
 
 " I would not purposely hurt your feelings for 
 the world, my dear mamma," said the daughter. 
 " I have had, and do have, much serious thought on 
 the subject of religion, and when I take exception 
 to the behavior of members of our church it is not 
 in a sneering, cold, fault-finding spirit. You ask 
 me to what I object in the conduct of our church 
 members. I answer, it - is that which almost 
 crushes our good pastor and his most excellent 
 wife : a constant running of the members into all 
 the frivolities and vanities of an unbelieving and 
 wicked world. Theaters, operas, card-tables, and 
 dances these are the favorite objects of a large 
 number of his flock, while hardly ever a word is 
 heard of vital piety and experimental religion. 
 Mamma, just think over the members of our church, 
 and how many can you find that lead a life of 
 religious consecration ; that take up the cross and 
 follow in the footsteps of the humble Nazarene? 
 The most prominent of our members are leaders in 
 masquerades and fashionable dancing-parties. This 
 is true, in a measure, of members of other churches, 
 but not to such an extent. Among them I find a 
 large number of faithful, devoted souls who are 
 deeply grieved over the backslidings of the rest. 
 And that is the reason why I think our church 
 complimented by being put on a level with the 
 sects."
 
 TJic Great Revival at Tonville. 279 
 
 The parents listened in perfect astonishment. 
 They had never heard her express herself in that 
 wise before. The mother looked reflective, and in 
 the eyes of the father there was a moisture which 
 denoted a degree of inward emotion. 
 
 " Mary," asked the mother, " do you think it 
 wrong for members of the church to attend theaters 
 and dances ?" 
 
 " If I should answer that question directly, dear 
 mamma,"' said Mary, " I am afraid it would sound 
 almost disrespectful. I will only refer you to the 
 solemn questions and answers in our baptismal 
 service, and which are ratified by the candidates at 
 confirmation. There they promise to ' renounce 
 the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory 
 of the world, all the carnal desires of the flesh, to 
 keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk 
 in the same all the days of their lives.' I have 
 heard those solemn promises from the lips of young 
 ladies at the baptismal altar, and then at confirma- 
 tion, who in the week following, in the society 
 of irreligious persons, were seen waltzing until three 
 o'clock in the morning. The next night they were 
 at the theater and the next at another dance. 
 Confirmation, with its solemn promises, a theater, 
 and two dancing-parties in one week ! If church 
 members are to rush into all the amusements of an 
 ungodly world where does the self-denial come in ? 
 Where is the cross that is to be taken up ? And 
 where is the crucifixion of the world to us and ours 
 to the world ? Is it any wonder that Mr. Latimer is 
 crushed in spirit, and is glad to welcome some one
 
 2 So Stories of Country and City. 
 
 to this wicked village who will give it a tremendous 
 shaking and ' cast out devils' ? " 
 
 " Why, Mary," said the mother, while a peculiar 
 trembling came over her, " from the way you speak 
 I should think that you would never be seen again 
 either at a dance or in a theater." 
 
 " Mamma," was the reply, " I have not enjoyed 
 a dance for years. I knew that you wished me to 
 attend them, and to please my mother I went. If 
 left to my own free choice I would never attend 
 another ball or be seen in a theater. Dancing is 
 frivolous and the theater demoralizing." 
 
 " Mary, you actually frighten me !" said the 
 mother, gazing at her daughter with a puzzled look. 
 *' What would society think of you ? What would 
 your young associates say the Nelsons, the De- 
 longs, the Chathams, the Dunlaps, the Armitages, 
 and others? You certainly ought to reflect before 
 taking such a step." 
 
 " Reflect ! " said Mary. " It is reflection that has 
 brought this about. I am not indifferent to the 
 opinion of my friends. But if I am to fall in their 
 estimation because I see fit to abandon ball-rooms 
 and theaters, I am fully prepared to make the sac- 
 rifice." 
 
 " Those are noble sentiments, and worthy of my 
 own dear Mary," said the father, with much feel- 
 ing. " Dear as you have been to me always, you 
 stand higher in my estimation at this moment than 
 ever before." 
 
 " Mary," said the mother in a subdued tone, " if 
 you thought that, as a member of the church, I was
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 281 
 
 leading an unbecoming life, why did you not tell 
 me so long ago ? " 
 
 "Mamma, dear, would it become a child to re- 
 prove her parent ? And even to-day I hope that I 
 have not been disrespectful to my good mother," 
 said Mary. 
 
 " Have you not been conversed with of late in re- 
 gard to the matter ? " asked her mother. 
 
 " My dear grandmother, with earnest affection, has 
 often spoken to me on the subject of religion," said 
 Mary. " To her kind admonition more than any 
 thing else I am indebted for my present feelings. 
 Mr. Latimer also has often spoken to me on the 
 same subject, but I think he never advised me in 
 regard to theaters and dances." 
 
 " That is certainly a wonder," said the mother. 
 
 " I think I can see two reasons why he did not 
 mention those things while conversing with Mary," 
 said the father. " First, his chief object was to 
 bring her to embrace experimental religion, and 
 then he would show the dangers that would beset 
 her. Secondly, there would be something like ab- 
 surdity in advising a young lady not a member of 
 his church to shun those fashionable amusements 
 to which so many of his own members were so 
 deeply attached. Does it not so appear to you ? " 
 
 Without replying the mother again addressed her 
 daughter : " Mary, if you shut yourself up from soci- 
 ety I fear you will be despondent and gloomy, and 
 it may possibly injure your health. " 
 
 " I have not the least intention of absenting my- 
 self from society. I intend to greatly enlarge the
 
 282 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 circle," said Mary. " Society, in the good sense of 
 the term, does not mean an exclusive set that 
 dreads to come in contact with common people. 
 For one, I long to get loose from the gilded but 
 oppressive chains of what is termed fashionable so- 
 ciety and imitate more fully the Saviour of the 
 world, who ' went about doing good.' I pant for 
 that inward peace and spirit-rest that flow from 
 fellowship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 Now, without any particular forethought, I have 
 revealed to my dear parents the secret feelings and 
 desires of my heart. What others can do is not 
 for me to say, but, as for myself, I can never be a 
 humble self-denying Christian and at the same time 
 a worshiper at the shrine of worldly pleasure." 
 
 " Mary, dear," said the father in tremulous ac- 
 cents, " I am sure your mother will never ask you 
 to join in any company or amusement not in har- 
 mony with your religious convictions." 
 
 Mrs. Dunbar's countenance manifested a peculiar 
 expression. In that mother's heart there was a 
 struggle. The solemn words of her daughter had 
 reached not only her ears but her inmost conscience. 
 The awful truth flashed upon her mind that through- 
 out the years she, a mother and a member of the 
 church, as far as her example was concerned had 
 been leading her child into the broad road that 
 leads to death. After what her husband had said 
 she remained silent for a few moments, then rushed 
 up to her daughter, fell weeping upon her bosom, 
 and broke out in sobbing accents : " O my dear 
 child, your wonderful words have opened my blind
 
 TJie Great Revival at Tonville. 283 
 
 eyes! I accept them as a revelation from Heaven. 
 Instead of giving my daughter a good Christian ex- 
 ample, and leading her to the Saviour, I have en- 
 couraged her in the ways of sin and vanity. I will 
 do so no more, God being my helper ! I have 
 wickedly despised the truth and disliked our godly 
 pastor. May God forgive me ! No, my dear child, 
 as your father has said, I will no longer lay a straw 
 in your way. I will follow your example and try 
 to be a good Christian. I ask both of you to for- 
 give me and " 
 
 " O mamma, mamma," interrupted Mary, "don't 
 ask forgiveness at my hand ! I cannot bear it. It 
 shocks me. You have only done what you consid- 
 ered proper." 
 
 " Yes ; but what right had I to consider the life I 
 led as right and proper?" said the mother. "I 
 have led a Avorldly life. I have had a name to live 
 while dead. I have prided myself on the superiority 
 of the Church to the sects, and looked down upon 
 the purest Christians in Tonville ' because they fol- 
 low not with us.' Even your godly grandmother 
 I have considered as outside of the true Church. I 
 pray the Lord to lead me in the right way. O 
 Mary, darling, you have led your mother to the 
 foot of the cross." And as a fitting conclusion she 
 warmly embraced her daughter and fondly kissed 
 her husband.
 
 284 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 A PARTY AND THE REVIVAL. 
 
 THE evening union prayer-meetings had now 
 been held constantly for nearly two weeks. 
 From the first the faithful devoted souls in all the 
 churches had entered into the work with a firm faith 
 that the Jehovah whom they sought would "sud- 
 denly come to his temple." The hills were being 
 lowered, the valleys elevated, and the way of the 
 Lord prepared. As these meetings progressed the 
 interest increased, and nightly the attendance had 
 become more encouraging. On the Sabbath even- 
 ing before the appearance of the evangelist the 
 prayer-meeting at the Methodist church was a sea- 
 son of " refreshing from the presence of the Lord." 
 "A sound of a going" was heard "in the tops of 
 the mulberry-trees," and the army of God was al- 
 ready shouting for the battle. 
 
 It was Monday evening, and there was a small 
 party of young people at the residence of Thomas 
 Armitage, who was a wealthy merchant, and had 
 been in trade at Tonville for thirty years. He was 
 an official member of the Presbyterian church, and 
 was a man of great influence in the community. 
 His wife, much younger than himself, was of a 
 lively temperament, fond of company, and, with 
 her husband, a member of the church. She would 
 give liberally for any worthy object that needed 
 money. She was careful that the poor were not
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 285 
 
 neglected at "Christmas-times." She would plan 
 festivals, manage sociables, engineer surprise parties, 
 encourage concerts, go to church, take the sacra- 
 ment, give dancing-parties, play cards, and go to the 
 theater. Deacon Armitage was a devout, humble 
 Christian, and silently grieved over his wife's ex- 
 treme worldliness. They had two children, George 
 and Grace. The brother was twenty-five and the 
 sister five years younger. It might be supposed 
 that these children would have naturally followed 
 in the footsteps of the mother, and rush into all the 
 fashionable amusements of the day. But it was 
 otherwise. Although not Christians they were 
 rather inclined to follow the example of their pious 
 father. The young company were together in the 
 commodious parlors. 
 
 " Well," said Robert Nelson, in a trifling tone, 
 " they say that our Tonville dominies gave us 
 dancing characters ' Hail Columbia' yesterday 
 mornine. If I had known that they were to fire off 
 
 o * 
 
 such big guns I would have gone to meeting my- 
 self." 
 
 " It was well that you stayed at home," said Ar- 
 thur Belong. " The preaching was unusually inter- 
 esting, and the people listened as they had never 
 listened before ; and if in any of the churches they 
 had seen you I fear that such a strange occurrence 
 would have diverted their minds from the preacher's 
 discourse." 
 
 This produced some merriment which Nelson did 
 not quite enjoy. He soon rallied, however, and 
 said :
 
 286 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " The reverend gentlemen have taken upon their 
 hands too big a job. I would advise them to drop 
 it and turn their attention to repentance and faith, 
 which would be far more legitimate to their calling 
 than to undertake to regulate dances and thea- 
 ters." 
 
 " And I think that Mr. Robert Nelson has taken 
 upon his hands too big a job ; and I would advise 
 him to drop it and pay his attention to corn, wheat, 
 oats, barley, and flour-sacks which would be far 
 more legitimate to his calling than to regulate min- 
 isters and churches," said Emma Thornton, a lively 
 lass of eighteen, who could say what she pleased 
 without giving offense. " Our ministers are men of 
 brains, and are supposed to know their duty. If 
 they wish to advise their own members in regard to 
 theaters, dances, and playing cards, is it any of 
 Mr. Nelson's business?" 
 
 " Come, Em, don't be too hard on a fellow," 
 said Nelson. " But even with their own members I 
 fear that their task is a hopeless one, for, as far as I 
 can see, ' pilgrims and sojourners ' love to dance, 
 play cards, and go to theaters, as well as we poor 
 guilty wretches who are going to the bad." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Nelson, for your timely and 
 fearless reproof," said Emma ; "and it is to be hoped 
 that we shall profit by the same." 
 
 " Reproof, indeed ! " said Nelson. " Far from it. 
 I think that you do perfectly right in acting out 
 your independence, and not to go at the bidding of 
 any set of men, whether priests or deacons. Rather 
 say I compliment you."
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 287 
 
 " I am really sorry to hear your explanation," 
 said Miss Thornton. " As a reproof your words had 
 decided merit. As a compliment they are ludicrous. 
 ' Independence,' indeed ! What kind of independ- 
 ence is that which tramples upon the feelings of a 
 faithful pastor, causes sorrow to the best members 
 of the society, and violates church covenants and 
 sacred vows? Is this the independence that you 
 wish to compliment?" 
 
 "I trust that Miss Thornton does not accuse her- 
 self or any of her friends of any of those things 
 she mentioned," said Mr. Nelson, feeling rather 
 uneasy. 
 
 " I have no accusation against my friends," said 
 Emma. " But in regard to my own behavior as a 
 church member I plead guilty. I have grieved my 
 minister, I have wounded the feelings of my breth- 
 ren, and I have in spirit violated my church cov- 
 enant. Let no person that has any regard for my 
 feelings compliment me on this wicked independ- 
 ence. Last Saturday I would have not spoken in 
 this way. The solemn truths to which I listened 
 yesterday at the Baptist church opened my eyes, 
 and I saw where I stood ; and your flippant remarks 
 touching our ministers .have in a measure loosened 
 my tongue." 
 
 " I declare !" said Miss Julia Chattam, with a dis- 
 pleased look. " This sounds more like a prayer- 
 meeting than an evening party." 
 
 "If Julia remembers how a prayer-meeting 
 sounds she must have a vigorous memory," said 
 her brother, with a calm smile.
 
 288 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " Fred, don't be hateful," said Julia. " You don't 
 often go yourself. I simply meant that the conver- 
 sation had taken a religious turn, which you know 
 is not becoming." 
 
 " I don't know any thing of the kind," said Fred. 
 " I began to enjoy it very much. Our parties greatly 
 stand in need of a new departure in the line of con- 
 versation. Why should it be considered unbecom- 
 ing, in a company chiefly made up of church mem- 
 bers, to have an occasional exchange of views in 
 regard to religious matters? Yesterday I did not 
 hear Dr. Spicer, my own minister. I went to St. 
 Mark's, and there I heard a discourse which I shall 
 never forget. As a professor of religion I felt 
 ashamed of myself. For years I have been one of 
 Nelson's ' independents.' I must lead a new life or 
 leave the church. If there had been a prayer-meet- 
 ing to-night I would have gone." 
 
 " Fred Chattam, what has come over you ?" cried 
 his sister. Then turning to Mary Dunbar, she said, 
 " Mary, don't you think that my brother and Emma 
 are getting insane on this subject?" 
 
 " I am not an expert on the subject of insanity," 
 was the answer, " and my opinion would be of no 
 value." 
 
 " But we must have it," said Julia, while several 
 others joined in the request. 
 
 " Well," said Mary, calmly, " it is my opinion that 
 the language of Mr. Chattam and Miss Thornton 
 indicates a very healthy state of mind and perfect 
 moral sanity. They have spoken words of truth 
 and soberness. I am no Christian. I often have
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 289 
 
 serious feelings, but I am well convinced that if I 
 should follow the Saviour he would never lead me 
 to dances, card-tables, and theaters." 
 
 " Worse and worse ! " said Julia, while the rest of 
 the company were much astonished. " I certainly 
 thought, Mary, that you were safe against this con- 
 tagion, but you have taken it badly. I am sure 
 your mother will not encourage you in this non- 
 sense." 
 
 " My mother will not encourage me in any non- 
 sense," said Mary, smiling ; " but we view this mat- 
 ter alike. Since yesterday morning a great change 
 has taken place in our family. We have given up 
 forever theaters, dances, and card-tables. This may 
 modify Mr. Nelson's view in regard to the hopeless- 
 ness of our minister's task." 
 
 " I take it all back, Miss Dunbar," said Nelson. 
 " I think the ' big job ' will be accomplished." 
 
 Julia looked a little bewildered and somewhat 
 vexed. She turned to William Dunlap-, a young 
 lawyer, not a member of the church, and said, " Mr. 
 Dunlap, what think you of these things ? Do you 
 think there is any harm in Christians dancing, play- 
 ing cards, and attending theaters?" 
 
 " The theater, upon the whole, has a corrupting 
 influence," said the young lawyer; "and if I had a 
 sister for whom the play had great attractions I 
 should look upon it as a great calamity. In regard 
 to cards, the young man that never touches them, 
 even for amusement, is to be congratulated. In 
 regard to dancing, it is a worldly amusement entirely 
 
 destitute of any beneficial moral effects. As an 
 19
 
 290 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 answer to your question I will say that in my opin- 
 ion those persons, members of the church, who 
 indulge in those things, are hurting themselves, and 
 giving strong grounds to those who are without to 
 think that they may as well be in the world as in 
 the church." 
 
 "Well, now I'll give up!" said Miss Chattam. 
 " I have never heard such things in all my life, and 
 I don't feel comfortable. I shall have to think these 
 things over. I am not sure but that I also feel some 
 of the symptoms of this epidemic. Well, let it 
 come. When I shall see things in that light I ^hall 
 be as honest as the rest of you. Mrs. Armitage, 
 why don't you say something ? Here you have heard 
 these astonishing things and you have not said a 
 word. I hope we have not hurt your feelings." 
 
 " Far from that, my dear," said Mrs. Armitage ; 
 " I have been very much pleased with the conver- 
 sation. I was prepared to be interested from what 
 I heard yesterday from Dr. Spicer. He seemed to 
 be divinely inspired. He brought us to the bar of 
 our own consciences, and, for one, I felt condemned. 
 There were but few dry eyes in the house, and we 
 made a new consecration. I have set a bad example 
 before my children, but fortunately they had a de- 
 voted Christian father. To-morrow morning Mr. E. 
 commences his labors, and I hope to attend all the 
 meetings. Now, Julia, dear, let us have some music 
 something with 'the ring ' in it." 
 
 Here the smiling countenance of Deacon Ar- 
 mitage appeared, who was warmly greeted by the 
 young people.
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 291 
 
 " What shall we sing, Mrs. Armitage ? " asked 
 Julia. 
 
 " Sing Mr. Armitage's favorite," was the answer, 
 " ' Jesus, I my cross have taken.' " 
 
 The deacon was well pleased, and had an im- 
 pression that the selection was not in harmony with 
 former usages. The whole of the grand hymn was 
 sung in an impressive style by well-trained voices. 
 
 " May Heaven bless you, my dear young people," 
 said the good man, " and may you be delivered from 
 the deceitful charms of an ungodly world ! " 
 
 They tarried together for some time longer, and 
 then left for their respective homes, each wondering 
 at the strange turn the little party had taken. 
 
 The evangelist was made acquainted with the 
 exact state of things at Tonville down to the morn- 
 ing of the first day of his labor. The committee 
 from time to time had cheered his heart with the 
 promising features of the union prayer-meeting. 
 On the Monday evening of his arrival at the village, 
 like Barnabas at Antioch, " when he saw the grace 
 of God he was glad." The meeting on Tuesday 
 morning at the session-room of the Presbyterian 
 church was largely attended. The man of God had 
 come to them " in the fullness of the blessing of 
 the gospel of peace." His countenance beamed withr 
 love and an assurance of victory. His words were 
 accompanied with power. The Scriptures were read, 
 then the affecting hymn was sung, "Just as I am, 
 without one plea." 
 
 He then engaged in a most earnest supplicating
 
 292 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 prayer. Others followed. There was an ardent 
 desire for the baptism of the Holy Ghost, a pant- 
 ing after the living God, a holy breathing after 
 divine power. There were humiliations, secret con- 
 fessions, new consecrations, and a clinging to the 
 cross. At half-past ten the service commenced in 
 the audience-room, where a large congregation had 
 assembled. The hour was devoted to impressive 
 remarks on the third chapter in the book of Malachi. 
 The evangelist gave it a spiritual meaning through- 
 out. " Tithes and offerings" had to be brought in. 
 " Brethren," said he, " I know that you desire a 
 revival. But do you desire it above every thing in 
 the universe? Can you think of any thing that 
 you would rather have than a revival of religion 
 and the salvation of your children and friends? 
 Bring yourselves to the test. Can you think of any 
 sum of money that you would prefer to a revival ? 
 Suppose a bag of gold containing ten thousand 
 dollars was placed before you, with the positive 
 assurance that you could choose between that bag 
 of gold and a glorious revival of God's work in 
 Tonville. Could you get but one, which would you 
 take?" Just then, under the burning words of the 
 evangelist, the secret response of all the members 
 present seemed to be, " Lord, give us the revival ! " 
 He spoke for an hour, while bosoms heaved, hearts 
 throbbed, and eyes wept. 
 
 In the afternoon he preached from these words: 
 " Old things have passed away." He showed the 
 radical change which genuine conversion produced. 
 The picture which he drew of those church mem-
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 293 
 
 bers whose sole delight was in worldly pleasures 
 was terribly graphic, while scores in the audience as 
 in a mirror beheld their own images. " In these 
 meetings," said the speaker, " before we can have 
 confidence to approach the sinner we must redeem 
 the members of our churches from the corrupting 
 influence of unholy amusements. My brethren here 
 in the ministry on last Sabbath opened fire all along 
 the line, and already the breastworks of the enemy 
 are giving way. Some who were ' at ease in Zion' 
 are waking up to a sense of their duty, and when 
 church prodigals shall return then sinners will be 
 converted to God. I am glad to witness indications 
 that already there are those who are in haste to 
 confess their wanderings." 
 
 When this most impressive sermon closed a hymn 
 was sung with a will by the large audience, and 
 the evangelist said that there would now be an ex- 
 perience meeting, especially for those in the church 
 who were willing to confess their departure from 
 God and renew their consecration. 
 
 In an instant Mrs. Armitage was on her feet. 
 " For many years, as you well know, I have been a 
 member of this church, but in my outward life I 
 have been on a level with the world. I have had 
 no taste for spiritual things. I have neglected 
 prayer-meetings and patronized dances and theaters. 
 I have set a bad example before my children ; I 
 have grieved my husband ; I have caused sorrow to 
 my pastor and the church. I ask forgiveness. 
 ' Show pity, Lord ! O Lord, forgive !' ' 
 
 No sooner had Mrs. Armitage sat down than the
 
 294 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 voice of Mrs. Dunbar was heard, and it sent a thrill 
 through the vast assembly. " Last Saturday, if 
 some one had told me that on Tuesday afternoon I 
 would be found in the Presbyterian church making 
 confessions and asking forgiveness, I would have 
 indignantly laughed him to scorn. I am a member 
 of another communion. I prided myself on my 
 church relation and led a life of gayety. I was 
 prominent in fashionable dances and I attended 
 theaters. I had no taste for devotion. Last Sab- 
 bath afternoon, while listening in perfect astonish- 
 ment to the religious views of my own daughter, 
 who is not a church member, my blind eyes were 
 opened to see my awful condition. I trust that I 
 have found forgiveness of the Lord, and I feel that 
 I am indeed ' a new creature.' My bigotry is all 
 gone. To me you are all members of the one great 
 Church of God, and I now look upon these minis- 
 ters as the regularly ordained embassadors of the 
 King of kings." 
 
 These words, from such a source, produced a 
 wonderful effect. Tears freely flowed, while the 
 sanctuary was filled with the divine presence. Then 
 followed testimonies of the same nature from Fred 
 Chattam, Emma Thornton, and many others from 
 all the churches, until it was time to close the 
 meeting. 
 
 "There may be those .here," said Mr. E., "that 
 feel their need of a Saviour and a spiritual home, 
 who have hitherto stood aloof from membership in 
 the Church of Christ. If there are any such let 
 them stand up."
 
 TJie Great Revival at Tonville, 295 
 
 Colonel Dunbar and his daughter rose to their 
 feet, and so did George Armitage and his sister 
 Grace, together with half a dozen others. 
 
 The evening meeting was very full, while the 
 ministry was quick and powerful, and there was a 
 large number of anxious seekers bowing at the 
 mercy-seat. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 THE "RETREAT" LOSES A CUSTOMER. 
 
 TT seems to me like an utter impossibility," said 
 
 J_ Mrs. Brougham, who had called upon her 
 friend, Mrs. Major Pugh. " I never heard of any 
 thing so ridiculous in all my life. I will not be- 
 lieve it ! There is some great mistake somewhere. 
 Mrs. Colonel Dunbar would never so disgrace her- 
 self or the church to which she belongs. Dear me ! 
 what are we coming to, I should like to know ? A 
 member of the Church making confessions in a 
 Presbyterian meeting-house! The woman must 
 have lost her senses." 
 
 " Please drop in for a few minutes on your return, 
 Mrs. Brougham," said Mrs. Pugh, with a smile, 
 " and give me your opinion in regard to Mrs. Dun- 
 bar's mental condition." 
 
 " I will surely do that," said Mrs. Brougham ; and 
 she left for the fine mansion of her erring sister. 
 
 Mrs. Dunbar was at home and alone. Mrs. 
 Brougham was received with great cordiality and
 
 296 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 prevailed upon to remove her wraps. The visitor 
 was ill at ease. She had dreaded the interview, and 
 feeling that the sooner the subject was introduced 
 the better, she Ame to the conclusion to begin at 
 once. 
 
 " Mrs. Dunbar," she said, " I have heard that you 
 attended what they call a 'revival meeting' at the 
 Presbyterian meeting-house yesterday, and that you 
 there made humble confessions. I can hardly believe 
 such a report unless I hear it from your own lips." 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Brougham," said Mrs. Dunbar, 
 with a calm smile, " I know exactly how it must 
 have shocked your sense of propriety, and yet you 
 have heard nothing but the exact truth." 
 
 " Your life has been all correct," said Mrs- 
 Brougham, " and for Mrs. Colonel Dunbar, a mem- 
 ber of the only church in the place, to go to a revival 
 meeting of the sects and there make confessions is, 
 I really believe, a disgrace to herself as well as to 
 the Church." 
 
 " Mrs. Brougham," was the answer, " I know Mrs. 
 Colonel Dunbar better than does any person in 
 Tonville, and I know that her behavior as a member 
 of the church has been a disgrace to the cause of 
 Christ. Let me give you a brief sketch of this 
 lady's life, and I will do her no injustice." She 
 then, in her most graphic manner, went over her 
 history from the days of her youth to that mo- 
 ment, including the interview in the parlor on Sab- 
 bath afternoon, while Mrs. Brougham listened in 
 utter astonishment. In closing, Mrs. Dunbar re- 
 marked, " There is for you a brief history of Mrs.
 
 The Great Revival at Tonvillc. 297 
 
 Colonel Dunbar, without a single element of genu- 
 ine Christian character ; a ' lover of pleasure more 
 than a lover of God.' I have humbled myself be- 
 fore the Lord in deep penitence, and he has poured 
 into my heart the balm of consolation. I am very 
 happy. I now ' renounce the devil and all his 
 works, the vain pomp and vanity of the world.' I 
 will endeavor to ' keep God's holy will and command- 
 ments, and walk in the same all the days of my 
 life.' " 
 
 At the close Mrs. Brougham was deeply affected, 
 but not demonstrative. Her words were few, and 
 she seemed to be in deep reflection. When about 
 to leave she said : " Mrs. Dunbar, I am glad that I 
 came here. I have had some wonderful revelations. 
 I hardly know what to think of them. I will can- 
 didly consider them over and see you again. If 
 your views are correct in regard to yourself it leaves 
 me in a sad condition. I feel a heaviness resting 
 upon me, and I must hurry home." They kissed 
 each other and Mrs. Brougham left. 
 
 "Well," said Mrs. Major Pugh, "you have kept 
 your promise. Now let me hear your opinion in 
 regard to Mrs. Dunbar's mental condition. Is she 
 really insane ? " 
 
 " Don't let us talk any more nonsense, my dear," 
 said Mrs. Brougham ; " I never saw her appear more 
 lovely or heard her conversing more intelligently. 
 She has met with a most wonderful change, and that 
 through the instrumentality of Mary. Now, if all 
 this is so, what must /think of myself? I must go 
 home and think this matter over. Mrs. Dunbar is
 
 298 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 very happy and I am very miserable." And Mrs. 
 Brougham burst into tears. 
 
 " Only commit your ways to the Lord/' said Mrs. 
 Pugh, who was a devoted member of the Baptist 
 church, " and, if I am not mistaken, you will soon 
 be as happy as Mrs. Colonel Dunbar." 
 
 Mrs. Brougham, with feelings that she could not 
 well explain, left for her fine mansion. 
 
 The " Retreat " was one of Tonville's fashionable 
 saloons, duly licensed to sell ales, wines, and spirit- 
 uous liquors. This ornamented den was owned 
 and kept by one Nicholas Tracy, whose Christian 
 name was usually reduced to smaller dimensions 
 and pronounced " Nick." He had been brought up 
 on a farm about two miles out of the village. His 
 mother died when he was quite young. He was an 
 only child, and his morals were very far from being 
 worthy of imitation. He married while young and 
 brought his bride to his father's house. In about 
 
 o 
 
 two years after this his father died, and a very hand- 
 some property fell into his possession. The village 
 saloon had much more attraction for him than had 
 his good farm, and, contrary to his wife's wishes, he 
 exchanged it for some village property including a 
 fine residence and the adjoining " Retreat." The 
 saloon was soon rebuilt on a fashionable scale, and 
 was one of the finest in the village. Tracy had 
 become fleshy, and presented all the features of a 
 hard drinker. He was coarse and vulgar, and 
 prided himself on the slang phrases with which he 
 ridiculed the churches.
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 299 
 
 It was on Wednesday afternoon, and there were 
 sitting in the bar-room of Tracy's saloon four young 
 men finely dressed and fair in their personal appear- 
 ance. It was evident that they were in the habit 
 of drinking, but as yet they had not become indif- 
 ferent to their costumes. John Delancy was about 
 twenty-six years of age. His father, a successful 
 merchant, had died, leaving the business to his son. 
 This young Delancy still carried on, but spent 
 much of his time at the Retreat, trusting the trade 
 to his clerks. He had a mother and a sister, with 
 whom he stayed. The others present at this time 
 were John Dexter, a brother of Mrs. Tracy, William 
 Thompson, a son of a wealthy tanner, and Thomas 
 Brown, the son of a rich brewer. 
 
 " Well, boys," said Tracy, leaning on the bar from 
 the inside, giving a fine exhibition of costly rings 
 and expensive sleeve-buttons, " they say that the 
 religious circus at the Presbyterian church opened 
 finely yesterday and last night. I once thought it 
 wasn't going to be much of a show, but I hear they 
 have a rush. There are three home clowns, and one 
 imported, for whose services they must shell out a 
 big sum. The small performers are numerous, and 
 they say George Armitage has entered the ring." 
 
 To this there was a loud "ha, ha!" from Dexter 
 and Brown, while Delancy looked indignant and 
 Thompson rather serious. 
 
 "To me it is no great wonder that they have 
 roped in George," continued Tracy. " I never 
 thought much of him anyway. He has no inde- 
 pendence. He is too much under the old man's
 
 300 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 thumb. I trade with him some, but he never darkens 
 my saloon-door." 
 
 " It may be possible that Armitage has no par- 
 ticular fancy for the articles you keep for sale," said 
 Delancy. 
 
 " But why can't he come in and take a social glass 
 like the rest of you ? " asked " Nick," elevating his 
 voice and looking exceedingly spiteful. " Answer 
 me that, John Delancy." 
 
 " Perhaps I cannot tell you all the whys," said 
 Delancy, " but I think I can furnish you with a few. 
 In the first place, he thinks that the practice of 
 drinking is wrong, and very dangerous. Again, 
 the class that visit your saloon do not compose the 
 society in which he desires to mingle. Again, he 
 possesses a large share of good sound sense, and that 
 is in the way. Again, if he should visit this saloon he 
 would lose the respect of the best citizens of our 
 village. Do you want another why?" 
 
 " Yes, go on and finish your speech as long as 
 you are about it," said Nick, looking angry. 
 
 " And lastly," said Delancy, looking the saloon- 
 keeper in the eye, " Armitage has no respect for 
 Nick Tracy. He looks upon him as a low, swear- 
 ing, vulgar fellow, fearing not God nor regarding 
 man." 
 
 " Delancy," said Tracy, with quivering lips, and 
 paleness which forced itself to the surface of his 
 bloated face, " I rather suspect that under a pre- 
 tense of speaking for George you have been piling 
 up your own opinions." 
 
 " You have rightly judged," said Delancy. " The
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 301 
 
 language you have used in regard to the religious 
 meeting at the Presbyterian church, conducted by 
 persons of the highest respectability, stamps you as 
 a low, vulgar wretch, and I so pronounce you. I 
 have a mother and a sister who are deeply interested 
 in those meetings, and they must not be insulted in 
 my presence." 
 
 " Neither am I to be insulted ! " said Tracy, in a 
 loud, angry tone. " I don't want you here, so I 
 would advise you to join the howling at the Pres- 
 byterian church." 
 
 "The only good advice I ever heard from your 
 lips, and I will take it under my serious considera- 
 tion," said Delancy, as he rose. " Whether I shall 
 seek a place among Christians or not, I will never 
 trouble you again." 
 
 " Perhaps I was a little rough on the church peo- 
 ple," said Tracy. " I call it back. Come, boys, let 
 us all drink at my expense ; " and he put five glasses 
 on the bar. 
 
 " No more drink for me! " said Delancy; and he 
 left the saloon. 
 
 There was much talk after Delancy's departure, 
 and Thompson quietly slipped away. 
 
 On this day John Delancy was perfectly sober. 
 Nothing of an intoxicating nature had touched his 
 
 o o 
 
 lips. After leaving the saloon he slowly walked out 
 of the village so as to have time and place for reflec- 
 tion ; and thus he mused : " For years I have poured 
 my money into the polluted treasury of that vulgar 
 wretch ! And worse than that ; I have measurably 
 wrecked my noble manhood and caused grief to
 
 302 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 the best of mothers and the most loving of sis- 
 ters. I have left Nick's Retreat forever! Shall I 
 seek another saloon, or abandon them all ? O my 
 God ! I almost hear the voice of my sainted father 
 crying from the skies, ' John, abandon them all and 
 take the pledge ! ' Father, I'll do it ! In the name 
 of God I'll do it / " 
 
 Dr. Spicer was in his study, and in a very happy 
 state of mind as he thought over the wonderful 
 things already accomplished in connection with the 
 revival services. "This is the Lord's doing," said 
 he, "and it is marvelous in our eyes. " His wife 
 came in and informed him that John Delancy was 
 below and wished to see him on particular business. 
 
 The doctor went down, met the young man with 
 a smile, and conducted him to his study. 
 
 "Doctor," said Delancy, without any hesitation, 
 " I ask of you as a favor to write out a strong total 
 abstinence pledge, which I will sign in your presence 
 relying on God for help to keep it as long as I live. 
 I am perfectly sober. I have not touched a drop 
 of liquor this day. I have neglected my business, 
 grieved my mother, afflicted my sister, and measur- 
 ably destroyed my moral and intellectual powers. 
 I think there is in me yet a remnant that is worth 
 saving. Now, please write the pledge, and let it be 
 strong and thorough." 
 
 The doctor took the young man by the hand and 
 with tears of joy in his eyes said, " John, since yes- 
 terday afternoon you have been remembered in our 
 prayers, and we accept this as the work of the Holy
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 303 
 
 Ghost in answer to our humble petitions. Here is 
 a temperance pledge, John." 
 
 " No," said the young man ; " I would rather have 
 it in your own hand-writing. It will seem stronger." 
 
 The pledge was written. It was as strong as lan- 
 guage could render it. John took the pen, and, after 
 carefully reading the paper, he wrote his name in a 
 large, clear, beautiful hand. 
 
 " Dr. Spicer," said he, " it is done! My fetters 
 are broken and I am free ! But I am not a Christian. 
 My mother and Jennie are Christians, and I believe 
 in the power of prayer. Now, I will kneel down 
 right here while you pray the Lord to keep me from 
 breaking the pledge." 
 
 They knelt. They prayed ; and there was joy in 
 the presence of the angels of God. The young man 
 promised to attend the meetings, and left. 
 
 In about fifteen minutes after the departure of 
 John, his sister Jennie called and asked Mrs. Spicer 
 to call her husband and accompany him to the par- 
 lor, where she wished to speak to them both in 
 regard to her brother. Mrs. Spicer slightly smiled, 
 but the young lady did not notice it. The pastor 
 and his wife were soon in the parlor. 
 
 " My dear pastor! " cried the young woman, " I 
 have been so distressed all day on account of my 
 dear brother that I could no longer stay in the 
 house. In many respects he is an excellent young 
 man, but for a long time he has been gradually glid- 
 ing into a drinking habit, and I am afraid it will 
 prove his ruin. He is often found at Tracy's den, in 
 company with low characters, and I think he is there
 
 304 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 now. Dr. Spicer, John has great confidence in you, 
 and he never mentions your name but with great 
 respect. I came here to beg of you to seek a per- 
 sonal interview with him and try to persuade him 
 to give up his tippling." 
 
 " Jennie, your request is a very reasonableone/'said 
 the doctor. " In the meanwhile remember him at the 
 throne of grace, and God will answer your prayers. 
 For your encouragement I will say that not over half 
 an hour ago a young man of this town who has been 
 in the habit of drinking came voluntarily into my 
 study and under deep feeling asked me to write for 
 him the strongest temperance pledge that I possibly 
 could. He was perfectly sober. I wrote it and he 
 signed it. He then kneeled down and asked me to 
 pray with him." 
 
 " O, I would give all the world, if I had it, if my 
 dear John would only do the same! " cried Jennie. 
 " Perhaps it would not be right for you to tell me 
 who that young man is." 
 
 " Perfectly right, Jennie," said the doctor. " I 
 think you are acquainted with him. Here is the 
 pledge, and you can read it." 
 
 She glanced at the familiar signature, and with 
 joyful sobbing fell on her knees and bowed her head 
 on Mrs. Spicer 's lap. " I thank thee, O Father," she 
 cried, " for answering the prayers of thy children in 
 behalf of my erring brother!" 
 
 " John is not far from the kingdom of Heaven, 
 my dear," said the minister's wife,- fondly kissing 
 her young sister, who was one of the most devoted 
 and spiritual in the church.
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 305 
 
 Miss Delancy went home, told her mother the 
 glad news, and together they wept for joy. 
 
 When John came from the store to supper the 
 mother and daughter could not keep back. It was 
 the most happy hour they had experienced in many 
 a day. 
 
 'Yes, Jennie," said John, "to-night I will gladly 
 go with you to meeting." 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 AN ANGRY MISS AND A WORD FROM ENGLAND. 
 
 MISS EDITH WINTHROP was an ardent 
 worshiper at the shrine of worldly pleasure. 
 Encouraged by her wealthy parents her mind was 
 greatly taken up with the fashionable amusements 
 of the day. The family attended the Episcopal 
 church, but were not communicants. For Mary 
 Dunbar, until her recent change, she had enter- 
 tained much respect, although she had been often 
 displeased with the banker's daughter's seeming 
 lack of interest in those gayeties which so absorbed 
 her own mind. In regard to religious doctrines she 
 had no settled views. Indeed, there lurked in her 
 heart a great deal of infidelity. Those points in 
 theology that seemed to her distasteful she threw 
 aside, and accepted only those features that did not 
 particularly interfere with her worldly taste. She 
 was brilliant and attractive, amiable in her smiles 
 
 and sarcastic in her frowns. She was respected for 
 20
 
 306 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 her position in society. She was feared on account 
 of her eloquent severity. But to no one outside of 
 the circle of her relatives was Edith Winthrop an 
 object of intense affection. The revival she detested 
 with all the warmth of her strong nature, and what 
 she heard of it from day to day filled her proud 
 heart with indignation. Such was the young lady 
 to whom Mary Dunbar, in Mr. Winthrop's parlor, 
 under a deep sense of duty, introduced the subject 
 of personal religion. 
 
 " Mary, your anxiety for me is entirely uncalled 
 for," said Miss Edith, with a smile meant for re- 
 proof, "and, at the hazard of offending you, I must 
 say that it borders closely on the ludicrous." 
 
 " Edith," said Mary, wholly undisturbed, " I thor- 
 oughly weighed this matter before I started from 
 home. I knew that in all probability you would 
 not relish the subject, and that you would manifest 
 your disapprobation in strong terms. For all this 
 I am fully prepared, and let no fear of offending 
 me interfere with your freedom of speech. I think 
 I am in a frame of mind that is not to be easily 
 disturbed." 
 
 "That is exceedingly fortur.ate," said Miss Win- 
 throp, " for I am bound to use language that may 
 be called severe. While I can laugh at the foolish- 
 ness of your errand I am still glad to meet you, for 
 it gives me an excellent opportunity to let you 
 know how utterly I detest these religious antics in 
 our village that are called a ' revival.' A revival it 
 
 o 
 
 is, sure enough ! A revival of confusion, disturb- 
 ance, animal excitement, and fanaticism. If this
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 307 
 
 were confined to that class that has been credulous 
 and superstitious it would not be so bad. But it is 
 forcing itself into genteel society and aristocratic 
 circles. Our best families are being drawn into it, 
 and it looks as if the whole village were under the 
 influence of this moral mania. Wherever I go this 
 is talked of. The topic commands respect in quarters 
 where it ought to be despised ; and here is one of 
 our own set transformed into a home missionary in 
 the interest of religious fanatics, while her father 
 and mother, and a score of others who have moved 
 in the most cultivated circles, are regular attendants 
 at this excitable gathering ! I am indignant." And 
 Miss Winthrop ended her paragraph. 
 
 " Edith," said Mary, " with your present mode of 
 living do you feel as if you were prepared to die 
 and meet your God in peace?" 
 
 " Upon my word," said the lady, in a gay, sneer- 
 ing tone, " you seem to be splendidly adapted for 
 your mission ! A Methodist minister could not have 
 put the question in better form or with purer in- 
 tonations. I am very well satisfied with my mode 
 of living, and the God I expect to meet is not that 
 angry being that you hear about in these revival 
 meetings." 
 
 " Or that we read of in the Bible," said Mary. 
 
 "Yes, you may have it so, if you like," said 
 Edith. " Any thing in the Bible about God that 
 sounds to me as unreasonable I cast aside." 
 
 " I was not aware that you were skeptical," said 
 Mary. '*! really wish you would attend these 
 meetings."
 
 308 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 " Your wish is vain," was the answer. " I detest 
 the very thought of them. I can hardly respect 
 those that speak well of such excitable demonstra- 
 tions. They have broken up our set, and it looks 
 now as if we could not get enough together to form 
 a respectable dance. To the utmost of my ability 
 I have labored to keep our young people away 
 from these meetings, and I will do all I can to win 
 back those that have been stolen from us. In a 
 great measure I hold Mr. Latimer responsible for 
 the havoc this thing has made in his own church. 
 His sermon, lately delivered, gave it encouragement. 
 By this time perhaps he sees his mistake." 
 
 "I can assure you, Edith," said Mary, "that no 
 one in Tonville rejoices more over this revival than 
 does Mr. Latimer." 
 
 " Then I say he disgraces his calling, and should 
 not be permitted to preach in an Episcopal pulpit," 
 was the reply. " He is eloquent enough, and often 
 too much so ; but he is altogether too religious to 
 suit polite circles. In the church service such sen- 
 tences are all right, but to thrust them on people in 
 the parlor is not in good taste. He is not a bit 
 like dear Mr. Smoothly. ' Rejoices over the revival,' 
 does he? Ha, ha! Now that wrich! His rejoic- 
 ing will turn to something else when he sees the 
 members of his flock joining the three sects." 
 
 " I am very confident," said Mary, "that no one 
 will leave St. Mark's. I think also that a number 
 that have embraced religion at these meetings will 
 seek their spiritual home in our church." 
 
 " So much the worse for St. Mark's," said Miss
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 309 
 
 Winthrop, with a sneer. " A nice lot of Episcopa- 
 lians they would make ! No, I say. Let them go 
 to where they legitimately belong. I don't fancy 
 the shop in which they have been manufactured." 
 
 " Edith," said Mary, " 1 find you in a more dis- 
 agreeable mood than I expected. I think it will not 
 be wise for me to remain here any longer. I hope 
 to see you again when you will be more favorably 
 disposed toward your friends than you are to-day. 
 I am deeply interested in your spiritual welfare. I 
 will remember you in my prayers." 
 
 " That you may do, and welcome, if it will give 
 you any satisfaction, as long as you confine your 
 prayers to your own room," said Edith ; " but let 
 no prayer, private or public, be offered for me at 
 those meetings. In regard to seeing me again on 
 this subject, please let that be postponed until I 
 send you a special request." 
 
 " It shall be even so, Edith," said Mary, and she 
 left for home with a heavy heart. 
 
 The revival had gone on with increasing interest 
 and power from the very first. The women of the 
 Church, in the fear of the Lord and with genuine 
 Christian modesty, had accomplished a mighty work 
 by their personal interviews with those who had not 
 embraced religion. Saloons were abandoned, dances 
 proved failures, and the academy for dancing was 
 well-nigh deserted. There was a solemnity over 
 the whole village. Thompson had followed the ex- 
 ample of Delancy and had signed the pledge, while 
 both had embraced religion. Emma Thornton was 
 thoroughly restored from her wanderings. Fred
 
 310 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 Chattam was fully engaged in the work and had 
 much influence among the young people, and Julia 
 had found "the pearl of great price." The youths 
 by the score had bowed at the altar of prayer. The 
 windows of heaven were opened and blessings were 
 poured forth in abundance. Tonville was flooded 
 by divine influences. Among ministers and mem- 
 bers there was complete harmony, and nothing of 
 an unpleasant nature had transpired during the 
 services. 
 
 The closing exercises of the protracted meeting 
 were in the afternoon, and were confined chiefly to 
 experience. The testimonies were very striking and 
 numerous. The most affecting was that of Thomas 
 England, who for many years had been a slave to 
 intemperance. He was a man of strong native tal- 
 ent and much acquired ability. The reader will 
 better know his history from his own testimony, de- 
 livered before an audience of eight hundred people. 
 He had come forward at an early stage of the meet- 
 ing with deep penitence, and his conversion was 
 clear and positive. Hitherto he had said but little. 
 Now the time had come when the redeemed man 
 considered it his duty to declare publicly what 
 Christ had done for him. He rose and in a clear 
 voice said : 
 
 " I feel more like shrinking from publicity and 
 hiding my head in shame than to stand before you 
 and speak. Here you see the wreck of one who was 
 once considered a respectable member of society 
 and a worthy citizen of Tonville. Under the con- 
 viction that possibly I yma say a word that will
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. - 3 1 1 
 
 magnify the grace of God, that has saved a poor 
 guilty wretch, I take up my cross. To many 
 of you the history of Tom England is well 
 known. I was well brought up, liberally educated, 
 and was graduated with honor. I studied law 
 and was admitted to the bar. Twenty-five years 
 ago I came to Tonville with a fair young wife 
 and a bright little boy two years old our little 
 Charlie." [Here the speaker's emotions almost 
 mastered him.] " I had some means ; I bought 
 a house and office and became established as a law- 
 yer. I secured a flattering reputation in my profes- 
 sion, and I had a large practice. Early in life I 
 formed the habit of drinking, but for some years, 
 by an effort, I so conducted myself as to be called 
 a moderate drinker ; but the habit grew upon me. 
 I neglected my business, wronged my clients, and 
 finally I was pronounced a drunkard. About ten 
 years ago my wife, who had faithfully stood by me 
 notwithstanding my degradation and the abuse she 
 often suffered when I was maddened by rum, sick- 
 ened and died. This left me alone with Charlie and 
 a sister of mine, who took charge of my sick wife. 
 After this I became worse than ever, and when 
 drunk I was exceedingly abusive, even to my boy, 
 one of the finest lads that ever breathed. He 
 would bear my abuse with much patience, and often, 
 with tears in his eyes, he would beg of me, by the 
 memory of his mother, to stop drinking. O that 
 noble boy ! Now, saved from my drunkenness and 
 partially restored to my right mind, I appreciate his 
 worth as I never did before, and it almost breaks
 
 312 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 my heart to think of it. One day, about nine years 
 ago, when deeply under the influence of liquor, I 
 violently struck that precious son, who never gave 
 me an unkind word, and ordered him to leave my 
 premises. In about an hour after I struck him he 
 came to me calmly and said, ' Father, I forgive 
 you. I am going. Good-bye.' I have never seen 
 him since. We heard that he went to sea, and we 
 heard also that his ship was lost. O my noble 
 Charlie ! Well, I sank deeper and deeper in degra- 
 dation, and for years I have been wandering about, 
 doing chores around taverns to pay for my rum. 
 By the earnest entreaty of kind ladies of this vil- 
 lage, who did not despise even poor Tom England, 
 I was persuaded to attend these meetings. Amid 
 all my moral pollution I was not an infidel, and the 
 wonderful words of that man of God, accompanied 
 by the power of the Holy Ghost, reached the depth 
 of my depraved heart. I bowed before the Lord in 
 an agony of penitence, and he has forgiven me the 
 iniquity of my sins. I ask the forgiveness of all 
 whom I have wronged. Charlie with his parting 
 breath said he forgave me. O how I would fall 
 on his neck and tell him how sorry I am ! Dear 
 Charlie ! I hope to meet him in heaven." 
 
 Thomas England sat down. The man, the cir- 
 cumstances, and the undescribable pathos of his 
 remarks, rendered them thrilling. The audience 
 was in tears, and in silence for a few moments the 
 people gave way to their feelings. Soon, however, 
 their attention was called to a well-dressed, fine- 
 looking gentleman of youthful appearance, who rose
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 313 
 
 in the farthest part of the church from the pulpit, 
 left his pew, slowly walked to the front and faced 
 the congregation. Like hundreds of others he was 
 deeply affected, and was making every effort to mas- 
 ter his feelings. Soon he spoke, while every eye was 
 fastened upon him. 
 
 " Pardon me for making myself thus conspicuous. 
 I have but little to say, but that little I want you 
 all to hear and understand. That is the reason why 
 I have chosen this spot. I am a stranger, having 
 just arrived in this village, and, learning of this meet- 
 ing, I most gladly came in. My feelings are won- 
 derfully affected by the thrilling remarks of the gen- 
 tleman that spoke last. His story brought vividly 
 to my mind the scenes of other days and years. 
 My father also through strong drink fell from a 
 respectable position to the depths of intemperance. 
 My dear mother died chiefly of a broken heart, and 
 I was often pointed at as the drunkard's boy. My 
 father, when not under the influence of the cup, was 
 kind and affectionate, and he loved his son, but when 
 drunk he was completely changed. After the death 
 of my mother I ventured into the wide world. I 
 committed my ways to the Lord and went into a 
 foreign land. I united with the Church of Christ. 
 I found favor in the sight of the people. Prov- 
 idence smiled upon me wonderfully and I procured 
 abundance of the things of the present life. I thought 
 I would return to my native land and visit the scenes 
 of my childhood. This is the most happy day of 
 my life!" 
 
 He rushed to the seat where England sat and
 
 3 14 Stories of Country and City, 
 
 cried in a loud voice : " Father ! Charlie has come 
 home T' He fell upon his parent's neck and both 
 wept aloud. The scene was " unspeakable and full 
 of glory." 
 
 After a most impressive admonition to the young 
 converts and those restored from their backsliding, 
 the meeting closed with singing the familiar hymn : 
 
 " Blest be the tie that binds 
 Our hearts in Christian love." 
 
 The benediction was pronounced, and the revival 
 meeting proper was at an end. 
 
 About two hundred and fifty professed conver- 
 sion. Besides this a large number of church mem- 
 bers had been saved from dead formality and 
 brought into the enjoyment of vital godliness. 
 Many of the converts were from distant localities, 
 and these united with the churches in their imme- 
 diate vicinity. In the village seventy united with 
 the Presbyterians, fifty with the Baptists, forty-five 
 with the Methodists, and at the next confirmation 
 thirty-one with the Episcopalians. Among these 
 were Colonel Dunbar and his daughter. On that 
 occasion St. Mark's was crowded and the interest 
 was intense. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 A SEVERE ORDEAL, AND HOW IT ENDED. 
 
 VT1CHOLAS TRACY grew more blasphemous 
 J[ \j and eloquent in his curses as he saw himself 
 abandoned by his former customers. His profanity
 
 The Great Revival at Tonvillc. 315 
 
 was so terrible as to almost alarm common swearers. 
 He was continually under the influence of liquor, 
 and his saloon presented a neglected appearance. 
 Tracy had a fast, spirited horse, in which he took 
 great pride, and with which he often took careless 
 liberties. One day, while quite drunk, he ordered 
 his man to put the horse before the cutter and bring 
 it out. The man was loth to obey, but in order to 
 escape a volley of curses he complied. The fiery 
 steed was soon before the saloon-door. 
 
 " Nick," said Dexter, " you are not in a fit condi- 
 tion to-day to drive that horse." 
 
 The reply was angry and very profane ; he stepped 
 into the cutter and off he went at a fearful rate. 
 
 It is useless to dwell on particulars. In less than 
 a half hour the same horse, with broken harness and 
 without a cutter, was seen trembling with fright in 
 front of the saloon, while in the distance a crowd 
 of people were approaching bearing the bleeding, 
 dead form of Nicholas Tracy, whose profane spirit 
 had passed into the great eternity. 
 
 Deep sorrow pervaded the Winthrop mansion. 
 As yet the dark flag of death did not wave over 
 the imposing structure, but one of its inmates was 
 in the grasp of a raging fever that threatened to 
 prove fatal. On a bed in a richly furnished and 
 commodious room, with a flushed countenance and 
 a high pulse lay Edith Winthrop. In the same 
 apartment stood the parents, with sad countenances 
 watching the heavy breathings and constant toss- 
 ings of their only child. The doctor sat by the side
 
 316 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 of the bed examining the pulse of the sufferer and 
 evidently calculating the chances. 
 
 " Well, doctor," said the father, in a deep, earnest 
 tone, "can you give us one encouraging word?" 
 
 "I have more hopes than I had four days ago," 
 said Doctor Sprague. " She has more vitality at 
 this hour than I could have reasonably expected 
 under the circumstances. The fever is yet high, but 
 I think it will turn in twenty-four hours. I now 
 have strong hopes that her firm constitution will 
 carry her safely through." 
 
 The parents wept for joy. 
 
 " O Mary, dear, my words were cruel ?" cried the 
 sick one in feverish delirium. " O Mary, will you 
 forgive me? I was very wicked !" 
 
 " Poor child ! She is dreadfully troubled about 
 something she said to Mary Dunbar," said the 
 mother. 
 
 " I presume it is the result of a dream, Mrs. Win- 
 throp," said the doctor. 
 
 "I think not," said the mother, " for it has 
 troubled her for two weeks." 
 
 " I take it all back, dear Mary !" said Edith again. 
 " Mr. Latimer is all right. O, what made me so 
 wicked ? Mary, put your hand on my head ! 
 There!" 
 
 Twenty-four hours soon passed away, and the 
 doctor, faithful to his charge, sat again by the side 
 of the sick-bed. The fever had just turned, and 
 the sufferer, much exhausted, seemed to fall into a 
 sleep. 
 
 " We have arrived at a critical point," said the
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 317 
 
 doctor, in a very low voice. " Miss Winthrop is 
 very weak, but 1 trust by God's blessing she will 
 rally." 
 
 Her slumber gradually became more natural, with 
 a slight improvement of the pulse. 
 
 " I am very happy to inform you," said the 
 physician again, " that your daughter is saved. I 
 know she is in the hands of the very best of nurses. 
 In the course of an hour she will wake up. You 
 may speak just a word to her and then retire to 
 rejoice together. I will call again in the morning." 
 
 The sick daughter awoke and looked about in 
 intelligent astonishment. In a weak voice she asked, 
 " Miss Williams, what is the matter?" 
 
 "You have been very sick, my dear, for three 
 weeks," said the nurse; "the fever has just left you. 
 You are very weak, but you are going to get well. 
 The doctor says you must not talk. Take this med- 
 icine, my darling." 
 
 The parents spoke to her a few endearing words 
 and left for another part of the house. 
 
 In about ten days from this time, when Edith 
 could converse without embarrassment, she ex- 
 pressed to Miss Williams a wish to see her mother 
 alone for a half hour. In a few minutes the smiling 
 mother was in the room, and Miss Williams left. 
 
 " Mamma, dear," said Edith, " in my fever did I 
 mention any names?" 
 
 " Only two, my darling,-* said the mother. " You 
 seemed to regret that you had not used Mary Dun- 
 bar kindly, and you appeared to be troubled in 
 regard to what you had said about Mr. Latimer.
 
 318 Stories of Country and City. 
 
 The doctor thought that your words were but the 
 result of a dream." 
 
 " The doctor was mistaken, mamma," said Edith. 
 " I was greatly troubled in regard to that before I 
 was taken sick. I never told you, and you knew 
 nothing about it. Mary Dunbar, the dear girl, in 
 all the sincerity of her good, pure heart, called on 
 me one day with the intention of conversing with 
 me on the subject of religion. I resented it with 
 bitter and cruel words, and spoke of their religious 
 meetings in the most contemptuous language I could 
 use. I also spoke unkindly of Mr. Latimer. I was 
 actually angry. She bore it all with the most per- 
 fect patience and said she hoped to see me again. I 
 told her, as far as that was concerned, that she had 
 better postpone her visit until I should send her a 
 special request. ' It shall be even so, Edith,' she 
 said, and went away with a heavy heart. Many 
 weeks ago I felt deeply condemned in view of the 
 rough treatment one of the best girls in Tonville 
 received at my hand. I could hardly look her in 
 the face as, with thirty others, she stood to be con- 
 firmed, all of whom were brought into the church 
 by means of that revival which I had denounced in 
 such harsh terms. "While feeling thus condemned, 
 and preparing to make proper confession, I was taken 
 sick, and the same thing has troubled me during my 
 fever. Now, mamma, dear, I have told you all. God, 
 in mercy, has spared my hitherto almost useless life, 
 and from hence I hope to be a better girl. I shall 
 never feel comfortable until I have an interview with 
 Mary Dunbar. I am too weak to write. Will you,
 
 The Great Revival at Tonville. 319 
 
 with your own hand, pen a few lines saying that 
 to-morrow morning, about ten o'clock, I shall be 
 very glad to see her?" 
 
 " With all my heart, darling! And it will please 
 Mary as well as yourself," said the mother. 
 
 The interview was had. There were confessions 
 and pledges of undying love and friendship. Edith's 
 recovery was rapid. She was " transformed by the 
 renewing of her mind." Not many weeks after her 
 restoration to health she was baptized by Mr. Lat- 
 imer and afterward confirmed by the bishop. 
 
 Thomas England accompanied his son to New 
 York, where the young man, at a very high salary, 
 was employed in the office of a German steam-ship 
 company. The father was employed in the same 
 place, leading a consistent Christian life. 
 
 The churches in Tonville still reap the benefit of 
 that great revival. They have an abiding spirit- 
 uality and freedom from religious bigotry. Mr. 
 Latimer is yet at St. Mark's, a zealous Episcopalian, 
 but always jeady to bid God-speed to all that cast 
 out devils in the name of Jesus. 
 
 THE END.