Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.Abbott, Lyman
Religion
Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish.
Abbott, Lyman
Christian fiction; New York (State) -- Fiction; Parishes -- Fiction
"In fact," said he, "they want me very much at North Bizzy, in
Connecticut. They pay there $1,500 a year. It is a manufacturing
town. I do not think either the society or the work would be as
congenial as in Wheathedge. I like the quiet of your rural parish. I
appreciate the advantages it would afford me for study. But $300 is
a good deal of money. I do not want to be mercenary, Mr. Laicus, but
I do not want to be pinched."
I assured him that no such difficulty should stand in his way. When
I returned, I found he had expressed the same sentiments to Deacon
Goodsole and Mr. Wheaton. We were all agreed that we would do as
well as North Bizzy. So we gave him a call at $1,500. Possibly we
presumed too much; but we generally considered it as good as
settled.
The Sabbath after the call he came to Wheathedge. This time he
brought his young wife with him. The ladies were more charmed than
ever. All Wheathedge turned out to see and hear our new minister. He
remained over to our weekly prayer-meeting. It was astonishing what
a spirit of devotion was awakened in our church. I have never seen
the prayer-meeting so fully attended. He seemed fully to reciprocate
our enthusiasm. He and his wife were tireless in the praises of the
beauties of Wheathedge. "It is just the place," said Mrs. Uncannon,
"in which I should choose to spend my days." Of course this saying
was repeated all over the parish, and this evidence of her
appreciative taste increased very measurably her own and her
husband's popularity.
He went away Thursday morning without giving a final and definite
answer. Deacon Goodsole indeed asked him point blank for one. He
replied that though his mind was about made up, still he felt that
so solemn a connection ought not to be made without a prayerful
consideration. This was all very proper. We waited, with patience,
till this decorous delay should be over. But we already considered
him our pastor.
It was the next week that Deacon Goodsole came into my house one
evening, in a state of great excitement. He had an open letter in
his hand. "Look there," said he. "The Church at North Bizzy is
trying to get our minister away from us."
The letter was from Mr. Uncannon. It was to the effect that the
Church at North Bizzy were taking measures to secure a parsonage. He
preferred to come to Wheathedge, but he did not know what he should
do for a house. There had been, he believed, some talk of building a
parsonage at Wheathedge. He felt very desirous to take his bride to
her "home"--not to depend on boarding-houses or landlords. If this
could be provided he thought it would settle the question; for both
he and his wife infinitely preferred the clear air and sunny skies,
and grand old mountains, and glorious river basking in the golden
sunlight, &c., &c., to the dust and soot and noise of man's busy but
dirty industry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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