The Art Of Writing & Speaking The English Language / Word-Study and Composition & Rhetoric

ults. He had made a beginning, anyway, and he hoped that events would so shape themselves that he might soon be able to get to the heart of the Church trouble,

s the strings of the violin. Where had she learned to play in such a manner? he asked himself. He was surprised that Rixton could produce such a musician. Was she engaged to that young man? he wondered, and, if so, what was the

ittle room in his old home. He was glad that it was raining, as he was feeling sore after yesterday's work, and he longed for a little rest from the labour of the hay field. Early though it was, Jake was already a

surprise, as he paused in the ac

d why not?" Do

early, that's all. All the hired men

n't you

ard day of it yesterday. And, besides, i

re," Douglas quietly remarked, as he picked up a pail and a stool. "I don't

s went out into the woodhouse to

t's rainin'," Jake had said, "an' there

as a boy. Then, it had been a wearisome task, and it seemed to him that the hired man always pressed as h

ar neighbours?" h

aleb Titus jist above. Of course, there's the corner with a whol

Titus much

self an' one d

a larg

e ground a little in the spring, an' tries to raise something, though he doesn't succeed very well. He sold a

an Strong?" Do

ully with his thumb before answering. He seemed to be pondering so

"He came off an' on to Rixton for several years until a

any ha

in the whole parish are about crazy over them, especially Nell.

wrong wi

, an' as queer a critter

what

uts git him to talk to them, an' make believe they are mighty interested in his views. That is only their excuse fer visitin' the place, so'

hters favour

up with the young fellers comin' to their place because it plea

much down on churches,

las

a grouch of some kind, though I

ver go to

layed the organ at times, fer she's mighty musical. My, ye

he learn to

r something like that years ago, tho

ced by the words of the blind professor. He longed to see Strong that he might hear what he had to say, and at the same time to meet his daughters. How he was going to do this, he had not the least idea, though he somehow felt that he would have to wrestle with the unbeliever if he intended to m

sked Douglas if he would go

plained, "an' I haven't had time to git them fixed.

il they are mende

em to-day. I think he'll do 'em all right, prov

t's

e Bible an' Church history. He holds service ever

any a

feller, an' ye'll like him. But fer pity's sake, keep him off o

s, which looked clear and straight into his. There the old man's soul seemed to be shining forth, so expressive were they. Douglas thought he could read in those clear depths an unattainable longing, mingled with an appealing pathos. When he smiled, his whole fa

tler?" the shoe-maker asked, after Dougl

eply. "But how in the world did y

Rixton, especially if Empt

nal touch to a shoe in his lap. Many years had passed since he had watched

ay?" he enquired. "If so, I

ut the finished shoe carefully down by i

busy as a ru

e been doing it for over thirty years

very tired o

I sit here alone in my little shop. I often wish that I coul

nt?" Douglas queried. "You haven't

s work and looked earnestly into his visitor's face. "I can see the

re many things here wh

nto decay. But they are merely outward signs of the real state of the community. The people do not worship any more, and the children never go to Sunday school.

se of all this?"

kind of a clergyman, who would understand the people, and be a real leader. If he

u have good me

le, and as far as I could see didn't try. They knew nothing about the country ways, and considered themselves above th

try to help and encoura

feel that Joe was lo

e paused and examined the stitches he had just put in the trace. "But," he continued, "there's an influence in this parish whic

ake it hard, then, for any clergyman to work

's ju

not to enquire further just then. No doubt the shoe-maker had some good reason for not

es of the Church very muc

h I have service in my own house every Sunday morning, y

the neigh

ited them. My wife and I are th

your d

he was here, for Jean had a fine voice." A far-away look came into the old man's eyes as he utter

he now?" Do

y Jean is a comely girl, and as good as she is beautiful. We have been very lonely without her. She always took such an interest in Church matters, and taught in the Sunday sc

ice next Sunday?" Dougla

s leaped a loo

ou care

d I sh

you s

, y

ill be great for us to have a str

by a picture on the wall of the Good Shepherd rescuing a lamb

rose from his bench and came over to the y

so," Douglas a

r there was one." Here he paused and gazed intently at the picture. "I like to have it before me as I work. It tells me what I once was, an

s little glimpse of his past life was what affected him most of all. How many other wandering sheep there were in the world, nay, in thi