Laicus Or the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish

ountry carriages; two posts before the gate neatly turned, a trellis over the front door with a climbing rose which has mounted half way to the top and stopped to rest for the season; another trellis

both of taste and th

that is as much more graceful as it is more natural than the polished and stately manners which Mrs. Wheaton has brought with her from fashionable society to Wheathedge. Mr. Gear is out, he has gone down to the shop,--will I walk in,--he will be back directly. I am very happy to walk in, and Mrs. Gear i

I find a big family Bible, and half a dozen of those made up volumes fat with thick paper and large type, and showy with poor pictures, which constitute the common literature of two thirds of our country homes. And I know that poor Mr. Hardcap is the unfortunate victim of book agents. At Deacon Goodsole's I always see some school books lying in admirable confusion on the sitting-room table. And I know that Deacon Goodsole has children, and that they bring their books home at night to do some real studying, and that they do it in the family sitting-room and get help now and then from father and from mother. And so while I am waiting for Mr. Gear I take a furtive glance at his well filled shelves. I am rather surprized to find in

a head, now he drums the table with his uneasy fingers, now he crosses and uncrosses his long legs, and once, as our conversation grows animated, he rises from his seat in the vehemence of his earnestness, and leans against the mantel piece. A clear-eyed, frank faced, fine looking man, who wo

m quick judgments, and to act upon them. If I did not mistak

have come to ask you

takeably surprised. "I do

ou first. In fact I do not want you to join my Bible class. I have no

con Goodsole," said he,--"or," and the smile changed f

it through creeds, and catechisms, and orthodox preaching. I want to get a fresh look at it. I want to come to it as I would come to any other book, and to find out what it

it's the word of God any more than Homer or Tacitus. I don't believe those old Hebrews knew any more than we do--nor

I," s

night, summer and winter, in every blazing fire, in every gathering storm

is dark eyes flashing, his great forehead seeming to expand with great thoughts, his soul

m but once a year. My God is every where. There is no church that can hold him. The heavens are his home; the earth is his footstool. A

d for any opening he might give me, and thought of Jennie, and her prayers at home, and declared to myself by Go

the rest to the world, the flesh, and the devil. I believe all days are divine,

ould do before I had sought this interview. I had resolved that nothing should tempt me i

pt in a sacred ark; and that despite his care they were broken in pieces before Moses got down from the mountain top. I believe he writes them impartially in nature a

me to teach him what my Bible really

or the books of Samuel and Kings than the history of Tacitus, or the Psalms of David than the Paradise Lost of Milton, or--you'll think me bold ind

rom that moment. Never case in court so thrilled me with excitement as I too arose

?" I asked

sitatingly, "yes.....

and found in them a practical help is to be counted by millions. There is hardly a child in Wheathedge that does not know something of them, and has not b

that they are worth studying. But

oir from which Luther, and Watts, and Wesley, and Doddridge, and a host of other singers have drawn their inspiration, and in which myriads untold have f

assert that they ought to be studied as any other books of noble

rywhere into the grossest of idolatries. There is a wonderful wealth of moral truth in the ethics of Confucius. But the ethics of Confucius have not saved the Chinese nation from stagnation and death. There is wonderful life-awaking power in the writings of Plato. But they are hid from the common people in a dead languag

ath, and his incomparable teachings. I have read his life in the Gospels; I have read it as Strauss gives it; and as Renan gives it;

d teaching worth your study

eadful. But I do not mean to be ignorant of the Bible or of Christianity as Jesus Christ gave it to us. It needs winnowing. We hav

aid I, "is to let me

steadily in the eye as if to tr

of the men from your shop lounging about the door. They could spend the afte

an say that any word or influence of mi

nd influence with mine to

e no a

ged at a game of ball upon

us, and as well done on Sun

nd words of Jesus would do them no harm, and detract nothing from their holiday. Th

ear s

t be made a better workman, husband, father, citizen, for

true,"

st winter to keep them from Joe Poo

itally," sa

Bible club for Sunday afternoons

d me through and through with his sharp black eyes. What a lawye

of the Virgin Mary. I believe his birth was as natural as his death was cruel and untimely. You believe that--he was divine. I believe he was a man of like passions as we ourselves are,--a Son of God only as every noble spirit is a spark struck off from the heavenly Original

said I

you have the

id you ransack the past to know the value of the latest theory that there never was a Will. Shakspeare save as a nom de plume for Lord Bacon? Did you inquire into the origin of his several plots, and study to know

ully, as if he partially perceived the meanin

His noble life, His sublime death, His incomparable teachings. So do I. That noble life we can read together, Mr. Gear, and together we may emulate His example without a fruitless debate whether it be divine or no. Those incomparable teachings we can study together, that together

had retired beneath his shaggy eyebrows as though he would search his own soul through and thro

Gear," said I, "but we shall not quarrel abou

. They are honest, and were not arrived at without a struggle and some self sacrifice. You are the first Christian," he added bitterly "that ever paid them the regard of a respectful hearing. I will join you

"God helping me it shall not be m

ped it

l we begin

t Su

e?" s

please?"

church parlors, or wherever we

han either," said he. "The boys wi

xt Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. I will b

as I can,

"Mr. Gear and I are going to

me with that smile I love so much. But she