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THE CLOSING SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE. See page 16.

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, By CARLTON & PORTER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.

PREFACE.

MANY of the incidents of the following narrative have fallen under the observation of the writer, and others have been related by actors in the scenes. They have been woven into a simple, truthful story with the design of imparting a lesson, and strengthening generous sentiments. Some of the characters will at once be recognized by their friends. In an itinerant's life there may be darker shades than are here depicted; but I have generally preferred the sunnier aspect, in the full persuasion that my object will be better accomplished by presenting models for imitation, rather than characters that might awaken abhorrence only, and leave page: 6-7 (Table of Contents) [View Page 6-7 (Table of Contents) ]Switch to Image ModeCLOSE Page 6-7 (Table of Contents) the reader no better. I have not written in vain, if the profession and exercise of the Christian graces shall become more emphatically the pursuit of life; if the thoughts suggested by the perusal of this book awaken in any heart an increased love of goodness, or a desire to do good to all; and, especially, if the Christian ministry shall be more highly honored and better sustained.

CONTENTS.

• CHAPTER I.
  ANNUAL CONFERENCE—ASSEMBLY—GENERAL ASPECT—CLOSING SERVICES—RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES—FAREWELLS PAGE 15
• CHAPTER II.
  THE JOURNEY—REV. MR. ARTHUR—RETROSPECTION—TRIALS—THE RICH MAN—INJUSTICE—CHILD IN HEAVEN—ANTICIPATION—ARRIVAL—FARMER HATFIELD—LITTLE DWIGHT—CONVERSATION 20
• CHAPTER III.
  OBSERVATIONS—MRS. HATFIELD—STATE OF SOCIETY—PLEASURE OF MR. ARTHUR—SUPPER—CRACKING NUTS—WILLIAM LAWRENCE, THE ORPHAN—THE UNSUCCESSFUL MINISTER 26
• CHAPTER IV.
  THE RECEPTION—BROTHER BOYNTON—"FATHER" HARVEY—EARLY ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE CHURCH DESIRABLE—MINISTERIAL SUPPORT—"FATHER" HARVEY'S PLAN—PROPORTIONATE GIVING—OPINIONS OF THE "BOARD"—INTERVIEW CLOSES 36
• CHAPTER V.
  CHEERFUL ATTENTIONS—MR. ARTHUR RETURNS HOME—THE MINISTER'S FAMILY—SACRIFICES—BURDEN REMOVED—EVENING WORSHIP 46
• CHAPTER VI.
  PREPARATIONS FOR REMOVAL—THE LITTLE WOODEN WAGON—PERPLEXITIES—INCOMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS—UNNECESSARY EXPENSES—PARSONAGE FURNITURE—PARSONAGE LIBRARIES—FAREWELLS—SISTER BLANCHARD—THE DEPARTURE 51
• CHAPTER VII.
  THE ARRIVAL—FRIENDS—THE PARSONAGE—MRS. BOYNTON—THE CHILDREN—SUPPER—ARRANGEMENTS—THE FAMILY ALONE—PLEASURE—THE CONTRAST—THOUGHTFULNESS—COURTESY—SUPPLIES—THE CHILDREN'S SURPRISE—BENEFITS CONFERRED NOT LOST 59
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• CHAPTER VIII.
  SALARY—MEETING OF THE BOARD—OPINIONS—A WORD FOR ONE WHO BEWAILS THE WANT OF AN EFFICIENT MINISTRY—NEW SOCIETIES UNCONSCIOUS OF THEIR DUTY—CARES AND LABORS OF THE MINISTER'S WIFE—HER DUTIES—CALL AT THE PARSONAGE—UNEXPECTED AID—GRATITUDE TO GOD PAGE 66
• CHAPTER IX.
  EFFECTS OF PROMPTNESS AND ATTENTION—GLORYING IN SELF-DENIALS—THE ARTIST—THE AUTHOR—THE EXPLORER—FEAR OF POVERTY SHOULD NOT AFFLICT SERVANTS OF THE KING OF KINGS—MR. ARTHUR NOT EASILY DISCOURAGED—PROSPERITY—FATHER HARVEY AND MR. HATFIELD—UNCANCELLED OBLIGATIONS OCCASION SHYNESS—OWE NO MAN ANYTHING 75
• CHAPTER X.
  FRUITS—THE GOOD SEED—THE ORPHAN BOY—CLASS-MEETING—CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY—STRUGGLE WITH UNBELIEF—VICTORY—JOY IN THE HAMLET—WHERE I WAS FIRST FORGIVEN 82
• CHAPTER XI.
  REMOVAL—REGRETS—THE BEST FOR ALL—PREPARATIONS FOR SUCCESSOR—SELF-DENIAL BINDING ON ALL—POVERTY NOT HUMILITY—A LIBERAL SUPPORT DUE THE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL—RESOLUTION OF WILLIAM LAWRENCE—HIS IMPROVEMENT—STUDY OF NATURE—LICENSED TO EXHORT 90
• CHAPTER XII.
  THE NEW APPOINTMENT—SALARY FIXED AND UNCHANGEABLE—SUPPORT OF CHILDREN—FORBIDDING PROSPECT—OLD MR. GRANT—MR. SIMON'S LIBERALITY—NANCY'S SUGGESTION—DONATION VISIT—MR. GRANT'S ACCOUNT-BOOK—DESPERATE EFFORTS—MRS. GRANT AND DAUGHTER—REMOVAL—NO PARSONAGE 97
• CHAPTER XIII.
  PREPARATIONS FOR CAMP-MEETINGS—THE GOLDEN RULE OF CAMP-MEETING—NANCY'S OPINIONS—WILLIAM LAWRENCE—THE BANK NOTE—FALSE SENSIBILITY—LABOR AND SUCCESS—NUMBER OF BACKSLIDERS OVERESTIMATED—REMARKS 107
• CHAPTER XIV.
  INTEREST IN CAMP-MEETINGS NOT DECLINING—THE SUPERANNUATED—A PASTOR'S DUTIES NOT LIMITED TO HIS PARISH—FORTY YEARS AGO—THE SURE SUPPORT—DIVINE PROVIDENCE—"NEARING THE FORT"—LIBERALITY OF THE MINISTRY—SELF-RELIANCE—THE EX-GOVERNOR—INADEQUATE SUPPLIES—DANGER OF RICHES—RESOLVES—JOURNAL 117
• CHAPTER XV.
  MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS—THE BETHEL—PLEASANT HOURS—RETURN—CONVERSATION—MRS. BARTON—SALARY INSUFFICIENT—NEGLECT OF THE CHURCH TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY NOT VENIAL—ENERGIES PHYSICAL AND MENTAL OVERTASKED—IMPROVEMENTS PAGE 130
• CHAPTER XVI.
  THE HATFIELDS—PREPARATIONS FOR THE ACADEMY—NOT SELF ALONE—PLANS—THE NEW CLOAK—THE PRACTICE OF BOARDING QUESTIONED—SENSE OF DUTY QUICKENED—THE LARGE TRUNK—THE COLT—THE STEERS—THE PET LAMB—THE DEPARTURE 139
• CHAPTER XVII.
  CONFERENCE—REMOVALS—THE CITY—MRS. BARTON—DEATH OF MR. BARTON—DESOLATE HOURS—PLANNING—DAY DAWNS—CHRISTIAN BENEFICENCE—PRESENTS—ALTERED CIRCUMSTANCES—REMOVAL INTO THE COUNTRY—CHRISTIAN HEROISM—TRIAL OF FAITH REWARDED 149
• CHAPTER XVIII.
  THE CONFERENCE ACADEMY—REV. MR. EMERSON—WILLIAM LAWRENCE A STUDENT—FIRST IMPRESSIONS—JOHN HARWELL—NEW POSITION—CLOSE QUARTERS—AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE—GRATITUDE—LITTLE FOLKS—THE STUDENT'S RECOLLECTIONS OF HIS MOTHER—THE LETTER—GRATITUDE ENNOBLING 158
• CHAPTER XIX.
  RESIDENCE IN THE CITY—A CALLER—INAPPROPRIATE GIFTS—CONCILIATION—SELF-RESPECT—PUBLIC OPINIONS CONTRASTED—A GOOD ARRANGEMENT—ANOTHER CALLER—FIRST FAMILIES—COMPLIMENT NOT APPRECIATED—IN THE WAY OF DUTY—DONATION VISIT—THE VELVET BONNET 168
• CHAPTER XX.
  APPOINTMENT TO AN INLAND TOWN—MR. ARTHUR'S FAMILY—VISIT TO THE HAMLET—MEETING OF FRIENDS—THE STUDENTS—THE YOUNG PEOPLE—THE EVENING PRAYER 178
• CHAPTER XXI.
  THE WEDDING PARTY—MR. ARTHUR—WILLIAM LAWRENCE—LITTLE ADDIE—THE LILIES—"FATHER" HARVEY—WORSHIP IN THE GROVE—FAVORITE HYMN—THE LORD'S PRAYER—THE SECRET WHISPER—"I HEAR THAT VOICE AGAIN"—SPIRIT VISIONS—A SONG OF VICTORY—THE LAST SLEEP 189
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• CHAPTER XXII.
  MENTAL DISCIPLINE—TRUE SUCCESS—PRESENT USEFULNESS—COUNSELS—THE MISSIONARY SPIRIT—A FELLOW-STUDENT—SACRIFICES—THE ZEAL OF THE LAITY DISPROPORTIONATE TO THAT OF THE MINISTRY—SELF PAGE 202
• CHAPTER XXIII.
  CONFERENCE—THE CABINET—UNEXPECTED REMOVAL—PLEASANT HOME—EDUCATION OF CHILDREN—NOBLE IMPULSES—QUALIFICATIONS FOR USEFULNESS—THE HIGHER WALKS OF LIFE—WANTS OF THE CHURCH, AND ITS RESOURCES IN THE YOUNG—RESOLVED TO BE A MINISTER—TRUST IN GOD 212
• CHAPTER XXIV.
  LETTER FROM MRS. BARTON—EDWARD IN THE CITY—TAKEN INTO MR. ARTHUR'S FAMILY—THE PLAN—APPROVAL—MARIAN ARTHUR—LEAVING HOME FOR THE ACADEMY—PROPORTIONATE GIVING—FAVORS RETURNED—MARIAN ARTHUR A TEACHER—RETURN HOME—GOOD NEWS—A HAPPY FAMILY 221
• CHAPTER XXV.
  THE TEACHER—REVIVAL—ATTENDS CONFERENCE—TAKES AN APPOINTMENT—VISITS THE HAMLET—THE COLT AGAIN—DEPARTURE AND RETURN—THE YOUNG BRIDE—REHEARSALS—DISCOURAGEMENTS—THE BLIND MAN—VICTORY—CLEAR SKY—AT HOME IN THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY—THE SPIRIT OF THE CROSS—HARWELL—CULTIVATION OF THE INTELLECT A SACRED DUTY—ADVANCES OF MENTAL DISCIPLINE 233
• CHAPTER XXVI.
  PLEASANT HOURS—THE STUDENT'S BRIDE—THE HATFIELDS—SOLOMON'S MODEL—HOUSEKEEPING—NO PARSONAGE—THE HOSPITABLE HOME—THE YOUNG MINISTER'S MOTHER—A CHERISHED RELIC—THE FAMILY BIBLES—SECRET AID—MR. BOYNTON—THE FIRST VISIT—AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE—THE SERMON—"NOT APPRECIATED"—POOR STATIONS—WANT OF CULTURE—BE PATIENT—ENTIRE CONSECRATION TO GOD 247
• CHAPTER XXVII.
  THE BEGINNING SMALL—CULTIVATION—PERSEVERANCE—FAITHFULNESS—A TRUE FOUNDATION—THE UNAPPRECIATED—GOES TO GERMANY—FALLS OUT WITH THEOLOGY—A BOOK OF TRAVELS PROMISED—MR. ARTHUR'S FAMILY—EDWARD BARTON—HIS BROTHERS—FRANK ARTHUR—OLD FRIENDS—MR. BOYNTON—MR. AND MRS. ARTHUR—FAITHFUL NANCY—LAST DAYS OF THE MINISTER AND HIS WIFE—THEY SLEEP IN PEACE 260

INTRODUCTION.

TRUE, beautifully true, will, we think be the pronunciamento passed by its readers upon this little narrative. Not that it consists of literal historical fact; but that, like our Saviour's parables, under an external imaginative form it encompass a true principle, and a power of producing a true impression. Many of the apologues of the great Teacher were not individual facts, that could be said to have occurred at some particular time; but general representation of what is always occurring. And so of this little life-parable of our present day. It perhaps did not transire under the same name, in the same order of events; but it is what is constantly transpiring—happening every hour of the day in every part of our land, under every variety of name. It is a true picture. But every picture drawn by an page: 12-13[View Page 12-13]Switch to Image ModeCLOSE Page 12-13 actual painter's genius is, in a measure, a pleasant deception. It simulates itself to be what it is not; and the more perfect the semblance, the more completely it can make your imagination conceive it to be what it simulates, the sweeter the rapture you feel, and the higher the price you will pay, not for falsehood, but for the reality, which can alone be most truly presented by truthful fiction. Nay, if it be, say, the portrait of some hitherto unseen personage, or a sketch of some unvisited scene, then, the more complete the painter's deceptive skill, the more true is the knowledge of the originals imparted to your mind. And thereby the slightest visible sketch not only attracts a more ready attention, but conveys a more accurate idea, and carries that true idea into thousands of quarters for which the very truest written discourse would have no power or chance.

No ministry of any Protestant Church is called upon to make such sacrifices as the itinerancy of Methodism. At its very entrance there is a self-surrender, hardly to be paralleled by any lay profession, certainly unparalleled in any other ministry. It may be easily shown how this surrender of local home and worldly resources subjects to a countless number of privations and trials unknown to a settled pastorate. Yet how immensely those privations may be increased or diminished by a countless number of little things on the part of the Church, is seldom thought by our people. How truly there is a right way and a wrong way of dealing with a pastor; how perfectly easy the right way is, if only sought; and how much better, even for the Church itself, it is, if adopted, are seldom realized as they should be. Sermons and dissertations are dry and ineffective modes of making these truths seen and felt; but here is a picture of the whole thing. Look at it; is it not entertaining? Is it not true? What, then, is the lesson? And what must be our future doings?

If this little book can win its way to the attention of our people—if it can only awaken their minds to a study of the proper mode of lessening the trials of a class of good-doing, God-serving, world-saving men—a great object will be attained by a small instrument. Meantime there is room for the labor of further talent in the same field. This little book has wrought but a small part of the rich subject. If its success shall encourage the author, or its example shall awaken some other hand to draw page: 14-15[View Page 14-15]Switch to Image ModeCLOSE Page 14-15 a completer picture of our pastoral life—its relations to the people, and of the people to it; to show the trials and duties of each to the other, and so bring them to a better understanding—it will accomplish much. There is room for showing in a most telling way, the reasons in which our "peculiar institutions" are founded, the rational call they make for self-sacrificing concession from every part of the Church, the immense importance of bringing our life up to the pattern set forth in our system, the wondrous results of its past history, and the still more wonderful results yet descried in the future by the eye of faith, provided always the spirit of our system shall live in the practice of our people. May God's blessing rest upon the work in its little mission, and upon the readers who receive its sayings.