Jerusalem by Selma Lagerlöf
page 63 of 311 (20%)
page 63 of 311 (20%)
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"The church and the pastor will be needed just the same," returned
the schoolmaster with a confident air. "It is my purpose that the mission house shall promote the welfare of the church. With so many schisms cropping up all over the country, the church is sorely in need of help." "I thought you were my friend, Storm," said the parson, mournfully. Only a few moments before he had come in confident and happy, and now all at once his spirit was gone, and he looked as if he were entirely done for. The schoolmaster understood quite well why the pastor was so distressed. He and every one else knew that at one time the clergyman had been a man of rare promise; but in his student days he had "gone the pace," so to speak, and, in consequence, had suffered a stroke. After that he was never the same. Sometimes he seemed to forget that he was only the ruin of a man; but when reminded of it, a sense of deep despondency came over him. Now he sat there as if paralyzed. It was a long time before any one ventured to speak. "You mustn't take it like that, Parson," the schoolmaster said at last, trying to make his voice very soft and low. "Hush, Storm! I know that I'm not a great preacher; still I couldn't have believed it possible that you would wish to take the living from me." Storm made a gesture of protest, which said, in effect, that anything of the sort had never entered his mind, but he had not the |
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