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Of theological subjects, scarcely a thought had entered his mind since Monday morning; and, certainly, the states through which he had passed were little calculated to elevate his affections, or make clear his spiritual intuitions. It was twelve o'clock before Mr. Adkin was able to retire on that night.
"I never had those articles; and I shall always say that I was wronged out of so much money." "I'm sure, madam, I don't want your custom, if I'm expected to let you have my goods for nothing," retorted Mr. Adkin, the natural man in him growing strong under an allegation that implied dishonesty.
The note stated, briefly, that the writer was so much indisposed, that he would not be able to preach on the next day, and conveyed the request that "Brother Adkin" would "fill the pulpit for him in the morning." Brother Adkin almost groaned in spirit at this unwelcome and not-to-be-denied invitation to perform ministerial duties on the Sabbath.
"The muslin is charged on the 10th of June." Mrs. Smith looked at the bill and answered affirmatively. "You bought a pound of yarn and a straw hat on the same day." "Yes; I remember them. But I didn't get the muslin." "Think again, Mrs. Smith. Don't you remember the beautiful piece of Merrimac that I showed you, and how cheap you thought it?" "I never had six yards of muslin, Mr. Adkin."
Adkin, every lay preacher takes with him into the pulpit a taint from worldly and business contact, and his presence there must turn the thoughts of many hearers from his clerical to his personal character from the truth he enunciates, to his practical observance thereof in daily life.
The corn was delivered and paid for, and both parties, for the time being, were well satisfied with the transaction. The day had nearly run to a close, and Mr. Adkin was in the act of estimating his gains, when the man from whom he had purchased the corn entered his store. "Look here, my friend," said the latter speaking rather sharply, "you paid me too little for that corn."
A week in the life of Brother Adkin will show the peculiar influences that acted upon him, and how far his secular pursuits interfered with and marred his usefulness as a preacher. Monday morning had come round again. He had preached twice on the Sabbath once to a strange congregation, and with apparent good effect, and once to a congregation in Mayberry.
"Will it pay?" is the eager question we hear on all sides, as we mingle in the business world. "Has it paid?" Ah, that is the after-question! Reader, is the monster's shadow in your household? If so, it has not paid. WHETHER the Rev. Andrew Adkin had or had not a call to preach, is more than we can say.
Brother Adkin kept a store in the town of Mayberry, and being a man of some force of character, and not, by any means, indifferent to this world's goods, devoted himself to business during the six days of the week with commendable assiduity. It is not the easiest thing in the world to banish, on the Sabbath, all concern in regard to business.
"What are you paying for corn to-day?" asked a man, a stranger to Mr. Adkin. "Forty-eight cents," was answered. "Is this the highest market rate?" said the man. "I bought fifty bushels at that price on Saturday," replied Mr. Adkin. Now, since Saturday, the price of corn had advanced four cents, and Mr. Adkin knew it.
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