Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-06-10
see Mrs. Tomkins, she would have saved

sec WITS. OWkInS, Sne would nave saved
herself world of trouble.
Still nothing ofths was known to the 9TH
or members of the church, who were as full
Of conjecture as ever as to the singular con-
duct, as they called it, of Aunt Mary. The
minister said nothing, and Mrs. Tomkins, of
course, said nothing and no one ventured TO
question Aunt Mary.
On the next Sabbath, Aunt Mary came to
church as usual, and all eyes were instantly
upon her. Some thought she still looked
troubled, and was palcr than before, while
cheerful. In due time, the minister arose
and announced his text:
Give to him that asketh, and of him that
would borrow office turn thou not away
MY dear friends he said, on drawing
near to the close OF his beet, 'he text teach
es US, besides that of sim pie aims giving, the
duty of lending. But you will observe, that
it says not word about borrowing. Under
the law laid down here, we may lend as
much as we please, but it gives no license to
borrowing. Now, as far as have been able
to learn, a number of my congregation have
not been very particular upon this point
Hcy SCCU W tIIIlN, l||Hl u 10 ItIIIHS uIttI
neighbors to keep this injunction to lend, by
compelling an obedience to the precepl
whether they are inclued to obey or not
Now this is wrong. We are justified nlend-
ing ourselves, to those who need such kind
offices, but not to put others to the inconven-
fence of lending, when we are fully able to
supply our own wants. This is going be-
You'd the scope of the Divine Injunction, and
hold it TO be moral wrong. Some of you
am credibly Informed and his voice fell
to low, distinct, and solemn tone, ARE IN
the habit ofregularly borrowing Aunt Mary's
preserving kettlc-(here Aunt Mary looked
up with bewildcred air, while her face COL
ored deeply, and the whole congregation
started in Amusement ; but the minister went
calmly on)-And this too, without regard to
her convenience. Nor is this all-the ket-
tie is hardly ever returned in good condition.
How thoughtless how wrong! In this, Aunt
Mary alone has been faithful to the precept
in my text, while you have departed widely
from its true spirit. Let me hope that you
will think better Of this matter, and wisely
resolve to let your past Shortcomings suffice
And thus the sermon closed. 1t may well
be supposed, that for some days there was
something of stir in the hive. The ladies
of the congregation who were among the bor-
rowers of the preserving kettle, and they
were not few including the minister's wife,
were for time deeply incelsed at Aun,
Mary, and not few at the minister. But
this temporary Indignation soon wore of, iol
Aunt Mary was so kind and good, that no
one could feel offended with her for any length
of time, more especially where there was
really no cause of offence. One by one they
called upon her, as they were enabled to see
how really they had been guilty of trespas-
sing upon good nature, and after apoloei-
zing, enjoyed will, her hearty laugh upon
the subject. And finally, the whole thing
came to be looked upon as quite an amusing
as well as an instructive affair.
After this, Aunt Mary was allowed to pos
sess her beautiful bell-metal preserving ket-
tie in peace, which was to her a source of no
small! satisfaction. And what was more, in
the course of the next preserving season, a
stock of some twenty or thirty brass, copper
aud hell n,o,nl kcuIos, that had been lying for
years on the shelves of a hard ware dealers
store in the village, almost unenquired after
were all sold off, and new supply obtained
from Boston, to meet the increased demand.