Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-11-05
Paying the Minister.
Written for The Philadelphia Saturday Eeens Post
BY T. g. ARTHUR.


On the next dav, as the minister was walk
ing down the street he met Mr.. Larkin. The
aI.usion to this gentIem,n's personal matters,
which the vestrvnan had made. still caused him
20 feel sore. 1t touched him in a vulnerable
part He had been talking quite freely. since
then, to every member of the church he hap
pened to meet, about the GOODNESS with which
Mr.. Malcolm, alter running himself in debt,
thing he had no business Ia do, called unon the
church 10 raise him more money. He, for one,
he said, was not going to stand any such non.
sense, and hoped every member of the church
wonl as firmly set his face against all such i'm
positions. II they were to pay off this debt. they
would bavc another twice a. large 10 settle in
few months. 1t was the principle of the thing
he went against: not that he cared about few
dollars. As soon rs Mr.. Larkin saw the min
lister a little ahead of him. he determined TO give
him piece his mind. So when they paused
,aue ,a,e, and while their hands we're lock-
ed in friendly clasp. he said
Lonk here friend Malcolm, have got some
thing against You; and AS ain an independent.
pain-spoken man. von must not be offended with
me if | tell yon my mind freely
'The truth never oifends me. Mr.. Iarkin
said the minister "ith smile. | am not fault
less. tho willing to correct my faults when |
see them
very we'll Mr.. Larkin spoke in resolu,e
voice, and seemed to el pleasure rather than
rsin in what he was doing. In the first place
then. am sorry to find that you possess one
very bad FAULT, common to most ministers. and
that is. disposition to live beyond your means
and then come down upon the parish to pay
yonr debts
The blood came rushing to the face of the
minister which his monitor took to be the plain.
est kin of svi hncc that he hal hit the nail fall
" upon the head He went on more confident
".
Now, this, Mr., Malcolm. consider to be
very wrong-very wrong indeed .-rnd cspe'
cally so in Young minister in his first year
and in his first parish. lfsuch things are in thu
green tree. what are we to expect in the dry
You accepted our c III, and were plainly inform
ed that the salary would be four hundred dollar
and rent free. Upon this our f,rIner ministc
had lived quite comfortably Ifyou thought tin
salary too lit'le, Won should not have acceptc
the calI-accepting it.vou should have lived up
it, it you had lived on bread and water
Mr.. Larkin paused. The minister stood wit
his eyes cast upon the pavement but made n
answer. Mr. Llrkin re-um nd
Ii is such things as this that bring scandi
upon the church, and drive right thinking met
ont of it. 1t isn't that ! val few dollar
more than do the wind but like to see prin
cple; and hate all imposition. You are
young man, Mr., Malcolm, and | speak thu
plainly for your good. hone YOU will not fee
offended
Mr I,rLi, rorsoa ,h;,l;, o.h,n. Cha
be had said enorrh IVA 'a;r;SS,r' ,' a ,'
still mon tho nayomen, Com, v,iioh no ,;f,o
Them as soon rs h;S ,n;n;,,nr had J,,rn sal
inc. The flush had left his checks ~ s that wer
now pale.
Il thank You for your honesty in speaking 5
paIIy' "ho Wi .y ~ P'"rt W M""S w" nav
t1'u "e, "e 'a'u 'a'"''y' i"o ocs' Vi Us are Ia
o'e NO 10 err. .
mere was something III ''e wo'us, voice an
manner OF 'he ,h'h,''er' mat Mr' LarN'n ana N
apprenehd' lie had spoken harshly' ana Il
now le,' wan some rnoeneIS nut WINE the'
was no'n'ng III .he alr WIN "hIcn l'.s repro