Litchfield enquirer., 1856-10-09
The Ministers Charter Payday.

.hs money e Sechfe Hse'tt0h-
 
 The Ministers Quarter Payday. As the Parson sat at his books one day, 4 rap ut his door heard he: The Parish Collector had called to pay The Society's Quarter fee. A hundred dollars aud fifty more, Were counted the Parsons due, Though small sum this, for half q score, To yictual, and clothe and shoe. Asut the day had come, and for youthful sport The parsonage ne..er displayed A day like that, when his scant support Was about to be promptly paid. The children danced, and gigglcd and grinncd And wrigglcd like cells in oil And smiles broke forth on his visage thinned Ky fasting, and tears and tori. The Parish Collector sat him down, And out of his pocket took Tine tithcs he d gathered about the town, Crammed into his pocket book; iIt.was not much of a cram, at that, Though honey ard milk indeed, Not milk enough Tor starving cat, Not honey enough for need But such as 1t was. without much risk, The Collector poured it out aHe spread 1t round on the Parsons desk, And scattered 1t all about But little of shining gold.was there, And less from the silver mine, And hank -bi]ls-ztbey were exceeding mre! Alas for the poor divine! First came a.notc for little sum, Which the poor saan late had given To rich parishioner, near his home, Whom he heped to meet in Heaven! Ten dollars was all--n much. know, But an order followed the note, With butchers bill and bill or so For butter anl bread, to boot The Doctor had drawn for his small amount, The Grocer had filed his claim. And all intended their bills should count Whenever their payday came. The good Collector rcckoned them up The minister stood aghastl Twas bitter drug in his brimming cur To think he had lived SO fast ], Who knows what pain the Parsan endures, As the good man hands them OCT, And says with a bow, "Sir, these are yours And should have been paid hefore; For scandal 1t Is to religion, sir, Which the world can never forget, When man of case like minister Is unabls to pay debt. And here besides Is a lot of cash, Three 6vcs and lnsty ten: Your daughters in satin now may dash. Aud your boys dress up like men, But allow me to say, good Parson Gay, You'd better just lay aside A little of this for rainy day.
 Ky walk instead of a ride. For money Is scarce, and tho times are hard, And you, sir, are getting grey, And you may not fare us you here have fared Should the people turn you away. We've given you here a large support, And the farmers all complain, That the crops this year will Dc dreadful short. If we don't soon have some rain. We can't long pay such enormous sums As VIC have to pay you now, For you know that the payday often comes, And the Squire has lost Q COW: And one of old Goodwin's sheep is dead, And hs feels poor this year. The tender shepherd here turned his head, To drop-for the sheep-a tear ,s0f this the Collector no note took
 He gabbled his story through, Then slowly folded his pocket.book.
 And looked as If he knew. iHc took his hst with a cheerful smile,
 Rejoiced in duty done; Then rode away to his home mile, At set of Dccember's sun The Parson rose, as he left the room.
 And bowed with . smile of grace, Hut his heart resembiod ruined tomb.
 In spite of his smiling faae. He closed the door and resumed his ahair. Ull, amid his griefs and fsars, He ssamed half chokad for breath of air. And bumt in flood of team.