Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-29
Taking Up n CORRECTION.
A reverend gentleman in Missouri relate
the following anecdote =

A reverend gentleman in Missouri relates
the following anecdote -
The life of preacher in a new country,
from secular point of view, is hardly as
smooth and free from difficulty as position
in more cultivated and populous' communities
usually appears to be. The people are thinly
scattered here and there, engaged in different
pursuits. though chiefly agricultural. Being
collected from all parts Of the older states,
and gathered from every class of society, they
meet upon the same common ground, upon
terms OF easy familiarity, and restrained by no
irksome cOnventionalitles. People in a new
country generally have pretty hard time Of
1T. They live IL sort of CROUCH and tumble"
life, wearing out their best efforts in strug-
gle for existence. Under these circumstances
the material sometimes absorbs completely
the spiritual; and the people not unfrequently
''get SO far behind" with the preacher, that
they have to be powerfully "stirred up from
tine pulpit.
On one occasion we had visit from the
presiding elder of our district at one of our
quarterly meetings. We had not paid our
preacher cary dime" as the boys say, and we
expected scoring from the elder.
Well we were not disappointed. He
preached us a moving discourse froni the text
the sermon, ne came at once to the subject in
hand
"Brethren," said he, ''have you paid Broth
Err anything this year? Nothing at
all, L understand. Well, now, your preacher
can't live on air and you must pay up-pay
up, that's the idea. He needs twenty five
dollars now, and must have it Steward,
we'll take up a collection now'
Here some OF the audience near the door
began to slide out.
'Don't rum don't rum" exclaimed tho ell
der. ''Steward, lock that door and fetch me
the key" he exclaimed, coming down from
the pulpit and taking his seat by the table in
front.
The steward locked the door, and then de-
posted the key on the table by the side f the
elder.
Snow, Steward" said he, ego round with
the hat. | must have twenty five dollars out
of this crowd before one of you shall leave the
ROOM"
Here was "fixl" The congregation were
taken all aback. The old folks looked aston
iahed; the young folks Uttered. The steward
grayely proceeded in the discharge of his Off
cial duties.
The hat was passed around, and at length
deposited upon the elders table. The elder
poured the funds on the table, and counted
the amount.
''Three dollars and half! slow start,
brethren Go round again, steward. Wemust
pull up heap stronger than that"
Around went the steward with his hat
again, and finally pulled up at the elders
stand.
''Nine dollars and three-quarters. Not
enough yet. Go round again, steward"
Around goes the steward the third time.
''Twelve dollars and half! Mighty slow,
brethren! 'Fraid you dinners will all get
cold before you go home to eat theml Go
round again, steward
BY this time the audience began to be fidg
ETY. They evidently thought the joke was
getting to be serious. But the elder was re-
lentless. Again and again circulated the in
aeiaogable hat, and slowly but surely the
pile on the table swelled towards the requi-
site amount.
twenty -four dollars and a half! ONLY
lack halt dollar. Go round again, stew
ard" "e'''A' ''e"
just then there was tap on the window
from the outside hand was thrust in hold
ing halt dollar between the thumb and fin-
ger, and young fellow outside exclaimed,
"dere parson, here's your money. LET NV
gal out O. there I'm tired of waitin' for her !,
TWAS ''the last hair that broke the comaI,s
back" and the preacher could exclaim. in
the language of Ike Turtle, "This ERE meet
ms done bust up"