Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-06-12
Taking up a Collection.


Taking up a Collection.
Rarely have We heard better story, or
a better told story, than this from rever-
end gentleman in Missouri.
The life OF a preacher in new country,
from secular point Of view, is hardly a.
smooth and free from difficulty as a posi-
ton in more cultivated and populous COM
munities usually appear to be. The peo-
pie are thinly scattered here and there, en-
gagged in different pursuits, though chiefly
agricultural. Being collec'ed 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
conventionalists.y People in a new country
generally have pretty hard time of il -
They live sort Of rough and tumble"
life. wearing out their best efforts in
struggle for existence. Under these cir
cumstances the material sometimes absorbs
completely the spiritual; and the people
not unfrequently get so far behind" with
the p, eacher they have to be powerfully
sstirred up" from the pulpit. ao'iq4ha
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 "ary dime" as the boys say, and
we expected scoring from the elder.
Well, we were not disappointed. He
preached US moving discourse from the
text, OWE NO MAN ANYTHING" At the
close of the sermon, he came at once to the
subject in hand.
8 Brethren" said he, shave you paid
Brother Brown anything this year? Moth
ing at all, under stand. 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 f.-ka M q cnllsctia, = -
Here some Of the audience near the door
began 10 slide out. A SIS las s1 ea
"Don't runl don't un!' exclaimed the
elder. "Stewa,d. lock that door, and fetch
me the keyw he continued, comirg down
oui of the pulpit and taking his seat by the
stard table in front. nggl
The Steward locked the door. and then
deposited the key on the table by the side
of the elder.
Now Steward" said he. ego round
withthe hat. l must have twenty-five dol
lars on, of this crowd before one of you
shall leave this house." .
Here was fix" The congregation
were taken all aback. The old folks look
ed astonished the young folks iiltered.-
The Steward gravely proceeded in the dis
charge of his official duties. HAF
Tue hat was passed around, and at length
deposited on the elders table. The elder
poured "the funds " on the table, and count
ed the amount.
Three dollars and balfi A slow start,
brethren Go around again. Steward
We must pile up a heap higher 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 around again, Steward r
Around goes the steward third time,
pulling up at the elders siard as before.
"Twelve liars ard half! Mighty
slow. brethren! 'Fraid your dinners will
all get cold before you get home 10 eat 'em.
Go around again, Steward p
BY this time the audience began to be
idgety. They evidently thought the joke
was getting to be serious. But the elder
was relentless. Again and again circulated
the interchangeable hat, and slowly but surely
requisite amount.
Twenty-four dollars and half! Only
lack half a dollar. Go around again,
Steward !" W ~
/ Just then there was tap on the window
from the outside; hand was thurst in
holding half dollar between the thumb
and finger, and a young fellow outside ex-
claimed h
Here, Parson, here's your money Let
my gal out O there I'm tired of wailin'
for her."
1t was the last hair that broke the camers
back and the preacher could exclaim, in
the language of Ike Turtle, This ere
meetn's done bust up!"