Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-06-09
Taking upA Collection.

Rarely have we bea better story. or
better told story, than this, from a reyer
end gentleman in Missouri.
The lie OF new preacher in new
country, from a secular point of view is
hardly as smooth and free from djffcnItv
as position in more cultivated and nonn,
lous communities usually appears to be
The people are thinly scattered here and
there, engaged in different rursuits thoroL
chiefly agricultural. Being collected fr6n1
all parts Of the older States, and gathered
from every class Of society, they meet unon
the same common ground, upon terms Of
easy familiarity, and restr.ined by no i-k-
some conVeutiOnalitics. PEOPLE in A new
country generally have pretty hard time
OF 1t. They live q sort oc rough and TIM
Die" lie, wearing out their best Efforts in
struggle for existence. Under these cir.
cumstances the material sometimes sbsorhs
completely the spiritual; and the people NOT
uu!reqmeulg get so far behind" with the
preacher they have to be powerfully stir
I'd up" from the pulpit.
On une occasion we bad visit from .he
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,
Wei we were not disappointed. He
preached us a moving discourse from tho
text OWE 80 MAN ANYTHING" At the
close OF the sermon he came ut once To the
subject in hand.
"Brethern," said be, "have YOU raid
Brother - anything his yearY Norh.
ing at ali, l understand. Well, now. vour
preacher can'tlive on air land you must nav
up-pay up, that's the idea. He needs
twenty live dollars now, and must have II
Steware, we'll take up a collection now
Here some OF the audience near the door
began to slide out.
"DJDt run! don't runi' exclaimed the
elder. Steward, lock that door, and fetch
me the key ~ he continued. coming down
out OF the pulpit, and taking bis scat bv
the stand table in front
The Steward locked the door. and then
deposited the key on the table by the side
of the elder.
''Now, Steward" said he. "go ropnd
with the hat. | must have twent1 five doI
lars out OF this crowd before one of Won
shall leave this house."
Here was FIX" The conpreqotion
were taken oil abacE, The old folks look
ed astonished; the your folks Uttered The
steward gravely proceeded to the discharge
OF his official duties.
The hat was passed around, and at length
deposited on the elders table. The elder
poured the funds" on the table. and eoun-
ted the amount.
Three dollars and hal A slow
start, bretheren CO round again, stew
ard. We must pull up heap stronger
than that !"
Around went the steward with his hat
again, aud finally pulled up at the elders
stand.
mime dollars and three-ouarters. Not
enough yet. Go around again, steward"
Around goes the steward the third time.
Twelve dollars and a half! Mighty
slow, brethren ! 'Fraid your dinners will
all get cold before you get home to eat
them. Go round again steward"
BY this time the audience began to pe.
fdgety. They evidently thought the ike
was getting to be serious. But the elder
was relentless. Again aud again circnIa-
ted the irdefatigable hat, and slowly hat
surely the "pile" on the table swelied 10
the requisite amount.
"Twenty-sOur dollars and half OoIv
lack half dollar. Go round round again,
steward f!
just then there was IN the window
from the outside; fa6d was thrust in.
holding s,bslf Do n - -.
and f