American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-10
Taking nm a Collection.


The life of preacher in new coun-
try, from secular point of view, is hard
ly as smooth and free from difficulty as
position in more cultivated and populous
communities appear to be. The people
are thinly scattered here and there, engag-
ed in different pursuits, though chiefly
agricultural Being collected from all
parts of the older States, and gathered
from every class of society, they meet up
on the same common ground, upon terms
of easy familiarity, and restrained by no
irksome conventionalities. People in
new country generally have pretty hard
time of it. They live sort of trough
and tumble" life, wearing out their best
efforts in a struggle for existence. Under
these circumstances the material some
times absorbs completely the spiritual;
and the people not unfrequently "get SO
far behind" with the preacher, they have
to be powerfully stirred up" from the
pulpit.
On one occasion we had visit from the
presiding elder of our district at one of
our quarterly meetings We had not
paid cur preacher mary dime" as the boys
say and we expected scorcher from the
elder.
Well, we we're not disappointed. He
preached us a moving discourse from the
text ''ve oue no man ouything." At the
close of the sermon, he came at once to
the subject in hand
" Brethren,"' said he, "have you paid
Brother-anything this year? Moth
ing at all, understand. Well, now your
preacher cant 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 collec-
tion now"
Here some of the audience near the door
began to slide out.
"Don't run don't run p' exclaimed
the elder "Steward, lock that door, and
fetch me the keyv he continued, coming
down out of the pulpit and taking his seat
by 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 Ego round
with the hat. must have twenty-five
dollars before you leave the house"
Here was Elk" The congregation
were taken all aback. The ok folks look
ed astonished theyoung folks Uttered
The Steward gravely proceeded in the dis
charge of his official duties
The hat was passed around, and at
length deposited on the elders table
The elder poured "the funds on the ta-
BILE, and counted the amount.
" Three dollars and half" A slow
start brethren! Gro around again, Stew
ard. We must pull up a heap stronger
than that -
Around went the Steward with his hat
again, and finally pulled up at the elders
stand.
4" 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 your dinners will
all get cold before you get home to eat
them. Go round again, Steward !!
BY this time the audience began to be
fdgety. They evidently thought the joke
was getting to be serious But the elder
was relentless. Again and again circula-
ted the indefatigable hat, and slowly but
surely, the pile" on the table swelled to-
ward the requisite amount.
Twenty-four dollars and half. Only
lack half dollar Go round again, Stew
ard"
Just then there was tap on the win
dow from the outside; hand was thrust
iif holding a half dollar between thumb
and finger, and young fellow outside ex-
claimed:
Here, Parson, here's your money
Let my gal out O there. I'm tired Of
waiting for her"
1t was ''the last hair that broke the
camels back" and.the preacher could ex-
claim in the language of Ike Turtle, This
ere meetin is DONE"
<-)-~>
STRAY sHoT-There is no adhesivela-
bel like nickname Waiting for dead
mems shoes is, in most measures, boot
less affair ladies generally shop in
couples When lady has any money to