Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-10-13
THE MINIsTkk,s sHIRTs.

THE MINISTRIES SHIRTS.
A Young, good booking, and silyer-tonpued
preacher was in the bloom of his celebrity at
a fashionable churohs and among the many
ladies Of his congregation who fell in love
With his shining, carts. YVES a wealthy but
elderly and rather plain looking spinster. who.
unable to repress her warnings for the divine.
cent him frank and feryent epistle. confess
sing her love and offering him her heart. her
fortune, and her hand in marriage.
The pet preacher had been so pampered
and surfeited with female worship, from
mettle more attractive, that he had grown
highly conceited; and instead of showing
any sympathy for the hopeless case, be en-
,brsced the occasion to display his wit, in a
ihesrtless and unealant manner. He wrote
u reply tos.he lady, brieay telling her to give
her heart to God, her money to the poor, and
her hand to him who asked il.
Thisswas quite witty, without doubt; and,
as the young sprig Of the ministry had e1-
pected, the story was reported about; and
the rejected lady was much laughed at, while
the pastor was extolled for his repartee.
which under false show of piety and disin-
teressedness, evinced such discourteous and
unehristian spirit.
III WAS not long before she whose teennQn
he had thus gratuitously outraged, had an
ample revenge, both upon him and some OF
those of her own EEK, who had Joined in
laughing at her disappointment.
The preachers rebuff made him more idol
lied than ever by them; and an enthusiastic
half dozen married women of their number,
whose greatest happiness in this world seem.
ed to be tina. they had the honor Of sitting
under him, put their heads together to con-
slider how they should do him some substan-
tial favor. At last they had it. They would
make him dozen shirts, in the best manner
and send them to him ANONYMOUSLY. They
knew he was very dressy. and such pif
would be highly acceptable to him and ther
eyery SUNDAY when thew listened to his adora.
BILE voice, they could have the secret gratiR.
cation of knowing that his beloved body wa,
enclosed in some of their handiwork.
But what was his size, They must bay.
his measure. 1t would not do to guess al
his dimensions. They wanted his shirts q
set we'll, BY all means, or their labor would
be in vain. After due deliberation, they as
certained who washed his respectable under
clothes, and bribed the washer woman t,
lend them the loan of one of his shirts
for n pattern. So the shirt went round from
house to house. and the six women hayin,
bought the finest of linen. set at work t
make up the dozen shirts between them, tw
apiece. 0f.U n
1t happened that while they were busil
engaged in this tender and interesting pursui
Of pastoral love. one of their bus bands chance
to espy the young ministers shirts in one Q
HIS bureau drawers. 1t aid not closely re
sembls one Of his own. and on inspection b
discovered tie clerRyman's initials, worke,
in one corner OF the flaps. y
A horrible suspicion flashed upon him.
How came a straeger'e shirt in his house
yes, in his very chamber and bureau drawer
visions Of domestic honor upset. and peac
forever fed. seized upon him. He seized IN
shirt and went straiehtway to his wife an
demanded an explanation Of those initials o
that tail. Evasion was useless. and in he
confusion she told the story. The hu.bsp
grew calm. and Glad things were no worse
he told her to 20 ahead with her holy worl
He was pleased. he said. at such respe,
shown TO religion.
But having ascertained who the other fiv
workers in the business were, be speedily ha
secret conference with their husbands, an