Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-23

the next is to come from" was the response
but ministers wives don't always have this
comfortable assurance. | know Mrs. Den
ham doesn't"
Are the minister's family complaining Of
their fare among us ?" asked Brother Smith,
rather sensitively.
" No,--at least | never heard them COM
plain Of any thing, though how woman can
get along as Mrs. Denham does, is surprising |
to me. In feeble health, with two small |
children, company at a moments warning, |
aud often the sendercst stock of which to
prepare acceptable food to set before guests
a poor, inconvenient house, scanty furniture, |
and never months wood in the shed, even
in the dead of winter"
" You are making out quite a case in
terruptcd Brother Brown but don't know
who is to blame for this state Of things
When Mr.. Denham came among as, we sub
scribcd certain sums for his support, and ex-
pect to meet our obligations like Christian
men, He knew about the sum we would be
able to raise Had he deemed it insufficient
to meet the wants of his family, he was at
liberty TO say as much, and seek some other
/ field Of labor"
The lady bowed, and glanced about the
vostry.
How many came in to attend monthly
meeting this afternoon ?" she inquired.
Only myself and Brother Brown" was
Brother Smiths reply. d" Religion is at
low obb with us We had been deploring
the lukewarm state Of our church when you
entered"
" What did YOU conclude was the cause OF
Iit2" asked the lady, resting against a slip
aud putting her feet to the warm stove.
We think there are more causes than
one," Brother Smith replied. 81 suppose
some Of us may have neglected duties and
thus displeased our Master. Then we are all
apt, more or less. 10 lean on the minister, and
ours doesn't seem to be in the place he was
some months ago Brother Brown and |
have been considering whether or no, when
the years. up, it will not be as well to let
him 20, and try another one
Then you have become dissatisfied with
Mr. Denham," said the lady.
Well, We should not wish to say that, ex-
|ucUy,' was the reply. Perhaps the man
doe. as well as be can, though he has not the
life and power of some ministers have not
. been as blessed under his preaching as | ex-
} pectcd to beat the outset, and Brother Browne
+ experience corresponds with my own"
Z Yes said Brother Brown, approaching
! 4" I confess Mr.. Donham has not come up ia
my expectations. When he first came among
- us. / thought he was going TO be an instru'
4 mout In the hands Of God Of accomplishing
e much good in our church and community
e but these prospects are now quite overcast
l. 1t Looks gloomy ahead Mr. Denham ha
d lost much Of his spirituality, or | ammo judg'
:. Of such matters. The blessing obtain from
d his ministution, is very SMALL
o "If YOU have got a fye-dollar blessing
If don't know what more YOU could expect,
It said the lady, in a quiet tone Of voice.
O Her words were electric The two me
IS looked quickly at each other, and turned thei
d steps toward the door
n Brother Smith aud Brother Brown com
d muncd with themselves that night. The
were both worth their thousands. The littl
,r woman at the vestry was dependent on he
IT own exertions for support. Yet, on the min
ID ister's subscription list, her name was dow
for an equal sum with Brother Smith an
% Brother Brown, and she had found no deart
70 of spirituality in Mr. Denham's sermon
ne On the contrary, they fed her soul from Sal
d bath to Sabbath. She saw the minister
m family were pinched in every way. The yer
small salary was slow and irregular abol
l. cominp in and they oftan lacked for Il
ms comforts, if not the necessaries Of life. The
or things depressed Mr. Denham. He was con
paratvely young, and peculiarly difhdent-
tn greatly lacking in self.assertion. He coul
no not 20 to men Of wealth, years his senior, an
d, ask for the pttance they had subscribed towal
Id his salary. But he felt that God wou
as withhold his blessing from those who treat'
his cause so nirgardly, and prayed in b
IT. closet that the little church might be deli
is cred from the thrall of coyetousness. 1t W
IN. hard place to work, and when, added
to other difficulties, his wife fell sick, Mr.. De
ham felt he would not be sorry to end
n labors there with the closing year.
Ter But ga word spoken in season, how go
FOR it is !" aud the little woman who visited t
he yestry on monthly meeting day had spok
rn this word.
ID. IF you have got a fye.dollar blessing,
Ial don't know what more you could expect
What more, truly They were amply al
ar- to pay twenty-five such sum would be
,ut more for them than was FIVE for the lit
yer vesiry woman. They had raised two hu
,ur dred aud fifty dollars for their minister
for needed FIVE hundred. 1t was only reason
ay, BILE compensation for his services and suppo
+ a He did not ask 1.-THE agreement had be
law that he should accept what they could raj
)ne Yet it was mean thing to half support
civ servant of God. How could they, as chur
ire. expect Gods blessing, till they rigated 4
hly wrong in their midst
zee. Brother Brown and Brother Smith 81
Ier their boys next day with load Of dry We
nall and kindlings to the minister. Then Brotl
Smith, who held the subscription list, drew
her forth, aud placed figure | at the left ha
1ul- of the ), which stood against his name, so n
MIS- it read
but "ALpHrus SMIrH-Sl5.'
say He thought it was an improvement {
ink concluded to 20 round the parish and see }
low many others would be of like opinion.
wise found several, and quite little purse OF re'
am money was made up for the minister. Brot
Smith and Brother Brown found the serm
said more spiritual at once. The prayer-meeti
un- put ON new life and erelong there were
,ual dications of a genuine revival OF religion.
Brother Smith and Brother Brown ope
ave declared, in monthly concert, that they
iher lieyed covetousress was the great sin in Il
:. 1t midst, at which God was angry Brot
nee, Dix felt the force of the declaration,
Law, hauled two cords of his best marketable W
into the church sheds for winter fires
two When Mr.. Denham's year came round
ave, stead of seeking out new field with HI
yes. depressed by manifold temporal trials, he
laboring in the midst of a protracted meet
ing. where crowds of anxious souls foeked to
own altar, seeking salvation through Jesus.
we're Brother Smith liked his ffteen-dollar bl
ason ing so well, that he thought he must max
,ick, twenty-five the next year, so he did
This Brother Brown and good maay oil
dn't doubled their first subscription.
,r it. How strong that once weak church
by grew What power for good it becam
en-. the community What happy converts
o let down beneath its baptismal waters
,stry strong were its laymen in the spirit and pc