The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-07-06

Who drive the commerce of the main.
God bless them! for their swarthy hands
Have wrought the glory OF all lands.
THE DEACON's SERMON.
In certain town in the western part
Of this state, there resided and labored
one of the most conscientious ministers
we ever knew. And like all other good
men he had his troubles. We are ex-
ceedingly sorry to say 1t, but regard
for the truth compels us to state that
one prominent cause Of many of his an
noyances was the very peculiar notion
entertained by his deacon.
This church had appointed but one
deacon, and in this, as we will see. made
. great mistake, for this individual, not
having any one to divide the honors of
his office with him, soon became what,
In some people would be called self.con-
ceited.
For the first year or two all went very
we'll, but finally the good deacon began
to entertain notions, which, if INDUCED
were likely to disturb the harmony of
the church. Among these the opinion
gradually gained ground in his mind
that his minister did not earn his mo-
ney. And 1t Il to explain how he was
cured Of this notion that we write this
sketch.
From the deacon's stand point the
minister's salary was large, indeed,
"enormous, as the deacon used to say.
In point of fact, 1t was very moderate,
being only four hundred and fifty a
year, and fifty Of that to be taken in
wood. But we must look ut it from the
descon's point of view.
He lived upon AMI cultivated a farm,
that furnished him aud his family al.
most their entire living. When they
wanted groceries, or any kind Of "store
goods' he would make trade of butter
or eggs, and supply their wants. This
left him very little to sell for cash, and
consequently the good deacon handled
but very little actual money from one
years end to the other. Two hundred
dollars, and sometimes fifty, or seventy.
five more was all the real cash the dea.
con saw in the year-and his necessities
not requiring this much he usually had
q considerable sum to his credit at thu
bank. How his minister with not {
large family, could spend four hundred
dollars in cash every year; was more
than he could possibly comprehend
"There must be-" he thought, great ex
travagance somewhere
But it was not altogether the large
amount Of the minister's salary tina
troubled the deacon, a. . settled con
viction, for a long time growing upol
him, that he-the mlnister-did no
earn it. He had thought the matter al
over most seriously-it had kept hin
awake of nights. He had even sough
the opinion of his good wife on the sub
ject. But she somewhat discouraged
his endeavor to seek for aid and com
fort in that direction by rather curtI.
replying that she ''didn't pretend t.
know about the minister's business
She didn't think he would steal, and i
he took what he did not earn, it certain
ly would be stealing"
Knowing Betsy as well as the deacon
did, he refrained from commencing a,
argument on the point, but scratching
his head in a meditative sort of way
went over to 1.-The store" where h
found a willing crowd to listen to hi
"views." In his opinion the ministe
did not earn his money. "What doe
he do any way? ?" lie said, addressing
neighbor who sat on a box amusin
himself by tossing up in his hand
couple of beans-"Most of the time h
wears his best clothes and goes aroun
visiting on the people-a takin' tea wit
the women, and havin' a good tim
while me and you is hard workin
The man of the beans nodded his hea
and flung the beans more assiduously
as though they had something to d
with the work referred to by the deacon
: "And then 40 to preachin'-I'd like :
know what there's in that?" he cor
tinued. "Ifa man couldn't write /
, half a day enough to read half an hou
on, why, I'd think he'd better quit th
business, wouldn't you ?" The throwe
Of beans not being disposed to take issu
with the deacon, he continued, "Now
don't set up pretentions to be smartt
than most folks, but if can't wril
with this very hand' (holding out
hand that did not look as though it ha
( been gotten up with special reference
!: holding a pen) "as good sermon
> halfa day as the minister breaches
!. US, I'll quit being deacon-and T.
. preach it, too. in the church, if he'd 81,
me chance"
This last remark, in course of tim
got round to the minister's ears, ar
he determined at the first opportuni'
i: to give the deacon a chance to try b
gifts
This soon occurred. Not but a fe
weeks after this conversation referr'
to, it happened that the minister W
It called to be absent from home for
Sabbath. So going over to the deacon
house early Monday morning, he stat
to him the necessities of the case, Al
e insisted that he should prepare \ sc
, mon and preach it in his pulpit the ft
lowing Sabbath. @@AE
+ A view Of the deacon's face that n