Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-09-10

moniously in week or ten days at the far
thest. Let us get you wife come, we have
your interest at heart" said the deacon, with
a good deal of energy.
"Capital idea You can't think, Deacon
Ellery, what load you have taken off Of my
mind the responsibility is great it is kind
in you and the deacons, very kind" said the
minister, as he walked up to the deacon anc
grasped his hand. "If you will agree upol
somebody shall never forget it."
"The Scriptures tell US, you know, to beal
each others loads" said the deacon, who was
not quite correct in his quotation, but the pas
tor knew what he meant, and it was just a:
we'll Deacon Ellery was a good man, ano
yet he consulted the Almanac oftener than he
did his Bible
THANK you, deacon, most kindly, for your
proffered assistance. But did you say that
you could have things all settled and running
smoothly in the church in ten days?" said ths
minister.
"Yes, in ten days you can be happy man
settled upon a wife, everything harmonious il
the church-and-an your salary increased,
said the deacon, triumphantly, congratul lating
himself that he had thought of the latter
cause.-the salary"
"Let me see, this is Tuesday then in 9
week from Friday shall expect you to cal
and see me, deacon, and l shall rely upon
your aid-that is, you and the deacons-to
smooth the troubled waters"
II shall come to you bearing the 'oive
branch upon that evening"
but deacon, candidly, I really was not
aware of any lady by the name of Olive
Branch, in the society,"" said the parson, qui'
etly. "are your"
The deacon, as has been stated, loved good
Joke, and the suddenness with which this had
been projected took the deacon by surprise.
Deacon Ellery was quite large man, quite
corpuent, and whenever he laughed heartily,
to use common expression, which was ex-
tremely applicable to him, he laughed all over.
The deacon fairly shook with merrinlent tor
some moments before any noise was heard,
then came slight chuckle, followed by an ex'
plosion of laug ghter, and winding up with tit
of coughing, leaving the deacon blue in the
face
"That is-the-best thing have heard for
a long time," said the deacon, after some ex'
ertion and wiping the perspiration from his
face and the tears from his eyes. 81 didn't
know that you were given to such things"
II suppose it is unbecoming in minister,
but you suggested it, deacon; but | must 60
home I hope you will be successful"
mo trouble about that, it will be all right,
and l shall remember my engagement" said
the deacon, as the minister took his leave.
"That's pretty good, said the minister to
himself, while walking home. Il have agreed
to marry some one out Of the society and let
the deacons look me up a wife. Idon't think
any other minister was similarly situated
presume they think it an easy thing to settle
the question. If am not mistaken they
never can agree, so am safe, l guess" and
the minister laughed outright as he thought
of the popularity of the proposition made by
the deacon. "But what if they should agree
1 declare if they should agree" and Mr.. EN-
cry fairly stopped in the street and was look
ing intently upon the ground when he was
awakened from his reverie by Mr.. Harding,
the young lawyer before referred to.
"What have you lost, Mr.. Emery?" asked
Mr. Harding.
"Lost? oh, nothing; was only thinking
that's ALL"
Do you have to stop in the street, Mr. En-
cry, when you think ?" asked Mr.. Harding.
"No, not usually; but l was revolving over
in my mind very hard proposition. You
are very good friend Of mine, I know, Mr..
Harding, and am going to confde secret
to'you, and | want you to aid me in getting
out of difficulty, if you can. You know
that stories are being circulated in regard to
my marrying. Now, the deacons are max
ing-to speak plainly-a fuss because don't
get married, and now, when say l will get
married, they desire me to select wife out
of the society, and, in fact, really love lady
in another State. What shall do?'
"Oh that's easy enough, parson you can
get out of that. You agreed to marry a lady
out of the society. Isn't the woman you speak
of out of the society?" asked Mr.: Harding
"contracts are construed literally"
"Well, that's good. didn't think of that, "
said the minister; "but you have been SO kind
as to show me door Of escape, l am almost
inclined to tell you'll guess I will-that l
am still worse off than that. [ have agreed
to Deacon Ellery to marry some one whom
the deacons shall all unite upon"
"That's pretty good-the queerest contract
I ever heard of before, but you are safe upon
that-the deacon's can't agree. I was just
talking with Deacon Brown, and as you have
been free to confde your secrets to me, |
think should tell you what he said. Deacon
Brown never will agree with Deacon Ellery,
for he was just saying that Mrs. Burton was
the finest woman in the society, so you are
safe," and Mr.. Harding continued at length,
giving a statement of the difficulties in the
church, to the larger portion of which the
minister was an entire stranger.
1t is not uncommon, for oftentimes very
grave difficulties continue for months in some
churches without the pastor being aware of it.
Deacon Ellery Informed his wife that eve
rything was settled, and that the pastor was
going to marry some one from the society.
"Well, then, deacon, you must speak strong
ly for sister May" were the last words his
wife spoke as the deacon left the house and
wended his way to Deacon Browns, where a
meeting Of the deacons was to be held.
Mr.. Ellery was entirely unconscious that
he should find any opposition to his wishes,
and he was very much surprised before the
meeting adjourned.
At the breakfast-table, the next morning,
Mrs. Ellery asked the deacon how the meet
ing passed off, and if they were harmonious.
Far from being harmonious. Brown is
really obstinate"
"That Mrs. Gray, 1 wish she was out of
town! !" said the wife, rather sharply.
"Matilda,' said the deacon, sobery, "you
know that Mrs. and Mr. Gray are the wealth
lest and best members of the church"
In due course of time Friday came-the
day upon which the deacon was to call upon
the minister