Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1875-02-18


he could get the ministers thoroughly
interested in him, he would have good
opportunity for comparing rates. The
good men all wanted Joe, for he wee g
rising young man, and could, if the
spirit moved him, make handsome Sub.
scriptions to good purposes. So in their
zeal they soon regarded each other with
jealous eyes, and reduced their respect
i've creeds to gossarner thinness. They
agreed about grace being free, and Joe
accepted that promptly, as he did any
thing which could be had without price.
But Joe was practical man, and
though he found fault with none of the
doctrines talked at him, he yet hesitated
to attach himself to any particular con
gregation. He finally ascertained that
the Rev. sBarzillai Driftwood's church
had no debt, and that it's contributions
to missions and other religious parposes
we're very small, so Joe allowed himself
to be gathered into the fine assortment
of crooked sticks which the Rev. Bar
zillai Driftwood was reserving unto the
day Of burning. 81
Great was the rejoicing of tho congre-
CATION at Joe's saving act, and sincere
was the sorrow of the other churches,
who knew their own creeds were less
shaky. But in the saloon and on the
street Joe's religious act was discussed
exclusively on its merits, and the results
were such as only special spiritual labor
would remove. For no special change
was. noticeable in Joe. On Sunday he
abjured the world, but on Monday he
made things uncomfortable for the
Widow Macnilty, whose husband had
died in the debt of Taokey & Cater. A
customer bought some gingham, on
Joe's assurance that the colors were
fast, but the first wash-day failed to
confirm Joe's statement. The proprietor
of the stage line between Bungfeld and
Cleopas Valley. traded horses with Joe,
and was afterwards heard mentioning
his new property in language far more
acriptural than proper.
up @as paspe Ana Rnd
as he gained years and building lots,
and horses, and commenced discounting
notes, his responsibility grew and waxed
great in the minds of the practical peo.
pie of Bungfield. Even good women,
real mothers in Israel, oon1d not help
thinking, as they sorrowed over the
sands in the bottoms of their coffee
cups, and grew wrathful at runney"
flour Fought for ga Snperfne" of
Tackey & Cater, that Joe would make
q valuable husband. So thought some
of the young ladies of Bungfeld, and
as young ladies who can endure the idea
Of such man for perpetual partner
can also signify their opinions, Joe be.
gan to comprehend that he was in active
demand. He regarded the matter rs
he would sudden demand for. any
of trade, and, by skillfully
manipulating the market, he was soon
enabled to choose from q full supply.
Thenoeforward Joe was as happy as a
man Of his nature could be. All his in
vestments were paying we'll; the store
was prosperous, he was successful in
all his trading enterprises, he had pur-
chased, at fearful shaves, scores of per-
feotly good notes, he realized on loans
which would cause usury law to
shrivel and crack, his insurance policies
brought him fair dividends, and his
wife kept house with economy and
thrift. But the church-the church
aeemed an unmitigated drag. Joe at
tended all the church meetings-deter-
mined to get the worth of the money he
was compelled to contribute to the our
rentexpenses-h had himeelf appointed
treasurer, 30 he could get the use of the
church money, but the interest even at
the rate Joe generally obtained, did
not balance the amount of his contribu-
tion.
Joe worried over the matter until he
became very peevish, yet he came no
nearer business-like adjustment of
receipts and expenditures. One day
when his venerable partner presented
him certificate of dividend from tho
Patagonian Mutual, Joe remarked:
"Never got any dividends on that
other insurance You put me up to taking,
psrtner-that 'gainst firesrisks in the
next world, you know. Twill be tough
if there's any mistake-churoh does
take a siphb of money! -