The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-07-22
The Carpenters Sermon.

Tell We what, mates, this sort o.
thing won't do. Here we've been at it
these six weeks and not a penny of
wages yet. It's all very fine to say,
Stick to your work but a man won t
git fat on working for nothing, that 5
S.ctain?'
Right you are, Bill. S'pose we
knocks off work and tells Sir James we
won't do more without he pays us?''
Gently, lads; remember what hap
pened to the dog as dropped his meat
in grabbin' at the shadder. If we stick
to this job, maybe Wen git our money
some time, but if we knock off we won't
find another job growing on every bush,
mark We"
"Wen, that's true, but it's mighty
hard luck for US, all the same"
So grumbled, under their breath, q
gang of English workmen who were re-
pairing the interior of one of the great
London churches one fine summer after
noon in the time of George l. And
certainly they had good reason to grum-
BILE. Sir James Thornhill, the court
painter whom the king had employed
to restore and redecOrate the building,
had his head so full of his own fine
plans and sketches and of the grand
show that the church would make when
all was done, that he had quite forgot
ten such a small matter as the paying
of his mems wages. So, although the
poor fellows had been hard at work for
six weeks and more not a shilling of
pay had any of them received yet.
" Look here, boys" cried a tall,
gaunt carpenter, with a dry, keen
looking face, 1--we always heard say
as Sir James is kind old gentleman
at heart and maybe it amt that he
don want to pay us, but only that he's
forgot it, like. Let just draw lots who
shall 90 and tackle him about it and
then there'll be no mistake
The suggestion was at once followed
out and the lot fell upon the tall carpen-
ter himself.
This was more than the worthy man
had bargained for and he looked some
what nonplussed. However there was
no drawing back for him now. Up he
cot and away along the aisles he went
toward the spot where Sir James Thorn
hill was standing.
But the nearerhe got to him the slow
er he walked and the more chop-fallen
did he appear Indeed, Sir James
looked such fine old gentleman as he
stood there like a statue in his laced
waistcoat and silk stockings, with his
powdered hair falling over his fine vel
vet coat and his hand resting upon his
silver-hilted sword, that poor Chips felt
as bashful as if he were going before the
king himself.
BIT, as the proverb says, " Fortune
favors the brave" and the valiant car
penter was Unexpectedly helped out of
his dilemma by the very man who had
caused it. Sir James suddenly turned
round and seeing him coming up called
out:
"Ah, my good fellow, you've come
just in time to do me a service. You
see, / want to be quite sure that the
pulpit yonder, which we're just putting
up, is in the right place; for, of course,
when the clergyman goes up into it to
preach, his voice ought to be heard
equally well in every part of the
church. Now suppose you step up there
and make a speech of some sort, while
stand here and try if | can hear you
plainly"
but what be to say, your honor?"
asked Chips, scratching his head. 81
haven't got the gift of the CAB like you
gentlemen have"
80, say whatever you ike-just the
first thing that comes into your head. "
The carpenters small eyes twinkled
as if a bright idea had suddenly oc-
cured to him. Up he went and leaning
over the carved front of the pulpit, be-
gan as follows:
- Sir James Thorn ILL., sir, sir! Me
and my mates has been a working for
you, in this here church, good six
weeks and more, and we haven't seen
the color of your money yet, and now
we amt going to do another stroke,
without you pay us all that's owing"
THAT will do, my man." said Sir
James, hastily, "yOu may come down.
Your elocutiOn is perfect, but l can't
say l quite admire your choice of a
text
However the sermon was not thrown
away. The very next morning the men
received their wages in full and Sir
James gave the clever carpenter half
guinea extra for himself .-Hdrper's
Young People.