The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-01-24
Selert Storp.
A CHURCH SUBSCRIPTION.
ny MARY WAGER FISHER.

oOcu uuu huFe Dtcn naFTleu ten
years, you know. He, at the time of our
marriage, had been at the bar but year,
and in great city like BIT is no
easy matter for young man to make his
way among the best lawyers in the coun.
try. 1t has been only within the last year
or two that the receipts of his practice
have allowed deposit in the bank over
and above our living expenses But l
had n little income, with which and my
capacity managed to make both ends of
the year meet. 0bed had plenty of mon
ey in prospect, but none in his pocket; so
upon the whole, We were extremely poor,
pinched for money at every turn, but no.
body suspected it. | had handsome
outfit when was married, aud it lasted
me for Ave years without the actual pur-
chase of a new article. was my own
child's nurse, seamstress, chambermaid
aud houscmaid, as We could only afford
one domestic 1t tires me now when |
look back aud live over the years of self.
sacrifice, Of a most tircsome economy, in
order that we might keep out Of debt.
But We were young and hopeful and we
often had little laugh at our own ex-
pense, us when dressed for church or a
visit Obed would say, "Nell, you re
dressed like princess, aud | haven't n
dollar 10 the world; one would think to see
you that we rolled in wealth." while
would gayly remind him that "All that
glitters is not gold | remember | had
Que costume Of unusual beauty and rich
ness which he mover liked me to wear, be
cause it seemed to him like making false
impression, and so it lay folded ia my
trunk until half ruined, ia order, as Obcd
said, to avoid even the appearance OF
"evil." ," lie is always quoting ST. Paul,
you know.
One secret Of my cheerfnlncss during
those trying years, was that my faith 10
Obed was deep as the sea and firm as the
everlasting hills. | no more believed il
possible for him TO do what he thought to
be wrong than it was for him to fly. He
is not brilliant fellow, you know, but for
solid qualities, as honesty, integrity, pure
ness Of heart, earnestness, charitableness
Of judgment, accuracy Of knowledge and
high aud keen sense Of justice, have
never known his equal. | never thought
of his yielding TO temptation, or abandon
ing any good cause because it was weak.
In my estimation he was as bulwark OF
strength suppose that endowed him,
in way, with my own decision and firm
ness, which have always made it as easy
for me to say no as yes In regard to any.
thing about which my convictions were
clear.
The greatest trial VIC had to contend
with was our inability to be liberal and
thoroughly hospitable This suburban
town where we now live is much Weather
now than then, but even then il was aris.
tocratic enough to tell what its future
would be. Every denomination must have
its own church, and there we're always
fairs and festivals and subscriptions for
this and that; and 0bed was church
member, and very much looked up to be.
cause Of his abilities, fine social position
and high character, and you eau imagine
how, with our miserable income, Il was
utterly impossible for US to buy tickets for
everything, subscribe toward the preacher s
salary, or contribute generously toward the
church expenses in any way. The very
best that we could do was to cast in our
widows mite, and whenever help was
needed that Cntailed no expense, to ren.
der that. But when il came to money,
mind you, we could 60 no further. We
held II TO be crime to let our honest
debts 90 unpaid for the sake of feeding
the contribution box. We knew men who
did that way, but they were always in
financial trouble, and dou't think they
enjoyed their religion much, especially
when they were sold out by the sheriff,
their families reduced to penury, and va.
rious other families suffering loss because
Of their liberality 10 various ways.
Well, in the second or third year Of our
marriage the urch-building mania seized
upon the ambitious part Of the congrega.
ton Of the church Of which 0bed is o
member. The old church was old fash.
ioned, il is true, ivy-grown, but in most
ways very comfortable, aud so capacious as
to hold congregation three or four times
as large as that which worshiped in il.
But the town, it was argued, was growing
rapidly in another direction, and in order
for "our church" to hold its own aud to
gather within It's precincts the saints In
costly array, there must be new fold with
all modern improvements for the accom-
mediation Of these iine-Wooled sheep tc
pasture in; so subscriptions for the new
church began. Obed was elected one oil
the trustees, for the eeiat Of his name, |
suppose. lie attended one or two Of Vi,
business meetings, when hc lifted up BIZ
voice 10 opposition to the scheme, and
that was all Of his participation 10 lh'
matter.
Finally, dedication day came. IL wal
appointed for Sunday in September, anS
everybody, far and near, who was at al
likely to donate anything toward the lift
ing Of the debt on the enterprise, whicl
amounted to six thousand dollars, was es