The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-17

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weather. now than then, but even then
is was aristocratic enough to tell what
its future would be. Every denomina.
ton must have its own church, and there
were always fairs and festivals and sub.
scrlptions for this and for that; and
Obed was a church member, and very
much looked up to because of his abili-
ties, fine social position and high char
acter. and you can imagine how, with our
mlserly income, it was utterly impos-
siblef for us to buy tickets for everything,
| subscribe toward the preachers 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 entailed no ex-
pense, to render that. But when it
came to money, mind you, we could go
no further. We held it to be a crime
to let our honest debts 60 unpaid for
the sake of feeding the contribution
box. We knew men who did that way,
but they were always in financial
trouble, and don't think they enjoyed
their religion much, especially when
they were sold out by the Sheriff, their
families reduced to penury, and various
other families suffering loss because of
their liberality in various ways. Now,
don't misapprehend me! Nobody in
the world loves to give better than |
do; but l had rather be branded a
monster of penuriousness than to be
guilty of being liberal with money that
properly belongs to somebody else. No
doubt but that we were criticised, but
we had the courage of our convictions.
We knew better than anybody else
what we could afford to do, although,
as you know, there are persons in every
neighborhood who think they know
more about your ability to give than
you do yourself.
"Well in the second or third year of
our marriage the church building mania
seized upon the ambitious part of the
congregation of the church of which
Obed is member. The old church was
old-fashioned, it is true, ivy-grown, but
in most ways very comfortable, and
so capacious as to hold congregation
three or four times as large as that
which worship in it. But the town, it
was argued, was growing rapidly in an
other direction, and in order for 'our
church to hold it's own, and to gather
within it's precincts the saints in cost
ly array, there must be new fold with
all modern improvements for the &C
commOdation of these fine-wooled sheep
to pasture in; so subscriptions for the
new church began. We had no sympa-
hu hn ruh1 aI,
tirely for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the de-
nomination, and not at all for the sal
walton of sinners. The church was in
no sense needed, and Obed declared
that if he were millionaire he would
not donate sou toward its erection,
for it would be but useless and heavy
burden upon the people-a sort of eccle-
siastical white elephant
"But the aggrandizers carried the
day, and the building of the church be-
gan, with half of the required money
pledged. Obed was elected one of the
trustees, for the eclat of his name,
suppose. He attended one or two of
the business meetings, when he lifted
up his voice in opposition to the scheme,
and that was all of his participation in
the matter.
FINALLY dedication day came. 1t
was appointed for Sunday in Septem.
Der, and everybody, far and near, who
was at all likely to donate anything to-
ward the lifting of the debt on the en-
terprise, which amounted to six thou
sand dollars. was especially invited to
attend the dedicatory services. The
bishop was to officiate, and other
noted men in the church were to be
present. The Sunday morning came,
and l awoke with headache which
quite untitled me for service. Obed an
nounced his intention of going to hear
the bishop and added, laughingly,
to see the fun
"'What fun?' asked, in surprise.
"' The fun of seeing $500 squeezed
out of the people. If they are all as dry
an orange as l am they'll raise about ten
CENTS and he thrust his hands into his
trousers empty pockets. Then, kissing
me, he walked away. l watched him
as far as the gate, taking pride in his
tall, manly figure and distinguished
air, that asserted itself in spite of his
somewhat seedy church suit.
"Dinner hour came, but Obed had
not returned. 1 remember 1 was sit
ting on the back porch of our cottage
waiting for him, when, like a flash,
came the thought in my mind What If
O6ed should be induced to Subscribe"
The thought actually made me faint for
moment, but quickly dismissed it as
being unworthy of him. He knew our
struggle with poverty, and especially
appreciated the sacrifices that 1 was
constantly called upon to make, and,
as you know, had been reared in af-
fuence. No, Obed was not of that
class of men who send money to the
heather while wife and children act
ually suffer for the necessaries of exist
ence.
''That ignoble thought quite passed
away, and half an hour later heard
Obed's step on the walk, little less
eager than usual, it seemed to me, and
the moment he reached the porch I
knew something was wrong, for can
always tell from Obed's face the state
of his feelings.
"'Well, back again, are you Obed?'
l said, by way of greeting, as he threw
his hat down with a boyish fling.
"' Yes; and what do you think I've
II 1.