The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-11-10
THE DEACON's TITHE.
nY .ApA CAHIEToN.

the flock for forty years, had gone to his
long home; and in his stead had como
an honest plain.spokcn young divine
with an earnest, fearless cloqueicc OF his
own. Aud now the worn door stone ol
the little gray church on the bill "a.
once mere tr0ddcn by feet which had
long been stranger, to il. The minister
boarded, having no family, at Deacon
Larrabcc's.
''IIe's the least Bit uncertain Oh some
points," said the deacon, ieanlng on MS
hoc.handlc and talking across the fence
to his neighJor Gray, who leaned on his
hoe handle 70 listen, IA bit uncertain.
But like him i DO, no mistake; and |
believe the Lords going I" bless us
through him.
Amen wns Ncghbor tiray's hearty
They hocd half dozen hills Of cora in
silence, their hoes keeping time TO the
merry song Of 4 bird in the orchard.
Then Mr.. Gray paused TO wipe The per-
spration from his face.
This ho, wcathcr's Liable 10 make
sickness said be. Il suppose you've
heard that one OF the Widow Sperrys
boys is down with fevcr?"
'Sho! now YOU dont't say so:' ex
claimed The deacon conmseratiugly.
Make ii hard for her, won't it?'
"Ics, particularly when she's so lately
lost her cow. I've been saying that we'd
all ough, to take hold and make i;
up 20 her. Ifl'd more than one cow on
ny place | wouldn't stand to talk long,
now, tell you Lut lost my two best
ones la-t spring. II hadn't -
|, might have been uniutcntional, that
4 !.
his glance toward the hill! pasture "hcrc
his neighbor's herd Of COWS was quietly
feeding. All erents, the deacon could
scarcely help noticing the action. And
he understood It's pnrp1rt. An uneasy
flush mounted to his face a, he struck
vigorously into the next hill
Of the road Ny cattle never get into
should, wou.di.'; expect anybody to
had the widow, To let her COW run, than
I'd have to turn my whole drove out"
"I.'s pretty hard case, nevertheless"
said Mr.. Gray.
And then the iragmentary converaa-
ton, tossed piece meals back and forth
across the fence rs the neighbors went
different channels.
There had been an interested listener
to the colloquy narrated above. On the
shady side Of the wall which separated
Deacon Larrabee's orchard and cornfield
sat. book in hand, the Rev. Mr. Weston.
He arose, as the chat which floated to
his hearing began TO be OF corps and
haying, and walked slowly away along
the orchard path with thoughtful smile
upon his face.
That night when the deacon took the
shining milk -pails from the dresser and
proceeded 10 the farm yard, the young
clergyman followed him. lie stood
leaning against the bars, watching the
yellow stars come out in the sky, and
looking abroad over the dcucon's posses
sion's, shadowy, now, but substantial
enough by daylight.
"Iou arc 4 prosperous man, deacon"
a smile Of supreme satisfaction over
spread the deacon's countenance as ho
stood for q moment patting the sleek
neck Of favoritc COW.
"Wcll, yes" said he; "but I've mado
myself. A pig and pitchfork, sir, was
all l had to begin with"
"How does your ncighbor Gray get
along?"
Gray well, truth to tell, he'll never
be fOrchandcd if he lives to the age of
Methusclah. He's hard.workng man
enough, but why It's | cant tell you; |;
there's never poor creature thnt comes
into our town that dosen't head direct
for John Grays. Must be instinct
teaches 'em; for he gives, TO IN all, de-
serving or not He'd take tie coat Off
his back f't was needed. He's good
neighbor-n good neighhor but he'll
never gel anything to speak of, ahead"
"Bul lay up for yourselves treasures in
Heaven, where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, aud where thieves do not
break through nor steal" quoted the
minister.
eyes; but, If mind ME right, the
good Book says something too about pro-
viding first for ones own household,
--eh?'
Mr.. Weston smiled. 81 believe there
is passage to that effect" S 4 he.
"And," went on The deacon, n little
triumphantly, ''if Ncighbor Gray would
give certain portion"
ga tilhe? ?" intcrpolated the minister.
"And not 60 beyond that" continued
Dcdcon Iarrabee, "he'd be better off in
one respect and no worse off in the other,
to my thinking. | don't believe in-in
indiscrminnte giving"
Nor do ~ WAS the quiet rejoinder.
Then there was silence while Deacon
Larrabee filled another pail with snowy
foam.
"How many COWS have you, deacon ?"
Ten" answered the deacon, with
pardonablc pride showing itself in voice
and feature "and it's the finest herd in
our county. They're grade Jersey"
"Ycs," returned Mr.. Weston, little
absen,ly. Then, after slight pause,
Deacon Larrabec, overheard the con-
versation between you and your ncighbor
Gray this morning relating to Mrs. Sper-
ry and her mistortunes. Poor lady! shc
does need substantial sympathy. Can
not you afford to lend tithe of your
cows to the Lord?''
(which means that give one Of them
to the widow" uttered the deacon, with
wry face. "No, sir Pm afraid l can't.
She wanted TO buy one the other day,
but told her I'd none to spare. 1t was
all owing to carelessness that she lost her
COW, aud 1 don't believe in upholding i'm
providence. Get to going on that way,
and we'd all be oil the town farm before
we know it,"
Mr.. Weston wore n thoughtful counte-
nance, set glcam Of something like
amusement lighted up his eyes.
"Will you sell me one of your cows?"
he asked
"I-I have no need of money now"
replied the deacon hesitatingly.
The minister continued 81 heard you
say this morning that you would be glad
to give good man extra wages to help