Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-11
Uncle Tim's Talent.

Uncle Tim held up his saw, aud squinted
along the teeth to see whether it was " los
ing its set." He failed to decide, in his sur
prise at finding that he was taking aim at
the minister, who stepped in range just at
that moment on the street side of the fence.
His eyes came into gear again as he laid
his saw on the wood-pile and stepped up to
the fence, saying, Well, it is queer. It's
only minute ago was thinkin' about you.
| was thinkin' what good sermon that
was you gave us last Sunday mornin' an
how would tell you so the first time saw
you." Uncle Tim was the wood-sawyer and
days work factotum for the village. I'm
learned, as he was, the minister always
missed him If he was absent from church.
he was such a helpful listener. Aud to
Uncle Tins compliment he replied, You
told me that you thought it was at the time,
in the way you listened to it; though, for
that matter, you always seem to be inter
ested. don't suppose you know what
comfort such hearer is TO minister. If
all the congregation were like you, think
it would turn my poor sermons into good
ones" "Thank you," said Uncle Tim. al
don't always get the hang of everything
that's said, but l should get less if didn't
give attention. An always say to myself,
The minister, he works hard to write his
sermons, an if folks don't listen to 'em, its
pretty discouraging.' An l says, You
can't put much into the contribution-box
Tim, an you can't talk in prayer-meetin',
but you can count one in listenin' you can
try to 'preciate what other folks do" "The
talent for appreciating is an excellent one to
have" remarked the minister. Well, as l
look at it, it's one as isn't denied to any
body" said Uncle Tim. An if it's the
only one I've got, III try not to wrap it in
napkin. When Deacon Mason does me
good by one of his experience talks in
prayer-meetin' think it's no more than
right he should know it. P'raps he has times
of thinkin' that he can't say anything worth
while, an it stan's to reason that he can
talk better if he knows he's doing somebody
some good. An when Widder Hatch is
maxim such gritty fight to keep her child
rem together, an give 'em an education,
think mebbe it makes it little easier for
her to stand up to it if a neighbor drops
word of probation once in while" The
minister said nothing, but there was look
of "'preciation on his face, and Uncle
Tim continued, "The other day see the
young schoolma-am was lookin worn out
and sober like. | imagined them big boys
from the Holler was worryin' the life out OF
her. An ! didn't know how | could help
that. But at noon lust went down to the
school-house purpose to tell her how nice
your gran'son was gettin' along with his
'rithmetic. An she said it was better than
half-a-dozen cups of tea, for cheerin her up
she did. An when see Sanford's boy
take a little Irish girls part that other boys
were tormentin', an they jeerin' him,
went up to him an | says, Uncle Tins
nothin but wood-sawyer but he knows
enough to see that you've got the stuff of a
gentleman in you You see old folks don't
notice the young enough. An there's Jim
Brady, a drinkin', oard-playin', shootin'-
match creetur', who goes around a good
deal like dog without any owner. He
knows folks despse him. But Jim's right
handy with tools, an when | take my saw
to him TO have it filed, an tell him he does
that job better'n any other man know,
think it helps him to have little more re-
spect for himself, do. You see it's dread
full easy 10 look at faults-at faults in child
rem, an faults in hired folks, an faults in
tavern keepers, an faults in prayer-meetin's.
But as look at IL we'd do great deal bet
ter to think more about the good things in
'em."-Ssiected.