The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-03-25
The Minister'S Surprise.

A portly. comfortable sort of man
Il ehoc lste-brown overcoat opened
the q Of Panon Rowe's cottage one
sharp, c c morning when a heavy
snow lay upon the ground.
1t was Squire Glover, one of the
''pillars of the church, and he was
coming to consult his pastor concern
ing some church matter Just as he
was about rapping at the door it open
ed, and Willie Rowe came out.
"Just walk right in, squire, and sit
down." says Willie. Pail be in
directly"
Away he ran, and the squire step
ped In, and sat down in the little par
lor, waiting the appearance Of his
pastor.
Presently he heard steps and then
voices in the adjoining room, and then
q child's voice said:
"Pa, just look at my shoe. It's all
ripped"
~ think it Is Laura" answered the
parsons tones. Let me see-perhaps
no, it's too worn to be mended
again"
"Well, pa, please, I'd like to have a
new: pair. Won't you get 'em for
ae?'
"As soou as pa can, he surely will,
daughter" said the father in sad tones,
"Be good and wait little, Laura.
81 have waited ever 30 long," said
Laura, "and Willie's shoes are worse
than mine, and be hasn't got any
mittens, either.n
Laura" interrupted voice which
the squire knew was Mrs. Rowe's
run and feed your chickens, and
don't worry papa now"
The child ran out, and the parson,
never dreaming who was in the nezt
room, hearing every word through the
crack of the door, said:
"They can't worry me more than 1
am worried, Mary. I don't say much
but feel all our needs, not for myself,
but for you and the children. It made
my heart ache, a little while ago, TO
hear Willie ask If we could never have
meat for breakfast anymore, and knew
that there wasn't q pound of meat in
the house."
"Ner any sugar, either, and hardly
any -four, and not dime in the purse
John, but for all we won't starve,"
said the little woman's CHEEKY voice.
Have lou lost your faith, John?"
mo, Mary, hope not" came the
answer. but it does seem hard, when
my salary is so small it can't be paid,
so we could have few comforts at
least. Sometimes 1 think muse give
up here, and try somewhere else"
"Oh, no, no. John !" pleaded the
wife. Not yet anyway. We've got
such a pleasant home here, and our
people are so kind, don't give up yet.
Let's try on little longer, and maybe
help will come"
"Wel, don't knew from whence,
Mary, I'm sorry to say so, but I've lost
heart lately, till Pm really not TT 10
prea n. If the Lord don't help "a, and
that SOON, l don't know who will ~
Then there was sound of man
rising, and Squire Glover, feeling as If
he didn't want to see his pastor just
now, up and slipped out before Parson
Rowe came in.
And -nen the good squire got safely
out If he gate mis- face was red, and
he was putting for breath.
well. well! God bless my soul !"
he painted rs he troited on. Heres
a pretty state of thin g! No meat, NO
money, no shoes-why, God bless my
,ul! This must be looked after. Shall
be, too! I'll see the deacons, and If
they WON'T I will, out Of my own
pocket, too, God bless my soul! That
brave little woman shall have some
help to keep up her husbands heart or
III know the reasonn
Racing along, flushed and excited,
he met Deacon Jones. He had the
deacon by the button-hole in minute
and after a short consultation they
both went off to Deacon Robinson's.
And that afternoon there was much
stir in Chenille, little groups con-
stantly meeting and consulting in
every store and on every corner.
While the day seemed to close In dark
and cherries in the parsons little
cottage.
A fresh snow fell that night, and
seryed to make noiseless the sleds
which drove softly up to the minister's
cottage with the very first faint streak
of dawn. The inmates of the little
dwelling were all sleeping soundly,
but one awake and listening might
have heard muff1ed footsteps, whis-
ners and cautious showing and pushing
of heavy articles. These, however,
soou ceased, and all was quiet until