St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-05-05

which Une OIpSdI StIuSh up lily DothoAT
ogy, and the whole congregation rose to
its feet and sang with tremendous
energy.
s.Will Brother Brinsmade come for.
ward?'' shouted Mr.. Thorpe.
But before he had time to insist on
this little girl was mounting the pull
pit with another envelope, which the
pastor received with trembling hand.
This letter stated that five hundred |
and fifteen dollars, the gift Of few |
friends in the Universalist Church, |
would be on deposit the next day, at I
the same hour and same place. Over
this the furore was redoubled, one en-
thusiastic brother mounting a seat and
calling for 1.-THE second verse of the
Doxology.''
..Better not protract the agony" said
Franklin to Ellsworth.
The good minister, who had now for
six hours been under a continuous ner-
yous strain, in whose heart confidence
had given way to anxiety, and anxiety
was beginning to change to discourage
ment, was SO completely overcome by
the contents of the other two envel-
opes that he sat down in his chair and
could not speak for moment, and at
length rose and half sobbed out:
1.-TWO more, brethren. One from
| friends in the Baptist Church, with a
| pledge of nine hundred and twenty-five
/ dollars, and one from friends in the
Second Congregational Church, with a
promise of eighteen hundred and ten
dollars. God bless them, every one! " .
/ This time they Were all too excited to
SING, but there was volley of amens in
response to the last ejaculation, and
men and women all over the house were
1 laughing and crying like children.
stGive us the footing now, Brother
1 Harrison said the minister, at length,
to the treasurer, who was keeping ac-
count of the subscriptions.
1 s.Thirty thousand one hundred and
! fifty-five dollars was the answer.
q aLess than two thousand dollars
more are wanted" cried Mr.. Thorpe.
.sWhat do you say to that?''
"Two hundred dollars more for me!''
. was the first response from one OF the
heaviest subscribers; and then the sup
. Elementary subscriptions, large and
small. came pouring in for ten minutes,
faster than the Treasurer could record
!, them. AS soon as there was short
, pause, he summed up the amount
again, and rising to his feet, said quiet
..Thirty:two thousand four hundred
and sixty dollars four hundred and six
ty dollars for shrinkage!'
/ The scene that followed can only be
, imagined by those who know what an
! incubus church debt is to devoted
congregation, and who are also famil-
t lar with the ways in which the Meth
odists are wont to express their feelings.
81 perceive said Mr.. Thorpe, rising
! to his feet after the tempest had sub
: sided, ..that all these pledges are to be
! paid tomorrow, at noon, at the + Irst
\ National Bank. 1t is easy to guess who
IS at the bottom of all this business,
! and I see him now standing near the
/, door,
mo scenes for me- whispered the
i banker to his minister. I'm going
i. Make my excuses"
& And he slipped out of the door ane
i. walked quietly away.
q ssWalter Franklin is the man, con
4 tinued the parson, land he is leaving
8 the house at this moment; will not some
e one bring him back:?' -,
n But that was vain suggestion. Nj
n Franklin, as everybody knew, would I'd no
Q be brought back.
MIR. Franklin's pastor must ansWe'
+. for him, then said the minister; ant
Ie Mr.. Strong walked up the aisle annie
Is great cheering. In a few graceful
le words, he told the congregation tha
i. Mr.. Thorpe was right in his conjecture
ID that the plan Of aiding them in thei
e. difficult undertaking was conceived an
It set in motion by Mr.. Franklin, VIII
as had, nevertheless, been supported. q. !
st the heartiest manner by the gentlemIe,.
on whom he had called; that the Who'll
Re scheme was the Inspiration OF me
Of ment and the fruit of q few hours
work; and that he trusted that the re
r. suit of it would be, not only the emar
A. cipation of the Methodist Church froI
Il the bondage of debt, but the strength
ening of the bond of fellowship anon g
e. the churches of New Albion. 10 thu
4 wish there were many fervent response
and after prayer of thanksgiving .
u the pastor, and the singing OF . Blesse
Be the Tie that Binds, : the congreg'
ou ton broke up. That day will never !
forgotten by any one who had part
he its doings, and fruit of the seed the
MS sowed will be reaped in the increasln
be charity of many generations.
:, A Profane Horse.
s. A MARYLAND minister bought III
ut horse last fall for which he paid OF