St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-05-05
Yes - 1a11phed III e minister.

inch and I'll get mine and have Major
mt into the buggy. I'll be around be-
ore one O clock, and we'll see what we
ian do.
..All rightr'
It was not long before the good white
horse came at week day pace to the
door of the parsonage, and the friends
were soon whirling away. $,
SHOW, We've got to be swift sala
the banker. '.My first thought was to
call on some Of our own people, but l
am inclined to give some of the rest a
chance. The Episcopalians and the
Free Baptists have heavy debt OF
their own; the Adventists are not able
to help much; we must enlist the others.
Brinsmade must call on the First Church
folks. Ellsworth on the Baptists, Thomp-
son on the Universalists, you and will
look after our own.
They were stopping at Mr.. Brins-
made's door and the master OF the house
answered the bell.
.sWe have set out" said Mr.. Frank
lin. "to give the Methodists a little lit
in paving their church debt. Will you
90 and stand in the yestibule OF your
church and waylay as many as you can
of your strongest men as they 60 INTO
the afternoon service, and get subscr1p-
lions from them? Start the paper your
self. Then ask DR.. Phelps to take
collection before the sermon for the
same object. Get cash subscriptions,
PAYABLE tomorrow at my bank. Re
bort the amount to me at Mr.. Strong's
house by four O. clock sharp. Will you
do it?'' :,
/ "What steamboat you are?" said
Brinsmade, laughing.
..Will you do it?'' said Franklin,
strenuously. s.No time for nonsense,
old fellowp'
ayes, I'll do it.
..All right. Good-bye!!''
And the white horse was soon flying
down the street.
None of the other churches had after
noon services, and all that could be
done in them must be done by personal
application to few of the more pros
porous members.
But Mr.. Franklin had selected the
right man as canvasser IN each socle-
| ty. and after they had been set at work,
he and his pastor returned to their own
| parish. which they divided between
them, contriving before four o'clock TO
I see a good portion of its most generous
members. At that hour they all met at
the parsonage, as by agreement, bring
ING with them much larger sum than
the most sanguine OF them had hoped
to get.
| tSThey came down handsomely" said
| Brinsmade. s.Three or four refused to
rive ANYTHING; but most of them had
their names down before they knew it.
It dropped on them so sudden like that
/ they hadn' time to hunt up excuses.
The old doctor warmed up to the bust
ness beautifully, and he begged like a
professional. They brought in nearly
$500 in the boxes, besides all ! got from
individuals. = E5
1 The others had much the same story
| to tell. Sympathy with the Methodists
in their courageous effort was universal,
| and it had found generous expression.
i "Now each Of you sit down and
write short letter" said MIR. Franklin
/ aexplaining that the amount you have
i collected is from friends in your church
| naming the amount and stating where
it may be called for tomorrow, anc
4 we'll 90 over at once and send the let
tiers up to Brother Thorpe. trust ht
1 is holding out yet, but it must be pretty
touph for man who doesn't believe II
the perseverance of the saints to hans
to such a poor promise.
1t was about half-past four when Mr.
Franklin and his friends entered tn
Methodist Church. The back seat
were all occupied, so they stood in TIN
space behind the pews and looked on
The church was pretty well filled, ant
Mr.. Thorpe was still keeping up live
" fire Of appeal and argument, pu
!. there were no responses. ana IL wa
plain that hope had departed from mos
Of the solicitors.
4 Twill you walk forward and tax
+ your seats, gentlemen?'' said one 9
, them.
.No, I thank your answered MI
!, Franklin. 1--WE are only lobby men
bers. How do you get on?''
;, "Slowly.n
! And the solicitor shook his head dole
fully.
/ .Only alittle over twenty five thos
/ sand. z
why don't you stop where 70
are?'' .,
"Then we lose everything, Th
! greater share Of the heavy subscription
are conditional upon raising OF Il
whole debit
! won't your subscribers make the
! unconditional =
4 mo; we've begged them to, b.
/ they are obstinate. "
Pity, isn't it?n
! Yes, sir. It will be q hard blow
4 we fail now.
The discouraged gentleman wake