The Opelousas courier., 1883-06-30

we'll go over at once and send the let
tiers TO Brother Thorpe. I trust he is
holding out yet, but it must be pretty
tough for q man who doesn't believe in
the perseverance Of the saints, to hang
on to such q poor PROMISE
1t was about half-past four whom Mr..
franklin and his friends entered tho
Methodist church. The back seats
were all occupied, 50 they stood in tho
space behind the pews and looked on.
The church wa pretty well filed, and
Mr.. Thorpe was still keeping up q live
~ fire Of appeal and argument, but
there were no responses, and It was plain
that hope had departed from most Of
the solicitors
"Will You walk forward and take
seats, gentlemen?s said one of them.
"No, thank you said Mr.. Franklin.
"We are only lobby members. How do
you get on7S
SLOWLY
And the solicitor shook hts head
dolefully.
"How much have you goty
"Only a little over twenty-five thous-
and?"
why don't you stop where you are? 2"
"Then we lose everything. The
greater share of the heavy subscriptions
are conditional upon the raising Of the
whole debt"
Wont your Subscribers make them
unconditionalf"
"No. We've begged them to bnt they
are obstinate"
"Pity, isn't itr1
Yes, sir. It viii he q hard blow ID
We fail now"
The discouraged gentleman walked
away.
Mr. Franklin's air had been SO indif-
ferent that he had not ventured to ask
for anything.
sSend up yorr letter, Brinsmade,'
whispered Franklin. "Get that email
boy to take it up.~
The smallest boy toddled up tho
aisle, and handed the envelope to Mr..
Thorpe, who tore it open eagerly.
"Halleluiaht r shouted the impetuous
Methodist. Brethren, listen to this
The First congregational Church of
New Albion sends greeting to the First
Methodist Church, with . pledge of
s1,675, to be paid tomorrow at II
o'clock noon,by a check upon the First
National Bank This is signed in be-
half of the church by James ". Brins-
made
The reading of this was followed by a
| storm Of cheers and all the usual Me
thodist responses, in the midst of which
the organ struck up the doxology and
the. whole congregation rose to it's feet
and sang with tremendous energy.
Twill Brother Brinsmade come for
wards" shouted Mr.. Thorpe. But be-
fore he had time to insist on this a lit
| tie girl was mounting the pulpit with
| another envelope, which the pastor re-
| eeiYed with tho trembling hands.
This letter stated that $515, the gift
! of O few friends in the Uniyersalist
| church, would be on deposit the next
day at the same hour and place.
| Over this the furore was redoubled, one
enthusiastic brother mounting q seat
and calling for the second verse of the
doxology.
aBetter not protract the agony" said
| Franklin to Ellsworth. "Let US send
our notes together"
The minister, who had now for SIX
hours been under a continuous nervous
| strain, in whose heart confidence had
| given way to anxiety, and anxiety was
| beginning to change to encouragement,
was SO completely overcome by the
| contents of the two envelopes that ne
| sat down in his chair, and could not
sneak for q moment, and at length rose.
and half sobbed out:
1.-TWO more, brethren. One from
| friends in the Baptist church, with
| pledge of 1896, and n from friends
| in Second Presbyterian church, with
promise of $3.50. God bless them
| every onel'
This time they were all too excited
| 10 sing, but there was o volIey OF
amens in response to the last e1acula'
ton, and men and women all oven the
| house were laughing and crying Like
| children.
.Give us the footing now, Bro. Har-
rison." said the minister at length, &c
the treasurer, who WIS keeping account
of the subscriptions
"ThirtY thousand n hundred anc
| ffty-fve dollars was the answer.
LESS than o., 900 are wanted cr1eo
Mr.. Thorpe. what do you say tf
that77s
sTyo hundred dollars more for mel
was tho response from n 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 Q shor1
pause he summed up the amount again
and rising to his feet, said quietly:
aWe have s32,46O-s460 for shrink
age.
IMAGINED by those who know what al
| inoubus a church debt is to 3 devoted
Il perceive, said Mr.. Thorpe, rising
10 his feet after the tempest had sub
sided, sthat all these pledges are 70 %
paid tomorrow at noon OF the Frs
National bank. It is easy TO guess VII
IL at the bottom of all this business
and Il see him now standing near tn
door.
aEo scenes for ms whispered tn
banker to his minister. Il am going
! Make my excuses.
hna ha s1ipned ont of the door, an