Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-05-04

I ".
Brinsmade. Three or four refused tc
give anything; but most of them had
thcir names down before they knew it.
IL dropped on them so sudden like that
they hadn't 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"
The others had much the same story
To tell. Sympathy with the Methodists
IN their courageous effort was universal.
AMI u had found generous expression.
Now each of YOU sit down and
write n short letter. said Mr.. Franklin.
explaining that the amount YOU have
collected is from friends i'm your church.
naming the amount and stating where
10 may be called for tomorrow. and
we II go over at once and send the let
tcrs up to Brother Thorpe. / trust he
j. holding out yet, but il must be pretty
tough for man who doesn't believe i'm
the perseverance of the saints TO hang
To such poor promise"
10 was about half-past four when Mr..
Franklin and his friends entered tho
Methodist Church. The back seats
were all occupied, so they stood in the
space behind the pews and looked on.
The church was pretty well filed. and
Mr.. Thorpe was still keeping up live
~ fire Of appeal and argument. but
there were no responses. and 10 was
plain that hope had departed from most
uf the solicitors.
"Will you walk forward and take
your seats. gentlcmenP" said one of
them.
"No. | thank YOUR answered Mr..
Franklin. 1--WE are only lobby men,
bers. How do you get onP"
"Slowly."
And the solicitor shook his head dole
fully.
"IIow much have you gotP"
Only alittle over twenty-five thou
sand"
Why don't you stop where you
Then we lose everything. The
greater share of the heavy subscriptions
are conditional upon raising of the
whole debt"
Won't your subscribers make them
unconditional"
mo; we've begged them to. but
they are obstinate. y
PITY, isn't it?n
Yes. sir. Ii will be hard blow if
we fail now
The discouraged gentleman walked
away.
Mr.. Franklin's air had been so indif
tcrcnt that he had not venturcd TO ask
him for anything.
Guu1 -, x-p,,r I,tt,.
whispered Franklin. "Get that small
boy to take il up
The small boy toddled up the aisle
and handed the envelope to Mr.. Thorpe.
who tore it open eagerly.
"Hallclujah!' 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 six
teen hundred and seventv-five dollars.
to be paid tomorrow at twelve O'Clock.
noon, 10y a check upon the First Nation
Pl Bank This is signed on behalf of
the church 10y James w. Brinsmade. "
The reading of the letter was followed
by storm of cheers and all the usual
Methodist responses, I'm the midst of
which the organ struck up the DoNol-
ogy, and the whole congregation rose to
its feet and sang with tremendous
energy.
"Will Brother Brinsmade come for
ward?' shouted Mr. Thorpe.
But before he had time TO insist ON
this little girl was mounting the pul-
pit with another envelope. which the
pastor received with trembling hand.
4
and fifteen dollars, the gift of few
friends in the Univcrsalist Church.
would be on deposit the next dav, AZ
the same hour and same place. Over
this the furore was redOubled, one en-
thusiastic brother mounting n seat and
calling for 1.-the second verse Of the
DONOlOgy."
Better not prOtract the agony" said
franklin to Ellsworth.
The good minister, who had now for
six hours been under n continuous ner-
vOus strain. i'm whose heart confidence
had given way To anxiety, and anxiety
was beginning TO change to discourage
ment, was so completely overcome bv
the contents of the other two envei-
opcs that he sat down i'm his chair and
could not speak for n moment, and nj
length rose and half sObbod out:
Two more, brethren. One from
friends in the Baptist Church. with n
pledge of nine hundred and twenty-five
dollars, and 'one from friends in the
Second Congregational Church, with n
promise OF eighteen hundred and ten
dollars. God bless them. every onc.r
This time they were all too excited to
sing, but there was yolley of amens i'm
response to the last ejaculation, and
men and women all over the house were
laughing and crying like children.
"Givc us the footing now, Brother
Harrison said the minister, mt length.
TO the treasurer. who was keeping ac-
count of the subscriptions.
Thirty thousand one hundred and
lifty-five dollars" was the answer.
I" Less than two thousand dollars
more are wanted!" cried Mr.. Thorpe.
"What do you say to that?"
1.-TWO huNlrcd dollars more for mer'
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 rs there was short
pause, he summed up the amount
again, and rising to his feet. said quiet
~:
''Thirty-two thousand four hundsed
and sixty dollars-four hundred and six
~ dollars for shrinkager'
The scene that followed can only be
imagined by those who know what an
incubus n church debt is to devoted
congregation, and who are also famil-
lar with the ways in which the Meth
odists are wont to express their feelings.
II 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 First
National Bank. It is easy TO guess who
is at the bottom of all this business.
and 1 see him now standing near the
door" ta
''No scenes for me-" whispered the