Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-28
The Empty POcket-BOok.

Presbyterian church. IN a certain
small city, no matter exactly where,
was composed of those, who, while
living comfortably in their homes,
were by no means wealthy people.
Feeling this, they unanimously decid-
ed that their minister's salary must
be extremely moderate, also. They
did very well in carrying out this con-
clusion as long as Rev. Mr.. Brown
ley, married man, without children,
stayed with them, but when he re-
signed the charge, to accept call
elsewhere, and Rev. Charles Sea-
bright came, with wife and seven
children to support on the same mea-
gre amount, they were surprised that
there, seemed so many things lacking
in the manse.
They were surprised, also, that
Mrs. Seabright so seldom attended
the various benevolent meetings, car
ried on by the ladies of the church.
When asked to become president of
the sewing circle, she declined, and
even refused to cut the garments,
upon which they expected to sew two
hours every week, saying when she
did so ''that it was impossible, as,
not keeping servant, she had no
one to leave with her little children,
and indeed, in order to-accept such
a position, she would be obliged to
neglect her home duties, which she
was unwilling to do
The ladies'. therefore, were sorely
perplexed.
The position was the most respons-
Ible and arduous one in the society,
it absorbed a great amount of time
not only in working hours, but at
home, and had usually been attended
to by the wife of their pastor.
/ "Where there is a will there is al
ways a way" an old adage, but
seemingly appropriate, from the many
times it was quoted in that place, on
that the important occasion referred
to. 1t certainly caused an amount
of inconvenience, and it was past
comprehension, why Mrs. Seabright
should be excused.
"Why did she not hire a servant
as Mrs. Brownley had done?''
Finally Mrs. Strong accepted the
cutters position, and the society was
inaugurated for the winter.
Once or twice Mrs. Seabright came
in for few moments, but, although
impossible for her to attend regularly,
she always sent for a garment to
make at home, and in this way ac-
complished more during the winter
than any other two persons had done.
Still, she had deprived them of her
personal attendance, and they felt
aggrieved.
After Mr.. Seabright had Deen with
them one year, it was decided that
he lacked animation in his praehing
His sermons excelled in beauty OF
composition the pure, true Gospel
was faithfully before them-but, there
certainly was fault in the manner
of delivery. 1t seemed as though
every word cost an effort, as though
the minister himself took no interest
in what he said.
The matter was fully discussed
not only by the ladies, but in many
of the church gatherings.
"What ought to be done?"
1t was at length decided that :
committee of two be appointed t.
wait upon the delinquent pastor, il
order to set the case before him in it
true light. He should be informed
through them, that his people hac
perfect confidence in his ability t,
, preach powerful sermons in power
full way; all they asked was that h
arouse himself and diffuse more splri
into the delivery of his discourses.
Two ladies accordingly called a
1 the manse one Thursday morning
and being conducted into the stud
f and presence of the minister, they q
once, as deliberately as possible, lai
l the matter before him.
, The good man listened calmly ur
til they had finished their remarks
a then, after few moments of pre-
: found thought, said:
g "Ladies, / confess with regret
J that your criticisms are just. AS
think the matter over, see that
have, indeed, been lacking in anims
ton, and furthermore, l know / al
Il capable, as you say, of better thing
IS However, there has been, [ assul
)" you, a good reason for the defect {
% which you speak. That reason ST
u remains, but hope it can be obvia
- ed. l shall endeavor to overcome
and with Gods help, you shall ha'
a no further cause of complaint
I'd The next Sunday a most notab
lie change had taken place. Their pa
" tor seemed full of life. His sermo
,, as usual, was excellent every thong
st most beautifully expressed, while t
rk delivery was almost perfect.
"What could have caused Il
'd changer
~ - The matter was freely discussed
on the ladies' meeting, as well as at
ds other meetings of the church, but
lg one could solve the mystery. VIII
1 occasioned the difficulty, as well
e; tho channa 1,or,o ipnI 10;