The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-04-02
The DeacOn's Sitting Room.

sabbath, and as ne lald his pen aside you
might have heard the involuntary sigh, in
tone much louder than whisper,
/" What's the use That won't arouse one
of theml Union meetings were in
progress in that part of the city, but Mr..
AS people had very little interest in re-
Ggious affairs that required either thought
OF act. They had, after long struggle,
paid the church debt. Their house of
worship was beautiful and tastefully com.
plete, and in that snug nest the I'M
suspecting Pensioners had planned to
find peace, rest and quietness of soul.
But that will not satisfy the great Head of
the church, who expects his disciples to
rest in their beds at home after the labors
of each day have been concluded. His
church is built as fortress, from which
to attack the marauding hosts of evil as
q bulwark for the defense of precious
souls; whittier the tribes shall go up,
wide awake, full with tithes and free will
offerings, to sing unto the Lord of hosts,
to pray before him and to hear his Word,
that they may learn to know and do all
his commandments. The door.bell rang,
and in moment Deacon B. came in. As
soon as he was seated he said " | have
come to speak to you about matter that
is troubling me. Some of our people are
getting dissatisfied. They have heard
that you are getting in debt. And l think
some of them feel that they are not fed
by the preaching. Of course you have a
large family, but you have 81 900 salary.
Now once lived free from debt with
salary of 5000, when my family was nearly
rs large as yours. l don't find fault my
self, for know that ministers have some
expenses that others do not have. But
times are hard, and we all ought to live
within our means. l am afraid for our
church." After moment of silence the
minister calmly replied: Concerning
the preaching, is it complaint from any Of
the people who are attending the prayer
meeting, or who are laboring in the Sun.
day-school, that they are not fed by the
preaching ?" "Oh, no F." was the reply,
ait is two or three who are sometimes at
church, but they haven't been lately"
swell it is very hard to get any good
food down a sick horse, and it is about as
hard to feed people upon the Word of
God who are 30 full of the world that
they are sick of religious thought and
conversation" said the pastor. "And as
for the subject Of salary, when you lived
on $500 a year did you pay house rent ?"
"Oh, no; have always lived where am
since we were married. never lived in
rented property" "Did you keep SER
want girl 2" " No, sir, we've always done
without any help only in sickness" "Did
you keep your parlor warmed up all win
ter?" "No, we never think there is any
need of a parlor, only when we have some
visitors who are going to stay" DWELL,
i believe, deacon, that you are the most
consistent man in my church, and that
you want to do what is altogether right,
30 you will not be offended. You remem.
Der that you have a fine COW and an
acre of garden and fruit, which your boys
tend" A moments silence followed, when
the minister continued, "Deacon, what
would you think Of lawyer or physician
who should come to town, man of my
age, with large family of growing chill.
dren, who should advertise professional
visits at quarter of dollar, or pleading
any case in court at five dollars, and who
should explain to the people that he had
found it possible, by living in the lowest
priced rented property, by compelling his
wife to do all the work about the house,
and by closing up all his house but one
room, to live on such small fees that
when he became old and worn out he was
willing and expected that other people
should take care of him and his wife
Would you want to employ such physi-
clan or such a lawyer? No, sir You
have too much respect for the successful
men in your community, and no person
complains of the fees of your richest pre-
fessional men, nor of any other profess
sional men excepting ministers. | love
my calling, and if men loved their God
or their own souls or the character or
souls OF their children as well as they love
their money, how could they grudge q
preacher of life and truth the dollar they
give him, while they will gladly give a
physician hundred dollars to save them
from the effects of big dinner" The
parsons spirit was tending earthward.
He paused. "Deacop," he said, "you are
. true friend to me. My wife had planned
to come up this afternoon and spend an
hour. Let's finish this matter then"
They shook hands kindly, and the deacon
went home musing. As he opened the
door, the odor of cabbage was the strong
est he had ever smelled. His good wife
had not yet swept the floor. A hasty
dinner was dispatched, the four children
at home were washed and dressed, a big
parlor fire was kindled, the room busted,
and the good wife had hardly settled her.
self in tidy suit to get little breath,
when Parson A. and his wife arrived.
But the spirit of the brotherly Christ had
been working all this time in the good
deacon. While they were both dressing,
he had said to his wife: al never thought
of it before, but our minister and his wife
have to be dressed up all the time, l
reckon" YES" she answered, "and all
the children, too. Why, I've often heard
that folks 60 in at all hours, and some
times before breakfast; and who wants
to be caught with her hair down, or the
children's knees out tell you, Mrs. A.
is manager" The deacon had been q
successful physician. He had few WIS.,