Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-04-06
He Built a House.
WRITTEN FOR THE MONITOR.

Rev. John Prosey lost his voice.
Not all at once without warning, but
after few months of hoarseness, in
which exchanges, readings and short
sermons had taken the place of the
well-developed sermons characteris-
tic of this clergyman.
The season of the year was Febru-
ary, and the difficulty of the situa-
ton was that the parsonage must be
given up to the new minister about
May 1st, soon after the annual con-
ference, and Rev. John and Mrs.
John, and fve-years-old John Pros
ey must find home in some other
house. The presiding elder said,
"What are yor going to do brother
Prosey?" And the stewards said,
ssWhat are you going to do brother
Prosey?' And Mrs. P. said, ssWhat
can we do, John % Some suggested
that he become book, map or sewing
machine agent. To these evil sugges-
tions Rev. !. P. shook his head, and
whispered that ''such ideas could not
be for a moment entertained. So
far in life he had borne good repu-
tation, and he could not consent to
wreck it so completely as selling what
people do not want and being enter
tanned by charity by old Acquaintance
es, who would subscribe out of SYM
pathy. This work especially requir-
ed voice, while be could neither say
"get out" to dog or "go" to his
horse. But to Mrs. Prosey he said.
81 am going to build me a house
and live by manual labor and in qul-
etness until my voice returns and is
strong again, if the Lord is willing.
"Why, John r' said Mrs. Prosey
chow can we, poor folks as we are,
build house?'
81 have found" he answered
''that it is always easy to do wher
one has anything to do with"
''But we have nothing to do with,
she replied. ''If anything remains o
this years salary it will no more thai
pay moving expenses"
First" replied he, II have faith
and you know how faith has helpe,
, build churches, schools and parson
ages. From nothing they took on styl
a and beauty and finish. Now by faith
see house of my own, rent free.
i ssThat would be desirable" respond
ed his wife, s'but land and materia
1 are necessary, in order to max
homes, and if a home was possibl
: for us, it might be true that
He who buys house already wrought,
Gets many a board and nail for naught.'
"Let us unite our faith on having
: new house on our own land," answer
ed Rev. John, "and not swerve fror
;, that. 1t is surely settled that | can
not preach. Now we have som
= things we can sell there is the hors
s and wagon, my books and book-cas
or secretary, and other superiultie
: which we do not need as much as W
h need home.' Mrs. Prosey was S
/ we'll acquainted with John that sh
was sure that he would attain what b
i wanted, and she began to cxpeo
that the clouds of difficulty woul
break away.
p A few days after Rev. John ha
S given utterance to his determination
IS he called upon one of the schemin
men of the town, who loaned none
{, for usury and foreclosed mortgage
. . when they were fully ripe, and wa
n always helping the poor and need
when it could be safely done withor
n financial loss, and asked if there wa
If small piece of land near the villag
IS that could be bought at a reasonabl
u price. Mr.. Scoopem could never al
swer direct question like that, so b
e must needs know who wanted to bu,
u and for what use so brother Prose
:, announced his wishes and mentione
). his available property.
"Ah, "says Mr.. Scoopem, 81 can te
. you plan worth two of that. can Civ
J. you a choice of three cheap house
h at prices anywhere from three to fly
{; hundred dollars, and l will take 70,
property in part payment and wa
for the rest until you are ready to pay.
= "What then ?'' whispered brotl
i" er Prosey.
IS ''Well, generally, when l tie
man that ! will wait until
II is ready to pay, if he waits too long
i / make him get ready; but you al
; like personal friend, and having ha
>, hard luck, l presume / should not as
you for any more pay for sever.
: years, replied Mr.. Scoopem.
h "Mr. Scoopem, said brother Prose,
t. 81 shall not buy any of your cheaI
e. old houses, they are full of rats, fes
and bed-bugs; the condition of til
n buildings, the situation, and IL
he terms of payment don't suit me-
= y "Well, hold right on, Parson, an
:, hear me again. l have ten acres {
pasture by the hill road that you ms
), have for thirty dollars an acre, and
r will take your team for half Il
il amount and / presume you could sc
~ part of it at good advance" su
e. gested Mr.. Scoopem.
p 81 am not going into the real e
tate business" whispered broth
a Prosey, 81 am only wishing to build
ID cheap house and felt sure you wou
IT. have piece Of land to suit me-"