The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-02-26
Life of Country Parson.


The recent Christmas season called to
mind the curious experience in Pepperton
on Christmas eve one year ago of the late
Rev. EleaZer Crawford. Many Of the
facts concerning tins experience are pub
lie property, while others. which We're
told to The writer by the Rev, Mr.. Craw-
toFd's widow, Just previous to her death
October - last, are now made known for
the first time. The single church in this
village was the first and only charge Mr..
Crawford ever had. He entered the min
istry when nearly forty years old, after
an unsuccessful business career. His in
experience was impressed upon him when
Trustees Ltmuel Carter, johnson Higbee
and Amos jackson called upon him in his
dinsy home in West Twentieth street,
New York, and engaged him. 1--WE will
give you $500 year and a donation" I"
said Trustee lIigbee, "and if you make a
90 of preaching and we like you, why
MA Nv VT Will SlNt Ntl llult UtAl Ntdl.
The Rev. Mr.. Crawford was anxious to
enter upon the work be had chosen, and
accepted the offer. He was kindly and
good, and thought that he and his CHEEKY
English wife could live with their three
children on that salary. They knew
nothing Of country life, and Mr.. Craw-
tords idea of a donation extended so far
only that be knew what the word meant
in the abstract.
They came here in June. 1888, and
gradually grew into the favor and good
will of the 200 people who make this
village their home. / hey lived, of course
in the parsonage, which is considered a
very comfortable house There is no
wei. and DO clstern. Drinking water is
to be carried from a well in the yard Of
Jo Long, the saloon keeper, who lives
next door, and rain water is caught in
tubs and barrels set under the ends Of the
wooden caves troughs. The woodshed is
in the rear of the parsonage some ten
feet, and there is no barn Mr.. Craw-
ford Kept neither a horse nor COW and
needed no barn. Accustomed as they had
been to city convenicnces, they found the
work nseparable from housekeeping
very hard, but they bore that, as they did
most troubles, patiently and without
murmurlng.
1t was at the November meeting of the
trustee that the question of the donation
came up, and Christmas eve was selected
aS the time. After the evening service
the next Sunday, Trustee Carter took the
pastor one side and told him about the
donation.
"lou've done pretty we'll consider
ing" said Trustee Carter as he worked
his arms into his heavy Overcoat and
drew it up over his shoulders, "and we
are going To give You first class dona-
tion party"
"l res, sad the pastor, tentatively, Mr..
Crawford liked his trustees, but they
We're different from the men he had been
accustomed to, and there was never the
good fellowship between them and the
minister that existed between the trus-
tees themselves and their fellow members
in the church.
II don't suppose" continued Trustee
Carter, THAT lou ever saw a donation p
II never did. - said Mr. Crawford, with
a little laugh.
And don't know any thing about how
they're run ?"
"No, not much," answered the minis
ter, flushing a little and looking as if he
thought he ought to know just what a
donation party was.
'Oh, well, you Il know all about those
things when you've been longer in the
business said Trustee Carter, good ma
turedly. ~ on see, ministers have to
i've like everybody else, though the bible
does say Take no thought for youl
meat ii a minister doesn't have things
he has got to buy them like other folks
Now, we mostly raise all sorts Of stuff
you know, and once a year we give to oul
minister d lot of vegetables ana things OF
that sort that he'd have to buy otherwise
It's Just the same as 50 much more sala-
ny, only it's easier for US and Just as good
for him.
"Why, should think that was an ex-
cellent plan said Mr.. Crawford, with d
good deal Of interest. 1t must
"les, its a tip-top plan" said the
trustee. "Iou see, we'll all come tC
Your house in the evening-it will be
Christmas eve this year-and we'll bring
this stuff and leave it and also some
cooked victuals, and have a supper and d
| tirst-rate time. The women folks viii
drop in in the afternoon and bring things
that they make themselves, and we mer
| folks will get around to supper"
| "EleaZer told me about the donation
when he came home," said Mrs. Crawford
one day not long before she died, "and
said it was just as they did in bible times
when they set apart a portion Of the fruit
of their toll as a thank offering, only
couldn't see how so many people were
| going to get into our little house"
There was capital sleighing the weel
before Christmas, but the minister ant
his wife staid indoors setting their house
| in order for the donation. They were {
| little nervous when the day came anC
wished it was over. 1t was nearly
o'clock when a big sleigh drew up il
| front of the parsonage and widow Selma
Archibald climbed out. Her hired MAJ
dropped the reins and followed her up tt
the door, staggering under the weight o
a great earthen jar.
The minister opened the door and wei
coined Mrs. Archibald, while the hireC
man stepped inside and put the big jar OF
| the floor.
Give brought you some ounce pre-
serves" said Mrs. Archibald to Mrs
Crawford. "Thev've just begun to turn
but if you heat them over they'll be al
right again"
"Thank YOU" said the minister's wife
with as much warmth as she could mus
ter under the reflection that neither sht
nor any member of her family could tol
crate ounces.
| The two ladies went through into tht
parlor and the minister tugged and pulled
the great jar through into the pantry an(
down the cellar stairs. just then Trustee
jackson drove mp with his wife and 81,
great pumpkins. "Them's awful goOt
pumpkins" said the trustee, as he set tht
golden globes on the steps and drove
away, saying he had got to go down tt
the mill and would be back by and by
The minister carried the pumpkins dowl
into the cellar and got back in time t.
meet Mr.. Higgins, the blacksmith, whit
brought his wife and set of very heav,
tongs. shovel and poker, which he assur
ed the minister he had hammered ou
himself. Mrs. Higgins had a tinpan full