Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-04-08
THE DEACON'S TITHE.

II
They had a new minister at Sea-
brook Old Parson Thornleigh, who
had kept the flock for forty years, had
gone to his long home, and in his stead
head come an honest, plain-spOken
young divine, with an earnest, fearless
eIoquence. And now the worn door
stone OF the little gray church on the
hill was once more trOdden by feet
which had long been strangers to it.
The minister boarded, having no fam
lily, at Deacon Larrabee's.
He's 81 bit uncertain on some
points, said the deacon, leaning on
his hoe handle and talking across the
fence to his neighbor Gray, who leaned
on his hoe handle to Gsten-"a bit I'M
certain. But | like hinl-I do, no mis-
take; and [ believe the lords going to
bless us through him."
s'Amen!" was neighbor Gray hearty
response.
They hoed dozen hills in silence,
their hoes keeping time to the merry
song of a bird in the orchard. Then
Mr.. Gray paused to wipe the perspira-
ton from his face.
'This hot weather's liable to make
Sickness" said he. II suppose you
have heard that one Of the Widow
Sperry's boys is down with q fever? ?"
"Sho. now you don't say sou ex-
claimed the deacon commiseratingly.
''Make it hard for her, won't it?'
Yes, particularly when she's lately
lost her COW. I've been saying that
we'd all ought to take hold and make
it up to her. If I'd more than one
COW on my place wouldn't stand to
talk long, now | tell We; but l lost
my two best ones last spring. If
hadn't"
1t might have been unintentional,
that sudden facing about: as Mr.. Gray
threw his chances toward the hill pas
ture, where his neighbours COWS were
quietly feeding. At all events the dea-
con could scarcely help noticing the
action. And he understood its pur-
port. An uneasy flush mounted to
his face as he struck vigorously into
the next hill.
.'She ought to have kept her COW
out ofthe road. My cattle never get
into the mill-pond and drown If
they should [ would not expect any
body to make 'em up to me. She'd
no more, call, had the widow, to let
: her COW run, than I'd have to turn
my whole drove OUT
''It's a pretty hard case, neverthe-
less" said Mr.. Gray.
And then the fragmentary converse
ton tossed piecemeal back and forth
across the fence as the neighbors went
steadily on with their work, drifted in
to different channels.
There had been an interested listener
to the colloquy narrated above. On
the shady side of the wall which sepa-
rated Deacon Larabee's orchard
and cornfeld, sat, book in hand the
Rev Mr.. Weston. He arose as the
chat which foated to his hearing be-
gan to be of crops and haying, and
walked slowly away along the orchard
path with a thoughtful smile upon his
face
That night, when the deacon took
the shining milk-pails from the dresser
and proceeded to the farm-yard, the
young clergyman followed him. He
stood leaning against the bars, watch
ing the yellow stars come out In the
sky and looking abroad over the dea-
cons possessions, shadOWy now, but
substantial enough by daylight.
"You are a prosperous man, dea
con-
a smile of satisfaction overspread
the deacOn's cOuntenance as he stood
for a moment patting the sleek neck of
a favorite cow
We'll, yes" said he, but I've made
myself. 4 pig and a pitchfork was all
/ had to begin with. :"
Glow does your neighbor GRAY get
along?"
''Gray? well, truth to tell, he'll never
be forehanded If he lives to the age of
Methuselah. He's handwriting man
enough, but the way It's | can't tell
you; there's never a poor creature
comes into our town that doesn't head
direct for John Gray's. Must be in
stinct teaches 'em for he gives to 'em
all, deserving or not. I believe he'd
take the coat off his back if twas
needed. He's a goodneighbor-agood
neighbor; but he'll never get anything
to speak OF ahead
"But lay up foryonrselves treasures
In heaven where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do
not break through and STEAL" quoted
theminister.
eyes, yes; but if l mind me right, the
good book says something, too, about
providing for ones own household
eh!"
Mr. Weston smiled. eIbelieve there
is passage to that effect
"And, went on the deacon, a little
triumphantly, elf neighbor Ora would
give certain pcrtion"-