The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-24

ton. At length Charles Grant told
him something that he had concealed
from everybody until then.
Five years before, he came into the
place stranger, with widowed
mother. He went to work for old Dea-
con Simons, a lumber dealer and builder,
who had known young Grants father
years before.
" was to learn my trade of him."
said Charles Grant, bitterly, "and did,
and something else besides!"
1t seems the widow Grant bought
little house. 1t needed shingling.
Young Grant thought he could do it
after working-hours, so he went to the
deacon to purchase shingles.
Shingles? Oh, yesl" said the dea-
con, softly, rubbing the palms of his
hands together, habit of his at the ap-
proach of trade. "I've got some that'll
suit you nicely. You want the best?
Thought so. Just walk out into the
yard and suit yourself"
Young Grant followed him, but
frankly stated that, as yet, he knew
nothing about the quality of shingles,
and must rely upon the deacon's judg-
ment.
Just So" said the lumber dealer,
with bland smile. Well, those are
what you want. I'll put them in, to
you, for X"
Inquiring what that meant, the dea-
con explained, in low, confidential
tones: " Y means cost When l say
Y 1 mean there's no profit. Your
father was my friend Pm not the man
to make money on his son."
These were fine sentiments, had Dea-
con Simons lived up to them; but, alas
despite his sacred office, theory and
practice did not concur in finances!
Deeply grateful, young Grant bought
the shingles.
One of the older workmen offered to
help, saying that he could do as much
for him when he wanted new roof: two
others lent hand, so, as they were ex-
perienced laborers, the job was quickly
done. While they worked he over
heard one say: "These are the poorest
shingles the deacon had; guess it's
some of that lot Richborn made such
racket about. Hope he put them in to
Grant cheap"
Then another man spoke: g Well, L
got mine down in Maine, where they
lHCuls Liz NCl1 DtSu SdWCu
shingles, freight and all, comes mighty
sight more reasonable than the deacon's
stock"
- believe you!" said the third, fer
vently. " The deacon he's pretty stiff
on prices"
AS young Grant rapidly re hearsed
this, it was evident that he had not got
over the transaction, especially as it
turned out that the shingles were of
the poorest quality and the cottage
needed reshingling very soon.
You're the first person I've men,
toned this to-" said the carpenter; I"
didn't want to go about blackening the
deacon of church. But when he asked
me to come to meeting, I wouldn't go
I didn't want any such religion as
that. l said I'd never step inside of
his church, and l haven't to this day."
The new deacon had listened with
bowed head and in deep silence. He
did not speak for long time, and then
the angry glow had died out of the
young mans eyes.
My FRIEND" he said, thoughtfully,
"what you say makes me very sad.
knew they called the old deacon sharp
on a bargain, but / didn't think he'd
be tempted to do that! Better, thou
sand times, be bankrupt than a stun
bling-block in the way of others. When
he moved away, and they elected me
, deacon, felt afraid to take it; afraid /
shouldn't have enough of the Masters
spirit to serve in his house. Perhaps
: after all, l made a mistake in accepting
such an office. What if l should dc
something, may be not cheating, but
offend in something else-we're all
: frail creatures, continually erring-and
! l be the means of keeping somebody
away from Gods house for five long
years ?"
+ The new deacon did not say it for eff
feet; he but spoke out his troubled soul
2 in his own simple, earnest way; yet il
touched the heart of the young man
beside him, as the rod of old touched
y the rock. and the sweet waters gushet
forth. To his great surprise, young
+, Grant said, suddenly, with feeling
!; " Don't say that. believe in your re
ligion; did when you first spoke. L
isn't right to make anybody an excuse
i, for staying away from church."
And the next Sunday one of the mos
attentive listeners to that sermon t
V young men was Charles Grant, and be
: side him his aged mother, who had no
n been to church for years.-Helen Pear
: son Barnard, IN CongregationaliSt