The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-03-31
The Jug Breaking

temperance, suppose. NO, nothing OF
the sort. Temperance was not once
thought of, much less spoken OF. the
whole evening. But we had genuine
iug-breaking time, and the shattered
pieces flew at great rate, for about fifty
two jugs were literally shivered into
fragments.
What was it? Tell us about it. Well,
it was a mission-clrcle' meeting. How
do you gather money in your mission
circle? This was study with us TOR
long time. There were the old-fashioned
ways, by fairs and festivals and suppers,
grab-bags, post offices, and what not
But it didn't require much study to learn
that they were not exactly the proper
ways in which to raise money to send
the Gospel to the heather. AS a rule,
they cost more than they came to. ~
There was a great liability to heart burn
ings before we got through, and not a
few did not think they were right.
Then we heard OF these iugs-httle
round affairs, entirely closed except
slit on one side near the top, large
enough to receive a quarter of dollar,
or a five dollar gold piece, or bill OF
any amount So we said we would try
them, and give one to every person who
would undertake to gather money Tor the
mission circle. We tried to put into
every mind the idea of earning the money
which was put into the Jugs. If any
church will try it, they will be amazed
at the number of ways in which children
and young people can earn or save mo
ney.
Well, the Jugs had been out for a year,
and on Friday evening we met to break
the Jugs and count the contents. The
service was held in the prayer meeting
room, and general invitation was given
from the pulpit and in the papers. OF
course there was no little curiosity, aud
this with the real interest Of the friends
of the mission circle, brought together a
large audience. Anticipating this, an
intel esting programme of appropriate
exercises had been prepared consisting
OF singing, prayer, Rotations by little
girls, readings by older ones, instrument
tai music, and at intervals turn at
breaking the Jugs. Every one who had
a Jug was requested to put into it a slip
containing text of Scripture, and
statement of how the money was earned.
In order to rapidity and correctness in
counting the money, three bank clerks
We're asked TO assist in this part of the
work. Two young ladies broke the Jugs,
and passed the contents to one OF the
young men, who counted the money, and
put the amount contained in each Jug
upon the slip it contained. The pastor,
who had charge OF the exercises, then
read the Scripture texts, and the manner
of earning the money, and the amount.
No names were attached, and hence no
one knew, except the owner of the Jug,
whose IL was.
These are some Of the ways in which
the money was earned 81 % OF this
money was saved by not going to picnic
excursion, twenty-five cents by not going
TO the fair, fifty cents by making part of
my white dress. The rest was earned
through my crochet work. And the
Jug had $40 I obtained my money by
saving my pennies, by going without one
or two fancy articles / would like to have
mad, and selling carpet rags, and this
brought 81 25. Earned it by helping
mamma saved by economy, and doing
extra work instead of hiring it done,
and there came forth Sl5O5. One little
fellow had earned thirty cents by "wash-
ing face and hands. One had earned
- 80 " by doing washing and ironing at
nome for fifty cents week. The
greater part Of my money was earned by
-hovelhng snow saved by staying
rom places of amusement and giving
odd pennies j earned some by clean
ng off the snow from the root of the
house and some by miniiug as soon as
spoken TO Ipassed my jug every Sum
ay morning BOO our family and each put
omethug, also passed g one EVEN
ag when my mother had "a small tea-
party p1t TO nay own pennies a ]
could spare them. and this Us the way
got my money for the Jug. Partly
earned oy getting dpin the morning and
rHg what wa given nae TO buy candy
7 saved IT, Earned by shoveIIng
now ailug vege' o.es, and doing chores
5r Joy parents SLID The smallest.
mount DO any jog was four cents. and
he uge lJ0 5 So happy evening
passed and ended with a gain Of $40 SO
% the mission treasury
Two lessons should Dc carefully enforced
v parents and teachers. viz.
The children should be taught when
any money is uua1 for theJug, itshould