The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-11-20
Poverty of Ministers.
Gzderoy IN tie Methodist Adrance.


Let those who have an abundance of this worlds
goods and offer so little for the support of their
pastors, read the following story, which contains
many home thrust, and as Chas Reed says: put
yourselfin his place.
The following was written by Metho-
dist preacher and touches keenly his own
experiences Are you rich or poor? How
many children have you? How do you
manage to feed them? Do you ever have
any trouble about these things? At my
house, where there are nine children, we
have no little IVORY and vexation and anx-
iety. If we had plenty Of money it would
not matter much; but our wants and abso-
lutte needs are always more numerous than
our dimes. When 1 get any money l
hardly get it into my pocket book-a very
small one-before have to pay it out for
meat and bread, or some article of clothing.
We buy no big things, and not much of
any one thing at time. but the little
things-how they count upl | don't know
how would feel if had much goods laid
up in store for thirty days at one time.
When 1 get home off of trip L am so
glad to see my wife and the children. We
have much talk about what took place
where | have been, and the people have
seen, and about what happened at home,
and the news of the town and all that.
When | begin to feel real good and happy
by comfortable fire, Marvin, boy of six,
asks-"Pa, did you get any money, and
can you buy me shoes?" Alas then they
all chime in, and each one is in pressing
need of some important article Of wearing
apparel: and my wife says, ''The -four is
out; only meal enough for one meal; the
meat nearly all gone; sugar and coffee
nearly out; we will be compelled to have
soap, starch and blueing; the washer-woman
wants her money; lard will be out in two
days; the oil is all in the lamp; paper of
pins is needed badly; the last match was
used this morning, &C., &C." l look
solemn and heave sigh that comes from
the bottom of my purse. L don't know
anything about rich pains, but | do know
all about the pangs of hard, grinding pow
erty. If it were not for the hope of heav-
en-, and for faith in God, would 90
crazy-that is, if l have sense enough
to go crazy-they say it is smart people
who go mad If my wife were one of
these long-faced, whining, complaining
women, always growing about hard times
and hard fare, I'd be awfully miserable.
She is cheerful, CHEEKY, full of life-ready
to do anything and to endure anything;
and she often says, @Well, our God knows
all about this, and He will make it up to
us on the other side if we endure all this
for Christ's sake. 1t is not near as bad as
it might be- We are infinitely better off
than thousands of Gods children who are
better than we are" Burnett, boy of
four, says, eyes, God will give us shoes
and lots of things when we get to heaven,
won't he, Papa?" Before 1 can answer,
Mary says, eyes, and God will give me
nice new calico dress, too, won't he Mama?"
With that Amos, boy of two and half
years, asks, "Has bod dot tandy?' eyes,
says Alice, "he has whole barrels full of it
in the closet, and He will give you the key
and let you have as much as you want.
Faith, even the faith of children, is irwin
chile against hard times. / don't know how
people get along in this world without faith
in God. If there were no heaven, no hell,
and no hereafter | would want and need
religion for the comfort and consolation it
affords in this life. 1t is the best thing
for this world. 1t gives us the best of this
life and also the best of the life to come.
| sometimes say, ''Well wife, if were to
drop off, I'd leave you in pitiable condi-
tion-so many children and so poorl"
'iThat's so, my darling" she replies, "but
the same good God we have had thus far
will live on after you and l are both dead"
Well, after all we do not die-we just ''go |
nway''-change our shabitation take on
Immortality and really begin. to live. The
last thing we do for God in this life is to
lie. If we live well we will be sure TO die
WE'LL Death may come and find us in a
howell on pallet of straw, but God and !
his angels will be there to bless the last |
scene, and to flood the valley of death with
CLEANS Of glory. What will it matter then
we have had hard time or an
Easy one? It is just as near heaven from
he hoyel of the poor man as it is from the
palace of the rich man. God is no respec-
er of persons nor of worldly conditions;
dc sends just as good an escort for the de-
PARTING soul of the poor man as for that of
he rich man. It is character alone that
rod regards. Bless His holy name, for
lis goodness, mercy and gracel' !