Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-01-13

lronholderS that decorated the parlor table.
and then took up the overcoat, with little
sigh, as he realized the discrepancy be-
tween his size and its proportions.
Put that on for minute, called Miss
Prissy. till we see II it can be taken In
10 fit you"
The minister obeyed; but as he put his
hands in the side pockets. TO draw il more
closely about him, he discovered some.
thing in the way, and, drawing out the
obstruction, produced wallet
He looked at II in blank amazement.
Miss Prissy could not restrain her
curiosity, and snatching IL from his hand,
she opened it. disclosing the crisp bills.
Five hundred dollars" she gasped, in.
credulously, and there was moments
breathleSs silence.
What does 1t mean?" said the minister,
afraid to look upon the money as his own
lest there should be some mistake
Shrewd Miss PrisSy detested the Deacon
rs cordially as she loved the minister and
his wife. and, with a mental detcrmin-
alton that the close old man should be out
witted for once, she exclaimed:
We'll. if that isn't neat way TO make
nice little present The Deacon said he
meant to do somethin q handsome for once,
but never mistrusted he would do any
thing as generous as this. And hiding it
away so ms TO surprise you, too! Well, Ill
change my opinion of him"
The minister and his wife were In an
ecstasy of delight, and they were half
fearful that the precious bills might van
ISL IL they let go of them.
They shall have them too. for they de-
serve them" said warm hearted Miss
Prissy land I'll fix it,
Early the next morning she started out,
telling everyone she met of the Deacon's
generous liberality and delicacy, and she
reached the Deacon gate Just as he had
finished breakfaS and was in "A most COM
Portable humor with himself and all the
world.
Il just want to tell you what think of
you, Deacon, she exclaimed warmly,
selling his hand. You're the most noble
generous hearted man that ever lived, and
the whole village is talking about you and
praiSing you. | never knew your equal
never.
What do you mean?" stammercd the
Deacon, rather bewIldcred at this out
burst, for he had ALWAYS supposed himself
a special object of Miss Prissys dislike
why, your donation" answered Miss
Prissy. "Oh, you needn't pretend you
don't know what l mean, though we all
know how modest you are.
"Oh, the coat, said the Deacon begin
ming to doubt the sincerity of Miss Prissy S
praise.
Yes, the coat that everybody thought
was such stingy thing for rich man like
you to give; but we didn't any of us
know when we were judging you that way,
what you had slyly hid away In the pocket.
/ expect Mr. and Mrs. Goodfcllow got off
to the city, on this train TO get some of the
things they've been wanting this many a
year. Five hundred dollars was big
thing to them"
The Deacon gave an inarticuate gurgle,
and his rubicund face turned to greenish
pallor, as he grasped the gatepost for sun
port. His 500 gone He remembered
now how carelcssly he had left ii in the
pocket of his old coat Miss Prissy didnt
wait for him to speak, though her black
eyes sparkled misChevousy ms she wit
messed the effect of her intelligence She
knew that, if there was one thing the
Deacon loved more than his money IL was
the applause of his fellow men, and she
had managed so well that he could not re
cover his money without mourning the
scorn and ridicule Of his neighbors.
She trotted briskly Off, and left him L
himself, TO get over his anger and grief as
best he might. The Deacon was wis,
man in his generation, and wise men al
ways make the best of circumstances, Sc
that is what the Deacon did He realized
that he had irrctrievably lost the money
so he resolved that no one should evel
know II had not been free gift, and ht
accepted his neighbors' praises as If he haC
fully earned them, rs well as the earnes
gratitude of the minister and his wife
Only the Deacon and Miss Prissy knew i
had been a mistake, but they never tolC
the real truth about that donation.