The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1888-04-18
are growing up crlpples--only we don't

himself back and forth in the old arm
chair; and he was doin' that now. So
| said: "Kiah do you hcar?' And
he said: "Some!' and then went on.
I've got proposition" says l.
And he sort O looked up, and said:
"Hev you? Well, between DISPOSE
ton and a proposition, l guess the
proposition might be BETTER
He's awful sorcrostic. sometimes.
But WASH t going to get riled, nor
thrown off the track; so l jest said:
Yes, do you and l get two shiIlin's
worth week piece out of that
blessed little church of ourn, do you
Think" says I. "C,s, if weatlo,s Il
want TO give two shillin's week to
keep it goin', and l thought may be
you could do as much" So he said
he gessed he could stand that; and l
said: THAT'S my proposition, and l
mean to see if we can't find somebody
else that'll do the same. Tell show
a disposition anyway
We'll, l suppose you'll hev your
own way" says he. you most alters
do" And l said: Isn't it most
alters good way?' Then l brought
out my subs cription paper. l had it
already. didn't jest know how to
shape it. but l knew it was some
thing about 1.-The sums set opposite
our namcs;' and so l drawcd it up,
and took my chances. You must
head it, says !, "becausc you re the
oldest deacon, and l must 90 on next,
because | anu the deacon's wife, and
then I'll see some of the rest of the
folks"
So Kiah sot down. and put on his
specs, and took his pen, but did not
write. whats the mattcr?' says |.
And he said: "Tm sort O shamcd to
subscribe two shillin'. never signed
so little rs that to any thing. used
to give that to go to the circus when
| was nothin' but q boy, and |
ought to do more than that
to support the Gospel. Two
shillin's q week! Why, its only n
shillin' sermon, and all the prayer
meetin's thrown in. l can't 90 less
than fifty cents. l am sure" SO down
he went for fifty cents, and then |
signed for y quarter and then my sun
bonnet went onto my head pretty
lively; and says l: "Hezekiah, there S
some cold potato in the pantry, and
you know where to find the salt; so, if
! an, net.i,""iz -ai""n",. ; i,
be bashful; help yourself" And l
started.
1 called on the Smith family first. l
felt sure of them. And they were just
happy. Mr. Smith signed, and SO did
Mrs. Smith; and long John, he came
in while we were talkin' and put his
name down; and then old Grandma
Smith, she didn't want to be left out;
and so there were four of 'em. I've
alters found it great thing in any
good enterprise to enlist the Smith
family. There's a good many of 'em.
Next l called on the Joslyns, and next
on the Chapins, and then on the Wild
die Chadwick and so kept gon'.
met little trouble once or twice,
but not much. There was Fussy Fur
bur; and bein' trustee. he thought I
was out of my spear, he said; and he
wanted it understood that such work
belonged to the trustees ITO be
sure" says !, "Tm glad you've found
it out. wish the trustees had dis
covered that a little sooner" Then
there was Sister Puffy, that's got the
asthma. She thought we ought to be
lookin' after 1.-THE sperritooalities. "
She said we must get down before the
Lord. She didn't think churches could
be run on money: But 1 told her [
guessed we'd done enough if that
would do any good; and that l guessed
we should be jest as spiritual3to look
into our pocket a little; and l
said it was n shame to be tarnally
Ieggin' so Of the Board.
She looked dreadful solemn when
| said that, and almost felt as I'd
been committin' profane language.
But hope the Lord will forgive me if
| took any thing in vain. l did not
take my call in vain, 1 tell you. Mrs.
Puffy is good, only she alters wanted
to talk so pious; and she put down her
two shillin', and then hove sigh.
Then l found the boys at the cooper
shop. and got seven names there at
one lick; and when the list began to
grow, people seemed ashamed to say
no; and l kept gainin' till I had just
an even hundred, and then l went
home.
Well ii was pretty we'll toward can
delight when l got back, and l was
that tired l didn't know much of any
thing. I've washed, and I've scrub
bed, and I've baked. and I've cleaned
house, and I've billed soap, and
I've moved; and l low that al
most any one of that sort of things
is u little exhaustin'. But put your
bakin' and movin' and bilin' soap aud
all together and it won't work out as
much genuine tired soul and body as
one day with subscription paper to
support the Gospel. So when sort O
dropped into n chair and Hezekiah
said: "Well3' Twas just pastspe akin.
and put my check apron up to my
face as I hadn't done siuce 1 was a
young foolish girl. and cried. l dom
know what l felt so bad about; dom
know as | did feel bad. But l felt cry.
and | cried. And Kiah, SEEM how it