Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-07-19
FAMILY ENTRIES AI' FIFTY
DOLLARS 4 HEAD.


One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ia,
a Wcster,a 7o,Un.
The Rev. Mr.. Crouch, missionary for
the Brooklyn Methodist Church Elk
tension Society. told the congregation
of the Summer Avenue Methodist
Church in Brooklyn, the other evening,
some of his experiences in raising money
fordebt-encumbered churches. Among
others he related the following:
Il had agreed to do what could
toward raising $1,000 debt upon small
church in Western village, and when
1 alighted at the depot on Saturday
evening was met by the pastor of the
church, who pointed to carriage near
by and said the owner Of it was waiting
to take me home with him. was also
told that my entertainer was wealthy
farmer who had refused to give any
more money toward raising the debt,
saying that he had already done all he
could Because Of his refusal several
other prominent members of the church
had also refused to contribute When
got in the carriage the farmer told me
plainly he knew that I was sent with
him in order to persuade him to sub
scribe some more money, and that such
an attempt would be useless, as he
would not give another dollar. 1 ar
gued and pleaded with him, but my ct
forts were in vain. The next morning
while driving to the church, after an
other effect to reach his pocket by per-
suasion without success, the conversa-
ton turned on the horse, which was
jogging along before us.
Nice horse, said I.
yes, very good animal, AS good a
beast as ever wore hide was the reply.
How old is the horsc?'
"sAbout eighteen years
How long have you had him?'
Fourteen years. I've worked the
animal every day in the field, and he
has taken the family to church regularly
on Sunday for fourteen years.
1 suppose you wouldn't like to lose
him.
No, he's been faithful horse so
long that shouldn't feel satisfied to
lose him. Still, I could easily fill lis
place with 4-year-oid in my possession.
I've got a standing offer of $50 for the
old horse
Gas we drove up to the church it
seemed to ME that I had the key of the
situation. I didn't say anything to the
farmer, however. When I got into the
pulpit began my plea for the 81, 500
by telling the congregation all about
the condition OF affairs I closed by re.
lating the conversation about the horse
saying that / was satisfied that the
farmer could spare the old horse, and
telling the secretary to credit the farmer
with $50 on the strength Of selling the
faithful animal. Instantly the farmer
sprang to his feet and exclaimed:
4 won't sell the horse, but you cal
| put me- down for $50
"He had no sooner resumed his sea-
than another man who was only waiting
to follow the farmers exclaimed, ex
claimed:
Put me down for $50 As my wife
said she would give $50 whether I die
or not, you may as we'll charge her will
an equal amount
The words were scarcely out of til,
speakers mouth, when the farmer wa
on his feet again, saying:
I guess my wife is as good as his
Put $50 opposite her name on the book.
"This stirred the other man up tt
such an extent that he was on his fee
in second, shouting:
Give my eldest daughter $50 wortl
OF that stock
And my eldest daughter, too sale
the farmer. She's just as generous a.
his
"And so it went on for five minutes,
continued the missionary, while smiles
! rippled over the congregation. Eacl
member Of the two families was success
sively brought in until both men hat
given $270. The $500 was raised i,
less than half an hour"