The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-02-28
TRIAL OF A PREACHER.

TRIAL OF A PREACHER.
Incidents In the Life of Methodist Min
lister at a Poor Appointment.
One of the clergymen IN the New
York Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church told this story about
himself:
When l was the pastor of small
church in Delaware county, this State,
l had hard time in trying to keep
soul and body together. My labors
were arducus and if we had not re-
ceived various donations of provisions
from parishioners almost equally as
poor as ourselves, we would in all pro-
liability have starved to death.
1t was what is known as a back
woods appointment being eighteen
miles from railroad, and located in
valley created by thickly wooded
hills. To give you an idea of our re-
duced circumstances, am compelled
to say that there was but one white
shirt ID the house, and that was shared
In common by my eldest son and my
self. When ne wore it l went into the
pulpit without one, and made up for
the deficiency the best could.
One Sunday we had the presiding
elder of the district with US. He had
come the previous night. Early in the
morning he was disturbed by this shrill
question from my SON:
Father, father, who wears the shirt
to-day-You or me1
Well, l was IN doubt who was en-.
titled to incase himself in that useful
garment on that occasion, but, in a
spirit of self-sacrifice, ! shouted from
the confines of the room, l think it's
your turn, my boy.
l thought no more about the matter
until after breakfast and family prayers
were over. Then the elder took me
aside and asked if there was only one
white shirt in the house. Of course it
was an embarrassing question. aud |
tired to evade making a reply, but he
was persistent, and l finally was forced
to admit the truth. Tears welled up
in the elders eyes, and he offered to
part with some of his meagre hoard OF
money, but 1 assured him that l did
not need II, and, as l refused absolutely
to accept a cent, he did not press the
matter further.
Still, although the elder was kind
hearted man and received but little
more salary than myself, yet he loved
to indulge in practical jokes. On
another occasion he accepted an in
vitatlon to dine with US, and my wife,
who always seemed to stand in awe OF
the big, dlgnlfed elder, made an extra
effort to prepare tempting repast.
Oysters were scarce and very high in
that section, and consequently luxu-
ry, but my wife concluded that for once
we should have oysters.
Well, thanks to recent wedding fees,
she was able to buy them. Then she
exercised all her ingenuity to place
them on the table in every conceivable
form that would please the eye and
crafty the taste.
Well, when we sat down to the
table we saw oysters stewed, oysters
fried, oysters roasted, and oysters on
the shell. 1t was literally wilderness
of oysters.
Outside of oysters there was, in fact,
but little to eat except bread, butter,
apple sauce aud, believe, some sage
cheese. Still the little woman sat with
beaming countenance, eagerly antici-
pating the elders delight at the unex-
pected treat.
After blessing had been invoked, /,
as a matter of form, turned to our guest
and inquired:
Elder, will you permit me to help
you to some of the oystersf
The elders face assumed severe
expression as he slowly and deliberately
replied:
Well, dominic, l hate to say it, but
the truth of the matter is l very seldom
eat them.
I glanced at my wife. Her face was
almost a crimson hue and tears were
starting from her eyes. l think l felt
lust uihe savage, but l betrayed no
sign.
After few seconds of the most pain
full embarrassment l ever experienced,
the elder broke the silence by saying
with unrufiled deliberation
You see, dominic, l very seldom eat
oysters, because l very seldom get
them, and he burst into tremendous
roar of laughter that almost made the
dishes rattle.
OF course he did ample justice to
the dinner, which at the best was fru-
gal enough, but | don't think that my
wife ever quite forgave HIM for those
painful moments of suspense.-NeW
| York Herald.
An old sinner.-Mistress Ito servant