Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-01-29
TRIALS OF A PREkChep
lseidents n the Liz 81 MetAeAlst Nlsis,., ..
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Aoth Coui0TOuSo VI INC methodist
Episcopal church tells this s,orr
about himself:
when l was the pastor Of Il Small
church In Delaware county. this state
l mad u hard time in trying to keen
soul and body together. Ny labor.
were arduous and the salary only s4oo
Il year, and il we had NOT received
various donations OF provisions FROM
parishioners almost equally poor ~
ourselves, we would in all probability
have starved to death.
1T was what is known as a .lack
woods appointment being eighteen
miles from II railroad and located in ,
valley created by thiclly wooded hills
To give you in idea Of our reducad
circun stances ! am compelled to say
that there was but one white shirt i,
the house. aud that was shared in
common by my eldest son aud mysel,
When he wore it went into the nnln;,
without one and made up for the do.
ticiency the best could.
Zone Sunday we had the presiding
elder of the district with us He had
come the previous night. Early i,
the morning he was disturbed By ,hi,
shriil question from my son:
FEATHER. father, who wears In,
shirt to-day. You or me?'
"Well, / was in doubt who was cun.
| tied to encase himself in that useful
| garment on that occasion, but in a
spirit of self-sucritice l shouted from
the confines of my room. l think it,
your turn, my boy
II thought no more about the
matter until after breakfastand 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, and tried 10 evudo making
n reply. but he was persistent, and
| finally was forced to admit the truth.
Tears sweled up in the elders eyes
and he offered TO part with some OF
his meager hoard Of money, but |
assured him tn t did not Necd it, and
! as l refused absolutely to accept II
cent. he did not press tho matter
further.
STILL" although the elder was a
| kind-hcarted man and received but
little more salary than myself, yet he
loved to indulge in practical jokes. On
| 1, s.i -,
vitation to dine with rs, and my wife.
who always seemed TO stand in awe
OF the big, dignified elder. made an
extra effort to prepare Il tempting re-
past. Oysters were scarce and very
high in that section and consequently
a luxury, but my wife concluded that
sor once VIC should have oysters
well, thanks to recent wcdd n,
fees, she was able to buy them. Then
she exercised all her ingenuity to
place them on tho table in every con-
ceivable form thai would please the
eye and crafty the taste.
well, when We sat down to the
table we saw oysters slowed. oyster
fried, oysters roasted and oysters or
shell. 1t was literally wilderness o
oysters.
"Outside Of oysters there was. ii
fact. but little 10 eat except bread
butter. apple sauce and. believe
some sage cheese. Still the litflt
women sat with II bcaming coNnte
nance, eagerly anticipating the elder
delight ut the unexpected tret.
"After blessing had been invoked
I. as q matter OF form. turned to or
guest and inquired:
Elder. will you permit mo to he'll
you to some OF the oysters"
"The elders face assumed sever
expression as he slowly aud deliberate
~ replied:
".Well. Dominic, hate to say II
but the truth of the matter is YER
seldom cat them
II glanced at my wife. Her fac
|, was almost a crimson hue aud teal
were starting from her eyes l thin
felt just n trile savage. but
, | betrayed no sign.
after a few seconds OF the mo'
, painful embarrassment l ever O.
!. perienced the elder broke the sllenc'
, by saying with unruffied deliberatlot
"'You see, Dominic. very seido'
eat oysters. because l very seldom g
j, | them.' and he burst into tremendo'
4 1T OF laughter that almost made u
dishes rattle.
..Oi course he did ample justice
the dinner. which Mt the best w
!, frugal enough. but don't think 'n
). my wife ever quite forgave him II
those painful moments OF suspense
| Now York Aapald