The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-23

incidents 10 the Life OF u Methodist Min
/ lister at n Poor APp0intnent.
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 ia Delaware county. this state. I
had bard time in trying 20 keep soul aud
body together lily la1Ors were arduous
and the salary only $50 year. aud II we
had not received various donations OF pro-
visions from parishioncrs almost equally
~ poor a. ourselves, We would in all proba
bility hare starved to death
1T was what is known A. a 'backwoods
appointment, bang eighteen miles from a
railroad and located Ia a valley created by
thickly wooded hills. To give YOU an idea
of our reduced circumstances, am com
pelled 70 say thar there was but one white
shirt in the houso, and that was sSsred Ia
common by my eldest sod and raJ self
When he wore it ! went into the pulpit
without one. aud made up for the deh-
cheney the best | could
"Onc Sunday We had the presiding elder
OF the district with US. lie had come the
previous night Early in the morning he
was disturbed b. tais shrill question from
my son:
" Father. father, who wears the shirt To-
day-y0u or mes
"Wen. | was In doubt who was entitled
20 incasc himself in that useful garmeps
on that occasion. but in spirit OF SELF
sacrifice / shouted from the confines OF my
room, i think It's your turn. my boy.
II thought no pore 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 or course &c was an EN- bar.
RAISING question, and I tried TO evade max
ing reply. but he was persistent and l
finally was forced 20 admit the truth.
Tears welled up in the elders eyes. and he
offered To part with some Of his meagcr
hoard Of money. but | assured him that
did not need 10, and "a / refused absolutely
10 accept a cent he did not press the matter
further
''Sfill, although the elder was kind
hearted man and receiving but little more
salary than myself, yet he loved 20 indulge
i'm practical jokes ON another occasion
he accepted an invitation 10 dine with IA.
and my wife, who always seemed t. stand
in awe OF the big, bgniGed elder, made an
extra effort % prepare a tempting repasL
Oysters were scarce aud very high ia that
section, and conseq uentlY "A luxury. but
my wife concluded that fOs once We should
have oysters.
well thanks 20 recent wedding fec,
she was able 60 buy them. Then she ex-
ercised ali Der ingenuity % place them GA
The table in every conceivable form that
would please he eve and crafty the taste
Well when we zat down 20 the table ws
Eaw oysters stewed, oysters fried oysters
70 tsted. and oysters on the shell % wa
li.erally wilderness ~ oyster8
Outside of oysters there was n fact,
int little 10 eat except oread. butter. A..
pie sauce and, / believe, some sage cheese
S.il the little woman sat with a 5camiBg
countena1ce. eagerly anticipating tbe cid
er's delight az the unexpected trent
After a blessing hal been invok "a !. *
& matter Of form, turned To our guest aud
inquired:
Elder, viii you permit ne % help yoa
70 some Of The oystcrsr
''Ile elders face assnmed q severe er{
preston as he slowly and deliberately re-.
piled
well dominic, ! hate 70 say Il, bod
the truth 81 The matter - very ssldout
eat them
II glanced ~ my wife Her face was Ai
most crimson hue and tears were start
ing from her eyes I think I felt Just =
trlhe savage, but betrayed no sign.
after few seconds Of the most painful
embarrassment ever experienced tbq
elder broke the silence by saying with UNI
rufIled deliberations
'You see, dominic. 7 very seldom eat
oysters. because very seldom get thsul. I
and b. burst into tremendous roar %
huZhter that almost made the dishes
rattle
cot course be dill ample justice 20 the
dinner which ~ the best we frugal
enough. but I cont think THAI my wifs
ever quite forgsye him for those paiBfsi
d sslspeus= New YOsk Her
I'D