The Forrest City times., 1891-01-23
TRIALS OF A PREACHER.
lneidents In the Lifs Of . Methodist Minlstss .
 q Poor AppolntueNt

. Poor AppolntnsRt One of the clergymen in the Nov York conference of the Methodist Epi.,copal church tells this story abouv himself:
 "Wlten l was the pastor of small church in Delaware county, this state. had a hard time in trying to keep soul and body together My labors were arduo.s and the salary only &40O a year, and If we had not received various donations of provisions from parishioners almost equally poor as ourselves, we would in all probability have starved to death.
 1t was what is known as back woods appointment being eighteen miles from railroad and located in q valley created by thickly wooded hills. To give you an idea of our reduced that there was but one white shirt in ! the house. aud that was shaved in common by my eldest son and myself. When he wore it I went into the pulpit l without one and made up for the dc- l fciency the best could. One Sunday we had the presiding cider of the district with us. Ho had come the previous night Early in the morning he was disturbed by this, sArill question from my son:
 q Father. father, who wears thes shirt to-day. you or mep'
 Well, I was in doubt who was enti-- tied to encase himself in that useful garment on that occasion, but in spirit Of self-sacriice shouted from the confines of my room, think it's your turn, my boy
 '1 thought no more about the matter until after breakfast and family prayers wero 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 to evade making a reply. but he was persistent, and finally was forced to admit the truth. Tears sweiled up in the elders eyes and he offered to part with some of his meager hoard Of money, but I assured him that did not need it, and as I refused absolutely to accept . cent, he did not press tho 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- vtation to dine with us, and my wife. who always seemed to stand in awe of the big, dignifed elder. made an extra effort to prepare tempting re- past Oysters were scarce and very high in that section and consequently a luxury. 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 con- ceivable form that would please tho eye and gratify the taste.
 Well. when we sat down to the
 
 fried, oysters roasted and oysters oA she'll It was literally A wilderness o& oysters.
 Outside of oysters there was, fn | fact but little to eat except broad. butter, apple sauce and, l believe. some sage cheese. Still the littls women sat with . beaming counto- l nance, eagerly anticipating the elders delight at the unexpected trest After a blessing had been invoked 1 guest and inquired:
 ''.Elder. will you permit mo to help you to some of the oystersP' l "The elders face assumed severe expression as he slowly and deliberate | ly replied:
 "sWell. Dominic, hate to say it.
 but the truth of the matter is l very | seldom eat them
 Il glanced at my wife. Her face ! was almost crimson hue md tears
 were starting from her eyes. l think
 l felt just a trifle savage. but ] betrayed no sign.
 : After a few seconds of the most 1 painful embarrassment I ever ex- l perienced the elder broke the silence.
 by saying with unruf1led deliberations: You see, Dominic. very seldom eat oysters. because very seldom get
 them and he bursL into q tremendous
 it Of laughter that almost made tho
 dishes rattle.
 '.Of course he did ample justice to
 the dinner. which at the best was
 frugal enough. but don't think that my wife ever quite forgave him foe
 those painful moments of suspense. "-. l New York Herald.