The state herald., 1891-01-16
TRIALS OF a PREACHER.
Incidents Ia the Lin Of . Methodist nialutsf
Poor Appolutneat

Poor Appolntneat
One Of the clergymen In the New
York conference Of tho Methodist
Episcopal church tells this story
about himself:
when was the pastor Of small
church In Delaware county, this state.
l had a hard time In trying to keep
soul and body together. My labors
were arduous and the salary only $4O0
year, and II we had not received
various donations OF provisions from
parishioners almost equally poor rs
ourselves, We would In all probability
have starved ID death.
at vas what is known as n back
woods appointment being eighteen
miles from a railroad and located in
valley created by thickly wooded hills.
To give you Nh idea 81 our reduced
circumstances / am compelled to say
that thore was but one white shirt In
tho house. and that was shared In
common by my eldest son aud myself.
Whom no wore It l went into the pulpit
without one and made up for the do
ficiency thu best l could.
"One Sunday We had the presiding
elder OF the district with us. He had
come the previous night Early In
the morning he wis disturbed by this
shrill question from my son;
- sEath,v fatha. ,,h. ,,~u..
shirt to-day. you or meP'
"Well. l was In doubt who was cnti-
tied TO encaso HIMSELF In that useful
garment on that occasion. but In n
spirit Of self-sacriflce ! shouted from
the confines Of my room, l think it's
your turn. my boy
II thought no more about tho
matter until after breakfast and family
prayers we're over; then tho elder
took mo aside and asked II there was
only one white shirt In the house.
or course IT. was an embarrassing
question. and tried to evade making
n reply, but he was persistent, and
finally was forced TO admit tho truth.
Tears swclled up in the elders eyes
and ho offered 10 part with some OF
his meager hoard Of money, but
assured him that did not need It, and
as ! refused absolutely to accept IL
cent he did not press the matter
further.
"Still," although the elder was n
kind-hcarted man and received but
little more salary than myself. yet he
loved to indulge in practical jokes. On
another occasion no accepted an in
Sitation to dine with us. and my wife,
who always seemed TO stand In awe
OF the big. digniled elder. made an
extra effort TO prepare IA tempting rc-
past Oysters were scarce and very
high In that section and consequently
n luxury. but my wife concluded that
FOR once we should have oysters
swell. thanks TO recent wedding
fees, she WIS able TO buy them. Then
she exercised all her ingenuity to
place them on tho table in every con
ceivable 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
shell. 1t was literally wilderness OF
oysters.
Outside OF oysters there was. In
fact but little 10 cat except bread.
butter. apple sauce and. l believe.
some sago cheese. Still tho little
women sat with n bcuming counte.
nance. eagerly anticipating the elder s
delight at the unexpected trclt
''After blessing had been invoked
]. ms matter OF form. turned TO our
guest and inquired;
"'Elder. will you permit mo to help
you 10 some OF tho oystcrsY
"Tho elders face assumed n severe
expression MS he slowly and deliberate
ly replied:
"Well. Dominic. hate TO say IL,
but the truth OF the matter ic l very
seldom cat them
81 glanced nj my wife. Her face
was almost crimson hue aud tears
were starting from her eyes. | think
felt just tri1o savage, but |
betrayed no sign.
"Aftor few seconds OF the mos,
painful embarrassment ever OK.
pcricnced the elder broke the silence.
by saying with unruHied elaboration:
You see. Dominic. very seldom
eat oysters, because very seldom got
them. and he burst into n tremendous
ut OF laughter that almost made the
dishes rattle.
''Of course he did ample justice TO
tho dinner which ut the best WIS
frugal enough. but | don't think that
my wifo ever quite forgavc him for
those painful moments OF suspense, -