The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-06
The DEACON'O CHANCE.

From the deacon's standpoint the minis
ter's salary was large, indeed enormous,
as the deacon used 10 say. In point of fact
il was very moderate. being only $3.50
year, and $50 of that had TO be taken in
wood But We must look at it from the
deacon's point Of view.
He lived uDon and cultivated farm that
furnished him and his family almost their
entire living. When they wanted groceries
or any kind Of store" goods, he would
make a trade OF butter or egg, and supply
heir wants,
This left but very little TO sell for cash.
and consequently the good deacon handled
but little actual money from one years end
10 the other Two hundred dollars, and
sometimes $50 or SIS more, was all the real
cash the deacon saw In the year, and his
necessities not requiring this much he
usually had a considerable sum to bis credit
at The bank. How his minister, with not a
large family could spend $500 in cash every
year was more than he could possibly com
preh5nd. There must be, lie thought,
great extravaganza SumeW where. In his
opinion the minister did not earn bis money.
"W hat does he do, anyway" he said,
addressing a neighOOT VINO sat IN his store
amusing himself by tossing 40 IN his hand
a couple Of beans, Most OF the time he
wears his best clothes and goes around
Twisting on the people. a-takin' tea with
the women, and a-hayIn' good time, while
me and you is hard a-WOTkin'." The man Of
the beans nodded his head and fang the
beans more assiduOuSly, as though they had
something t. do with the work referred 10
by the deacon. And then as TO preachin'-
Ia like TO know what there's IN
that?" he continued. IF q man couldn't
write in hall q day enough t. read In half
an hour why / think he'd better quit the
business; wouldn't You" The thr0WeT OF
the beans not being disposed TO take issue
with the deacon ne continued: NOW l
don't set up pretenslOnS 10 be smarter tuau
most folks, but if l can't write with this
very d nd, holding cut hand that did not
look as though IL had been got up with any
special reference 10 holding pen, AS good
a sermon in half q day as the minister
breaches to Us, I'll quit bel a deacon, and
ia prea b ii. toe, in the church, II he'd give
me the chance.
This last remark. in the course Of time.
got round 10 the minister's ears, and he de-
Jermued, at Tie first opportunity, to give
tie deacon chance 10 try bis gifts.
This soon occurred. Only a few weeks
after the conversation referred 10, il hap
Deuei that the minister was called 10 be
b>ent from home for a Sabbath; so. going
over 10 the deacOn's house early on Monday
morning, be stated to him the necessities
of the case. and insisted that he should pre-
Dere q sermon and preach IL IN the pulpit the
following sabbath.
A view Of The deacou's face al that mo-
ment would have been highly amusing
The first slight tnge OF surprise soon gave
away 10 an expression Of pride, confidence
aud triumph, most refreshing 10 CUntem-
Mate LAYING hold Of the lower Of two but
tons that ue!d his vest together, he COM
menced Nv sting il, as was his custom when
.abOTlnE under any great mental excite
meut, and replied, We'll, Duminie''-that
was a tenn he always used on state occa-
si0ns-'ii yOI really think l must, / will DO
he hes I can" Aud then he added after
a moments hesitation, Il han'J got the
books l suppose you will let me 20 into
your study to write? I'll g. home for din
ner"
"Oh. certainly" replied the dominic, land
my wife will be pleased to have you take
dinner and supper, to-, with her, if YOU
sh0Uld not get through before maaltima."
VERY good" said the deacon, IN 90
over as soon as l get my morning work
done"
An hour later but yet early in the morn
ing, found the deacon in the minister's
study, preparing for work. BE had left
word az home TO keep some dinner for him,
as he might possibly not get his sermon
written as he expected, but still expressed
the opinion that as he only had 10 write
enough 10 keep him reading half an hour
ne would, if he had no bad luck, get
through bv noon. To give the deacon the
credit due 10 him. it must be said that he
ala have. with all his failings, a foundation
Of good sense in his mind, and was q pretty
good Judge OF what a sermon ought to be.
Tie minister's good wife had prepared
everything 20 his hand. She had placed
PAPER and ink on the table. together with a
Bible, CTuden's Concordance aud a most
formidable pile OF commentaries. The
deacon proceeded at once TO business. he
stood q moment TO take survey Of the sit
uatiOu and then drew on his coat and
Ia q lad n hIz rad
flannel shirtSleeYes with as much energy as
though he was going 20 chop wood. Then
he sat down at the table, counted out as
many sheets Of sermon paper as be thought
he would use and pronounced himself all
ready. By this time it was few minutes
after G'clock.
We'll" said heto himself, "the first thing
/ suppose ministers have to settle is what
text they will select" Here he took up the
Bible and glanced through it. There were
plenty Of texts there, beyond question, but
which one? This was a poser. Now he
thought Of a certain verse, now Of another.
Re read part Of a chapter here and part Of
another there, and then lay back in his
chair and thought-the- lower button was
suffering terribly.
Here was a text that would do, but the
minister had preached upon it lately. Here
was another that would make a splendid
discourse, but the condition of the church
was not such as TO warrant that kind OF ser
mon. After great deal Of reflection both
these were rejected.
Just then, to the Edeacon's horror. the
clock struck II. he caught up MS pen and
dipped il in black ink, but there was that
stubborn fact, be must have a text. He
wondered how ministers decided that very
important matter. IAN, now | have it
he exclaimed. mo, that wont do, either"
The hour soon passed. and thus ended the
first half day.
Promptly at y o'clock the minister's wife
called him to dinner, and although much in
elined not 10, he went well, deacon, how
have you got on? Have you settled upon
your text yet?" said the lady, cheerfully;
that IS one OF my husbands greatest
troubles. l have known him sometimes 10
SPEND whole day in search of an apDro-
pirate text without coming 10 any decision"
The deacon ate his dinner almost in ST.
lence. Some new and profound thoughts
were working in his brain. and more than
5nce he laid down his knife and fork and
felt for that button. In the afternoon he
was little more successful So much so
that by night he had rejected every subjert
that he might possibly find interesting and
useful but one, and to that one had attached
text and actually written several pages
OF the sermon; but ii was night and he
must 20.
The deac0n's wife was a very shrewd as
we'll as very good woman. and she knew
bow TO do what very many women do not:
she knew when not to talk. And this even
ing, she judged from her husbands couu-
tenance, was such a time. They went silent
20 bed About half-past II o'clock she was
awakened by the deacon asking her which
Of the two texts he repeated she thought
WOUld be best for a sermon.
The next morning the deacon complained
oil headache, affirming that he had not slept
more than two hours all night Nine o'clock
found him hard at work again. But, alas!
be soon came to realize what be had dimly
suspected during the night-that he was not
familiar with his subject. 1t was evident
10 him that be must do what he had so often
heard the minister talk about. he must
read up. mast 30 through that pile of
commentaries and post up on the subject,
But where was the end2 Book after book
demanded bis attention, until the second sun
actually went down upOn his weary head
and uDfinichad foe