Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-07-04
Entertaining the Minister.

Entertaining the Minister.
There's a 60" muttered John
Sanscript under his breath, last
Saturday, as he poked up the fire in
the parlor CRATE. There's 60.
The wife has gone and invited her
minister to dine, and I'm to enter
tain him when he comes while she
dishes up.
Nov / amt used to clergymen,
and no doubt I'll make mess of it..
Still, I'm not so ignorant after all.
It's been a long while since l went to
Sunday-school, but ! recollect some
of the things we learned. There
goes the bell. I'll bet that's him."
Sanscript cleared his throat, walk
ed out into the hall, and opened the
door.
A pale, cadaverous-looking young
man with long hair, watery eyes,
high cheek-bones, large mouth,
Roman nose, and clad in a suit Of
shiny black, bowed and smiled at
the master of the house most
benignly. Under his arm he car
ried large book, and Sanscript, of
course, knew what that was.
Grasping the visitor by the hand,
John pulled him into the hall with
cordial intent, and continuing to
shake and squeeze, said:
my dear sir, this is indeed a
pleasure. We've been expecting
you. Come into the parlor."
With bewilderment written all
over his face, the young man tao
lily followed.
"Have a chair by the fire. Give
me your hat. Mrs. Sanscript is
dishing up the dinner now. |
smell it-don't you?"
The young man shifted the air,
and his face lighted up with a
hungry and expectant expression.
THE most prominent odor-the
one nearest you-is the stuffin' for
the duck. You like stuffed ducks,
don't YOU"
"I'm very fond Of duck" ventur-
ed the young man.
That's good. | though you
liked stuffed duck"
The young man smiled and nod
ded, which added confidence to the
hosts assurance.
"Had we not better transact
little business before dinner Mr..
Sanscript?"
"Oh, ah, certainly! to be sure,
How stupid of me, now. never
thought about it that you always
have prayers first"
Excuse me-" stammered the
young man, as he flushed up with
wild dased sort Of look. Excuse
me, sir, but l never said prayers,
except on Sundays and when / get
up and go to bed, in my lifew
"What!-never said-Er, you're
joking"
Upon my word, I'm not-much
as I'm ashamed to own it,"
Sanscript stroked his chin, and
struggled hard to collect his scat
tered thoughts, and mentally OBJ
served:
well, here's queer parson!'
n thought perhaps you'd like to
subscribe" mildly continued the
the young man.
Subscribe! Oh, yes, to be sure!
Why, certainlyv Then to himself:
1.-THE mercenary william! He at
tacks me for the heathen before
we sit down to dine"
Then, aloud: "This is for the
heather, ! suppose2"
VI don't exactly catch your mean-
ing"
"For the missionary fund, supr
pose?"
"What missionary fund.-"
SLOW should | know? You
ought to know"
Perhaps; but will you sub
scribe?"
"Why certainly, How much is
it,"
len SHlllluSS.
Sanscript went down into his
pocket, produced the money, and
passed it over. t
Thank you, smiled the young
man, ramming the cash into his
pocket.
"When shall ldeliver the book P"
"What book?"
It was Sanscript's turn now to
be puzzled.
'Why the 'Meandering Mulet-
eers; or the Mystery of the MUIR
dered Man."
A l,oht scanned hreakino ;nto