Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-10-16
THE minister met the deacon just as
~ I,.,.r v-aS oDariur hfz small

y full Of surprise and gratitude all day
o Its a blessed thing you've done, deacon
e a blessed thing; and your reward vii
/ be a rich one, | am sure"
! The deacon looked dazed.
; Il don't take IN your meaning, Mr.
Ladd," he said, rescuiug an unwilling
hand from the minister's embarrassin.
grasp.
"Oh. now. deacon" went on Mr.. Ladd
} his ardor in nowise damPeued. "Yoy
needn't pretend you don't know what
mean. You can't hide a good deed lik,
this; It's light will shine. Everybody
knows it by this time, and, best of all
the Lord knows It, deacon, and Hell
bless you, l just wanted to get in my
personal thanks. Don't say a word
and the ministre was off before the uu-
comprehcnding deacon could gather
his scattered wits.
BY gum!" he calculated, as he looked
after the minister's ~retreating form.
This was the strongest eNpletiye Dea-
con Farnham ever allowed himself, and
when he made use Of it he produced
it with great deIiberation and force.
Wow, what's the parson got into his
head?' he went on 10 himself, as he
walked up the path which led To his
house. ut beats me. 1, can't be that
mess Of pease l sent him he's so ever
lastingly grateful for-bringing in the
Lord in that way"
Down in Deacon Farnham's heart
was the consciousness that no one. not
even the minister, could be very CRATE
full for these tough old peas, the last
product of the vines,
I'D like to know what he was at"
he continued, stopping to wipe his moist
forehead.
But the question was too pulling.
and he gave it up before lie reached his
door.
The deacon sat down on the kitchen
stoop and took the Greenhin Chronicle
from his pocket. He put his straw hat
on the step beside him and settled for
Il comfortable reading Of the weekly
news. letting the minister and his mvs-
ferrous gratitude drop ont Of his mind.
as a subject too exciting for the warm
day.
All about him stretched his broad
fields, bearing promise Of full harvest.
and his green orchards. laden with rich
abundance Of young fruit. The whole
farm bore witness to unstinted care
and consequent prosperity.
Back Of the deacon was the kitchen.
large and bare. but scrubbed and
secured until the sunshine. pouring
into the west windows. could disclose
no trace of dirt nor speck of dust.
The deacon did not believe in any SUI
perhuities in housekeeping arrange
ments. There was nothing to soften
the evidence Of labor here.
On the farm, work was repaid by
beauty as well as profit. The plowed
earth was soon hidden by waving grain. |
and the spaded soil brought forth green
plants and graceful vines.
Mrs. Farnham's kitchen toll received
no such reward. The result was merely
that the room was clean; it remained
uncompromisingly pare.
The afternoon air was hot and heavy.
the drone Of the bees drowsv. and Dea-
con Farnham's head went en- involun-
tary little journeys as he sat on the
step with the paper in his hand. The
Chronicle dropped lower and lower. and
would have fallen from his grasp had
his eye, in me Of his lucid mo
lhents, caught sight Of something which
caused him to bring back his wander
ing head with a jerk and startled him
into wide wakefulness.
1t was his w name which 50 aroused
hun, and he adjusted his spcctacles and
Strengthened his paper.
1T has reached our editorial cars that
Deacon Farnham, Of Upland farm. has do.
mated the generous sum Of 600 towards the
building Of the new Congregational
church. Minister L.add Is to be conpratn.
lated on being able to count such a liberal
ana pubIlc-minded parishioner as one of his
flock"
The deacon laid down his paper with
a sniff of disgust.
so that's it," he said. aloud. "Ofou
the fools." And he struck his fist on
knee.
Nothing could be further from the
deacon's mind than to give one cent
towards the building of the little
church, to say nothing of $500.
MT hat tb4 bo ,.,l1 -
was "yell off" but he was also
close" Little of the profit which so
readily flowed into his pocket was ever
bestowed in free and u~ngrudging gifts,
only the necessities of life found their
way into his household, and the neigh
bors spoke pityingly Of Mrs. Farnham;
She had so little to do with"
Furthermore, if a fit of generosity
hau chanced to come over the deacon's
the new church building down
II the village was not likely to receive
The benefit of it.. He had shown no in
ierest in its erection from the very first.
The old meeting house was di~lapidated
md fast falling into decay, but the dea- ;
on could not see any reason for for
it. ,
I've worshiped in it for so wears, and
ny father before me- he would saw. .
its condition was pointed out TO ,
lim. The Lord amt no respecter of ,
PERSONS, and | guess He amt of places. =,
good enough for Him is good :
enough for me- =
After that there was nothing more tn j.
De said, for the deacon was well known
Q be obstinate, and any prolonged ar =
,ument only served to %stiffen his con- >
.iction. ,
So the church had to go ahead without =
my help from its senior deacon, but the ),
work on the little structure did not pro- !.
eed rapidly, for the funds were small =
md slow in coming. >,
Il believe he's real pleased when the !,
york has TO be stopped" walled Mrs. i
'arnham, whose very heart was in the :,
'rogress of the new church. =
No wonder the deacon's irritation :
as he reread the startling an :,
ouncement of the Chronicle. >,
well, I'll have that settled before he .,
un goes down." he exclaimed, rising to "
is feet. Guess | better mt This wharo =,