Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-12-10

We'll, Brother Farnham," the min
lister exclaimed, seizing his hand, Il
am glad to see YOU. My heart has been
full of surprise and gratitude all day.
It's a blessed thing you've done, deacon,
a blessed thing; and your reward Will
be a rich one, am sure
The deacon looked dazed.
Il don't take in your meaning, Mr..
Ladd," he said, rescuing an unwilling
hand from the minister's embarrassing
/ grasp.
"Oh, now, deacon" went on Mr. Laid,
his ardor in nowise dampened. you
needn't pretend you don't know what L
mean. You can't hide good deed like
this; it's light will shine. Every body
knows it by this time, and. best OF all,
! the Lord knows it, deacon, and He'll
bless you. just wanted TO get in my
personal thanks. Don't say a word"
and the ministre was off before the UNI
comprehending deacon could gather
his scattered wits.
by gum" he calculated, as he looked
after the minister's retreating form.
This was the strongest expletive Dea-
con Farnham ever allowed himself, and
when he made use of it he produced
it with great elaboration and force.
"Now, what's the parson got into his
head?" he went on to himself, as he
walked up the path which led to his
! house. 1T beats me. l. can't be that
mess Of pease | sent him he's so ever
/ lastingly grateful for-bringing in the
Lord in that way"
But the question was too puzzling,
and he gave it up before he reached his
door
The deacon sat down on the kitchen
StOop and took the Greenhill Chronicle
from his pocket. He put his straw hat
on the step beside him and settled for
a comfortable reading OF the weekly
news letting the minister and his mys-
terous gratitude drop out of his mind,
as a subject too exciting for the warm
| day.
.Au 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.
The afternoon ~ r was hot and heavy,
the drone Of the bees drowsy, and Dea-
Won -FaTnha1I head went on involun-
tary little journeys as he sat on the
step Is i'll the. paper in his hand, The
Chronicle dropped lower and lower, and
would have fallen from his grasp had
ridt his eye. IN one Of his lucid mo-
ments caught sight Of something which
caused him TO bring back his wander
/ ing head with a jerk and startled him
! into wide wakefulness.
II was his own name which soaroused
hun. and he adjusted his spectacles and
Strengthened his paper.
1T has reached our editorial ears that
Deacon Farnham. Of Upland farm, has do
mated the generous sum Of $500 towards tn q
/ building Of the new Congregational
church Minister Laid is 20 De congra,u-
lated on being able to count such a liberal
and public-mindcd parishioner as one Of his
flock
The deacon laid down his paper with
a sniff of disgust.
80 that's it," he said. aloud "Ofall
/ the FOOLS" And he struck his fist or
/ his 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.
Not but that he could afford it; the
deacon was well Off" but he was also
close" Little of the profit which so
readily flowed into his pocket was ever
bestowed in free and uugrudging 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 lido with"
Furthermore, if fit of generosity
had CHANGED to come over the deacon-s
/ spirit, the new church building down
in the village was not likely to receive
the benefit of it, lie had shown no in
terest in its erection from the very first.
! The old meeting house was dilapidated
and fast falling into decay, but the dea-
con could not see any reason for for
saking it.
No wonder the deacon's irritation
grew as he reread the startling an
nounccment of the Chronicle
We'll, I'll have that settled before the
! sun goes down." he exclaimed, rising 10
his feet. Guess ! better put this where
Maria won't get hold of it," he added,
folding the paper carefully and return
| ing it TO his pocket. She's dead set on
! that foolishness, Maria is
y few moments later Deacon Farm
ham was climbing the steep and dusty
steps which led to the Office of the
Greenville Weekly Chronicle. lie found
the editor at his desk, in his shirt
sleeves, taking life easy.
well, Deacon Farnham, this is an un-
expected pleasure. Sit down." was his
greeting.
Look here, young mani" pulled the
| deacon, out Of breath from the eXertion
of climbing, but refusing the proffered
chair, you're getting altogether
/ too smart in that paper of yours-mak
! ing free with my name in that style"
"Oh, you mustn't be so modest, dea-
con. A good deed like that ought TO be
] lnoxyu ~