The Van Buren press., 1897-10-30
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& THE DEACON'S :. \
: 8 @DONATION !
4 BIZ MARY { MITCHELL. 4
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white gate.
We'll. Brother Farnham," the min
ister exclaimed. seizing his hand, y
am glad TO see you! My heart has been
full OF surprise and gratitude all day.
lis a blessed thing you've done, deacon,
a blessed thing; and your reward will
be rich one, am sure"
The deacon looked dazed.
Il don't take in your meaning, Mr..
Ladd," he said, reseuing an unwilling
hand from the minister's embarrassing
grasp.
oh, now, deacon" went on Mr. Ladd,
his ardor in nowise dampened. You
needn't pretend you don't know what !
mean. You cant hide good deed like
this; its light will shine. Everybody
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" F"
and the ministre was off before the un-
eomprehending deacon could gather
his scattered wits.
"By gum!n he calculated, as he looked
after the minister's retreating form.
This was the strongest expletiye Dea-
con Farnham ever allowed himself, and
when he made use of it he produced
it with great deliberation and force.
Now, what's the parson got into his
head? ." be 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 100 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
comfortable reading Of the weekly
news, letting the minister and his mys-
terious gratitude drop out 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.
The afternoon air was hot and hes ~,
the drone of the bees drowsy, and Dea
con Farnham's head went on 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
not his eye, in one of his lucid mo-
ments, caught sight of something which
caused him TO bring back his wander
ing head with jerk and startled him
| into wide wakefulness.
1t was his own name which so aroused
! him, 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 the
building of the new Congregational
church. Minister Ladd is to be congratu-
lated on being able to count such a liberal
and public-minded parishioner as one of his
flock"
The deacon laid down his paper with
a sniff of disgust.
$50 that's it'll" he said aloud. "0f all
the fools!" And he struck his fist on
bis knee.
Nothing could be further from the
deaeon'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
,'.elose." Little of the profit which so
readily flowed into his pocket was ever
bestowed in free and ungrudging 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 10 with
Furthermore, if a fit of generosity
had CHANGED to come over the deacon's s
spirit, the new church building down
in the village was not likely to receive
| the benefit of it. He 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
sakiDg it.
No wonder the deacon's irritation
grew as he reread the startling an
nouncement of the Chronicle.
We'll, I'll have that settled before the
! sun goes down." he exclaimed, rising TO
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
\ few moments later Deacon Farm
ham was climbing the steep and dusty
steps which led to the office of the
Greenvile Weekly Chronicle. He found
the editor at his desk, in his shirt
sleeves, taking life easy.
We'll, Deacon Farnham, this is an un-
: expected pleusurel Sit down, was his
/ greeting.
'"Look here, young mani" pulled the
deacon. out of breath from the eXertion
OF climbing, but refusing the proifered
chair, you're getting altogether
too smart in that paper Of yours MAX
ipg free with my name in that style.
"Oh. YOU mustn't be so modest, dea-
con. 4 good deed like that ought to be
| known"
This Interpretation OF bis protest was
unexpected 10 the deacon, and he had 10
begin again:
"Idon't know what idiot toldyou that
stuF. but it's lie, and you can take d
hack I'm your nest. When J give $500
which won't be soou-itN be some
where else than 10 that church folly
~. ... l.--4s,d9 1 want % contra