St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-11-12
THE DEACON'S DONATION.
BY MARY e. MIrcHRLL.

lister exclaimed, Selling his hand, II
am glad to see you! My heart has been
full of surprise and gratitude all day.
It's blessed thing you've done, deacon,
blessed thing; and your reward will
BIT a rich one, am sure"
The deacon looked dazed.
II don't take in your meaning, Mr..
Ladd," he said, rescuing an unwilling
hand from the minister's embarrassing
grasp.
ooh, now, Deacon" went on Mr.. Ladd,
his ardor in nowise dampened. "You
needn't pretend you don't know what
mean. You can't hide good deed like
this; it's light will shine. Everybody
knows it by this time, and, best of all,
the Lord knows it, deacon, and He'll
bless you. l just wanted to get in my
personal thanks. Don't say word"
and the ministre was off before the I'M
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. at beats me! It can't be that
mess of pease L 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
comfortable reading of the weekly
news, letting the minister and his mys-
terious gratitude drop out of his mind
as 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 heavy,
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.
at has reached our editorial ears thai
Deacon Farnham. of Upland farm, has do
mated the generous sum Of 5000 towards the
building of the new Congregations
church. Minister Ladd Is to be congratu
lated on being able to count such liberia
and public minded parishioner as one of his
flock"
The deacon laid down his paper with
a sniff of disgust.
so that's it'll" he said, aloud. "Of all
the fools!" And he struck his fist or
his knee.
Nothing could be further from the
deacon's mind than to give one CEN
towards the building of the little
church, to say nothing of $500.
Not but that he could afford it; tn,
deacon was "well off," but he was alsC
"close." Little of the profit which 81
readily flowed into his pocket was eve
bestowed in free and ungrudging gifts
Only the necessities of life found thei
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
had Glanced to come over the deacon
spirit, the new church building dow
in the village was not likely to receiv
the benefit of it. He had shown no in
terest in it's erection from the very first
The old meeting house was dilapidate'
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
nouncement of the Chronicle.
"Well, I'll have that settled before tn
sun goes down." he exclaimed, rising t
his feet. Guess better put this wher
Maria won't get hold of it." he added
folding the paper carefully and return
ing it to his pocket. She's dead set o.
that foolishness, Maria is"
A few moments later Deacon Earn
ham was climbing the steep and dust
steps which led to the office OF tn
Greenville Weekly Chronicle. He foun
the editor at his desk, in his shlr
sleeves, taking life easy.
"Well, Deacon Farnham, this is an III
expected pleasurel Sit down." was III
greeting.
"Look here, young mani" pulled tn
deacon, out of breath from the exeruo
of climbing, but refusing the proffere
chair "you're getting altogethe
too smart in that paper of yours-m,a,i
ing free with my name in that style
ooh, you mustn't be so modest de'
CON A rood deed like that ought to
known"
This Interpretation of his protest VIZ
unexpected to the deacon, and ne hao
begin again: ~,
81 don't know what idiot told'you thu
,+,,# hr+ ;+,s n lie. and YOU can take