Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-07-08
THE DEACON'S =.
&DONATION.
BY MARY E. MITCHELL.

lister exclaimed, Selling his hand, Il
am glad TO see you! My heart has been
full Of surprise and gratitude all day
Its blessed thing you've done, deacon,
blessed thing; and your reward VIII
be rich one, l 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.. Ladd,
his ardor in nowise dampened. You
needn't pretend you don't know what
mean. You can't hide good deed like
this; its light will shine. Everybody
knows il 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 word,
and the mnistre was off before the un-
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 delberation and force.
"Now, what's the parson got into his
head?" he went on TO himself, as he
walked up the path which led 10 his
house. ut beats me. l. can't be that
mess OF pease | sent him he's 50 ever
lastngly grateful FGr-bringing in the
Lord in that way"
But the question was too pulling
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
d comfortable reading of the weekly
news, letting the minister and his mys-
FERROUS 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 10 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-
meuts, 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 own name which so aroused
him. and he adjusted his spectacles and
Strengthened his paper.
cit has reached our editorial ears that
Deacon Farnham. OF Upland farm, has do
mated the generous sum OF 5000 towards the
building Of the new Congregational
church. Minister Ladd is 10 be congratu-
lated on being able 10 count such a liberal
and public-minded parishioner as one Of his
flock"
The deacon laid down his paper with
a sniff of disgust
80 that's it," he said, aloud. "Of all
the fools." And be struck his fist on
his knee.
Nothing could be further from the
deacon's mind than 10 give one cent
towards the building of he little
church, to say nothing of $500.
Not but that he could afford il; 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 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 do 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 10 receive
the benefit of il. 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
nouncement of the Chronicle.
well, III 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.
| 4 few moments later Deacon Farm
ham WAS climbing the steep and dusty
steps which led TO the Office of rhe
Greenville Weekly Chronicle. He found
the editor at his desk, in his shirt
sleeves, taking life easy.
well, Deacon Farnkam, this is an an
expected pleasure! Sit down." was his
greeting.
Look here, young man. pulled the
deacon. out Of breath from the eNertion
Of climbing, but refusing the proifered
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
known"
This INSTRUMENTATION of his protest was