The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-10-19
pa,n.es ana ampluon or both the

then, instid o thrown the competition
open, you sisters by yo'se'ves each be de
head O. a patty that shall bring de
money TO you, an the one of you that
gets the most f'om her patty shall have
de prize"
Lucindy's eyes glittered, and Maria
AIMS flashed. as they agreed to the con-
test with joyful hearts. Here should
be trial of both strength and prowess,
and il would be shown who was worthy
to walk the ways of Ire side by side
with Rev. Eleazar Jackson.
Joyfully they went to their tasks.
Their enthusiasm inspired their follow
ers with partisan energy. Side ban
tered side, and party taunted party,
but the leaders kept up a magnificent
calm. 1t was not they alone who knew
that there was more at stake than the
prize that was offered, that they had
more In view than the good of the
heather souls. There were other eyes
that saw and minds that understood
besides those of Lucindy, Maria Ann
and the preacher.
Pokey Williams, who was very warm
In the Gibbs faction. called from the
fence to her neighbor, Hannah Lewis,
who was equally ardent on the other
side: "How yo' collection come on, Sis
Lewis?"
''Oh, middlin', middlin'; de wife folks
l wok fu' done p'omise me some'p'n my
grocery man he gwine give me
some'p'n, an l got fo' dollahs in little
bits Already"
"Oomph," said Pokey, you jes' boun'
an 'termine TO may Lucindy woodward
to de preachah!"
"G'way f'om hyeah, Pokey, you is de
beatenes'! How you gittin' on?"
"Heish, gal, my w'ite folks done gi'
me ten dollahs already, an I'm jes'
tacklin' evahbody l know"
Ten dollahs! Wy, dey aim no way
fu' de preachah to git erwav ON
Maria Ann Gibbs sf you keep on"
The two waved their hands at each
other and broke into a roiiiching laugh.
The rally in June was the greatest
the annals of Bethel chapel had ever re-
corded. The prize decided upon was a
gold watch, and on the evening that the
report and decision were to be made, a
hall had to be procured, for the chapel
would not hold the crowd. 4 brief con-
cert was given first to get the people
in q good humor, and to whet their
anxiety, and though the performers
were well received, little attention
was paid to them, but everyone was on
the qui vive for the greater drama of
the evening. The minister was in his
glory.
When the concert was over, he well
coined Lucindy and Maria Ann to the
stage, where they sat, one on either side
of him. The reports began. First one
from Lucindy's side, then one from
Maria AIMS, and so alternately
through. 1t was very close! The peo
pie were leaning forward, eager and
anxious for the issue. The reports
came thick and fast, and the excite
ment grew as the sums increased. The
leaders themselves, and here Lucindy
had shown her shrewdness. Maria
AIMS side had begun to report first.
and 80 their leader was compelled to
state her amount first. There was a
certain little reserve fund in the pock-
ct of her opponent with which young
Mrs. Worthington was somewhat ac-
Quainted, and it was to be used in case
Maria Ann should excel her. Maria
made her report, reading from her
book:
'Co'din' TO de returns made by may
patty, which you hev all hyeahed, they
hev collected one hun'crd an eight
dollahs; addin' to that what hev col
lected by myself, fifty-two dollahs, I re-
turns to de chu'ch one hun'erd an sixty
dollahs.'
Down in her lap Lucindy did some
quick, surreptitious writing. Then she
stood up
"'Co'din' to de returns from which
my patty hev made, an which you bev
all hyeahed, they hev collected one hun
'erd an two dollahs. an I, by my indi-
vidual effort"-she laid wonderful en-
phasis on the last two words, bring in
sixty dollahs. mekin' the total one
hun'erd an sixty-two dollahs, which /
submit to de chuch."
There was burst of applause from
Lucindy's partisans, but Maria Ann
was on her feet:
81 forgot" she said, "de last donation
received. Mrs. Jedge Haines was kin
enough to give me check fu' ten dol
lahs, which | didn't add at fust, an il
brings my collection up to one hun'erd
an seventy dollahs."
The volume Of applause increased AT
Maria AIMS statement, but II wavered
into silence as Lucindy arose. She
smiled down upon Maria Ann.
I'm mighty thankful to de sister
she said, ''iu' mindin me o. sone'p'n
mos nigh fu'got. Mis- Cal'liDe Worth
ington desired 10 put her name down
On my book fu' twenty doilahs, which
brings my collection TO one hun'erd an
eighty doliahs."
Mrs. Worthington looked across al
Mrs. Haines and smiled. That lady
raised her chin. An ashen hue came