The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-10-19

cial life. At first these warning clouds
were scarcely perceptible; in fact, there
were those unbelievers who said that
there would be no storm; but the NUT
terings grew louder.
The first sign of danger was apparent
in the growing GOODNESS between Lu-
cindy and Maria Ann. They were not
openly or aggressively enemies, but
from being on that high spiritual plane,
where the outward signs of fellowship
were not needed, and on which they
called each other by their first names,
they had come down to level WHICH
required, to indicate their relations one
to the other, the interchange of sis
ter Gibbs" and SISTER woodward"
There had been a time when they had
treated each other with loving and ia
miliar discourtesy, but now they were
scrupulous4y polite. If one broke In
upon the others remarks ia church
Sis Gibbs or II beg yo' pa'don, Sis
Woodward" and each seemed feverish-
ly anxious to sacrifice herself to make
way for the other.
Then they came to work no more
together. The separation was effected
without the least show of anger. They
simply drifted apart, and Lucindy
found herself at the head of one faction
and Maria Ann in the lea,l of another.
Here for time good natured rivalry
was kept up, much to the increase of
Bethel's finances and its minister's sat-
isfaction. But an uncertain and less
genial note began to creep into these
contests as the Rev. Eleazar jackson
continued to smile upon both the ar
dent sisters.
The pastor at Bethel had made such
a glowing record as a financier that
the bishop had expressed his satisfac-
tion by a special letter, and requested
that at the June rally he make an extra
effort to raise funds for the missionary
cause Elated at this mark of distinc-
ton, and with visions of possible pre-
siding eldership in his mind, Mr.. Jack
son sought out his two most attractive
parishioners and laid his case before
them 1t was in the chapel, immediate
ly after the morning service, that he
got them together.
have made record which she have to
sustain. She have de reputation o.
bein' one O the most hb'l churches in de
CONFERENCE. Now we don't want to dis
APPOINT the bishop when he picks us out
to help him in such good cause. o.
co'se / knoaed who | could depend on,
an so l come right to you sisters to
see if you couldn't plan out some'p'n
that would make real big splurge at
de June rally"
He paused and waited for the sisters
to reply. They were both silent. This
made him uneasy, and he said: What
you think, Sister Gibbs?"
oh" said Maria Ann, "I'm waitin'
to hyeah f'om Sis woodward"
"Oh, no" said Sister WoQdyard, po-
htely, don wait on me, Sis Gibbs
'Spress yo'se'f, 'spress yo'sef."
But Maria Ann still demurred. II
couldn't think O putin my po' opinions
up 'fo' Sis woodward" she said. I'D
good deal ruther wait to hyeah fom
my elders" She laid especial stress
on the last word.
Lucindy smiled smile so gentle that
1t was ominous.
II ain't holdin' back 'ecause l CANT
think O. nothin'," she said, "but jes'
'ecause l amt been used to putin my
sef forrard, an ! don't like to begin it
so late" And she smiled again.
The minister began to feel uneasy.
Figuratively speaking, both Of the sis
tiers seemed to be sparring for wind,
and he thought it better to call the
council to close and see each one
separately.
"Well," he said, hurriedly, 81 know
you sisters will come to some conclu.
sion, an jes' pot to me on next
Wednesday night, an will pass kind
o view over yo' plans, an offer su'-
jestion, mebbe. We want TO do some
pm that will bring out de people an
mex 'em give gen'ously of their means
for de benefit o de heathen."
The two sisters bowed very polite
ly to each other shook the minister's
hand and went their different ways.
1t must have been Satan himself who
effected the result Of having both wona-
en- hit upon the same plan of action.
Maria Ann was pleased at her idea. and
fastened to church on Wednesday even
ing to report it to the pastor, only to
find that Lucindy woodward had been
before her with the same plan.
81 mus congratulate you, sisters
said Rev. Eleazar, "bofe upon yo' dill
gence an yo' fo'thought. 1t must a
been Providence that directed bofe 20
minis in de same channel"
Both the sisters were aghast. They
had both suggested dividing the church
into soliciting parties and giving prize
to the one collecting the highest amount
of money. Perhaps the devil was not
so much concerned in making their
minds revert to this as it appeared, as ii
is a very common device for raising
money among negro churches. How
81