The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-12-30

We've seen many nice girl make up with
young men and marry them, though they
hadn't more than $40 or $12 week, and
in most cases when anything out OF the
way happened they had 80 fall hacl; on
their parents for help. OF course we've
got little something laid by, but don't
intend our daughter TO depend on that
when she gets married. Better stay single
and bide at home than do that"
There was only one Interpretation which
Mr.. Soper could find for this speech, in
Guiding the SO or SIP week alusion,
and that was that the deacon and his wife
hal seen his liking for Rachel and wanted
it understood chat they would strenously
object to him as a son-n-law.
a few days later in the evening q church
meeting was held, and the pastor spoke
very plainly about his salary and the
failure Of the members to attend the ser
vices and subscribe. He was always a
plain speaker In the pulpit lie used
simple language and homely Illustrations
and never talked politics or lectured on
novels, but kept close to his text.
~ won't be in debt Cor the food eat, "
he said, 'and so you must either pay me
the salary agreed on or release me and let
me 20 elsewhere"
'Ie see, PASTOR" said one of the dea-
cons, eve thought ye'd ha' gathered in
some O. the worldly. minded people around,
but ye don't seem to take | see the young
men come along and listen for minute at
the church door and then 90. Now if ye'd
had rousin' way with we and made things
hot they'd ha' come right in and might ha'
bin converted"
II am quite aware of my imperfections, -
MIR. Soper said, land am ready to remove
them and myself out Of your sight and
hearing, but | want it understood that you
have covenanted with me to pay me 80
much a month and you haven't done it,
and | must either live on credit or starye. "
'l've lived on credit and traded on
Credit said Deacon Sitter, and nobody
thinks the worse of me, but then | never
was confessed pauper,"
"Iou are at liberty to live on credit
again" Mr.. Soper said, but as a Christ
ial you are not at liberty to force your
pastor to do so. 1t would be disgrace to
the Cnristian name.
The meeting grew stormy and adjourned
without any attempt to pay the PASTORS
salary. The very next day, however, some-
thing happened to render the pastor less
anxious about his salary. He received a
letter informing him that an uncle had
died, leaving him an estate OF over 5000
600. Just as it was growing dark he started
for the deacon's store, intending to smooth
things over about the salary. The deacon,
however, had gone home to supper ana Mr..
S0per directed his steps toward his dwell
ing. He found the door ajar and was about
to knock with his linuckles on the panel
when the door opened and a small parcel
was thrust into his hand and he heard the
stern voice OF the deacon wife:
There Take that and he off with YOU.
And don't you come loafing around here
again.
The door was banged in his face. He
stood dumbfounded. Then he turned away
with a sigh and went toward his boarding
house, still holding the parcel. When he
reached his apartments, he struck match
and lighted his lamp. Then he looked
down at the parcel which he had laid on
the table. 1t was covered with piece of
brown paper. He took it up, felt the
weight of it and wondered what it could
be. He had once loaned a lamp to Rachel
for her bicycle, but it didn't feel like that
So he slowly removed the wrapper and
found withn-two slices Of stale bread
with a slice of cold meat between them
His heart sank. This was indeed
wick led act, most unprovoked insult. 1t
was throwing the dog bone and then
kicking him out.
Next Sunday after the preaching Mr..
Soper told the congregation that he was
going to leave.
"IOu owe me four or five months salary,
but I'll make present of it to the church,
he said. 81 am sorry I've had to complain
of poverty because of your failure to pay
me what you covenanted Still am CRATE
full that at least one among you showed
disposition to help me. / went to the door
of one of the members the other night, and
the lady of the house kindly thrust this
parcel into my hand"
He held up the parcel, opened it and ex-
hibited the two slices of bread and the slice
of meat. There was CONSERVATION all
around, but most OF all in Deacon Sifter's
pew, as the pastor held up the sandwich
and turned it in different directions so that
all might see it. Then he pronounced the
benediction.
am not informed what the congregation
said or thought. l only know that while
the people in the village were at dinner,
Deacon Sitter went round to the pastor and
carried him away to the Sitter dwelling.
Mrs Sitter had recovered sufficiently from
Mysteries to talk between sobs aud spasMs.
This WAS the EXPLANATION she gave