The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-03-22
Observation-Disclosures
!. The ParSon'S SALARY. J
The Church Was Too Poor to Pay
It, and He Went Without It.

The Rev. John SOpOr tried hard TO DO
his duty when he became pastor Of
church at Windport, down on Long Is
land. 1t was his first charge, and he
soon began to think that, when he was
called to the ministry, either the wrong
John Sopor answered the telephone or
the message was a fake one. One OF
the first things he found out was that
the church was in debt and willing to
become more so. For a month or two
he got the whole of his miserably
small salary. Then he got only part of
1t, and finally he found it necessary to
speak about the condition Of things.
Deacon Sitter was the chief man in
the church. He had the reputation of
being well to do. He was the principal
in the village and lived
away from his business in an old fash
toned dwelling, facing on the main
street. His daughter Rachel was q
very charming girl of 10 or 20. All the
young men around were anxious for
her acquaintance. But Rachel had re-
ceived a good education and was,
moreover, sincerely pious and had no
taste for the boorish manners, uncouth
speech and careless habits of most OF
the young men around. The new pas
tor was a very different man from the
natives in all respects. He was tall,
strong and erect, with manly face
and gentle methods. He was well in
formed and knew how to talk and
didn't assume an air of superiority, as
some young pastors do. think that it
Is best to say at once that he fell In
love with Rachel and that she was
willing and glad. Neither Is it neces-
sary to say that he visited the deacon's
house oftener than any other in Wind
port.
I have said that the pastors salary
was miserably small. So when it came
In regularly it was barely enough to
pay his living expenses. When it ceas-
ed to come in, he was taken aback.
So he went to the deacon and had a
long talk with him, and the deacon
said he would see about it.
81 hope you will as speedily as pos
sible," said the pastor, "for, you see,
/ am a poor man and possess no other
income"
The deacon and his wife after this
laid their heads together. They had
noticed the pastors liking for Rachel
and felt rather fiattered, taking it for
granted that young man who had
spent years at college, always dressed
well and had accepted the charge of so
poor a church must have, good in
come apart from his profession. The
result was that husband and wife
agreed that the pastors visits must
be discouraged, as they expected their
daughter to marry man of means and
not a pauper, no matter how good he
might be. OF course it devolved on
Mrs. Sitter to let the pastor under
stand in an offhand way the views of
herself and her husband as to their ex-
pectations about Rachel.
So when the pastor called soon aft
erward and was having pleasant con-
versation with Rachel in the parlor her
mother hustled in and greeted Mr..
Sopor with much fervor. She sat down
and talked about the weather and the
crops and the Sunday school and the
hard times. Then she suddenly re-
membered that she wanted something
Rachel wouldn't mind fetching it.
Rachel at once rose, excused herself
and departed on her mission.
'See how readily she goes" said her
mother. "She's a real good girl, and
I'm SO thankful that, in spite of her
fine education, she is always ready to
help me. You see, some people thought
we was sp'iling her when we sent her
to college, but she was our only one,
and we were anxious that she should
be fit wife for good man, no mat
ter how high up he might be. We've
seen many nice girls make up with
young men and marry them, though
they hadn't more than $40 or $12 a
week, and in most cases when any
thing out Of the way happened they
had to fall back on their parents for
help. OF course we've got a 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.. Sopor could find for this
speech, including the $40 or $12 a
week allusion, and that was that the
deacon and his wife had seen his liking
for Rachel and wanted it understood
that they would strenuously object to
him as son-in-law. -..M
A few days later in the evening a
church meeting was held, and the pas
tor spoke very plainly about his salary
and the failure of the members to at
tend the services and subscribe. He
was always a plain speaker. In the
pulpit he used simple language and
homely illustrations and never talked
politics or lectured on novels, but kept
close to his text. E&&>*4t
81 won't be in debt for the food I
eat" he said. ''and SO you must either
pay me the salary agreed ON or release
me and let me go elsewhere" ~
Eye see, pastor" said one of the dea-
cons, 1--WE thought ye'd ha' gathered
In some O. the worldly minded people
around, but We don't seem to take. /
see the young men come along and lis
ten for minute at the church door
and then go. Now If ye'd had rous-
In way with We and made things hot
they'd ha' come right in and might ha'
bin converted"
Il am quite aware of my imperfec-
tions," Mr.. Sopor said, land am ready
to remove them and myself out of your
sight and hearing, but / want it under
stood that you have covenanted with
me to pay me so much month and
you haven't done it, and must either
live on credit or starve." .ts
1--WE lived on credit and traded on
credit" said Deacon Sitter. land no.
body thinks the worse of me- but then
We Will Refund the Money