Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1901-11-28

/ Il understand that we have nearly
! sixt; dollars in the treasury; we could
| pay the pastor siS.j0-bring the sal
| airy 10 to Sl00-and have enough left
| to pay all bills and begin the new year
nut of debt Il We do this | suggest
| that we observe the utmost secrecy
and mako it complete surprise" All
/ readily agreed to the plan and pledged
| the proper rcticcnce in the matter.
/ -Four OF the most faithful met after
prayer meeting to discuss the situa-
/ lion. and decided that they must at
once collect $24S2 the balance nee
essary to pay the six months salary
| due This they proceeded to do so
( quietly that no one surmised a gen
eral canvass was being made. Before
! Sunday the entire amount was secured.
Friday, after school. the Junior
Ieaguers met and decided that mas
much as the grown mp folks would
not help in the matter. they would do
what they could, so they voted TO pay
over every bit there was in the
treasury. Upon counting s23.2o was
! found to be the correct amount.
on girls" cried l.ottin Newman.
as she made some figures In the treas
urer's book. at will make just even
SIS and | hope we can get enough TO
make it a hundred"
After the choir had run over tho
| Sunday hymns. someone proposed that
they pay the proceeds OF the last con-
cert on the salary. Tho sum OF $50 g;
after referring to the margin OF his
anthem book, the chorister reported
that 1t would make $50 all told On
| Thanksgiving morning they would
call at the parsonage and surprise the
pastor with a check for this amount.
Perhaps 1t would somewhat atone for
the sin of whispering during the SER
mon.
THANKSGIVING day was a trying time
for the NorwOods. The baby was sick
the night before and kept them
awake; and when they did get TO
rest. they oversight. What with rush
ing TO get breakfast over and make
ready for the service at church. pray
ers were shortened and the chapter
omitted altogether.
"Oh, Wesley. | am so tired! Every
thing has gone wrong today" said
| Mrs. Norwood that afternoon. The
children never were 50 naughty before.
What will people say about Robbie
| fighting? The flour barrel is empty,
the potatoes are all gone. and We have
not thing in the house for breakfast.
only bread and butter; and the grocer
sent us word yesterday that We could
not have another thing until We paid
him. What shall We do?" After
which lengthy and somewhat incoher-
ent speech, she laid her head on his
shoulder and found refuge in tears.
Never mind, Dear; the Lord viii
provide; then he slowly added. as
il in an afterthought, some way"
few minutes later Pastor Norwood
was bowling to the Organist. who slip
ped a check in his hand and said prop
erly. with the compliments of the
choir" Just as they were seated, the
door bell rang again. and this time the
! Junior League marched en- masse and
the astonished minister stood speech
less with a check in either hand. Then
the Older League came, and pres
entity the Ladies' Aid, and last OF all
the trustees, all adding their offerings
and Crowdiug the small rooms. Each
party looked Stillly aSkanCr at the
others. wondering by what tricliery
their secret had become known.
After an hour of discourse and song,
the treasurer arose and said.
"A few days since our pastor had
received but a mere pittance for many
months OF faithful labor. While he
had wrought earnestly for the church
and its societies, so that. for the first