The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-05
s THE ADVERTISERS !. DAILY SHORT STORY

There was discontent in the First Church at Ravenna. In spite of Deacon Browns repeated efforts to keep things peaceful, the tranquility of the parish was disturbed. For many years Peter Branlng- ham had been the sexton.
 His demand for more wages called tne Prudential Committee and trustees to- gether. and one request after another mel with extreme kindness until there was a bolt on the part of the younger element and Peters star began to wane.
 We have all heard of the grave ques- tions over which many congregation has wrangled and of course 1t is serious problem deciding whether the bell snall be rung or tolled, or whether the cholr shall walk or stride, or what color the rector should have his tie; but the row among the members of the First Church was more vital than these. Peter Bran- ingham had his following no less numer- ous than the foe.
 The usual financial discussion was in full swing and there was need of some thing doing before long, as the iadies wanted a new set of dishes and carpet for the tower parlor-and the treasury was low. The matter of raising money was left in the hands of committee of eight young peonle blessed With plenty of ingenuity and skill. After careful and prayerful consideration they devised a grand entertainment with some profes- sional talent from the nearest city. Jack Harper, the village banker, young man who stepped into the world where his father left off full of energy and ability and metropolitan idens. agreed | to back the affair and guaranteed thai | they would give the biggest entertainment | for one dollar that Ravenna had ever seen. If they did not make enough tt meet all the demands of the ladies. with a new cut glass vase for the pulpit | thrown in. he would put up the money l himself. His word was as good as gold | for JacF had always stood with both ha pds in his nockets just as his father had done.
 Accordingly the populace of Wilkins county was astonished to see innumer- 1 able placards adorning the bare spots Oi the town. All the public hitching posts and fountains, the city hall postoffice railway stations and every cross roads 1T the country for fifteen miles around were announcing the attractions. The famous
 lecturer. Professor Dennis. with his ste rcopticon .th, celebrated baritone Godow- sky who had sung before royalty. and Madame Leibla, lately of Grand oper; fame, would be on the program.
 The committee in charge had met ev- | cry day for week to arrange thinE | although there was not much Of that to | do. but they were congenial young peo | ple and Jack Harper, being chairman | enjoyed calling meetings because Florence 1 Barnum was on the committee,
 l Florence had divided her favors brett! | evenly between Jack and Lester Morgan | and Jack was not neglecting any oppor
 
 of tho board. and had gone out of towT for q few days. Being lone bachelor
 no one knew exactly where he had gone He little dreamed what matters of his
 torieal importance were to hinge on tha absence of his. Possibly he would haVt
 stayed at home if he had
 The morning of the eventful day Jacl gave Peter Birmingham his orders or
 the slate that hung in the side entrance
 of the church under the word ''Janitor.
 Fire up furnace for tonight. Adm
 carpenter to put up screen Tn main au
 ditorium of church: also admit grand pi
 ano from Smiths. Have church rghte'
 ''' ' '' Jack Harper.
 Chairman of Entertainment Con'mi:
 There! that ought to impress him witt
 the importance of it." thought Jack, a
 ho hurried away to his office.
 It was bitter cold and threatening t
 sncw when Jack called for Florence As they came in sight of the church the
 both exclaimed: Why, 1t isn't lighted!
 and they quickened their pace. fear am
 anxiety taking the place of jubilant ger
 tainty, They werk met at the door by MI
 Bradford superintendent of the Sunda
 School, who shouted:
 Well, -rper! It high time you go
 here if you are going to have any Kin
 of a show tonight. Just look at that, vii
 your and he threw open the door int
 the lecture room at the rear of tn church.
 | There was n sheet stretched across tn
 bay window and the grand piano stoo
 near the old rickety upright one belong ing to the church. and there were abou
 one hundred chairs arranged In the sam l identical circular rows they were alway
 in for prayer meetings for the tWentN-iiV
 years that Jack Harper could remember l With clinched fists he shot out Of u
 door and disappeared down the celia
 stairs toward Peter Braningham's del ! While a very livel yscene was being CT acted there some remarks of note wer being delivered above in the lecture room } The carpenter had the floor and tol how that chump 1anitor hatly refuse to let him in the main auditorium, sayln . his orders were to admit no one witho'
 written order from chairman or some thing who was not in town. The Janlte was good enough for any entertainmer and 1t was so small he Uhe carpente ] had had to have new frame made bt } cause Professor Dennis's paraphernaf l was too large. He didn't think the ster } opticon would work well at such sho l range. and, anyway he knew Professc
 Dennis would be grossly insulted to TIT what little back room he was brougf | out here to lecture in. Things had bee \ | misrepresented, for that young genu : man, Mir Harper, had said he would hay : the largest audience room Tn me to" = | and anybodys s barn in the vicinity WI V | bigger than this little room.
 . Several times MT. Bradford tried to g' in a word and finally when the exhaus . ed carpenter stopped for breath ne uie
 Wednesdays story. SOLD HIS SWEE