The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-05
Peter birmingham Strike.
BY LOUIS ST. MAUR.

Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Co.
There was discomfort in the First
church, of Ravenna. In spite of Deacon
Browns repeated efforts to keen thtnes
peaceful the tranquility of the parish
mao disturbed. For many years Peter
DTanihsham had been the sexton
LIS aenand Tor more wages called the
pi uoentiai committee and trustees To-
set,ier, ana one request after another met
"itn eAlreme kindness until there was
poit On the part of the Younger ele-
hent and Peters star began to wane.
we have all heard of the grave o,,es.
lions over which many a CONGREGATION
mas Wfangied. and Of course It Is a Sc
faous problem deciding whether the bell
shaai be rung or telled. or whether the
choir shall walk or stride, or what color
the rector should have his tie: but the
rev among the members of the First
church was more vital than these. Peter,
birmingham had his following no less
numerous than the foe
Inc usual financial discussion was i'll
full swing and there was need of some
thing doing before long, as the ladies
wanted new set of dishes and a. car
pet Tor the tower parlor-and the treas
ary was low. The matter of rajsir,e.
money was left in the hands of a com.
mittee of eight young people blessed with
piehty OF ingenuity and SKILL After care
Iul ana prayerful consideration they de-
Vlsed agrand entert ainment with some
professional talent from the nearest city.
Jack Harper, the village banker. a.
young man who stepped into the world
Where his father left off. full of energy
ana ability and metropolitan IDEAS
agreed to back the affair and guara Mt eed
that they would give the biggest enter
tainment for 81 that Rayenna had eyer
seen. If they did not make enough to
meet all the demands of the ladies' with
a new cut glass vase for the pulpit
thrown in. he would put up the money
himself. His word was as good as gold.
for Jack had always stood with both
hands in his pockets just as his father
had DONE
Accordingly the populace of wilkins
county was astonished to see innumera-
Die placards adjoining the bare spots Of
the town. All the public hitching posts
and fountains. the city hall, postoffice,
railway stations and every cross roads
III the country for fifteen miles around
were announcing the attractions. The
famous lecturer, Prof Dennis. with his
stereopticon; the celebrated baritone,
Godowsky, who had sung before royalty.
and Mime. Lei5la, lately of grand opera,
fame. would be on the programme
The committee in charge had met ev-
cry day for week to arrange things.
although there was not much of that to
do, but they were congenial young peo-
pie. and Jack Harper, being chairman,
enjoyed calling meetings because Florence
Barnum was on the committee
Florence had divided her favors pretty
evenly between Jack and Lester Morgan,
and Jack was not neglecting any oppor-
tunities. Mr. Morgan was the chairman
of the board, and had gone out of town
for a few days. Being lone bachelor,
no one knew exactly where he had gone.
He little dreamed what matters of his
to7dcai Importance were to hinge on that
absence of his. Possibly he would have
stayed at home if he had.
The morning of the eyentful day Jack
gave Peter Birmingham his orders on the
slate that hung in the side entrance of
the church under the word 'Janitor'
s'Fire up furnaces for tonight. Adrait
carpenter to put up screen in main au-
ditorium of church; also admit grand
piano from Smiths. Have church light
ed throughout at p. m.
Jack Harper,
Chairman of Entertainment Commit
tee"
There. that ought to impress him with
the importance of It," thought Jack, as
he hurried away to his Office
It was bitter cold and threatening to
snow when Jack called for Florence AS
they came in sight of the church they