The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-09-08

ht i've dollars. Wen peytr DO u, and
knows he's safe. Lock al the grin on b
face
Deacon, | tsys, we must get that Ave do
lars out Of him somelos. Don't mlss mar
msu, woman nor chiii.
trust me, he says.
/. WAS the custom OF U, two deseons I
take the plates round while the hymn wa
being fung, ard taen TO 20 TO the yestr
and count the collection, after which one o
US 'ud put down the total on slip Of pape
and band Il up 10 the minitter, who'd reA
the figures out from the pulpit. We bad
longi.h hymn this particular right, an
there we're several verses TO be sung whe
me and Descon Brown began a-oountir
cut the coins. when wswts dore, we Loeb
ed at eieh other Then Brown said.
The folhs has tried their bes', but 1t ain
no usa'
Nine dollars ard ihlfty.thiee cents ,hor
Of si5, fays. He'll take bis a. bacl
with him sft-rtl. Pa. down the figures
Deacon,
He out with bis pencil Then he stoppJt
short for minute. The'd Jist begun thu
last verse
I'll tell you what, he tays, we'll hsv,
another try 10 get Il out Of him.
Hosf
Why, look here, ID aeon. Did you notice
he keeps bis eyes shut tight when he's oil
ferin' prayer
Well! Issys.
Well, he's sure to put up prayer after
the hymn before the benedicion. That's
our time. You and me will slip round quiet
like among the fglks, and get some Of 'em
to give bit more. II they won't give, we
will get them to leLd 1t. But that 81 81
we must have. You tackle Mrs. Allen, ard
Joe Birch, and Brother Muggrldge, and one
or two others. Wtisper to EN- how the
thing stands but 4 mt let him hear what's
goin' on. I'll do my best. Walt In here
till he starts ofgrin' prayer.
Ah, Deacon Brown was sharp old chap.
he was, and agreed to his plan. There
was silence for moment after the hymn,
but we kept clinkin' the coins to make him
think we hadn't done countin'. Then we
heard him say.
Friends, let us pray
We slipped out. Sure enough his eyes
we're shut tight. went up to Mrs. Allen
first, and told her how things stood.
There's quarter for you, Deacon, she
says, handin' me the money.
Joe Birch wanted little more persua.
sion. Then he says.
I'll lend you a half dollar, II you'll pro-
nise to pay me back.
All right, iays.
| got one or two more quarters, mostly
In pennies, and then went to old Brother
who was a.si;tipg' at the back
of the chapel. He was the meanest old
nan in the village, for all he had plenty Of
money. The Reverend Ebentzer Grips
was prayin' louder than ever.
Mr.. Muggridge, says, we wants some
more cash, SOS we can get his five dollari.
Will you help usf
saw his eyes sparkle. He was always
mighty keen on bestin' man.
I've give you ten cents already, he whis-
)ers, and | can't afford no more. NV hay
crop
'Taint q question Of crops. | says, we
must have that five dollars. VIII you lend
Is some money!
Up came Deacon Brown at that mo-
nent
How much have you gotf he whis.
,ers.
told him.
Lord sakes he says. Come Mr.. Mugg-
idse Lend US We dollars II you can't
i've 1t.
II thought you'd pay me back, he be
an.
Wen pay you back right enough.
But I've only got your word fori.
What more dye wauI?
wants al |, o. IT,, says he, Ia hoarse
hisper.
Come into the vestrY, man says Brown.
ook alive msr--he's fniehin'.
We dragged the old chap into the vestrv,
i'd Brown got bit Of paper out Of bis
ocket book. He soribbles on It
We promise to pay Joseph Mugsridge So
Ir value rece.s,d.
Then he dates II, andswe both sign our /,
Imes. Brother Muggridge, he looks at
e paper, and then pulls cut five dollars. ,
puts down the total, and we gees back
TO the chapel. The mil ister vas ilst T.
.ishIl' as hands It up to him.
| snail Lever forget bis face when be
ad the figures. He turned as rcd as a
lex.
Deacon, ssys be, Ia this correct.
II Ia, brother praise the Lord
Id-Id like TO see the money, Deacon, ;,
says, get'iu' redier as he spoke. SO ] :
ings 10 the plate, ard be counted the
Fl iieEds, be says, the collection for tcdsy
lounts to si5 o.. ;,
HsleluIsh shouts the congregation. !,
never though, be gees On with siekly .
lie, ,ihat the S. would hSve left my pock- :
But said IL you got sIj I'D make 1t
to $50, aud III stick TO my bargain. SO
put 10 - aud take out seven cents that :,
Il make Il right. y
Then we tsns he benedlc. Ion, and didn't ;,
Just rear II out, too. A. for The minis .
/, be came straight down from the pulpit
never tsId 8 word to no ont-no, he
In't even shake hare ds With me and Dea- y
, Brown, but be last went out OF the
Dr. and started for Dorchester Ike dog q,
h Ii. tall between his lfas.
i IT day Brother Nuggritge went roErd
Deacon Brown with The !. o. U. and =
ed for Lis money bact. The Deacon laid -
M the five dolisT, got the paper 10
,h.rgs ava then ha AZ with a ewset '"