The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-08-12
BARbARA'S DONATION
The Best of All That Was Offered
to the Minister.
sy ELIZABETH VAN NEST.

III the young minister had been Of q
sanguine, easily satisfied temperament
he might have accommodated himself
to circumstances and drifted along as
his predecessors had done. But James
Morgan brought the enterprise Of a
modern theologian to the little hamlet,
struggling down either side of q high
hill, on a summit of which perched
the church, like snow temple.
AS the church occupied the center OF
the village, the young minister reason
ed that 1t ought to be the center OF
interest also. But, try as he would. he
could not awaken the devotional spirit.
His parishioners were niggardly In
their offerings, the attendance was
small and interest slight. His sermons
were lost on the slow thinking wor'
shippers; his musical departures were
failure. rt
But the Rev. Mr.. Morgan did not
despair He had the square jaw that
accompanies the aggressive nature.
The elasticity of his hopes was phe-
nomenal. He simply would not be
discouraged. He had accepted the call
in full knowledge OF the drawbacks.
The score Of shabby houses elassed
under the name OF Mayhood repre-
sented only a 1.-THE Of the church men,
bership. 1t was the prosperous farm
ers whose Indifference he must change
and conquer with his eloquence.
SO James Morgan brought to May
hood a large stock Of air castle mate
rial with which he beguiled his leisure.
He would institute many reforms. The
church should escape from an envelop-
ing mortgage and, assuming paying
basis, make many missions glad from
its plenty. II should be the handspring,
social and ecclesiastical, on which
the village turned. He even proposed
that the parsonage be let and the
proceeds devoted to the county hos
pital, proposal that met with unani-
nous approval. and the minister took
up his residence under Widow Flem-
ing's roof. n
Until the end of the first quarter
things moved smoothly. The new min
lister found work 10 do wherever he
looked. And, being generous. he for
got to be cautious when need pulled
at his purse strings. Hardly realizing
II, he at length found his generosity
must be governed by his means until
he received his first quarters salary,
But at the end of the second quarter
the first quarters salary was still .un.
paid. With board bill two weeks In
delinquency the minister, blushing and
stammering, informed his parishioners
Of their negligence.
While their profuse excuses satisfied
him, he could not see his way clear q
satisfy Mrs. Fleming. The fact that
wheat was failure would not recon
pense her for his board and lodging
Therefore the Rev. Mr.. Morgan did this
only thing possible from his point oi
view. He went to the city next day
with a mysterious package. Shortly
after the doctor drove three miles t
borrow his microscope and was In
formed that he had disposed Of 1t.
,T have 80 little time for expert
ments. you know" he explained, witt
heightened color. II could use thu
money to better advantage"
From this emanated rumor that a
length reached Barbara Deans ears
The new minister was so philanthropi'
he had given up his pet hobby to ais
the poor. ...
A wee and timid question mark se
itself upon her heart. Perhaps she has
been hasty. There was none quite lik
him-so big, so firm. so brave. 1t wa
very singular that he had not aske'
again-he who in theory scorned dc
feat. Pretty Barbara did not knoN
that the hope crushed by her iaughin
was the only inelastic one In his stoc
OF dreams. ..,,.
AS the third quarter drew to a cIos
without remuneration the ministe
mentioned the fact again, this tim
with fewer bushes and a graver al
His needs were urgent Day after da
he scanned his mail anxiousiy for tn
expected check, only to be disappoin
ed. But, hppteciating the hard time
other trips TO the city with mysteriou
packages were made. '
Returning from one Of these visi,
one night, Mr.. Morgan was surprise
to see a motley collection of team
and vehicles around Widow Fleming
gate. Lights shOne from every vii
dow of the cottage, including his stud
and bedroom. The minister was tire
and in no mood to participate in
surprise party on his landlady. Blu
knowing her limited space, II would
churlish to demand privacy. He mu
meet her guests, who had overhowt
her apartments into his, with mini
terial welcome. Forcing the wearine
from his face, he ran lightly up Il
steps and opened his study door.
Ranged around the wall was sol
row Of chairs, from which smilii
faces glowed upon him in welcom
Overrunning the center table and pill
on the floor was collection that
first seemed TO be the stock OF gr
Gerry store He singled out sack
-four and various stone jugs with cor
cob shoppers as he picked his way
small oasis Of bare floor beyon
But, stumbling against one Of t
bulging packages, the paper burst a,
stream of walnuts poured forth.
''Pardon met he gasped, trying
repair the damage on his knees. ave
awkward Of me. I'm sure"
The silence was portentous, ar
flushed with confusion, the minist
looked up straight into Barbara Dea
eyes. The light IN them, tantalizii
Intense C0iieky Pains Relieved. !
"For some years l suffered from
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