Putnam patriot., 1909-11-19
BARbARA'S DONATION The Best of All That Was Offered
 to the Minister.
B. ELtzA5ETH VAN NEST.

sansllHe. easily satisfied temperament he might haye accommodated himself io circumstances and drifted along as his pretieeess9rs had done. But James Morgan brought the enterprise of a modern theologian to the little hamlet. struggling down either side of a high hill. CD summit Of which perehed the church. like snew temple.
 As the church occupied the center of the village. the young minister reason ed that il eugh. to he the center of interest also. But. try as he would. he could not awaken the devotional spirit. His parishieHers were niggardly in their offerings. the attendance was small and interest slight. His sermons were lost on the slow thinking wor- shipers; his musical departures were a failure.
 But the Rev Mir. 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 draw wbacks. The score of shabby houses classed under the name of Mayhood repre- sented only 1.-the of the church mem bershlp. It was the prosperous farm CTS whose Indifference he must change and conquer with his eloquence
 So James Morgan brought to May hood large stock of air castle mate riai with which he beguiled his leisure. He would institute many reforms. The church should escape from an envelop- ing mortgage and assuming a paying basis. make many missions glad from it's plenty It should be the handspring. social and ecclesiastical. on which the village turned. He even proposed that the parsonage be lei 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 Elem ing.s roof.
 Until the end of the first quarter things moved smoothly. The new min- ister found work to dc wherever he looked And. being generous, he for got to be cautious when heed pulled at his purse strings. Hardly realizing it. 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 a 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 to satisfy Mrs. Fleming. The fact that wheat was failure would not recom- pense her for his board and lodging. Therefore the Rev. Mr Morgan did the only thing possible from his point of view He went to the city next day with a mysterious package. Shortly after the doctor drove three miles to borrow his microscope and was in formed that be had disposed of it
 T have so little time for expert ments. you know" he explained. with heightened color. 'i could use the money to better advantage"
 From this emanated a rutnor that at length reached Barbara Deans ears The new minister was so phiIanthropic he had given up his pet hobby to aid the poor
 A wee and tinid question mark sei itself upon her heart. Perhaps she had been nasty. There was none quite like him-so big. So firm. SD brave. It was very singular that he had not asked again-he who in theory scorped de feat. Pretty Barbara did not know that the hope crushed by her laughing was the only inelastic one in his stock Of dreams.
 As the third quarter drew to a close without remuneration the minister mentioned the fact again, this time with fewer blushes and a graver air. Ills needs were urgent Day after day he scanned his mail anxiously for the expected check. only to be disappoint. ed. But. appreeiating the hard times. other trips to the city with mysterious packages were made.
 Returning from one of these visits one nigh. Mir. Morgan was surprised to see motley collection of teams and vehicles around Widow Fleming 5 gate. Lights shone from every win. dow of the cottage. including his study and bedroom. The minister was tired and In no mood to participate in a surprise party on his landlady. But knowing her limited space. 1t would be churlish to demand privacy. He must meet her guests. who had overnowed her apartments into bis. with minis terial welcome. Forcing the weariness from his face. he ran lightly up the steps and opened his study door.
 Ranged around the wall was a solid row of chairs. from which smiling faces glowed upon him in welcome oyerrunning the center table and piled on the floor was a collection that A first seemed to be the stock or gro cerv store. He singled out a sack oi flour and various stone jugs with corn cob stoppers as he picked his way te small oasis of bare floor beyond But. stumbling against one or tns bulgtpg packages. the paper burst ano strram of walnuts poured forth. "pardou nee he gasped. trying tf renair the damage on his knees. "Ner, awkward of me. I'm sure
 The silence was portentous. and flushed with confusion. the minister
 looked up straight into Barbara Dean eyes. The light in them, tantaifzine .,nused was bis undoing. The walnut