The Washington herald., 1910-07-27
A BLUE POKER CHIP.

In the Episcopal church at Contentville,
evening service was drawing TO a close
one day last summer-to be exact, on
the twelfth Sunday after Trinity The
wardens had collected the offerIory. and
were standing in the chanceI handing the
plates 60 Mr.. Oxton, the rector. for pres
entation on the altar, when the rector s
quick eye discerned among the quarters.
dimes. and small change which generally
made up the offertory a blue poker chip.
The rector was not a man to hesitate
when In HIS judgment the time had come
TO speak If he would be true to his Mas
ter Aud that time had indeed come.
Looking at the offending poker chip. it
seemed to be challenging him to speak
then and there or else hereafter forever
hold his peace.
An instant later the pastor took the
plates from the hands of the wardens.
and as he did so the congregation arose.
as its custom was, for the purpose Of
Joining In the presentation and in sing
ing the words which always accem-
pany it.; "All things come 70 Thee, and
OF Thine own have we given Thee" But
the rector looking straight before him
into the faces Of the congregation, never
moved an inch. II was evident he was
going 10 make an announcement of some
Kind, and as that was quite unusual at
that part Of the service. he hush Of a
great silence suddenly fen upon the
congregation, which in a Iaoment became
all exDectant.
Then in a clear. decided voice the rec
tor said:
In the aims collected by our wardens
and which we are about TO ask Almighty
Cod TO accept at our hands, there Is a
blue poker chip. There is only one per-
son who could have put it into the plate,
and he, OF course, put It IN by accident.
/ VIII. however be very glad il he will
kindly come TO the vestry at the close
OF the service and redeem his property"
Taking out the chip and laying it on
the credence table. the rector then offered
the aims as usual but II was noticed
that rarely has the singing OF the offer
tory sentence. AN things come TO Thee"
been sung with greater fervor than il
was on that particular occasion.
After the service was over the parish
Toner responsible for the chip appeared
at the vestry door and rendered a quar-
Ter with many expressions Of regret at
the unfortunate accident"
II was the rector's opportunity, and he
was not slow IN SELLING il:
Why, you really don't mean. Mr.. -"
he said, TO redeem a blue poker chip
with a quarter understand it's worth
50"
Somewhat chagrined. the POKER player
paid over the 81. although as he iid so
he remarked. half in Jest and half IN
earnest that the rector seemed to know
good deal about the game Of poker.
moment more and the rector had his
turn. all right, and the parishloue- gaze
Il 20 him innocently enough
Tell me. Doctor" he asked how IN
the world did you know that 7 put that
chip into the aims plate?. It passes my
comprehension how you could have found
It out"
I didn't find ct out; nor did know it
at all
But you said only one person could
have put that chip into the plate. and
while YOU were saying that you were
just looking straight al me-
Ny dear fellow" said the doctor
looking his pleasantest and smiling gra-
ciously, and quoting as he did so some
words Of Shakespeare about conscience,
I really didn't even know you were In
church this evening; and as regards only
one person having put that poker chip
into the onertory-well. two men couldn't
very well have put one chip into the
olfertory. could thew"