Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-10-24

..ouOp:' cried the preacher And no
emphasized the command by produc.
ing two blue muzzled revoivers. "Dea.
con Pringle. kindly lock the door and
lay the key on the table. Thank yohi
My hearers. this II merely one Of my
peculiar methods Of exhortation. Now
I am ready to receive your offerings.
Who will be the nrst one to come for
wardr'
I Somebody creaked up the aisle and
gravely deposited q silver coin III the
aims basin that was placed on tho h.
BILE beside the key. Another followed
and still another. but the amounts
were small and evidently dispieasIng
to the preacher.
'Now. all the persona In the front
seats come forward and lay their Of
ferings in this basket. No matter how
humble It is. It will be appreciated. /
demand that you. az Christians. divest
yourselves Of gold and silver jewelry
and Of precious stones and place them
here for the use Of the poor
"Come. Brother PrIngle: you may
lead the way with your gold watch.
A silver timepiece will" answer your
purposes and maybe some poor sim
ner may I've clothed and fed and warm
ed with the proceeds. Sister Beesley.
your garnet brooch will not come
amiss. and the brother who wears the
large seal ring must offer that ~ EVIL
dence Of his good faith. Those Of you
who can may redeem whatever you
please with good money tomorrow
morning before the church service. hut
/ require that every man and woman
in this room contribute something"
And they did. They came forward
protesting mildly In the face OF those.
blue muzzled revoivers that seemed I"
follow each individual dngre.lly aronn
until contribution Of some sort had
been made. There were Indignation
rage and despair among the good ~"
pie Of SmIthvilIe a. they suIieniy ii
vested themselves Of jewels In lien Of,
money.
Deacon Pringle compromised ON N
fifty dollar note instea.l Vt his gold
watch. and those who knew the den
cons avarice smiled even M they were
called upon Ia deliver up their portion
When the meeting was declared rlOs
ed and the revOlvers were dlDpim'd
back in Mr.. Kidder's capncious Innk
cts Deacon i'ringlp uniax'ked the dtr'r.
There was u wild rush for departure.
and not one friendly hand wax out
stretched to the cOwlDy preacher. nUr
did one person express amy pleasure Or
profit derived from his eloquent dir
course. Even the PrlnRlpx departed
abruptly. aud Mr.. EtOrpr. WIN Ind ~
tered frightened ejarulations durinH
the sensati Onal DISCOURSE OF the vtsit
Ing preacher. stood muteiy whiting for
bis brother cleric,
Smiling bitterly. the Rev Jarkxon
Kldder lifted the Drumming Qln,s basin
and placed II In the hands 1T the pa*
tor.
Brother" be said quietiy. "tonMr
row morning return thess. ornaments
to the owners. God wants nOthfnY Civ
en- unwilllngly or uader cVminnision
Tell them tn talk lexx MiN,ilt loving and
giving. Impress upon them the us's.'s
sity for actually doing tlls.se things
generously. unostentnti"usIy I regret
that cannot keep my engagement 10
preach to your people t"nurrOw
am sure that they will not t% disap
pointed"
With quick shake VI tn. twwi'drre'i
pastors limp hand ana murmurt,d
blessing on HIM and his Indignant 'tio Z !.
the cowboy preacher iaiAstsl swiftly