The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-03
ParSon Frake'S
Donation
And He Took the Bishops
Advice.
By CLARISSA MACKIE

from the theological seminary before
taking his departure he called on thu
bishop to take leave of him and THANH
him for various acts Of kindness thu
good old man had favored him witt
during his period of study.
"Well. my boy" said the bishop, ''go
ing out to service in the Lords vine
yard. Ell? Sit down. | have few
words to say to you on one subject, and
one subject only. You've got all the
theology you need in the seminary. II
isn't that which wish to speak to
you about, Ii isn't anything concern.
ing the methods you should observe III
your work. 1t is this:
I'VE cergymen are apt to be made
or marred-as all men are-by the
wives we choose. Now, look out whom
you marry Your field is not worldly
field, and il YOU marry worldly wom-
an it would be better for you that you
tied milestone about your neck. 1t
doesn't matter wnere you find o wife.
whether in the city or in the country.
She should have a sympathetic nature.
to feel FOR those whom it becomes your
part TO help. Indeed, she should make
your work her work.
This was the bishops advice. Mr.
Frake was much impressed with it.
but he had his doubts about finding d
girl that would fill his advisers condi
lions. He had always associated with
the upper ten thousand and had not
found much unselfishness among them
Instead of living for the world he had
usually found them disposed to con-
slider the world as especially created to
administer to their comfort.
Nevertheless he shrank from taking
a life partner except from the class TO
which he belonged. Would it not be
better to be allied with woman Of
fashion than with one whose unpolish-
ed manners would constantly put him
to the blush? Then, too, his own fam
fly were to be considered Naturally
whom they might receive rs a social
equal.
Mr.. Frake's first call was to village
wherein dwelt only few thousand
people. His congregation was not at
all like those of which he had been
member himself during his boyhood
and youth. They were plain people.
honest in their way, but as to spirit
uality, or, rather, humanity. he did not
find them any better than those he mad
known in the city. One day soon after
taking the pastorate while writing in
his study, looking up from his sermon,
he saw his housekeeper standing in the
doorway
what is 1t. Mrs. wells?' he asked
patiently.
Mrs. Wells, fat and painting from a
morning spent over the ironing board,
wiped her forehead with crisp white
handkerchief.
II wondered what would come next"
she groaned. First, there was the
Tuttles making trouble over the dis
tributing of the pews, then the quar-
rel In the choir, and knew that there
would be third calamity
"You haven't told me what it is"
smiled Arthur Frake.
"A donation, STRIP
"A Donation" he repeated, aghast.
Dear me, l wish they wouldn't, Mrs.
Wells. They mean we'll, but
ooh, their intentions are all right"
interrupted the housekeeper darkly,
for she had served many ministers and
many donation parties, but they don't
realize that by the time they've de-
scended like flock Of locusts and eat
en- all the food they've brought and
more, too, why. I'm left with house
to be cleaned from top to bottom and
you're the richer by jar of Beulah
Humphreys sour pickles and maybe a
few bushels of potatoes that we didn't
have time to cook for 'em
Arthur Frake laughed heartily
There's a measure OK ruth In what
you say, Mrs. Wells" he admitted
Still, ! suppose we must look at the
motive underneath this invasion They
mean to be kind, and we must do the
best we can to make it pleasant for
them. When is ii to be-"
Tomorrow night and a complete
surprise. l wouldn't have known a
word of it if Betsy Haskell hadn't
warned me. I'm glad 10 know. so $ /
can bake some beans and corn bread.
then they needn't eat up all the layer
cakes and salads they bring"
She numbered out of the room and
left the minister to resume his sermon.
This was his first charge. and he was
sincerely DESTROYS of being adviser and
friend to his little flock. They were
all plain village people, with large
percentage of prosperous families
among them.
He had heard of donation parties
but he had believed that they were
festivities Of the past century. Still