The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-09-22
ParSon Frake's
Donation
And He Took the Bishops
Advice.
By CLARISSA MACKIE


taking his departure he called ON the
bishop to take leave of him and thank
him for various acts Of kindness the
good old man had favored him with
during his period of study.
well. my boy" said the bishop, Ego
Ing out to service In the Lords vine.
yard, eh? Sit down. l have a few
words to say to you on one subject. and
one subject only. You've got all the
theology you need In the seminary. 1t
isn't that which wish 10 speak to
you about. 1t isn't anything concern.
ing the methods you should observe In
your work. II Is this:
"We clergymen are apt to he made
or marred-as all men are-by the
wives we choose. Now. look out whom
you marry. Your field is not a worldly
field. and II you marry worldly won.
an it would be better for you that you
tied milestone about your neck. 1t
doesn't matter where you find wife.
whether In the city or in the country.
She should have 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 1t.
but he had his doubts about finding a
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 mad
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 1t 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
lily were to be considered. Naturally
they would expect him to marry one
whom they might receive as 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 a
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 had
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 it. Mrs. Wells?' he asked
patiently.
Mrs. Wells, fat and painting from q
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 a third calamity"
"You haven't told me what 1t Is"
smiled Arthur Frake.
"a donation. SIR"
"A donation" he repeated. aghast.
Dear me, wish they wouldn't. Mrs.
Wells. They mean well. but
''Oh, 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 dock 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
few bushels Of potatoes that we didn't
have time to cook for EN-"
Arthur Frake laughed heartily.
There's a measure Of truth In what
you say, Mrs. Wells" he admitted
"Still, I 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 II pleasant for
them. When is It to be7"
Tomorrow night and O complete
surprise. I wouldn't have known q
word Of It II Betsy Haskell hadn't
warned me. I'm glad TO know. SOS
can bake some beans and corn bread;
then they needn't eat mp all the layer
cakes and salads they bringy
She Numbered out Of the room and
left the minister to resume his sermon.
This was his 6rst charge and he was
sincerely DESTROYS OF being adviser and
friend to his little flock. They were
all plain village people. with a 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.
Bayport chung to many traditions. and
IL was evident that O donation party
for the new minister was a cherished
institution.
90 he submitted with good grace and
the next afternoon picked all the chrys-
anthemums in the parsonage garden to
bedeck the Immediately neat but rath.
err severe rooms.
As he wandered about Arthur Frake
was conscious that his home lacked the
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