The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-10-13
ORD bOB GROVE DROUGHT con-
TRIBUPI0NS FROM NILSSON
ri METHODISTS.
TURNED OUT BY OWNER
How The Rev. n. II. Cooper Discov-
cred an Illustration That
Struck Home.

generous outpouring of contributions
to the 100000 fund for the benefit
( of superannuated ministers of the
Missouri Methodist Conference and
for widows of Methodist clergymen.
! Five or six years ago Mr.. Coop
er started out to raise 100000 for
the purpose indicated. The sum. if
raised, was to be so invested that It
would take care of the ministers
whose days of labor were over Some
laughed at the idea of raising such
large sum. Mr.. Cooper said it
could be done. The board was so
much impressed that it appointed
him financial agent to go ahead and
try.
studied The Situation For Years.
Mr.. Cooper had long been an en-
ergetic and successful minister, and
at times held appointments as pre-
siding elder. He knew the people
of Missouri. Before accepting the
appointment he had studied the mat
ter carefully and decided just how
he would go about it. Instead OF
using in his address the flowers of
speech, he decided he would present
his argument in a parable-one that
would strike home. That it did
strike home is amply evidenced by
the remarkable reports Mr.. Cooper
has presented at each annual meet
ing of the conference. In two years
he had the 100000 for the old
preachers. The board was so well
satisfied that it sent him out to raise
another hundred thousand.
Every church visited by Mr..
Cooper has heard the mule story and
some have cried over it when they
saw the application.
Story Came From Audrain County.
Down amid the roots of the cot
ton woods OF Audrain county sleeps
an animal of the type which has
made Missouri famous For thirty
years that old mule had labored in
season and out, rain and shine. hot
or cold, and then entered into its
rest.
Mr.. Cooper had been on his tour
several months before he heard about
that mule. He investigated and
learned all the facts. Then he told
the story that brought the contribu-
tions.
Brother Jim Jones was a Meth
odist of the old school," he would
begin. always at his place in church,
ready to shout, sing or pray with
the best of them. He never cheat
ed in a horse trade, never lied about
the quality of his dogs, and was al
ways honest with his neighbors and
his God. Among his stock was old
Bill Crow, black mule, nearly a
third of a century old. His service
had been almost as long as his years.
One morning Brother Jones hitched
Bill Crow up to the pillow and started
across the field.
"'Git APT said Brother Jones.
"Bill Crow didn't move. He just
turned his head and looked kinder
mOurnful at his boss, and then laid
down. His working days were over.
Brother Jones saw that, because it
was the first time Bill Crow had
ever refused to move when COM
manded. He went up and looked
into the mules eyes and saw tears
in them. He knew Bill Crow had
done the best he could and that he
, hated to quit. There was no help
for it, and so he turned the old mule
out in the woods to die.
boy Makes First Appeal.
That night Brother Jones boy
Joe came to him and said:
pap. wLat've you done with old
! Eth Crow
"Vby. son, he fell down at the
pillow this morning. and so l turned
him out to die. Guess his working
days are over
You turned old Bill Crow out to
die?'
WAY sure; he amt no good any
more
& But. see here, pap; amt he been
working all his life for you?'
"'He sure has, son, and he work
ed good, too
And you goin' to church every
Sunday and singin L Want TO Be
an Angelo" Pap, do you reckon an
angel would treat old Bill Crow that
way?'"
"a neighbor passed by where
Brother Jones was blowing with A
new horse. yal
What you done with old Bill
Crow, Jim?' the neighbor asked"
"Oh, he played out t'other day