Norwich bulletin., 1916-06-03

" v must AO 6Qmern1ngt That's all there is about it!'' The minsster,s salary is behind hand and there ain.t no money in the treasury. 50 don't see how we are going to pay # up very soon. cughtn.t we to give him a donation Whats your opinion. Deacon Gold9''
 The speaker turned to d rortly man who stood in the center Of al small group. who were settling the affairs of the church, in an informal manner in the church yard.
 Deacon Gold paused for a moment that there might be attentive silence before he unburdened his great mind of it's weighty opinion. He was the bell-wether. so to speak, of the little Hock. which was under the pastoral care of Rev. Charles Mix. and where he led, others would follow him. with out question. or questioning the wis dom of his proceedings
 He was the most prosperous man in the community, and respected accord ingly, though his wealth did but lit- tie good. he kept his purse string so closely drawn. There are, alas, a good many such men. and such dea- cons.
 Well. brethren, he remarked with an air of profound wisdom, you know my opinion on these matters by this time, I hope. I hold to the Scripture way of doing things Tn old times the preachers were told to take neither slave nor scrip, neither bread. nor money To my mind that proves very clearly that preachers oughtn't to be hankering after money, and expect to get pay for their work just like other me9 They ought to be satisfied with working for the good they can do. But, still. as long as we have the habit of departing from the good old ways, I 's'pose there won't be any harm in giving our preacher a donation. and I'll give my mite cheerful1y with the rest of you.
 Deacon. ain't there some other place in the good book where it says:
 the laborer is worthy of his hire ? ' It was the shriil. sharp voice of Miss Smart, the village dressmaker, which asked this question. And for a mo- ment the Deacon looked slightly 1 aghast at having his own weapon used against him. but be quickly recovered himself
 There may be some such passage" :" he. answered. after moment s thought; but there is a great deal in the Bible that we 1nusn't take liter ally. and that is one of the passages that we must put another interpreta- ton to.
 MISS SInafCS5 DidCk5s eyes IW1nKieQ and a retort was son the tip. of her
 tongue when the bell clanged it's last diseord and summons. and the deacon l sought nasty refr ga in the pew, the rest following one by one.
 The day before the donation party the deacon made trip to town to collect a note that was due him. As veyed himself in the glass, 1t struck him the garment was rather too well worn and shabby, for a man in his cir
 cumstances. 'I'Il get a new coat to- ] day!' he said to hfmseIr, and with a sudden burst of generosity he added: 1 eI'lf just let this go. as my donation tomorrow night Its something more than I expected to give but stiII, I can afford to be a little liberal now and 1 then. To be sure, its rather roony for l the preacher. but he can grow to it''
 And then he chuckIed with suppressed Rev. MT. Mixs slight figure ever f1Il-
 ing out the ample proportions of his old coat
 He collected his note and safely de-
 posited the five crisp one hundred dollar bills in fhe new wallet he had
 purchased, and then went to a fash ionable clothier to select his new over | coat which was soon done. Very | stylish and becoming, he resolved to wear it home, and ordered his old one
 to be done up good in brown paper ready to take to the donation party
 the following evening.
 The donation party came off very 1 accfN0ab1y to every one, but the un-
 fortunate MT. Mix and his wife, who
 saw their best china handled with reckless indifference as the tables were set by the guests for their-own entertainment; and forced themselves to smile as the house was invaded from cellar to garrett
 Dear me- said the wife to her.
 self it will take a week to set things right It will cost us more than fl will come to-"
 It was after twelve o'clock before | the young people would lend an ear tc i the admonitions of their elders that il was time to go, and the clock struck one before the last one had said good | bye.
 Well, of all the messes I ever did I see" said Miss Smart as she stood ir
 the dining room door looking over
 Mrs, Mix's shoulder
 The table was loaded down with dishes that had been used for the ev- l ening entertainment, and coffee mak- ing it's way over the snow-white ta- | ble cloth. T am glad stayed tc 1 help you get lighted around, Miss
 Smart continued. as she tied an apror around her. covering her from head tc
 foot, and made vigorous attack up ] on the dishes.
 While the ladies were busy MT | Mix looked over the collection of pen.
 wipers, and iron holders that decorat. ed the parlor table, and then took UT
 the overcoat with sigh, as he real. ized the discrepancy between his size and its proportions
 l Put that on minute said Miss I Smart, "and let's see if 1t can't be l taken in to fit you''
 The minister obeyed, but as he drew
 it on and put his hand in the side
 pocket, drawing 1t around him bet. ter, his hand came in contact witt l something. and drawing the obstruc. tion out he produced a wallet. Hs
 looked at it in blank amazement. l Miss Smart could not restrain he1 ! curiosity and snatched it from hi. hand, opening it, she discovered IT
 crisp bills, $500. and there was 2 moment of breathless silence.
 What does 1t mean said the minis. ter afraid to look upon the money as hi. own, lest there should be some mis. l take
 1 Shrewd Miss Smart, detested tho
 deacon as cordially as she loved tho
 minister and his wife, and with a de. termined nod, she decided the old mar I should be putwitted for once, ana ex. ] claimed, aWe11. if that isn't neat vt, I to make a nice little present. ThS