Show OF A PREACHER kama in the of a methodist minister at a app ono of the clergymen in tho the nw york fork conference of tho the Muth dimmic ai church tolls tells this story bout about when I 1 w was the pastor of a small church tn to Dela delacare nare county count 7 this stills I 1 hari had a hard time la in trying to beep soul and nil body together my Is laboid wore were arduous aud and the salary only a year and lk it ne we had hat not rece received ved Iv various Arlous donations of from parishioners almost equally poor as ourselves we ifould in all probability halo boac starred starved to death it was what Is known as a back woods ond s appolo appointment intent being elgh eighteen teea M miles iles from front a railroad and anti loc located tte in a valley croat d b bi thit my wooded hills to giro give you nn an idea of our reduced circumstances cum stances I 1 am ant comp elItA to say that there was but ono one white shirt in the house and that waa was shared in common by my oldest eldest son and myself when ha it t I 1 beia into the tile pul pulpit it with out one anti made up for the the best I 1 could I 1 one sunday we had the presiding cider elder of the district with lie ile had come the pie night aarli barly in the barning he lie wa was disturbed by th this shrill qu question estion from my son father father ano wears the shirt today WARY to day 3 on oil or me well I 1 was nas in fit doubt who was entitled to encase himself in that useful eni garment on that occoa occasion sion but in a I spirit irit of self I 1 shouted from flig t the e confines of my room 1 I think its your turn my hot hoy 1 0 1 I thought no bore about the mat ter until after breakfast break fat tt and family prayers were over then the elder took m me a aide and anti asked if there nas only one white shirt in the home of churco it was wits an g question and anti I 1 tried to evade making mallog a reply but he was persistent and I 1 finitia fin finally itil aa aas forced to admit tho the truth tears welled up in the elders eyes and he lie offered to part with so some 1711 of his leagra hoard board of money money but I 1 assured him that I 1 did lid not need ned it and as an I 1 refused absolutely to accept a cent he did not press the matter further still mi although though the elder was wits a kind hearted man and anti receiving but little more wilary than m myself self 3 ct et he loved to indulge in practical jokes ou on another occasion hu ho accepted an invitation to dine with us and my wife who always seemed to stand in awe of tho tile big dignified elder made an extra effort to prepare a tempting repast 0 ousters were scarce and very ery high in that section and cons consequently equer lily a lux ury but my wife concluded that for once we should have austers ousters ou well thinks to recent weddin wedding tr fees she was able to bua bu them then then she exercised all her ingenuity to place them on the tile table in every conceivable form that would please the eye and gratify the taste well when we sit wit down to the table we saw oysters steu ed oysters fried oysters roasted and oysters on thes the shell liell it was literally awilder a wilderness of dusters ousters ou outside of f oysters there was wa in fact but little 0 to eat except breid butter apple bruce u and except I 1 believe bel iove some sage cheese still the little woman sat with a beaming countenance eagerly anticipating the elders delight at the unexpected treat after a blessing bad had been invoked las I 1 as a matter matte of form turned to our cuett and bog inquired aired elder eider will vou permit me to help you to some of the tho 03 the elders face assumed a severe expression as he slowly and deliberately replied well vell dominie I 1 hate to say ik it but the truth of the matter is 13 1 I very cry seldom eat them 1 1 I glanced danced at my wife her iler face dice w was as sk almost most a crimson hue and tears were starting from front her eyes I 1 think I 1 felt just a trifle savage but I 1 be bo brayed no sign after a few seconds of the most painful embair 11 nt I 1 ever ex ebue the elder broke the hi lence saying with un unruffled ruffied delab ei ration you see dominie Doi ninie I 1 very verr seldom eat ou 03 austers ousters because I 1 x ery ory seldom get them and he burst into i t tremendous rt roar ar of laughter an liter that almost made the dishes of course he did ample justice to the dinner which at tho the boot was fru gil enough but I 1 dnn think thin that my m y wife ife ever quite forgave him for those painful moments of suspense 1 |