Caroline Abbot Stanley

“ The enormity of the insult grew with each new disclosure. The packing had been done at a time when closets were [Page 52] being cleared out for the winter, and their surplus contents had been neatly bundled and dumped into the church barrel. From its depths were now brought forth indeed the lame, the halt, and the blind; and with them came texts of Scripture that elucidated the law of sacrifice with startling clearness. It is safe to say that never in the whole reputable life of the First Church had it listened to so pregnant a sermon delivered in so few words. ”

“ It is perhaps not too much to hope that they may also do good (incidentally) to them that are of the household of faith in the First Church. To this end I will ask that they be read to the ladies of your Society while an inventory of the barrel is taken.
“Very sincerely yours,
“Mary C. Haloran.”
“That’s a spicy letter,” whispered one woman to another with a sparkle of appreciation. “The woman’s no [Page 44] fool—if she did go into Home Mission work.”
“Madam President,” said one a little more obtuse, “that is a very singular communication. ”

“ You will find that this minister’s salary has not been paid him; now mark my words! And his wife is smarting under a sense of injustice that we should try to supply that deficiency with a barrel of rags.”
“Well, I should like to know why it hasn’t been paid,” said a well-groomed woman, with some severity. [Page 55] “What do we have a Board for if it isn’t to attend to such things?”
“The Board,” explained the treasurer with alarming succinctness, “is our agent for disbursing the funds of this church—and others. It cannot honestly pay out what we have not paid in. ”

“ Life isn’t made up of pinks and greens, and neither is happiness. You can have a whole lot of happiness in this world in gray—if you only know how; and I’m going to teach these children the secret. Now look at my eatables. It is great fun to make a cookie menagerie with one cutter, and that a rabbit. You see, I stick on a trunk, pull down his ears, round him up a bit, and behold an elephant! Then when I want a camel I give Br’er Rabbit two humps, stretch [Page 22] out his jaws, give him a jab almost anywhere—and there’s your camel! ”

“ They are wild animals in a cage and I am the keeper. They are having no end of fun. You had a cold drive.”
“Bitter.”
“You need an ulster with a storm collar.” She glanced involuntarily at the barrel. “Aren’t these potatoes good, John? So mealy one hardly needs butter. Lucky thing, too! You didn’t know I skimped the family out [Page 13] of a pound of butter, did you? Yes, sir, it went into the candy money.” She meant it as a pleasantry, but somehow it failed, and she hurried on. “I wish there were more of the potatoes. Those boys do eat so! But never mind! After Christmas the hens will begin. ”

“ To think of their expecting us to pay freight on the wretched thing!”
“Mary! You wouldn’t do that!”
“I would—and shall! I’m going to give these people one lesson in giving that they won’t forget! A Christmas box for a lot of children out on the plains and no candy in it! And Davie praying for candy!... Well! he’s going to have it. I’ll take this barrel back to town to-morrow myself; and when I come back I shall have the candy.”
“Wife, you know I would be only too glad to give you the money if I had it. But I have only two cents left in my pocket until the draft comes!... ”