in his room, and received about three dollars. a week, paid $10, $15, and even $20 towards it. Another said, "I think the salary is small enough. Many ministers less worthy than our devoted pastor receive much more. I would with all my heart vote to raise the salary $50 more, and pay my part towards it; but brethren, I feel that I should act a mean and contemptible part, if I should vote to reduce it $50." This man was a day laborer, and paid $8 towards the salary. He studied his Bible much, and said "that taught him not to 'muzzle the mouth of the ox when he treadeth out the corn. 999 Said another, "I believe our minister is a man of God, and labors for the good of souls; and I have never thought that we paid him any too much for his labors. I cannot conscientiously vote for a reduction of the salary.” However, the motion was carried by a small majority, and a record made of it upon the books of the church. The next day Mrs. Clarendon said to her husband, "I think it was too bad in the church passing that vote last night. If I were you, I would resign at once; I would not stay with such a church; that I wouldn't." Mr. Clarendon meekly replied, for he was a very pious and humble man, "My dear, I think we had better take no notice of it at all; we can get along you know, for as good Oliver Heywood used to say, 'When cruise and barrel both are dry, Mrs. Clarendon was really a good woman, and gave abundant evidence that she loved the Saviour; but she had considerable of that which some call spirit, and others call spunk; and she tartly answered, "get along!—no, I don't know that we can get along. I'm sure we have had to set our wits at work to economize in every possible way, to get along on what we have had; and now it is cut short $50, I don't see how we shall get along at all. Besides, you know I told you the other day we must have a girl this summer, for sister and I cannot do all the work any longer. I am most dead now, and it won't take long to finish me if I've got to work at this rate." "I guess," answered her imperturbably mild husband, "the Lord will take care of us. I do not feel much concerned about it." "Concerned!" retorted Mrs. C., with considerable feeling, "I never saw any one like you-concerned! why, you wouldn't be concerned at anything. I don't believe you would be concerned if the house was on fire." 66 "Oh yes I should, my dear," replied Mr. C., with undisturbed equanimity. "I should at any rate feel concerned to get you and the children out, and also my library; for poor as it is, I cannot afford to lose it." 66 Well, at any rate," said Mrs. C., "if I were you I would not stay here. I wouldn't be treated so shamefully. I wish you had more spirit, and would let the people know you were not going to be abused in this manner. Other ministers wouldn't bear it, and why must you?" Mr. Clarendon in this case did not follow the advice of his wife, although he often did in other cases. He kept along in his course just as he had done, working for his Master without saying a word about salary; and the sequel will show that he lost nothing, but rather gained in temporal things, by this vote of the church. Several of the more able brethren in pecuniary matters felt so aggrieved, that they made up a purse for him among themselves, of $135, and presented it to him in about three weeks after the above mentioned vote was carried. It seemed also providential, that within a few weeks of this time, a gentleman came on from New York, to take unto himself his affianced wife, a daughter of one of the church members, to whom he had been betrothed some two years or more. This gentleman was a wealthy merchant; and being quite flush of money just then, Mr. Clarendon received as his marriage fee a $50 bill. At the beginning of the year 1839 the church passed a vote to increase the salary of their minister $100; consequently since that time he has been receiving $700 a year; and Mrs. Clarendon says that "now they are getting along very well." CHAPTER III. AN ANTI-SLAVERY DIALOGUE. Scene. A pastor's study. Rev. Dennis Blackenburn seated at his table, and busily engaged in preparing a sermon upon the exciting topics of the age, to preach in New York city, before the -, at the spring anniversaries. Enter Peter Farrington, a man about forty years of age, who has been a member of Mr. Blackenburn's church eleven years. F. Excuse me for interrupting you, but I feel so much interested in the subject we had a few words about last evening at br. Smith's, that I want to talk with you further about it, if you can spare the time. B. It is true I am somewhat busy, but yet I am ready to hear what you have to say. F. I will come then to the point at once, and ask you a question I have long wanted to ask you; and that is, do you, my dear pastor, conscientiously think that your course in refer |