Not His Province

The New England ministers of early days were expected to preserve au aspect grave to the verge of solemnity on all occasions, not only on Sundays, bilt week days as well. If they possessed a sense of humor, it sometimes made itself evident even in the midst of devotional exercises. One New Hampshire parish was gnarded and guided by a quaint speaking elderly man, who had a slight lisp. He was fond of ontdoor work of almost every sort and was an able farmer as well as preacher, but all domestic matters he relegated to bis wife. One day the old traveling baker seeing the minister at work in the field, drew rein, and when the jingling of bis horse's bells had subsided he called out, "Any crackers wanted today, parson?" The minister raised his head and surveyed the baker from under his shaggy eyebrows No smile of greeting crossed his solemn face. "Abraham in the field, " he responded gravely. "Tharah (Sarah) in the tent," and without another word he resumed his hoeing and left the baker to digest his Biblical reproof aud drive ou to the house to find out if "Sarah" would buv any of his