How The Money Was Raised

Tlioro is moro prosaic fact than poetioal fanoy in this description, in tlio New York ChfiMan Advocate, of 'a cöiilmon scène at a churcb dedication. It certainly gives one au Uncouifortablo fooliug ; is there any botter way 'f Gossijiy BUmiiscis aro curront in the congregation as to how ïniich Krother A. will give, how ïuucb ïtrotber B. ouffht to give, etc. " Now, brethren," says tlie speaker and ongineer, "wc want to raise f250 by 10 subscription." (This coach, doar-friends, is only f'or first-class passcngers. We don't teil you so, but you know it nll the saino.) Fifteen or sixteen bidders tako tickota by this line, and this proposition bcgins to lag. " Don't somo of you want to remember in your subscription your grandfather, or your beloved wife, or your d-a-r4ing dear boy 't" says the auctioneor. " Oh, yes I" says somo tonder hcart, " in meinory of my doparted grandmothpr put mo down ten dollars." But this coach must wait now. "We want $150 in $5 subscriptions." The same course is repeated, and the persons present havo been made to feel, hy the direction things have taken, that these are " loss honorable than the first." Per haps among them somo dear enthusiast, whose real ability, and thorefore bis trui! indebtedness to the cause, was measured by fivo dollars, believes, (for half a minute) he can givo ten dollars, whon witb. a shout he is passed over the heads of the second-class passengers, and to his own and their astonishment, finds himself in tbe unexpocting company of the first class. He lides this time, bul tho next he can't afford even to start. "And now wo want $100 in fl subscriptions. Now, brethron, be lively! üur Secretary writes fast, and is competent to do a largo business this morning !" Some thirty or forty one dollar fire-crackers are fired off, intorspersed with an occasional report of ton dollars or five dollars from somo reluctant and stingy brother, goaded into giving by the importunity of others, and then the whole affair lags miserably. Exhausted by their eftbrts and frightenod by the rapid dissolution of the audience, collectors are exhorted to hasten " to gather up tho fragínents" in platos. I faney gaping gossips havo followed 'm subscription thus far only to lose their nterest just as the blessed Savior is boinning to look for the " two mites that nake a farthing," or the gift equal in alue to " a cup of cold water given in bio ñamo of a disciple." And now it is over. The gratified .mity of the large subsoriber, tho vain egrets of the gushing, tlie di.shonest ovai"ii of payment by the extravagant, the íeart-burnings of the poor, the public minilia.fi fin of the prudent, constrained y his circumstances to deny the solicitor r föve lmt little, the fixed determination f the stingy never to be so caught again, ïave all done their work of demoralizing ie congregation, and tho next collectidii must have mure vigorous appeals, and nare stimulating plans, to ovoke the least nthusiasm.