A TRIFLING MISUNDERSTANDING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3756, 30 July 1883, Page 4

A TRIFLING MISUNDERSTANDING.

" I am a minister of the gospel!" observed an important gentleman, Avith a portentous frown, as he took a chair at the managing editor's table. "I am a minister of tho gospel and I want—" "Certainly," interrupted the managing editor.

"Wo have no objection to suppressing tho facts. Do you know which reporter has them?"

"I do not, sir !'' thundered the elevyman. "I Avish to remark, sir, that I have come—"

" 'Well, just leaA'e the lady's name and I Avill look after tho matter," tho managing editor again interrupted, this time quailing slightly. " It is not a lady at all sir ! proclaimed tho visitor. I came to tell you, sir, that I am a clergyman, aud that—"

"Y*s, yes," murmured the managing editor. "It's about your sou. AVhat is he charged with ?" " Do understand me?" roared the divine, rising in wrath. " I tell you sir, that lam a clergyman, and I have come here for the purpose of—" " Pardon my error," cut in the 'managing editor, apologetically. "How much of the missionary money do thoy claim its missing r" " Will you let me finish, sir r " demanded the pastor. " Did you catch the full import of my first remark ';! am a clergyman, sir, aud I. havo conic—*' " I beg your pardon," exclaimed the manipmur editor. "'• I misunderstood you, It's entire!v my fault. AVhen was it left on your

doorsteep 1'" ... "Never, sir, never." roared the divine "Do you hear me, sir ? I am a minister of the gospel. I have waited ou you, sir, for (he purpose—" " AVhy certainly," smiled the managing editor, I owe you a thousand apologies for my stupidity. I sec it now. On what point aro you a heretic ? "

"'None," yelled the clergyman. "I am come to tell you that I am a clergyman out of a pulpit, iind that I have accepted a situation in a bank, and—" "God bless me," ejaculated the managing editor. " And your bondsmen are stuck for how much 'r "

"That's liko you." observed the religious editor, strolling into the sanctum as the horrified guest tore out. "You have a wonderful" facility for making an ass of yourself whenever you come in contact with orthodox theology. Do you know what that man wanted ■•"

" AVas it ;i game of poker 1-" asked the managing editor, dolefully. "It couldn't be that. They all know I don't play."

" No, it wasn't a game of poker," sniffed the religious editor. "That man is thoroughly a consistent Christian. He has had hard luck and quit preaching. He is now a bank messenger, and I think he wanted tho assistance of tho paper in getting ti call." "He'll never fetch it," muttered the managing editor. "I ' called' him on every hand a successful clergyman can" hold, aud he never came to a show down " By the way, did you see about that Presbyterian brother out in Montana who bluffed out three jacks on a four Hush ? Try and get some argument out of that iv favor of practical Christianity as against the old time custom of pastors holding aloof from their /locks:"

And the managing editor took a fresh sheet of paper and started 011 a laborious editorial demonstrating that tho doctrine of infant baptism would outlive the attacks of science on tlie church, aud that a perfect faith in Calvinism was the only way to earn bread. —Brooklyn Eagle.