THE OFFERING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 184, 21 August 1937, Page 14

THE OFFERING

John Smith hung his hat on the hallstand and marched jubilantly into the drawing-room, where his wife was reading a novel. , "Great news, my dear!" he beamod, as he planted a Mss on her forehead. "I'vo made a clear iifty pounds today — as easy as kiss your linger. I had tEe tip yesterday that a certain company had struck oil, and I got in at once. As soon as the market opened this morning, the shares soared, and I'm worth fifty pounds moro than 1 was this time yesterday. If I could only do tliat every day i'or six months I'd be worth — er — let me see — " He broke off, and laughed. "Anyway, we'd be quite rich, wouldn't we?" "What are you going to do with the fifty pounds?" asked his wife pointedly. , Mr. Hmith eliuckled. "How does a little spring libliday appoal, my do&r?" he askhd. "Thiaga

are fairly quiet at the olfice jtiet now, and I could easily leave old Martiii ih charge for a week Of ten days, Not that either of us actually needs a holiday, but it wouldn't do us any harm, would it?" "I should want some new dressw if we're going to a decont hotel," his wife hinted. "You shall have them. I don't m^id if we get rid of the wholo fifty." Ro laugher as a sudden thought came to him. "Wouldn't the parsou be on our track if he knew of this siiccessful little flutter? He'd be thinking we raight give him a bit more for the renovation fund, perhaps." "If everybody has given aa niueh as We have, the fund would be complete by now," his wife said impatiently. "I somelimea think that parsons take a course in systematic begging when they are in college. " Mr. Smith nodded. "I'd go one better and say that ability to beg is a qualiilcation demanded of ull would-be students! Still, we needn't npset ourselves ovor the parson. He'U never know of this bit of luek. Wedl have a jolly good holiday and forget all about parsons and eternal renovation f'unds." « * * Miss Brown had news to impart when she met her friend, Miss Jones. They went into a cafe for a cup of tea together. "I've been reminded of the old saying about the willing horse," She said, as she stirred her tea with rather unnecossary vigour. Miss Jones looked duly intrigued. "Who's been after you /kis time?" she asked, with a half-smile. Miss Brown pointed. "The supcrintendent of our Sundayschool phoned mo up this morning. Dicl I know that the school had boen grow-. ing lately? Had I ever considerod the possibility of taking a clasS?" Miss Jones tried not to giggle. I "What did you reply." "Well, I didn't mince words over it. I told him that I was already serving on three committees, and reminded him that I was in the choir, too. i asked him what he thought iny voico would be like after taking a class on Sunday af ternoons. ' ' "What did he say to that?" Miss Brown shrugged her shoulderB. "What could he say. Ho simply apologised for troubling me. Said something about not Tealising how busy I was, and that unless he could persuade someone else to take tho clasa he 'd have to send the children away." Miss Jpnes sniffed. "I suppose he thought ho'd win you ovor by talkiug like that." "If he did,. he was disappointed. Taking a class would got me down properly. Think of all tho preparatioa I'd have to put in, too " "You were pdisi'bJe not to give way," Miss Jones assurcd her. "You can do too inuch for some people. It'a so easy to inako yourself cheap, isn't it?" • « »

Frank Adams frowned as ho looked at the man who had called to havo a little ehat with him. He knew old Mr. Carpenter and his little chats. He talked pleasantly for a few moments and then came oat with a request. Frank wondered what the old f ellow wanted this time. "I expect you think I'm a bit of a nuisance," Mr. Carpenter said, with a smile. "The fact is that one of my belpers is ill and cannot contribute his usual batch of monthly" messengers. What I was wondering — er — I mean, would you mind doing two or three roads, just for once? lt's a grand way of inviting the people to our Services, you know." Frank laughed as he shook his head. "Sorry, Mr. Carpenter, but I don'tthink I'd eare to do that. You see, FVo my position to think of. If anybody from tho oilice liappened to see me going from door to door dlstTibuting leafiets — why I'd never hear the last of it." He shuddered involuntarily as he thought of the chaff that would como bis way. The white-haired old man raised rather' puzzled eyes. , /rIt's a grand work," he said, almost to^himself. "Last month we had delinite proof that a man was converted by reading one of these messengers and coming to our church."

"I'm no£ saying it isn't a' good work," Frank replied a little testily. "It doesn't appeal to me, that's all."' 4 'You — you are quite definite about it?" asked Mr. Carpenter, as Ee rose to go. * "Quite definlto," Frank a'ssurcd him. • # • On tho following Sunday the church was comfortably full for the evening service. , The opening hymn was: "When I survey the wondrous Cross." When they came to the last verse, the organist increased the tenjpo sjightly, and brought in the full organ: — Wero the- whole realm of naturo mine, That were an offering far too , small; Loye so* amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. John Smith was in his usual back pew, with his wife; Miss Brown was in the front row of the choix; Frank Adams was up in the gallery. They all sang heartily. After all^ you can't beat the good old hymns. They always go with such a fine swing. — Joseph Haddon.