The Minister and His Sausages.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 478, 7 June 1890, Page 6

The Minister and His Sausages.

A minister in one of our orthodox churcheswhilo on his way to preach a funeral ser, mon in the country, called to see one of his members, an old widow lady, who lived near the road he was travelling. The old lady had just been making sausages, and she felt proud of them—They were so plump, round, and sweet. Of course, she insisted on her minister taking some of the links home to his family. He objected, on account of his not having his portmanteau along with him. The objection was overruled, and the old lady, after wrapping them in a rag, carefully placed a bundle in either pocket of the preacher’s capacious greatcoat. Thus equipped, he started for the funeral. Whilo attending the solemn ceremonies of the grave, some hungry dogs scented the sausages, and were nob long in tracking them to the pockets of the good man’s overcoat. Of course this was a great annoyance, and lie was several times under the necessity of kicking these whelps away. The obsequies of the grave completed, the minister and congregation re-passed to the church, where the funeral discourse was to be preached. After the service was finished, the minister halted to make some remarks to his congregation, when a brother who wished to have an appointment given out, ascended the steps of the pulpit, and gave the minister's coat a hitch to get his attention. The divine, thinking it a dog having designs upon bis pocket, raised his toot, gave a sudden kick, and sent the good brother sprawling down the steps. “You will excuse me, brethren and sisters,” said the minister confusedly, and without looking at the work he had just done, for I could not avoid it—l have sausages in my pockets, and that dog has been trying to grab them ever since he came upon the premises!”