'BOOTS OR NO BOOTS!

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 182, 27 January 1893, Page 6

'BOOTS OR NO BOOTS!

The vicar of a Yorkshire parish had by his kindliness of manner and far-reaching sympathy won over a large number of his parishoners from the meeting-house to the Church. Among these converts to the Established Church was an old blanket weaver who, whenever particularly touched by anything in the prayers or the sermon, could not refrain from giving vent to his feelings by such ejaculations as * Amen 1 ’ * Alleluia ! ’ &c. The vicar bad frequently spoken to him about this, and the old man had as frequently promised that he would try to give up the practice, but as sure as the next Sunday came his feelings wei'e certain to get the better of him. The congregation, at length becoming impatient at this ever-recurring disturbance to their devotions, requested that the old man should be forbidden to enter the church. Not wishing to resort to so summary a measure, the vicar told him that if he would keep quiet for the next six Sundavs he would give him a new pair of boots. All went well till the sixth Sunday,

when an unusually stirring sermon was preached by some dignitary of the Church. The old man was noticed to fidget about and mutter to himself a good deal during the discourse, till at the close, being unable to contain himself any longer, be shouted : 4 Boots or no boots, the Lord be praised!’