But suppose they could increase it to forty-nine, it
would still be a sum too small to express the kindly
feelings of twenty-one deacons. Some were in favor
of persisting in the effort ; others of returning the
money to the respective deacons, lest they should
fail at last, and the story, getting out, draw down rid-
icule upon their defenseless heads. Neither party
wanted to give up, and the discussion grew hot, and
bade fair to continue, when Deacon Gray said:
"Brethren, we did not begin right; we should open
our meetings with prayer. Let us remedy the mis-
take at once, and see if things do not clear up. Let
us pray." Deacon Gray prayed — earnestly and de-
voutly, a very short prayer, not for the spread of the
gospel, nor for the Millennium, not even for sinners,
but rather for the saints. He implored wisdom to
correct all their mistakes, and love and faith enough
to guide them all into a happier future. When the
prayer was concluded, Deacon Scott proposed that,
as the money was insufficient to furnish a suitable
Christmas gift for the pastor, the deacons should seek
out all the poor connected with the church, and de-
vote the money to providing each with a Christmas
dinner or a load of coal ; also, that they should ask
the pastor's cooperation, and make him chairman of



2^8 Poetry and Prose of Marie R. Butler.
their committee. Never was there a more complete
success. The deacons all shook hands with Bro.
Scott, and offered him a vote of thanks for his solu-
tion of the difficulty.
