ake
thirty."

"And when you form your church you'll choose him first deacon--won't
you?" said the squatter, sneeringly.

"Neighbor Jones," said the minister, quietly, "I find that Mr. Smith's
character is pretty well understood among the settlers. From all I can
learn, I judge that he has never been a member of a church, but is one
of a too large class, who try to palm themselves off on religious
people, that they may the better carry out their own wicked and
selfish ends. I did not pay him the thirty dollars because he had a
right to ask it of me, but because I had rather sacrifice something
than to expose the spiritual welfare of this people by giving an
occasion for a quarrel, however unjustly; and, mark me, the time will
come when that money, small as the amount is, will be a burden to the
conscience of that man. But," he added, suddenly changing the
subject, "we expect to have a raising on my lot day after to-morrow.
Cannot I rely on you for a lift?"

"Ah," said he, "what are you going to put up there--a framed house?"

"O, no," replied the minister, smiling, "only a few logs. The town
owners are going to let me take down the log house they have used on
the other side of the river,--as the logs are so well seasoned,--and
put them up on my place; and, wife,"--turning to her,--"we shall have
to depend on you for refreshments for the occasion."

"You have given me short notice," she replied, "but I can have things
ready if you can manage to get supplies, and a stove up in season."

"If you want a little help in getting started here," said Mr. Jones,
"I'll send up my Tom; I guess he'd like to lend you a hand."

"Could he come to-day?" asked Mrs. Payson.

"I'll send him right along," said the squatter, as he bent his steps
towards home.

"What are we going to do for a stove?" asked the wife, as soon as he
was out of sight.

"That'll be forthcoming," said the minister.

Tom, having made his appearance, was requested by Mr. Payson to take
the team and go to town, and say to Mr. Palmer that they had decided
to move into the cabin, and would like to get settled before night;
which message brought Mr. Palmer back with Tom, accompanied by a
wagon-load, containing a large cooking-stove, a bag of flour, some
chairs, a little crockery, and a supply of various eatables. And by
nightfall the missionary family were domiciled in the frontier cabin;
and the next morning you would have thought the missionary's wife
alre