that my word is better than any man's bond. I promised to
give a thousand dollars toward the church buildin'; here's a check for
fifteen hundred. Now turn me out if you want to. You've got nothing to
lose by turning me out and nothing to gain by keeping me in.'

"That ain't exactly what Meredith Schuyler said, honey," remarked Aunt
Jane, pausing in her story to make an explanatory note. "Jest exactly
what he said it wouldn't be right for me or any Christian woman to
tell, for Meredith Schuyler never opened his mouth, unless it was to
eat his meals, that he didn't take the name o' the Lord in vain. But
that was the sum and substance of it.

"Well, Doctor Brigham he went straight to Brother Wilson's house and
showed him the check, and told him about meetin' the squire and all
that had passed between 'em, and Brother Wilson he slapped his knee,
and says he, 'Now we'll have a meeting of the session to-morrow and
settle the matter right away.' So they all met again in the doctor's
office, and Brother Wilson called the meetin' to order and says he, 'I
have been asking the Lord to turn the hearts and minds of my session
that they might see certain matters as I see them. I cannot tell
whether my prayer has been answered,' says he, 'but, the thing that
kept some of you from doing your duty last week has been
providentially removed, and the way is clear before our feet. Squire
Schuyler,' says he, 'has not only paid his subscription, but he has
paid five hundred dollars more than his subscription. I move that
Judge Grace be a committee of one to write the squire a letter
accepting his gift, and thanking him for his liberality.'

"Well, they seconded the motion, and Judge Grace said he'd be glad to
write the letter, and then Brother Wilson says, 'The payment of that
money shows that Squire Schuyler is an open-hearted, open-handed
gentleman. I wish I could say Christian gentleman,' says he, 'but the
charges of profanity and Sabbath-breaking are still standing against
him, and we must now do our duty and deprive him of the rights and
privileges of church-membership.'

"Well, they said Doctor Brigham and Judge Grace both threw up their
hands and begun talkin' at once, and says they, 'You don't mean to say
you're goin' to turn the squire out now!' And Brother Wilson says,
says he, 'Why not? Here are the charges against him: breaking the
Sabbath, taking the name of the Lord in vain, and refusing to appear
before the officers of the