teeth, with their
sharp sarcastic tongues as an additional horror.

"It's lucky he's not married," the man who asked the last question
remarked.

"Why?" Dr. Rannage quickly challenged. "Have you a daughter of your
own to enter the contest?"

"No sir-ree," was the emphatic reply, when the laughter which followed
the archdeacon's sally had subsided. "I've got all boys, thank
goodness, an' am not interested that way. But as the new parson is not
married, we won't have to bother fixin' up the rectory. It's in a bad
shape now, an' it will take a lot to have it repaired."

"The rectory is certainly in a disgraceful condition," Dr. Rannage
assented, "as I saw myself this afternoon. Now, I wish to appeal to
all here to get it repaired as soon as possible. The longer it is
neglected, the more expensive it will be, and your new rector may wish
to live in it and have a suitable housekeeper to look after his
welfare."

"Let him board," some one suggested. "That'll be the best way, an' we
can fix up the rectory when he wants to get married. If he takes all
right here, there'll be no trouble about raisin' the money."

"Now since you have mentioned money," Dr. Rannage smilingly replied,
"it is just as well to consider that important matter first as last.
You are all aware that this parish is asked to make up a certain amount
toward your clergyman's salary, and the Board of Missions will pay the
balance. Do you remember how much you raised in the past?" he asked,
turning to the chairman.

"Four hundred dollars," Stubbles replied. "But it was too much. This
is a poor parish, sir, and I told the Bishop so the last time I saw
him."

"Well, he asked me to find out if you would endeavour to raise that
amount, and perhaps a little more. It always pleases him so much when
he finds that people are trying to take the burden off the city
churches and becoming more and more self-supporting. Now, do you not
think you could raise four hundred and fifty dollars for the first
year?"

"A great deal depends upon the new parson," Stubbles emphatically
replied. "If he takes well there will be little trouble, but if not,
we might as well give up at once. We know that from bitter experience
in the past."

"Hear, hear," several called out. "You're right, sir."

"Is the new man a good speaker?" came the query. "Much hangs on that."

Douglas leaned suddenly forward now, and awaited the answer with
considerable interest. He