 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
DULL BUSINESS.
A long time ago, in an old town we wot of, there lived
a man of humble means, — there are some poor people
there now, — and, in pity for his need, he was made sexton
of the church of which he was a member. The
times were dull, his salary was low, and he found it
hard work to make both ends meet. He called upon the
members of the church, but they could not or would not
do anything for his relief. As a last resort he called
upon the minister and told him his troubles, and how
hard he found it to get along. The minister heard his
story, but, instead of relieving his wants, or telling him
how to do it, went to arguing with him about the unreasonableness
of his complaint.
“Why,” says he, “don't you have, besides your
salary, a number of perquisites? Are you not paid for
ringing the bell on the Fourth of July and other public
celebrations? And are you not paid, too, for your services
at funerals, when any occur in our society?”
“True,” said the dolorous sexton, looking up solemnly;
“but I have little hope from this source, for, confound
it, none of our society ever die!”
The poor fellow went away sorrowing, thinking, probably,
that Providence was rather hard on him in not killing
off half the parish that he might have the profit of
burying them.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |