A SUMMER PARABLE
Now it came to pass that, as the time of vacation drew near, a certain
member of the church bethought him of cool streams where fish were
found, and his children thought of sandy beaches by the sea, and his wife
thought of the mountains. And this church member spoke and said: "Lo the
hot days come and my work lieth heavy upon me. Come let us depart and
go where fishes do bite, and where the cool winds bring refreshment and
the land is beautiful about us."
"Thou speakest words of wisdom," said his wife. 'Yet three, nay, even
four, things we do ere we go."
"Three things think I of, but not a fourth," said her husband, -- "That
we ask our neighbor to minister unto our flowers, that we arrange for our
grass to be mowed and watered, that we have our mail forwarded; but no
other thing cometh to my mind."
"The fourth is like unto the other three, but greater than all," said his
spouse, "Even this that thou dig into thy purse and pay our church stewardship,
in order that the good name of the church may be preserved, that the heart
of the treasurer be made glad, and that it may be well with thee. For verily
I say unto thee, thou hast more money now than thou wilt have when thou
dost return."
And the husband replied, "Verily, thou art noble and wise among
women." And he did pay his stewardship for the summer, and the treasurer
rejoiced greatly, saying, "Of a truth, there are those who care for the good
of the church." And it was so.
