and drink, is
concerned. So dinna fash yourself and me mair about it."

"I'd like to see him, anyhow," said he, taking a step towards the
study-door.

"But you'll no' see him about any such matter," and Janet placed herself
before him. "I'm no' to hae the minister vexed with the like o' that
nonsense to-night, or any night. I wonder you dinna think shame, to
hold up your face to me, forby the minister. What kens the minister
about the like o' that? He has other things to think about. It's weel
that there's aye me to stand between him and the like o' your `glegs and
corbies'."--And Janet, as her manner was when excited, degenerated into
Scotch to such a degree, that her opponent forgot his indignation in
astonishment, and listened in silence. Janet was successful. Mr
Spears was utterly nonplussed, and took his way homeward, by no means
sure that he hadn't been abused! "Considerable beat, anyhow."

Scarcely had he taken his departure, when Mr Elliott made his
appearance, having had some idea that something unusual had been going
on. Though loth to do so, Janet thought best to give a faithful account
of what had taken place. He laughed heartily at her success and Mr
Spears' discomfiture, but it was easy to see he was not quite at his
ease about the matter.

"I am at a loss to know how all this will end," he said, gravely, after
a minute.

"Indeed, sir, you need be at no loss about that. It will end in a `toom
pantry' for us, and that before very long."

This was the beginning of a conversation with regard to their affairs,
that lasted till the children came home. Much earnest thought did the
minister bestow on the subject for the next three days, and on the
evening of the fourth, at the close of a full conference meeting, when
most of the members of the church were present, the result of his
meditations was given to the public. He did not use many words, but
they were to the point.

He told them of the settlement for the past, and the prospect for the
future. He told them that the value to his family of the articles
brought in, was not equal to their value, as named in the
subscription-lists, their real value he supposed. They could not live
in comfort on these terms, and they should never try it. He had a
proposal to make to them. The deacon had estimated that an annual
amount equal to seven hundred dollars could be raised. Let each
subscriber deduct a seventh part of what he had promised to pa