it!' All he said in reply to me was:
'This woodchuck had to climb a tree!' And that's the way with this
congregation. You think you can't raise $1,500, but you've GOT to."

So it went on. She set them all laughing; and then, with a twist of the
eyes and a change of voice, lo, and behold, she had them nearly crying
in the same breath. Under the pressure of these jumbled emotions,
brethren began to rise up in their pews and say what they would give.
The wonderful woman had something smart and apt to say about each fresh
contribution, and used it to screw up the general interest a notch
further toward benevolent hysteria. With songs and jokes and impromptu
exhortations and prayers she kept the thing whirling, until a sort of
duel of generosity began between two of the most unlikely men--Erastus
Winch and Levi Gorringe. Everybody had been surprised when Winch gave
his first $50; but when he rose again, half an hour afterward, and said
that, owing to the high public position of some of the new members on
probation, he foresaw a great future for the church, and so felt moved
to give another $25, there was general amazement. Moved by a common
instinct, all eyes were turned upon Levi Gorringe, and he, without the
slightest hesitation, stood up and said he would give $100. There was
something in his tone which must have annoyed Brother Winch, for he shot
up like a dart, and called out, "Put me down for fifty more;" and that
brought Gorringe to his feet with an added $50, and then the two went
on raising each other till the assemblage was agape with admiring
stupefaction.

This gladiatorial combat might have been going on till now, the
Sunday-school superintendent concluded, if Winch hadn't subsided. The
amount of the contributions hadn't been figured up yet, for Sister
Soulsby kept the list; but there had been a tremendous lot of money
raised. Of that there could be no doubt.

The Presiding Elder now told Theron that the Quarterly Conference had
been adjourned yesterday till today. He and Brother Davis were even now
on their way to attend the session in the church next door. The Elder
added, with an obvious kindly significance, that though Theron was too
ill to attend it, he guessed his absence would do him no harm. Then the
two men left the room, and Theron went to sleep again.

Another almost blank period ensued, this time lasting for forty-eight
hours. The young minister was enfolded in the coils of a fever of some
sort,