How Deacon Tubman and Parson Whitney Kept New Year's

"Deacon Tubman," responded the parson, as he seated himself in his arm-chair, "I want to talk with you about the church."

[Illustration: "_I want to talk with you about the church._"]

"The church!" ejaculated the deacon, in response, "nothing going wrong, I hope?"

"Yes, things are going wrong, deacon," responded the parson; "the congregation is growing smaller and smaller, and yet I preach good, strong, biblical, soul-satisfying sermons, I think."

"Good ones! good ones!" answered the deacon, promptly; "never better; never better in the world."

"And yet the people are deserting the sanctuary," rejoined the parson, solemnly, "and the young people won't come to the sociables and the little children seem actually afraid of me. What shall I do, deacon?" and the good man put the question with pathetic emphasis.

"You have hit the nail on the head, square's a hatchet, parson," responded the deacon. "The