Then the Reverend Fisher got a call to somewheres in York State, and felt he couldn't afford not to hear it.

Nobody blamed him; the salary paid a minister in South Orham is enough to make any feller buy patent ear drums.

But that left our men's club without either skipper or pilot, as you might say.
"One week after the farewell sermon, Daniel Bassett drops in casual on me.

He was passin' around smoking material lavish and regardless.
"'Stitt,' says he, 'you've always voted for Conservatism in our local affairs, haven't you ?' "'Well,' says I, 'I didn't vote to roof the town hall with a new mortgage, if that's what you mean.' "'Exactly,' he says.

'Now, our men's club, while not as yet the success we hoped for, has come to be a power for good in our community.