One Sunday morning when Preacher Bonds stood before his meager audience, the familiar face of Deacon Gramps was absent.  His unusual absence from the Church was very noticeable, and Preacher Bonds suggested in the introductory remarks of his sermon that unquestionably Brother Gramps was sick, and that it would be an act of brotherly kindness if when the service was over a number of the members would call at the Gramps’ home and see the sick brother.

When Preacher Bonds had finished his sermon, a song had been sung, and the benediction had been invoked, a dozen or more of the members with Bonds in the lead started for the Gramps’ home, which, as will be remembered, was plainly visible from the church.

“I believe,” said Bonds, “that Brother Gramps’ barn is on fire.”  At this the whole group began to rush toward the beautiful red barn that stood a quarter of a mile away.  By the time they reached the spot, black clouds of smoke and angry flames were shooting from doors and cracks in the barn.  Mrs. Gramps and the three children who were still at home were in the barnyard wringing their hands and crying in a heart-rending manner.  It was plainly to be seen that the visitors could do nothing to save the barn, and all that remained to do was to stand and watch the flames devour the building.

“Where is Brother Gramps?” said Preacher Bonds to Mrs. Gramps.

“Wasn’t he at church?  No?  Well, I don’t know where he can be.  He left the house just at church-time and I hadn’t noticed but what he was in the crowd that came from the church,” she replied.

Preacher Bonds looked serious as he said, “He could not have been in the barn, I suppose.”

“Oh, certainly not.  I suppose he must be at some of the neighbors’, perhaps Deacon Brown’s—­was Deacon Brown at church?” “No, Deacon Brown was not at church,” replied Bonds.  “Possibly he remained at home and Brother Gramps went to see him on some business pertaining to the church.  But I don’t understand why they did not meet at the church to transact their business.  Brother Jones, will you run over to Deacon Brown’s and tell Brother Gramps about his awful accident?”

“Certainly,” responded Jones, who stood near the barnyard gate talking with Gramps’ hired hand, from whom he was endeavoring to learn the details as to how the fire started.

“Try to tell him,” remarked Bonds, “in a way that will not be too much of a shock to him.”

Jones mounted a horse and hurried off to Deacon Brown’s and was soon back with the news that Gramps had not been seen at Brown’s, and that Brown was sick in bed, which fact accounted for his being absent from the service that morning.