“You are trying to get our minister away from us,” said I.

“Yes,” said he.  “And I think we shall get him.  He is a sound man—­just the man to build us up.”

“And how are you prospering?” said I.

“Capitally,” said he.  And then he proceeded, in answer to a cross-examination, to interpret his reply.  The Church had almost a monopoly of the ward.  Its debt was but $10,000, which was in a mortgage on the property.  There was also a small floating debt which would be easily provided for.  It paid its former pastor $4,000, just what it offered Mr. Work.  Its pew rents were about $3,500.  The deficiency was considerable, and had to be made up every year by subscription.  “But our minister,” said M. Eccles, confidentially, “was a dull preacher.  I liked him—­my wife liked him.  All the church folks liked him.  But he did not draw.  And it is not enough in New York city, Mr. Laicus, for a minister to be a good man, or even a good preacher.  He must draw.  That’s it; he must draw.  I expect the first year, that we shall have a deficit to make up, but if next spring we don’t let all our pews, why I am mistaken in my man, that’s all.  Besides they say he is a capital man to get money out of people, and we must pay off our debt or we will never succeed, and that’s a fact.”

I got some figures from Mr. Eccles, and put them down.  They give the following result: 

Income. 200 pews at present average-$30 a pew $6,000

Expenses. 
Salary
$4,000
Interest
700
Music
1,200
Sexton, fuel, light, &c.
1,200
Total
$7,100

When I showed the footing to Mr. Eccles he shrugged his shoulders.  “We shall have to raise our pew rents,” said he.  “They are unconscionably low, and we must pay off our debt.  Then we are all right.  And if we get the right man, one that can draw, he will put our heads above water.”

With that we separated.

Not, however, till I got some further information from him.  He remarked casually that he had a notion of moving out of town, and asked me about prices at Wheathedge.  “It costs a fortune to live here,” said he.  “My wife has an allowance of $300 a month for household and personal expenses.  My clothing and extras cost me another $500.  And the “sundries” are awful.  You can’t go out of your house for less than a dollar.  I have no doubt my incidentals are another $500.  It is awful—­awful.”

I advised him to move up to Wheathedge, the more cordially because I have a lot I would like to sell him for about a thousand dollars.  I really believe he is thinking seriously of it.

The next day I went into the office of my friend Mr. Rental, the broker.  I told him I was looking for a house for a friend, and asked the prices.  He showed me a list-rents $2,000, $2,500, $3,000.  They were too high.  Would property in Brooklyn or Jersey City do?  No.  It must be in New York.  It must be in the —­ ward.  It must be a good, comfortable, plain house, without any show or pretension.