A Unique Story of a Marvellous Career | Page 8

bearer One Mill." Ten of them could be exchanged for one cent,
and by securing one hundred of them, which might be done by faithful
attendance and attention every Sunday for two years, the happy scholar
could secure a book worth ten cents!
There was only one church or "meeting-house" in Bethel, and it was of
the Presbyterian faith; but every one in town attended it, whatever their
creed. It was a severely plain edifice, with no spire and no bell. In
summer it was comfortable enough, but in winter it was awful! There
was no arrangement for heating it, and the congregation had to sit in the
cold, shivering, teeth chattering, noses blue. A stove would have been
looked upon as a sacrilegious innovation. The sermons were often two
hours long, and by the time they were ended the faithful listeners well
deserved the nickname of "blue-skins" which the scoffers gave to them.
A few of the wealthier women carried "foot-stoves" from their homes
to their pews. A "foot-stove" was simply a square tin box in a wooden
frame, with perforations in the sides. In it was a small square iron dish,
which contained a few live coals covered with ashes. These stoves were
usually replenished just before meeting time at some neighbor's near
the meeting-house.
After many years of shivering and suffering, one of the brethren had the
temerity to propose that the church should be warmed with a stove. His
impious proposition was voted down by an overwhelming majority.
Another year came around, and in November the stove question was
again brought up. The excitement was immense. The subject was
discussed in the village stores and in the juvenile debating club; it was
prayed over in conference; and finally in general "society's meeting," in
December, the stove was carried by a majority of one and was

introduced into the meeting-house. On the first Sunday thereafter two
ancient maiden ladies were so oppressed by the dry and heated
atmosphere occasioned by the wicked innovation that they fainted away
and were carried out into the cool air, where they speedily returned to
consciousness, especially when they were informed that owing to the
lack of two lengths of pipe no fire had yet been made in the stove. The
next Sunday was a bitter cold day, and the stove, filled with
well-seasoned hickory, was a great gratification to the many, and
displeased only a few.
During the Rev. Mr. Lowe's ministrations at Bethel he formed a Bible
class, of which young Barnum was a member. They used to draw
promiscuously from a hat a text of Scripture and write a composition
on the text, which compositions were read after service in the afternoon
to such of the congregation as remained to hear the exercises of the
class. Once Barnum drew the text, Luke x. 42: "But one thing is
needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken
away from her." Question, "What is the one thing needful?" His answer
was nearly as follows:
"This question, 'What is the one thing needful?' is capable of receiving
various answers, depending much upon the persons to whom it is
addressed. The merchant might answer that 'the one thing needful' is
plenty of customers, who buy liberally, without beating down, and pay
cash for all their purchases.' The farmer might reply that 'the one thing
needful is large harvests and high prices.' The physician might answer
that 'it is plenty of patients.' The lawyer might be of opinion that 'it is
an unruly community, always engaging in bickerings and litigations.'
The clergyman might reply, 'It is a fat salary, with multitudes of sinners
seeking salvation and paying large pew rents.' The bachelor might
exclaim, 'It is a pretty wife who loves her husband, and who knows
how to sew on buttons.' The maiden might answer, 'It is a good
husband, who will love, cherish and protect me while life shall last.'
But the most proper answer, and doubtless that which applied to the
case of Mary, would be, 'The one thing needful is to believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, follow in his footsteps, love God and obey His
commandments, love our fellowman, and embrace every opportunity of

administering to his necessities.' In short, 'the one thing needful' is to
live a life that we can always look back upon with satisfaction, and be
enabled ever to contemplate its termination with trust in Him who has
so kindly vouchsafed it to us, surrounding us with innumerable
blessings, if we have but the heart and wisdom to receive them in a
proper manner."
The reading of a portion of this answer occasioned some amusement in
the congregation, in which the clergyman himself joined, and the name
of "Taylor Barnum" was whispered in