"Having Gifts Differing."

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 122, 23 May 1908, Page 10

"Having Gifts Differing."

"Yes, it has always been a pet theory of mine "that every one has his special' ty, and that this talent, whatever it may bo, ought to receive recognition and encouragement. In proof of my theory being correct, I will quote, from Holy Writ. The Apostle- Paul speaks of a diversity of gifts, and cxhoits his hearers thus : 'Having then gifts different, whether prophecy, prophesy according to tho proportion of faith ; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering ; or he that teacheth, on teaching ; or ho that cxhorteth, on exhortation, etc' Kow if Paul found his diversity of gifts in the people of his age, we certainly would expect to find it in greater degree in present day society."

The enthusiastic young president of the Brookville Lyceum paused for breath, and her audience maintained a discreet silence.

After a series of lectures on Shakespeare, XJante, Browning ; on literature of the past, present and future, the members of the Lyceum fairly bristled with knowledge and culture but when their president advanced the theories of St. Paul they felt that she was getting beyond their depth, for St. Paul had been sadly neglected by the lecturers who had appeared before him. The president, was speaking again, and her face wore a winning smile as she said : "The next meeting will be our closing meeting for the year, and the last time I shall preside, so I am going to ask our executive committee to allow me to digress frop tho regular routine. Instead of hiring a lecturer for the evening, I want to make of it a specialty entertainment. I want each member to come prepared to, do the thing he or she can do best. Only five minutes will be allowed each one for their specialty, so the programme will not be lengthy. To add to our bit of fun, I will secure the services of competent judges, not members of the Lyceum, to award a prize to the person who displays gneatest ability in presenting his specialty." 1 The novelty of the plan appealed to her audience, .just as Eunice Adams had hoped it would. A murmur of applause ran round the room, and the president knew that she had carried her point, as she usually did in all her undertakings. During the informal meeting that followed, every member of the Lyceum agreed to help in the entertainment, with, the exception of young Dr. Allison, who sat glum and silent. "What will you do', Tom?" asked the man who sat next him.

People who knew Dr. Allison well, 'were apt to forget to uso his title, in addressing ' him. "1 can't do anything to entertain people, and Miss Eunice knows it," he grumbled.

Tho president, catching his remark, laughed mischievously and others joined in the laughter at his expense.

It was a well-known fact that Tom Allison's mother had intended her son to enter the ministry, and his 'father had hoped to see him develop into a brilliant lawyer, but all of the education' they had heaped on him had failed to give him a society polish, help him to use. his slow, blundering tqnguo, or keep his big hands and feet out of the way of other people. Giving up in despair, his parents had at last allowed him to make hia own of profession, and he had thrown 'his Whole heart and soul into study, of medicine and surgery. To bo able to keep silent being considered' a gift in that profession, he had won. an enviable reputation for his knowledge, and none of his patients had over complained of 'the big hands whose gentle sympathetic touch, drove away pain, nor of' the big feet, ever ready to go quickly to relieve distress. But to think of him in the role of entertainer was amusing. One dissenting voice against the president's plan dia not have any weight, however, and the guests departed with merry promises of being on hand at the next meeting. During tho fortnight that followed , there was much secrecy in the preparations for the specialty entertainment, even the most intimate friends in tho Lyceum 'being unable to find out from each other what p.irt each was to take, and many were the surmises as to who the prize winner would bo. The' entire membership came early on the eventful evening, eager to participate in the novel affair. Judge Adams' home was ablaze with light, beauty, and wit, and the judges, seated in the alcove felt that their task would be an arduous one.

The roll was called by the president, and thero followed a medley of entertainment. There were solos galore — contralto, tenor, and tremolo. There wero readings, pathetic, gay, and commonpalce. A. violin swayed tho audience with its weird sweet cry, and a cornet touched all hearts with its golden melody. A young lawyer told a story that ' set tho house aroar with laughter. A whistler imitated all the birds of the springtime. Then suddenly, little Mao i Marxson, in response to her name, wheeled in a small table -,on which stood ja chafing-dish already alight while near at hand were grated cheese, butter, cream, flour and papper. In a jiffy, tiny' plates were served with a dainty wafer and a spoonful of tho welsh rabbit.

"Not fair, not fair," some one cried out. "She had everything prepared before hand." "Well, didn't you have your duty prepared beforehand?" she retorted.

Somo complained because Fred Everson, the devoted follower of Mac Marxson, passed the plates while she" served them, but after they had once tasted the delicious amber mixture they suby sided into good humour' again.

Earlier contestants gave up the hope of winning a prize over sneb a specialist as Miss Macxson, but were still anxious to hear tho report of the judges. The piesident, looking over the crowd, and at her list of names, knew that all had participated in 'the contest with the exception of Dr. who sat in the rear of the room, his fact? shaded by one big hand. Pity for his lack of talent in any social line caused her to to Fay hurriedly, "And this last performance closes our programme for the evening. I now leavo the decision to our judges.''

"Hold on, not quite so fast," called out the young lawyer, who had distinguished himself ,by his well-told Btory. i

"Here's Tom Allison, make him do his 'stunt.' You said that each member had to contribute something to this entertainment."

A murmur of mirth ran through the room, then some one started the call, "Allison, Allison," and he rose to his feet, conscious of eveiy inch of his six i'eet two, and faced the judges. "Do I understand that I may have five full minutes to give an exhibition of the work in which I havo most skill':" i

The judges and the president nodded encouragingly. "You all know that my specially is surgery," he said, modestly. '"I wihh to perform a plight operation hoi-e to-night. I have long desired to Jitobfl for. the hsMxt vi qua el aux. xaem.-.

bers, or at least to determine if said member had a. heart."

The women began to look at each other in affright. Perhaps too close application "to his professional studies had affected his reason.

Ho saw their glances, and smiled. "Do not be alarmed, I shall use no sharper instrument than the instrument of speech. I wish to use my few mm utes in trying to reach the heart of our president."

Eunice Adams gave a little gasp of surprise and disapproval, and little Mac Marzson, turning to Fred Everson, started to whisper,, 'Oh, I believe he's going to propose," but the remark that started in a whisper, ended in a giggling crescendo.

Tom Allison rapped his chair back with his big knuckles, "Silence please, I have the floor. Honourable judges, ladies and gentlemen, I have striven for three years to iind an opportunity to give voice to my sentiments toward our president, and have failod. She is a remarkably busy woman, with many demands upon her time. In all the three years I have hardly had five minutes' time alone with her. Other men, with quicked wit and nimbler tongues have claimed all her attention, leaving- me in the background. I had determined to 'try a telephone message, but I had happened to hear her say, after answering an urgent appeal made in that way, that it was much easier to say 'no' over the 'phono. I changed my plans instantly. Of course, I could not write, for if it was easy to say no over the 'phone, how much easier to write it. There are times when anxiety is more endurable than certainty, but I have passed that stage, and I feel that I must know her decision. I can scarcely hope that it will be favourable. When I think of her — bright, winsome, beautiful, a- social favourite, and compare her with myself, it is like comparing the beautiful butterfly with the slow plodding caterpillar. I havo nothing to offer except — " "Times up," called the time-keeper, who had been 'too dazed to attend his duty. But Tom Allison finished his speech in spito of them. "I have nothing to offer except £ht> first and only love of an honest heart, a love that will never falter, never change, even though it be spurned and trampled under foot. ( Eunice Adams, I want you for my own." Ho sat down. There wa3 no ripple of merriment or applause, for the air was heavy with suspense. The judges stirred uneasily. Eunice Adams, for the first time during her presidency, hesitated about .her part of the proceedings, for her copy of Robert's rules of order had made no provision for such an emergency as this. She. lifted a flushed face, struggled for self-control a moment, thon said, "We- will give five minutes for' tho decision of the judges." There was a .subdued whispering for the space of three minutes, then one of the judges arose, saying solemnly, "Wo can come to no decision. The two men of th© committee are in favour of giving the prize to Miss Marxson, while the other member insists upon bestowing the prize on Dr. Allison." He paused, with an apologetic glance towards the president, then sat down. The president faced her audience for a moment, then said quite calmly, "As there has-been trouble in the decision of our worthy judges, and I had prepared to give but one prize, I will assist them by allowing them to bestow the cut glass vase upon Miss Marason, for she certainly deserves.it. In recognition of the rights of the lady member of the committee, I willsay, a surgeon who undertakes such a difficult task, under such adverse circumstances, certainly deserves* encouragement and .with the consent of th<> members of ( the comjmityee, I. wil^ayard him the ihear't for whiqh he so skilfully probed," and crossing the room, she held out her pretty hands to him, and forgetting himself in his great joy, he stooped and kissed them with all the graco of a knight of the olden time, and the guests showed their approval by a grand burst of applause.

"They didn't applaud you," Fred Everson grumbled, holding gingerly Iho beautiful vase that had been awarded to tho maker of Welsh rabbit, but Mac Markson giggled, "I don't care, he. only won tho booby prize!"— Lulii ,Linton, in tho National Magazine.