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Tightwad Gives Church a
dollar; NOT a hundred
(Washington)
Folklore
FORM A
Circumstances of Interview
STATE, Washington
NAME OF WORKER, J.F. Ariza
ADDRESS, Federal Writers' Project, Seattle, Wash.
DATE, December 22, 1938.
SUBJECT, "Tightwad Gives Church a dollar; NOT a hundred."
1. Name and address of informant: A Seattle Minister who insists his name
must not be divulged. To do so would cause him embarrassment. Insisted he
would not talk to me if he felt his name "would be connected in any way"
with the narrative.
2. Date and time of interview, December 19, 1938; forenoon.
3. Place of interview, at ministers' residence.
4. Name and address of person, if any, who put you in touch with
informant, Methodist Union of Seattle, Republic Building, Seattle, Wash.
5. Name and address of person, if any, accompanying you, no one.
6. Description of room house, surroundings, etc. The pleasant, comfortable
home of an elderly, retired minister, in good circumstances.
FORM B
Personal History of Informant.
STATE, Washington
NAME OF WORKER, J.F. Ariza.
ADDRESS, Federal Writers' Project; Seattle, Wash.
DATE, December 22, 1938
SUBJECT: "Tightwad Gives Church a Dollar; NOT a hundred."
NAME AND ADDRESS OF INFORMANT: A Seattle Minister who insists his name
must not be divulged. To do so would cause him embarrassment. Insisted he
would not talk to me if he felt his name "would be connected in any way"
with the narrative.
1. Ancestry Probably English. Did not say.
2. Place and date of birth, "Oregon Territory the year before the Civil
War began" (1860)
3. Family, an aged wife; made no allusion to family.
4. Places lived in, with dates, "many years a preacher in Seattle," he
said. Nothing further.
5. Education, with dates, unknown.
6. Occupations and accomplishments, with dates, minister of Gospel; no
further knowledge on subject.
7. Special skills and interests, unknown to interviewer.
8. Community and religious activities, a retired Methodist Episcopal
Minister.
9. Description of informant, feeble and slightly ill; mind fairly
vigorous, but at times his more active wife would prompt him, then his
mind would clear.
10. Other points gained in interview, none in particular.
TIGHTWAD GIVES CHURCH A DOLLAR; NOT A
HUNDRED.
We were trying to raise a thousand dollars for urgent repairs to our
church. Its condition was dangerous; unless it was immediately repaired,
the city building inspector would close it. We called a special meeting to
raise the money. Our members turned out nobly; the church was packed. Most
of them were families and individuals of modest circumstances. One of the
more prosperous was a widow, Mrs. X, hard of hearing and also hard to get
money from. She gave less to the church than the poorest member gave. She
was quite generally regarded as downright miserly. Indeed, one deacon,
privately referred to her as "the Copper Queen," because, he averred, "she
never given more than a penny or, at most, a nickel in the collection."
It was an open meeting. Some suggested holding a fair, an appeal to local
philanthropists, and various other ways of raising the money. These were
abandoned, the majority believing we should subscribe the funds ourselves.
First to came forward was Mr. B., our most affluent member. He headed the
list with a hundred dollar subscription. He had hardly sat down when Mr.
C., not as well to do but willing to sacrifice under the circumstances,
arose and also gave a hundred dollars. I was elated.
"Will anyone else be as generous?" I asked, yet realizing the futility of
expecting a third hundred-dollar contribution.
Then, to everybody's utter astonishment, Mrs. X stood up and said, "I will
give the same." There was a spontaneous burst of applause as she sat down,
some of the members leaving their pews to congratulate her. She looked
surprised, and blushed scarlet.
Dear, good Mrs. X! To put her at ease and also to thank and congratulate
her, I went down to her pew. I knew her gift would stimulate others to be
generous, I forgave all her former parsimony, feeling I had been properly
rebuked for my -- well, my idea that she was hopeless and that we could
never expect anything from her. In the hour of dire need she had proved to
be pure gold.
It being an informal meeting, I remained in the aisle beside Mrs. X.
"Brothers and sisters," I began as the members, their faces radiant and
happy, settled down following the excitement, "are there any others who
will match Mrs. X.'s generous gift of one hundred dollars?"
Before anyone could speak, Mrs. X. gave a gasp and leaped to her feet. "A
HUNDRED DOLLARS?" she skrieked. "Why, Mr. Blank, I subscribed ONLY A
DOLLAR! I thought that was what the others gave."
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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