The New Minister's Great Opportunity / First published in the "Century Magazine"

A young minister must prepare a funeral sermon for an elderly, eccentric neighbor whose life is remembered in small, comic episodes. He visits a cobbler's shop and the doctor's household to gather anecdotes—awkward bedside care, routine labor, and domestic repairs—that amuse townsfolk but seem ill-suited to solemn exposition. Conversations among neighbors reveal local personalities and expectations for a measured eulogy, leaving the minister uncertain how to shape ordinary, humorous reminiscences into dignified tribute. The story gently satirizes provincial life while exploring the pastoral challenge of turning commonplace details into meaningful remembrance.