Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-29
Ito be continued
From Hogg's Winter Evening Tales.
pEAsANT's FUNERAL.

A PEASANTS FUNERAL.
On the 10th of April, 1910, went
with my father to the funeral Of George
Mouncie, who had been removed by
sudden death from the head OF large
family, now left in very narrow circum-
stances. AS he had, however, during
his life been held in high estimation for
honesty and simplicity Of character,
many attended to pay the last sad dnty
to departed worth. We. were shown
one 10y one, as we arrived, into LITTLE
hovei, where the cows Were wont to
stand, althu' it was a pleasant Jay, and
we would have been much more Cem-
Portable on the green; but it is held
highly indecorous TO give the entertain
ment at burial without doors, and no
one will submit to it.
We got each o. US glass of whiskey
as we entered, and then sat Conversing
sometimes about common topics, but Tor
the must part about our respective pa
rlsh ministers !; what subject they had
of late been handling, and how they
succeeded. Some Of them remembered
all the texts with the greatest eXactness
Tor seasons gone by, but they could on
~ remal k, on many OF them, that such
one made much . little of it.
One man SAID, III The course OF some
pretty argument, Il do not deny it, Da-
yli, your minister is a very good man,
and very clever man too; he has no
FAULT but one.'--' y hat is thatF SAID
David. 1T is patronage, said the o.
tner. Patronage ,sald David, chat
cannot be FAULT Not lault sir, but
/ say 1t is a fault and one that you, q
every one whs encourages 1t by giving
il Your countenanre will have TO all.
swer for. Your minister can never be
GOO. shepherd, for he was not chosan
b, tho huck.' 1t is a BAD simliIe,
SAID Da,id, til, flock never chooses its
own >Lepherd, but the owner Of the
dock / he greatest number OF the In
hsb,,snts of that district being dissen-
ters from the established church, many
severe reflections wore thrown out a
gains, the The dangerous system of pa
truna e, While no one Ventuicd to de-
fend it, save David who said. that if
one learned man was not capable of
making choice for IA parish. tie populace
was much less SO; and proved from
scripture, that ma 8 nature was so COR
rupt, that hr was unable to make wise
Choice for himself; and maintained that
the inhabitants of this country, ought
to be thankful that the legislature had
taken the task out of their hands.
AS farther proof of the justice of
his argument, he asked, whether Jesus
of NAZARETH, or Mahomet, was the best
preacher2-- other answered, that
none but a reprobate would ask tie gues-
ton. very WE'LL said David, 'Mahu-
met was one of your popular preachers;
was followed and adored by the multi
tude wherever he went. and he who
spoke as n yer man spoke, was despi-
sed and rejected. Mahomet gained
more converts to his religion in his life
time, than has been gained to the true
religion in 1900 years, Away with
your popular preachers, friend. They
are bruised to reeds His antagonist
was nenplus'd: he could only answer,
sAh! David, David, ye're on The braid
way
" he widow Of the deceased, howe.
yer, came in among US, to see a particu,
lar friend who had travelled far to no.
nor e memory OF his old and intimate
acquaintance. He saluted her Will
grea, kindness, and every appearance
of heartfelt concern for her misfortunes
the Dialogue between them interested
me it was the language of nature, ant
no other spoke word while it lasted.
sAh /! James, said she, / did no,
think, the last time saw you, that oul
next meeting would be on SO mourniu
I an occasion we were all cheerful then
and little aware Of the troubles await
ing US | have, since that time, suffer
ed many hardships and losses, James
but all VI them were light to this. -
She wcpt bitterly. James endeayoret
to comfort her, but he was nearly az
much affected hiWself, / DO not re-
pine,' said she, since it is the will Of
him who orders all things for the bes
purposes, and the wissst ends: but alas
| an, IN f.ttod IN fha tack Va bic I