American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-12-15
AN ABSENT MAN.

TIE Rcr. James .4rchi5aLd of NORTH Carolina.
Ths gettIcnan never perhaps, in he course Of
his lie, dressed himself completely without some
nnr to acl as monuo' and assistant His coat, his
wsistcoat. CrsVa or some other article of cln'hing
was aln osl ,iwsys ouitied On risiBn in the MON
ing eVen during cold weather he tteQu nllv forgot
10 pnt on his shines and stockings till reminded of il
ny his wife. or othe memhe Of he family
He ohenlime. wore stockings OF different colors
81 b as blue and grey, or black and white
and wen, sometime, abroad with bon on one loot
ard shoe on me oihtr.- H. lived about SIX miles
from the place where he was sccustun ed to reach
He hiss been known frequently to walk ha distant
havup through ioreelulness left his horse standn
saddled al his door At another iime he would ride
to church and return home on tooi ieavIn, his
horse near The place 81 worship tied to hush. o.
the hnrb IF a tree. BY third act Of inadVerency
h, would occasionally lead his horse to church and
home again, without recollectng to noun him
II as nor the custom in the pat Of the ntry
where his gentleman resided, Tor the congregation
10 provide church R,ne. The off stine clergy
man always brought his bible along with HIM THIS
custom proved a source q 30 iitle inconvenience
to Mr. Archibald Frequently on his arrival al
Church sometimes after ascending the pulpit
he four himself without bible. and was obliged to
despatch a messtngeT to q house IN he neiehbor-
hood to borrow scene was once Witnessed
at haDtismai ceremony uhu6i tue uUC' nun w WIS
gentleman, of 80 udic' on. nature TO dscom
nose the gravity Of The VIII lie cone regztion. he
water to be used was hrouP tc him in pewter bs
sim containing not less than quart Instead OF dip
ming his hand into the wste ard pri king the face
Of the infant. he suddenly emplird On u the whole
contents of the vessel TO the great annoyance OF ITS
clio hes and the no small danger ct straneu ton.
When warmed with preachIre we have frequent
Iv seen him. with to cool himsel. pull of FIRST
his coat then his waiscoat and lastly his rravat -
These articles Of clothing he would lsy dow IN the
nuIpit and unless reminded OF il, seldom think OF
nuttinr them on again when the service was hn'sh
ed. When riding through The roun ~ 10 VisI' his
transformers, 10 preach to a neghhorine c"ngrePs
ton, or for any other purpose. his eVerIes we're
nrodurtivr of great Inconvenience q. loss ct time
IN hating al the house Of a ind TO breakfast
dine or pass the night he would Irequentlv' on set
inr out again, give his horses head wrong diIec
linn. and never discover his erro' till made sensible
or il bv his arrival at his own door h. IN hese
tonrs. he always rode the same horse sagacIous
animal 10 which he had given the name OF Wd
IIvn This beast had an excellent memory and
s.ldoro passrd stable at which he had been TOT mer
lv fed. without paving it visit Bu' his maste
wa. az (orgetlul as he retentive OF places ana
favors This discrepancy OF character he ween the
bo,se and his rider was Olieniimes source OF iud
cro,s occurrences and Of an &C dent some
wba, serious. When Od Dun wnuld halt OF the
stable, his master, surprising him to be s''i Pussu-