Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-30
THE GOOD MINISTER.
A TRUE STORY.


Some years since there lived in the tows
OF s., Massachusetts, mos, practi
cal and good minister by the name Of
p. Two Of his Pensioners by
the name eff White and Hagar, lived on
the opposite sides Of a beautiful little pond
that was full of pickerel. White was a
rich farmer, and lived in large two.s,ory
house. Hagar was a poor day-laberer E,
with several children, and lived in little
log hut on the very brink Of the pond
Both were members Of the church.
On cold Sabbath morning in January.
Farmer White started at an early hour for
church,-and i. being nearer, instead OF
going by the road, he cut across the pond
upon the ice. But how was he mortified
and shocked to find his poor brother Hagar
upon it fishing. He approached him a,
once. and with stern voice and a feeling
of deeply offended piety, reprimanded him
for his wIckedness. Hagar attempted to
reply but White would not hear him. Ha-
gar said he had good excuse, and that
his brother White would not only forgive,
bu, Justify him if he would consent to hear.
But no, No, he would lay the matter before
the church, was the only reply.
Accordingly, as soon as meeting was
over, in the afternoon, he accompanied
parson p short distance on the road, and
related to him the great wickedness he had
witnessed in Hagar in the morning. Par
son P. though Of mild and umable tenn
per, felt as though Hagar ought to be
brought to judgment, and made an exam
pie Of Accordingly, the first time he saw
him, the subject was preached with all due
form and gravity, as in days Of yore, in
all such cases, made and provided. The
story Of farmer White was repeated, and
he asked IF IT WAS TRUE? Hagar replied
in the affirmative, stating also the fact that
brother White refused to hear an explana-
ton, which he desired to give, and which
he now proposed to state. SWELL" said
Hagar, II worked for Mr.. B. till late
night, and expected to get some-
thing to last my family over Sunday, at
Mr.. G.'s store on my way homo. Blu, il.
was shut up, and got nothing. We had
nothing but few potatoes in the house,
and told Mrs Hagar that would 20 out
on the pond and catch three pickerel. She
made no answer. And accordinly, in the
lust a. had cut hole in the
ice, and put my hook in the water, brother
White came along and reprimandcd me as
he told you. thought | was doing right
| was but few rods from my house and |
knew not where else to 60 for dinner.
was very thankful when tho first fish Bit
| kept my mind meditating on religious
truths oil the time, and just rs soon as
had the .hree wanted, went homo.
was so thankful when we came to the ia
BILE that we had been provided with seme-
thing to eat. We went to church in the
afternoon, and don't think did wrong.
What else could poor man do, who had
nothing for his wife and children to eat for
the day, but a handful Of poor potatoes 2"
The parson gave him some good words Of
advice and comfort, and they parted.
In the course Of few days he met farm
er White, who asked him straightway, if he
had seen Hagar. Yes, was the reply
What did he say ? The parson related to
him Hagar's story, and then said, Mr..
White, don't you have warm dinners on
Sunday Why yes, said the farmer some
what surprised. How do you get it? con-
linued the minister, pleasantly. How, why
Mrs. White goes to the meat barrel, and
takes out piece large enough for the whole
fmily's dinner, and boils, or fries it, and
Hold said the parson. That pond Mr..
White, is Hagar's MEAT BARRETT is all
the one he has, and EVERY BODY KNOWS IT.
He took out ust meat enough for dinner,
and no more and though | cautioned him
not to be caught in such difficulty again,
if he could possibly avoid 1t, | thought up
OH the whole it would not be best to troub-
lie the church with the matter. Farmer w.
was a man of sense, and he admitted that
the good parson was right. The pond, he
said, was Hagar's meat barrel, and no mis-
take; and he SHOULD say nothing more about
the matter.
The Apostle plucked the ears of corn on
the Sabbath, rubbing them in their hands,
and eating, because they were an hunger
ed - And the Jews complained of them
TO their master. WHAT WAS Ills REPLY!
Portland Argus.