The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-08-16

laciually was lantern with o dozen lamps
burning within, followed by the broad
bIowsy indgnan, face of the unhappy VIC
lin of his assault, more red if possible than
his, looking like the full moon through an
evening mist, two together presenting 10
conjuction spectacle beyond dscrip'lon'
ludicrous and Extraordinary.
The Deacon limped back TO the gallery
amazingly cres, fallen, while Mrs. BIoaders
with a vain endeavor TO restore her crushed
bonnet and rumpled ruff TO decen. and
christian trim, hobbled out Of church and
did not again make her appearance for a
six mouth.
Five minutes, however, sufficed TO reas.
sure and compose the sturdy Deacon, SO
that he seated himself on the cross beam
of The gallery, with his feet dangling over
the broad aisle, and began 10 mediate on
the 'pecial providence as he consider ID
the affray fiom which he had just esca-
ped.
Alas! for our hero! he would have been
a wise man, had he. gone home like the
lady upon whom he aIighled SO uncerimon
iously.
Silence having been restored TO lhe con
gregation, Elder Mack recommended his
discourse. Like most Of The old fashioned
preachers, his method OF annalizng and
arranging his sermon, was to divide ;,hen
into eIgh, or ten heads, each head being
subdivided into three or four more heads,
thus resembling some oflhe strange mons
,eis, with their heads and horns, seen by
81. John in the Apocalypse. In fac! ,ht
preaching of one of Elder Mack's dis
courses was like the conflict between Heg-
cuIes and The Hydra, in which one head Of
the beast was hardly cut off and disposed
Of before two Others started up in ils
place:
The minister had now proceeded ri
umphantly through his sevenlh!y!' for up
wards Of an hour had his cultural mono
'oDv fallen like gentle oPale on the senses
Of his hearers, and he was just ready 10
grapple with his eighlhly,' when his atIen-
ton was arrested by the head of Deacon
Marvel, which had gradually swayed from
perpendicularly, until his chin was now
buried in the bosom of his vest, and his
body seemed noddiug 10 the cadences Of the
speakers voice.
The truth is, Deacon Marvel was asleep.
Either ho had been kept awake by the
squalling babies, the night before-ur his
recen, fall had so stunned his faculties as
TO make him lelhargic.
Al every emphatic word as if the Dea-
con attending to the discourse even when
sleeping, his head nodded, AID every nod
seemed TO bring him nearer The floor. The
parsop was dismayed, what should he dot
Once already had the Deacon flown from
the gallery, and now it appeared he was
about 10 repeat the experiment, and al2s,
with no subjacent ial women 10 break his
fall!
Suppressng momentary rising of wrath
and mortified vanity, Elder Mack resorted
to several Innocent articles to rouse and
save the slumberng saint. He lifted up
his voice like lrumpeGnoi went his head .
lie lowered his tones OF a gentle murmur
nod. nod. He pounded The pulpit with his
cIenched fists, nod nod, nod. The swes,
started on his brow and trickled down his
nose in his excitement, and with his eyes
roll ing in a sort Of phrenzy. he slammed
down lhe big bible upon the desk with
a tremendous noise, nod, nod, as before,
The audience were surprised and deli sht
ed with the unwoned energy of their old
parson, they imagined he had received from
on high a new and sudden inspiration, Iine
f4ncylng where he borrowed his ardor,
And now. Elder Mack growing desperate
begsn TO huh texts of Scripture al the head
Of he sleeper. II is high lime 10 awake
out of Sleep cried he. But in vain, Dea
con Marvel did not heed it. 'Wo 10 them
,ha. are al ease in Zion,' he shouted. The
deacon nodded his assent. Awake, c
sleeper and arise!' yelled the raddeneC
divine. The only answer was another nod