Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-10-03
HOAXING A WIDOW In CHURCH.

There is no part of the world where
new preacher, whether new-light or blue.
light, produces greater sensation than
in Boston, though, after he has gone, the
people may relapse into their quiet Uni
tartan paths; still they have no objection
to wander out of them in search of any
novelty in religion, and if they do not all
ways change their belief with every fresh
Importation. they at least pay him the
compliment of hearing what he has got to
say,
There happened to be, a few years
since, one of those wandering theological
meteors blazing around Boston, and peo-
pie from every lane and by.way focked
to see it, not with pieces of smoked glass
in their fingers, but with ten cent pieces
and York shillings, to drop into the green
box, by way of adding fuel to the flames.
So great was the crowd, tina. the ordinary
rules about the quiet possession Of pews
for which the owners had paid, were en-
tirely broken down everybody took that
seat which suited him best, and those who
came late SAT down in the places leIt 10
them by those who had come early.
One pleasant Sunday morning Mackay
went to church betimes, took his seat in
central pc w,just under the shadow Of the
pulpit and sat bolt upright, with his arms
extended with an apparent degree of un-
natural rigidity down by his sides. He
was presently surrounded by half dozen
females, nearly all of whom were stran-
gers to his person, and in little time the
church was full to overhowing. The
psalm was sung, the prayer said. the SER
mon delivered IN the preachers best style.
He dwelt particularly upon the require.
ments of the great precept of brotherly
love, upon the beauty of universal benev-
olence, on the pleasure which arises not
only from clothing the naked and feeding
the hungry, but from attention TO the min
ute and graceful courtesies of life by
which the thorny path is sOttened and a.
dorned. In the language Of critics in
such matters, "there was not dry eye in
the places" the appeal found its way to
every heart. All Mackay's immediate
neighbors were sensibly affected, he
wept with them; the big tears chased
each other down his cheeks. While
every one else was busy with their hand
kerchiefs wiping away the water that the
orator, like second Moses, had, by the
strokes of his eIoquence, caused to gush
from their flinty hearts. Mackay held bis
arms stiff and straight, while half glass
of liquid suffused his face. The dried
eyes Of his female friends were not slow
to observe this; for, in addition to the
evident signs of deep feeling which he
exhibited, his face was rather handsome
face. He wriggled. fdgetted, looked
confused and interesting, but faised no
hand, searched for no kerchief, and seem.
ed TO be in deep distress. At length a
young widow lady, who sat beside him.
remarked that he was i'll at ease, and
heaven bless the female heartl il always
mells at any mysterious sorrow-afier one
or two downcast looks and fiuttering pau.
ses, she said, in an under-tone, "Pray, sir,
is there anything the matter with you p
You appear to be unwell.
"Ah! madam" breathed Mackay, in a
whisper, II am poor paralytic, and have
lost the use of my arms. Though my
tears have flowed in answer to the touch
ing sentiments of the pastor, have not
the power to wipe them away"
In an instant a fair hand was thrust
into a reticule, and white handkerchief,
scented with otto Of rose. was applied to
Mackay's eyes; the fair Samaritan, seem
ing to rejoice in the first opportunity of
practising what had been so recently
preached, appeared to polish them with
right good will. When she had done,
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