Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-05-10
Shifting the Responeibility.

DTethren trump ana Noel were members
Of I { same Primitive Baptist Church. and
both clever, honest men. who paid their taxes
and debts as the same annually accrued, with
a regularity a: once Christian like and COM
mendable. If, when settling day came,
Brother Noel was "shori." Brother Crump
was sure to be in funds: and, on the other
hand, il almost seemed providentiaI how, if
Brother Crump fell "behind," Brother Noel
always had surplus, Thus borrowing from
and lending 10 each other, worshpping at the
same church. and living only mile apart, an
intimacy gradually ripened between them;
so that at last they did not hesitate 10 speak
i'll the freest and most familiar manner TO each
other, even in regard 20 their respective
foibles. Now, it came to pass, that Brother.
Crump, during the liveliest period of the
cotton season, drove into Wetumpka, Ala,
and disposed of his scrap of ten bales. at the
fair price of l21 cents per pound. II was
more than he expected, and as the world was
easy with him, he determined 10 invest, and
did actually invest: portion of the proceeds
Of the sale of his cotton in barrel of western
whisky, paying, therefor at the rate OF,
precisely, two pounds of middng cotton for
one gallon Of ditto" whisky Of course il
was narrated in the settlement that "old
Crump" had bought "whcle barrel" and
after a few weeks people began to observe
that his nose grew rcdder ard his eyes more
moist. The idea that the brother Crump was
drinking too much" diffused itself in the
lneighborhood. until. as one might say, it be-
came epidemical. People talked and talked
more especially "what few" of other de-
nomination of christians dwelt thereabout.-
Brother Noel was 'sore troubled" at the
scandal which circulated about his brother
and friend, and especially regretted the in
Jury il brought to the ''ciety" at Sharon So
one morning. he stepped over to Brother
Crump's. and found the old man in half
doze in his little porch
"WOnt you take drink ?" asked Brother
Crump, as soon rs he was aware of the pre-
sence of his neighbor
why, yes, I'm not agin dram when a
body wants it,"
Brother Crump got his bottle, and the
friends took dram piece.
Don't you think. Brother Noel said Crump
"that sperits is a bIessin?'
'Y-e-sr responded NOEL spirits is a
blcssin, but accordin to my notion, it's blessin
that some of us abuses"
"Wrll. now. Brother Noel, who do you
thirk abuses the blessin .
WELL it's hard to say-but people talk
don't you think you drink too much, Brother
Crump?' e.
1T hard 10 say--iL's hard to say replied
Crump. Sometimes I've thought was a
drinkin too much-then agin I'd think maybe
not What is man? A weak wurrum Of
dust! What the Lord TO say wether was
goin too fur in spirits. put the the whole
'sponsibility on him! prayed to him. eff /
was drinkin too much to take away my appetite
for spirits"
What then, Brother Crump?' groaned
Brother Noel. piously. ...l.
And" replied Crump. 81 prayed that pray
rr three times. and he haini done it! So I'm
clear of the 'sposihility. any way"
"The Lords will be donel" ejaculated Noel
and. after taking another "dram," he went
home thinking all the way how cleverly Broth.
er Crump had shifted the responsibility .