Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-04-18
SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY.

We clip the following from the Chambers
IAia.) !noune. 1t is one of the last of the waa
Itoopers stories, and to our thinking, one of the
richest:
While attending court, recently, in the adj
joining county of Randolph, friend who is fond
OF jokes OF all sorts, and who relates them almost
as humorously as 'his Honor" gave US the fol.
lowing, vouching for the substantial, sub-lunar
existence Of the parties and their present resi-.
dence I'm the county Aforesaid:
Brethren Cr Jump and Noel were both mem.
bers OF the Primitive Baptist Church, and both
clever, honest men who paid their taxes and debts
as the same annually accrued, with REGULARITY
at once Christian and commendable. II. when
settling day came round, brother Noel was short
bro. Crump was sure to be in funds and on the
other hand, 1t almost seemed providential how.
If brother Crump fell behind brother Noel al
ways had surplus. Thus borrowing from and
lending to each other, worshipping at the same
church, and living only mile apart. an intima-
cy gradually npened between them; so that al
last they did not hesitate to speak in the freest
and most familiar manner to each other even in
regard to their respective fobles
Now, 1t game TO pass that Brother Crump. du
ring the Hveliest period of the cotton season.
drove into Wetumpka and disposed of his ..cran''
of ten bales at the fair price of l21 cents per lii
1t was more than he expected, and as the world
was easy with him, he determined to invest. and
did actually invest, portion Of the proceeds of
the sale OF his cotton in barrel Of western
whiskey; paying therefor at the rate of. precise
ly, two pounds OF mddling cotton for one gallon
of"ditto" whiskey.
OF course it was "norated in the settlement
that old man Crump had bought whole barrel
and after a few weeks people began to observe
that his nose grow redder and his ewes more
moist. The idea that Brother Crump was drink.
ing too much" dffused itself in the neighborhood
until, as one might say. it became epidemicaI.-
People talked and talked--more especially "wbat
few of other denominations of Christians dwelt
thereabouts
Brother Noel was "sore troubled" at the scan
dial which circulated about his brother and friend
especially regretted the injury it brought to the
" 'clety at Sharon. So one morning he stepped
over tie Brother Crump's and found the old man
in half doze in his little poarch.
won't you take dram - asked Brother
CrumP, as soon as he was aware of the presence
of his neghbor.
wants it.
Brother Crump got his bottle, and the friends
took dram apiece.
Don't you think, Brother NOEL, said Crump
''that sperits is blessn'?'
"Yc-s!' responded Noel; "sperits is bIes-
SIM but accordln to my notion, its blessn' that
some of us abuses"
swell how, Brother Noel ,cho do you think
abuses the blessin' p
swell, it is hard to say--but people talk
don't you think you drink too much, Brother
Crump!"
otis hard to say--it's hard to say" returned
Crump "Somemes I've thought was drink
in too much, then agin, I'd think may be not.-
What is man? A weak icurrum of the dust
What the Lord saith, that shall be done! So
left it to the Lord to say whether was goin
too fur in sperts put the whole 'sponsbilty on
him; prayed to him, ell was drinkn' too much
to take away my appetite for sperits."
Here brother Noel groahcd piously, and asked,
"What then, bro. Crump?'
And" replied Crump, I've prayed that pray
err three times, and he HAIN'T DONE IT So I'm
clear of the 'sponsibility, any way"
1.-The Lords will be done ~ CALCULATED Noel,
and after taking another dram went home think
ing all the way, how cieyerly Brother Crump had
shifted the responsibility!