Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-14
MISC Gus.
Shifting the Responsibility.
A HARD SHELL story.

While attending Court recently, in the
adjoining county Of Randolph friend who
is fond ofjokes of al sorts, and who relates
them almost as humorously as"Eis Honor -
gave us the following, vouching for thesub-
stantial, sub-lunar existence of the parties
and their present residence Gin the county
aforesaid"
Brethren Crump and Noel were both
members Of the Primitive Baptist Church,
and both clever, honest gnen who paid their
taxes and debts as the same annually ac-
crued. with regularity at once Christian
and conmendable. IT, when settling day
came round, Brother Noel was short ''
Brother Crump was sure to be in funds
and, on the other hand, it almost seemed
providential how, If Brother Crump fell
"behind," Brother Noel always had sur
plus. Thus borrowing from and lending
to each other, worshipping at the same
church, and living only mile apart, an
intimacy gradually ripened between them;
so that at last they did not hesitate to speak
IN the freest and most familiar manner Ia
each other, even in regard TO their rcspec-
| tive foibles.
Now, it came to pass, that Brother
Crump. during the liYeliest period Of the
cotton season, drove into Wetumpka and
disposed Of his scrap" Of ten bales, at the
fair price of l2I cents per pound 1t was
more than he expected, and as the world
was easy with him, he determined to in
vest, and did actually invest, a portion oi
the proceeds of the sale of his cotton, in q
barrel of Western Whiskey paying, there.
for, at the rate Of precisely, two pounds Of
mIddling cotton for one gallon Of ditto
whiskey.
Ofcourse it was ''norated in the settle
ment" that old man Crump had bought :
whole barrel, and after few weeks peo
pie began to observe that his nose grew
redder and his eye more moist. The idea
that Brother Crump was drinking toe
much dilfused itself in the neighborhood
until, as one might say, it became epidemi
cal. People talked and talked-rnore es
pecially y"what few" of other erdenomination,
of christians dwelt thereabouts.
"Brother Noel was "sore troubled" a
the scandal which circulated about hi,
brother and friend, and especially J regretted
the injury it brought to his "'ciety" a
Sharon. So, one morning, he stepped
over to Brother Crnmps's, and found the
old man in halfdoze in his little porch
won't you take drinkF' asked Bro
ther Crump, as soon as he was aware Of Tho
presence of his neighbor.
| u\Ib, VOC Itr, -. q, -, 4, L., ,..Iz.- .
body wants it"
Brother Crump got his bottle, ana the
friends took a dram apiece.
Don't you think, Brother Noel sale
Crumps, "that sperits is blcssin'."
"Y-e-sl" responded Noel; "spcrits is ;
biessin', but accordin' to my notion, its {
blessin' that some ofus abuses"
"Well, now, Brother Noel, scho do yot
think abuses the blessin'l'
"Well. its hard to say--but people tail
don't you think yoa drink too mucl
Brother Cramp!"
"It's hard to say--it's hard to sayl'' re
turned Crump. Sometimes I've though
| toas drinkin' too much-then agin, IL
think may be aoU What is man! A wcal
aeH'rtm of the dustl What the Lord saith
that shall be donel So left it to the Lore
to say whether ! whs goin' too fur il
speriis. | put the whole 'spo'.sijiltty o,
h'mf | prayed to him, ef | vas drinllin
too much. to take earay aay appetite 70.
spefts"
Here Brother Noel groancd piously
and asked-"What then, Brother Crunpl'
"And," replied Crump, Owe prayed
that prayer three times, and he 5ain't don
"a So I'm clear Of the 'sponsibility. any
vay!"
| The Lords will be done" CALCULATED
Noel, and after taking another dram h,
vent home. thinking all the way how clev
Eerly Brother Crump had shifted Merespon
sibil'tyF"-CXanJers (AlaJ Tribune.