Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-12-19

:, State oi -. whenever he made his appear
ancc, therefore, at muster or training, he was
sure to be surrounded by host of eager listen.
crs. lie greatly excelled the renowned Nun
chausen who simply told extrayagant stories
and sometimes blundercd on the truth Steve
on the other hand, never told word of truth
even BY mistake, in all his life, and lied circum-
stantially and in every particular. In short il
came to him as naturally as eating and drink
ing, or rather breathing, for he NO only lied to
listeners, but even when he had NO other person
to talk to he would tell lies to himself, lust to
keep his hand in. This fact was ascertaned
beyond doubt by his denying it III the most
solemn manner when somebody accused him OF
the practice.
1t was Stevens misfortune, cne time, to lose
n rood deal of money on a horse race. This
made him feel uncommonly serious, SO he went
to camp meeting, which was held about five
miles from his residence to see if he could
make up a little by shaking props" with the
boys. They happened. however. to be rather
too much for him that time. and he was com
pletely cleaned OUT This made our friend
feel ifpossiblc more serious than ever, and as
there happened to be powerful preacher there
who could make himself be heard at the dis
tance of mile, he thought he would turn over
new leaf at once. When he got home there
fore. the first thing he did was to send for the
- ,,,,o.,o,, f,,,,,J .,,, So,
to JON the church!
4 have no hesitation in laying your PROPOSE
ton before the brethrcn' said the good old man
trying to smother laugh
wi course you haihI' resPohded Steve with
great confidence.
'And II you cou,d give satisfactory evidence
oi amendments MI stevens, cohuhoeu lhe
MINISTER emphasizing the word 'they might take
you OH PFooaton' a. all! Ia'e' we hu't meet
lh9 70 i''3"'' anu o1ii 'e' ~" A'lo" 10 i'ioF-
row,
+ TroOa'lon be G-dogEed olac9IateI steve.
as tIle minister i.'H'''! Ieug1lIu WI! Ot.l IN
ulth ''' ''0 J', "' IN I"'to -. ilN0 1t
Inc proPo'ltion' as lni2n' nave oeen expect
eu. CIe''eo lr"' H'H>u''o'' i''l' was 1i'
y member Oh III" chuFcH' '''aIe OF len'aie'"h9
had not at some 'lme or otner Dec VlctImH3d
II! 9'Ee"S SIa'ue'ouN numerous 'o.i-uG, anu U'Vs rou'u
iii'"'! "eH' ms "''''0 "Il'i pi'!r'Oc: SUN VI
lP" "tnl ~ laI a. ~ Sis i1' ii ne Jo,.,eo uy
Wouiu lea'e, ana 'Iiat s.l,le,' ulle ,"t'er' Ior
th'y were among l'e ,lo'e hal'uPa members
VINO couiu ali'FI 10 sPGaH ou' oec1u'e 'hF
chuIc" coulu"t "''''u i" i'Se .'iV''
However. to avoid any trouble with on I'm.
scrupulous fellow like Steve, 1t was resolved to
break the matter to nm as gently as possible
Two of the most respectable men in the church
were appointed to call on him, and 1t was gen.
orally understood, such was their known mild
ness of disposition, that every possible excuse
consistent with truth would he MADE ior not re-
ceving him.
The rest OF the story must be told IN Stevc's
own words:
wv hen Old Deacon feaOodV came along, |
sot IN the back door Whlttlln noe handle, ana
| hope to suffer 1t wasn't mad enut to rare
right up. A cousin OF my wlte.S whose SISTER
was member mad come over alrly and told us
all about It.
| Good mornln, Mr., Stevens, says the OLD ny
pocrite, with face as long rs yard ot pump
water.
4 said nothin', but kept on within.
came down to see YOU this mornm',' says
he.
wal says J, how do You like my looks j"
o. says he. what | mean Is that l came
down to labor with YOU
Work away then, why don't you : was all he
got o me.
But, Mr.. Stevens, SAID he very solemny the
church sent me down here to talk with You
minute
Wal, you've 'bin talkin'' for more'n five
said nothin' yet; now when are YOU goln' to be-
gin =
The cd Israelite looked mad enough to bite
my head off at a snap, but he thought 1t best to
keep COOL SO he drew long breath ana went
on:
Nobody wants to hurt your feelln's or make
anv trouble, Mr.. Stevens, but the church have
about come to the conclusion that perhaps, on
the whole, under the circumstances, and in
view Of every thing, it might possibly be best
all round anl taking things into consideration,
for vou not to be hasty in applyin' jlst at pres
ent. They think on mature reflection that it
might be as well if YOU conclude to postpone
it a little while, say for year or eighteen
months
'Hhey de,c! Wal, now Deacon, what makes
EN- think 50? The church amt tM is IT,
This was hard question. The old slrpent
knew very well that it wouldn't answer to say
that he didn't know-for he kn " fast enough
and knew that knew he did So says he.
'Mr. Stevens, rm sorry you're so rlcd about
it-youve no OCCASION didn't come to offend
YOU, but You know as well as do why the
church don't accept vou.
t-.... I IL. ,.,,, ,ol1 ma nno :