New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-16
DAILY CRESCENT.
THE ELEVENTH cJMMANDMENT.

UAl1l OuOUtCOUlN l..
THE ELEVENTH cJMMANDMENr.
T. S. Arthur tells good story, we heard |
years ago, about Loving couple in Now Jersey, |
who belonged TO the Methodist Church. A new
presiding elder, Mr.. NJ, was expected in that
and as the ministers all stopped with
brother w. and his wife, every preparation was
made to give him a cordial reception. The hon
est couple thought that religion, in part, con-
sisted in making some parade, and therefore the
parlor was put in order, and a moe FIRE was
made and the kitchen replenished with cakes,
and every delicacy, preparatory to
cooking. a.
While Mr. w. was out at his wood-pile, plain |
looking, coarsely dressed, but quiet like pedes-
trian came along and inquired the distance to
the next town. He was told that it was three |
miles. Being very cold, he asked permission to
enter and warm himself. Assent was given very |
grudgingly, and both went into the kitchen |
The wife looked daggers at this untimely intru- |
sion, for.the stranger had on cow-hide boots, an
old hat, and a thread-bare, but neatly patched
coat AT length she gave him a chair beside
the Dutch oven which was baking nice cakes for
the Presiding Elder, who was momentarily ex-
pected. as he was to preach the next day at the
church q mile OF two beyond.
The stranger, after warming himself, prepared
ent, and as his appetite was reused by the vi
ands about the fire, he asked for some little re-
freshment ere he sat out on cold walk to the
town beyond Mrs. w. was displeased, but on
consultation with her husband, some cold bacon
and bread were set on an old table, and he was
then somewhat grufiy told to eat. 1t was
growing dark, and hints we're thrown out that
the stranger had better depart, as it was three
long miles to town. The wife grew petulent, as
! the new preacher did not arrive, and her hus-
band sat whistling the air of s'Auld Lang Syne,"
while he thought of the words Of the hymn
sswhen can read my title clear" and felt as
/ if he could order the stranger off without any
further ado.
The homely meal was at last concluded--ths
man thanked them kindly for the hospitality h'
had received, and opened the door to 60. Blu
it was quite dark, and clouds denoting storm
filled the heavens.
You say it is full three miles to D--i"
81 do" said Mr. w. coldly Z" said so wheI
you first stopped, and you ought to have pushed
on, like prudent man. You would have reached
there before it was quite dark"
'But was cold and hungry, and might have
tainted by the way" ~
The manner of saying this touched the far
mer's feelings little.
am thankful Will you not bestow another
act of kindness upon one in strange place, and
if he goes out in the darkness, may lose himself
and perish in the cold!"
The peculiar form in which this requst was
made and the tone in which it was uttered, pu
1t out of the power Of the farmer to say no.
! SEQ in there and sit down. he answered
! pointing to the kitchen, "and will see my wifi
and hear what she says"
And Mr.. w. went into the parlor where tn
supper table stood, covered with snow whit
cloth, and displaying his wife's set of blue
sprigged china, that was only brought out on spe
cial occasions.
j The tall mould candles were burning thereon
y and on the hearth blazed a cheerful fire.
s.Hasn't that old fellow gone yet ;" aske
Mrs w. She heard the voice as he returne
from the door.
"No, and what do you supposed He wan
us to let him stay all night !"
:, 90 Indeed, we'll 10 no such thing! We car
ng have the likes Of him in the house now. Whe
~ could he sleep'"
+. "Not in the best room, even if Mr. N. shou
not come"
"No, indeed"
: ssBut really, don't see, Jane, how we c
Z turn him out of doors He doesn't look like
4 very strong man, and it's dark and cold, al
'1 full three miles to D"
: "It's too much. He ought to have gone
while he had daylight, and not fingered here,
he did, till it got dark
we can ulH OUT VI uOOTs, Jhuts al
!, it's no use to think of it. He'll have to sta
somehow"
sBut what can we do with him'''
" He seems like decent man, at least 81
doesn't look as if he had anything bad abb
him. We might make him bed on the fiC'
Z somewhere"
! 81 wish he had been at Guinea before
o. came here" said Mrs W, fretfully. The di
appointment and conviction that Mr.. N. wou
IN har To faa1 and the ii
trusion of so unwelcome visitor as the strang
completely unhinged her mind.
i sob, WE'LL" replied her husband, in a SCOT
- ing voice; 'snever mind We must make I
best of it. He came to us tired and hungr
and we warmed and fed him. He now as
= shelter for the night, and we must not retu
him, nor grant his request in a complaining
zs- reluctant spirit. You know what the Bible sa
about entertaining angels unawares."
"Angels did you ever see an angel look Ii
. him "
= " Having never seen an angel said the ia
'ar mer, smiling, am unable to speak as to thu
appearance.
This had the effect to call an answering sm
to the face of Mrs. W. and better feeling
her heart 1t was finally agreed between the
= that the man, as he seemed like decent XII
n of person, should be permitted to occupy t
4 minister's room, if that individual did not q
&C, ace rive, an event to which they both looked wi
l. but small expectancy. If he did come, why I
= a' man would have to put up with poorer acco
= modations.
\ When Mr. W. returned to the kitchen, VIII
z.- the stranger had seated himself before the Fl
Ts- Ss he informed him that they had decided to
Iles him stay all night The man expressed in
sst M few words his grateful sense of their kindnt
+. and then became silent and thoughtful 81
Nc after, the farmers wife, giving up all hope
Nc Mr.. Ms arrival, had supper taken up, VIII
~ consisted of coffee, warm short cake and broi
to q chickens. After all was on the table, a sh
. be conference was held as to whether it would
ues- not to invite the stranger to take supper.
=. was true they had given him as much bread 0
= bacon as he could eat, but then, as long as
N was going to stay all night, it looked too inh
O. pitable to sit down to the table and not to
ooS.. oS. him to join them. So, making virtue of
vii, cessity, he was kindly asked to come to supp
: sSl o. an invitation which he did not decline CIR
was said over the meal by Mr.. W. and the c
"''' fee poured out, the bread helped, and the m
me rn, carved
q. There was o fine little boy six years old
the table, who had been frightened up t
- dressed in his best, in order to grace the mil
- ters reception. Charles was full Of talk,
the parents felt mutual pride in showing
ct. of, even before their humble guest, who mott
n him particularly, though he had not much
- say "Come, Charley" said Mr.. W., after