Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-04-20

had better depart, as it was three long
miles to town. The wife grew petulent,
as the new preacher did not arrive, and
her husband sat whistling the air oi
s.Auld Lang Syne," while he thought OF
the words Of the hymn-"WLen I 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 conclu-
ded-the man thanked them kindly for
the hospitality he had received, and open
ed the door to go. BUTT was quite dark,
and clouds denoting a storm filed the
heavens.
You say it is full three miles to
D?" ~
eel do" said Mr.. W. coldly; :" I said
SO when 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
farmers feelings little.
You have warmed me and fed me,
for which l am thankful. Will you not
bestow another act of kindness upon one
in strange place, who if he goes out in
the darkness. may lose himself and perish
in the cold?"
The peculiar form in which this request
was made. and the tone in which it was
uttered. put it out of the power of the far
mer 10 say no.
" Go IN there and sit down, he answer
ed, pointing to the kitchen, and l will see
what she says"
And Mr. w. went into the parlor where
the supper table stood. covered with a
snow white cloth, and displayed his wife's
set Of blue sprigged china. that was only
brought out on special occasions.
The tall mould candles were burning
thereon. and on the hearth blazed a cheer
full fire.
Hasn't that old fellow gone yet?''
asked Mrs. w. She heard his voice as
she returned from the door.
''No, and what do you suppose? He
wants US to let him stay all night 90
Indeed we'll do no such thing !
We can't have the likes of him in the
house now. Where could he sleep ~
Not in the best room, even if Mr.. N.
should not come"
g No indeed''
But, really. don't see, Jane, how
we can turn him out of doors. He does
not look like a very strong man, and it's
dark and cold, and its full three miles to
D.
It's too much. He ought to have
gone on while ne had day light, and moi
fingered here as he did until it got dark.
ave can't turn him out of doors, Jane,
and it's no use to think of it. He'll have
to stay, somehow"
=. But what can we do with him?'
He seems like Il decent man. at least;
and does not look as if he had anything
bad about him. We might make him a
bed on the floor, somewhere in the
house."
81 wish he had been in Guinea before
he came here said Mrs..W., fretfully.
The disappointment the conviction
that Mr.. n. would not arrive, occasioned
her to feel, and the intrusion of so unwel.
come visitor as the stranger, completely
unhinged her mind.
"Oh, WE'LL" replied her husband. in {
soothing voice, 'never mind" We mus
make the best Of it. He came to US tired
and hungry, and we warmed and fed
him. He now asks shelter for the night
and we must not refuse him, nor grant hi:
request with complaining or reluctant
spirit. You know what the Bible say:
about entertaining angels unawares."
"Angels did you ever see an ange
| look like him."
Having never seen an angel" sale
the farmer smiling, Il am unable to speal
MS to their appearance"
This had the effect to call forth an an
swering smile to the face of Mrs. W., anC
better feeling to her heart. 1t was Il
nally agreed between them, that the man
| as he seemed like decent kind of per
son, should be permitted to occupy the
minister's room, if that individual die
not arrive, an event to which they bott
looked with but small expectancy. L
| he did come, why the man would have tC
put up with poor accommodations.
When Mr.. w. returned to the kitchen
where the stranger had seated himself be-
fore the fire, he informed him that he had
decided to let him stay all night. The
man expressed in a few words his CRATE
full sense OF their kindness, and then be-
came silent and thoughtful.
Soon after, the farmers wife, giving up
all hope of Mr.. Ms arrival, had supper
taken up-which consisted ofcoffee, warm
short-cake and broiled chickens. After
all was on the table. a short conference
was held as to whether it would do to IN
vite the stranger TO take supper. 1t wa:
true they had given him as much bread
and bacon as he could eat, but then as
long as he was going to stay all night, il
looked too inhosp pitable to SIT down to the
table and not ask him to join them. So
making virtue of necessity, he was kind,
ly asked to come to suPPer-an invita-
ton he did not decline. Grace was said
by Mr.. W., the coffee poured out the