Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-12-28


why the man would have to put up with poor
accommodations.
When Mr.. w. returned to the kitchen,
where the stranger had seated himself before
the fire, he informed him that they had decid-
ed to let him stay all night. The man ex-
pressed in few words his grateful sense OF
their kindness, and then became silent and
thoughtful. Soon after, the farmers wife,
giving up all hope of Mr.. Ms arrival, had
supper taken up, which consisted of coffee,
warm short cake and broiled chickens. After
all was on the table, short conference was
held as to whether it would do not to invite
the stranger to take supper. Itwas 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, it looked too inhospitable to
sit down to the table and not ask him to Join
them. So, making virtue of necessity, he
was kindly asked to come to Supper-an invi-
tation which he did not decline. Grace was
said over the meal by Mr.. W., and the coffee
poured out, the bread helped and the meat
carved
There was fine little boy, six years old,
at the table, who had been frightened up, and
dressed in his best, in order to grace the min
ister's reception. Charles was full of talk,
and the parents felt mutual pride in show
ing him off, even before their humble guest,
who noticed him particularly, though he had
not much to say. Come, Charley, said Mr..
W., after the meal was over, and he sat lean
ing in his chair, cant you repeat the pretty
hymn mamma learned you last Sunday!'
Charley started off without further invita-
ton, and repeated very accurately two or three
verses of camp-meeting hymn, that was just
then very popular.
Now let us hear you say the command
ments, Charley, spoke up the mother, well
pleased at her child's performance
And Charley repeated them with the aid Of
little prompting.
How many commandments are there .
asked the father
The child hesitated, and then, looking no
at the stranger, near whom he sat, said inno-
Gently
How many are there q
The man thought for some moments. and
said, as if in doubt,
Eleven, are there not!'
Eleven = calculated Mrs. W., in unfeigned
surprise.
Eleven 2 said her husband, with more re-
buke than astonshment in his voice. is it
possible, sir, you do not know how MANY com
mandments there are? How many are there,
Charley! Come, tell me-you know, of
course
Ten, replied the child.
Right my son., returned Mr.. w, look
ing with smile Of approval on the child
Right. There isn't child of his age in ten
miles who can't tell you there are ten COM
mandments. Did you ever read the Bible,
srl' addressing the stranger.
When was little boy | used to read It
sometimes. But am sure | thought there
were eleven commandments. Are you not
mistaken about there being only ten!'
Sister w. lifted her hands in unfeigned as
tonishment, and exclaimed,
Gould any one believe it such ignorance
of the Bible q
Mr.. w. did not reply, but rose, and going
to one corner of the room where the good
book lay upon the small stand, he put it on the
table before him, and opened that portion in
which the commandments are recorded.
There 7 he said, placing his finger upon
the proof of the strangers error. There
look for YOURSELF
The man came round from his side of the
table, and looked over the strangers shoulder.
There ten, dye see!'
Yes, it does say replied the man 'and
yet it seems to me there are IL. I'm sure
have always thought So.
Doesn't it say ten here & inquired Mr..
W., with marked impatience in his voice.
1t does, certainly.
Well, what more do you wantl Can't
you believe the Bible 2
Oh, yes, believe the Bible; and yet it
strikes me somehow that there must be elev-
en- commandments. Hasn't one been added
somewhere else q
Now this was too much for brother and
sister W. to bear. Such ignorance of sacred
matters they felt to be objectionable. A long
lecture followed, in which the man was scoId-
ed, admonished, and threatened with divine
Indignation. At its close he modestly asked
if he might not have the Bible to read for an
hour or two before retiring for the night
This request was granted with more pleasure
than any Of the preceding ones.
Shortly after supper the man was conduct
ed to the little square room, accompanied by
the Bible. Before leaving him alone, Mr.
W. felt it to be his duty to exhort him to spir-
ltual things, and he did so most earnestly for
ten or fifteen minutes. But he could not see
that his words made much impression, and he
left his guest, lamenting his obduracy and ig-
norance.
In the morning he came down, and meeting
Mr.. W., asked him if he would be so kind as
to lend him razor, that he might remove his
beard, which did not give his face a very at
tractive appearance. His request was COM
Piled with