The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-10-28
The Eleventh Commandment.

And dreams of flowers,
And that balm to the wcary--rcst.
The Eleventh Commandment.
T. $. Arthur tells good story about Il
loving couple in New Jersey, who belong to
the Methodist Church. A new presiding ell
der Mr.. n, was expected in that district
and as the ministers all stopped with broth
cr W. and his wife, every preparation was
made to give him cordial reception. The
honest couple thought that religion in part
consisted III making some parade, and there.
fore the paror was in order, nice fire was
made, and the kitchen rcplcnishcd with cake,
chickens, and every dclcacy preparatory to
cooking
While Mr.. W. was out at his wood pile,
a plain-looking, coarscly dressed, but quiet.
like pedestrian came along and inquired the
distance 10 the next town lie was told tha,
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
| daggor5 at this unti,nc,y intrusion, for tho
stranger had on cow-hidc boots, an old hnt
and thrcadbarc, but neatly patched coat
| 1t length she gave him n chair beside the
( Dutch oven which was baking nice cakes
for the presiding elder, who was momcntari
| ly expected, as he was to preach the next
| day at tho church n mile OF two beyond.
The stranger, after warming himself, pre-
| pared TO leave, but the weather became in
! element, aud as his appetite was reused by
/ the yauds about the fire, he asked for some
! little reireshncnt ere lac sat out for cold
/ walk TO the town beyond. Mrs. ". was Ills
/ pleased, bat on consultation with her hus
/ band, some cold bacon and bread were sci
/ on an old table, and hc was then somewhat
! gruiliy told to eat. 1t was growing dark
( and hints were thrown out that the stranger
had b tor depart, AZ it was three long mile.
to town. Tho wife grew petulant Us thC
new preacher did not arrive, and her hus
| band sat whstling the air Of "Auld l.an4
/ Sync,' while he thought OF the words Of til,
/ hymn-"W hen can read my title clear,
and felt as If he could ordc. the stranger Of
! without any further ado
: Ttc homcly meal WIS at last concIuuci--
the man thanked him kindly for the hospi
,lity lac had received, and opened the dool
to go But il was quite dark, and the clouds
dcuoiing storm filed the heavens
"iou say tits full three miles to D.
~ do" said Mr.. W. coldly II said Sc
when you first stopped, and you ough
TO have pushed on, like a prudent man. -
You could have reached there before it wa.
/ quite dark
"But was cold and hungry, aud nigh
have tainted by the way
The manner Of saying this touched ia,
farmers feelings n little.
"fou have warmed and fed me, for which
am thankful VIII you not bcstow anoth
cr act Of kindness upon one in strang'
place, and, if he goes out in the darkness
may lose himself aud perish in :hc coldY
The particular form In which this requcs
was made, and the tone in which it was ut
tered put it out Of the farmer 10 say no.
$50 in there and sit down. he answered
pointing to the kitchen, 'and will see NY
wife and hear what she says"
And Mr.. W. went into the parlor where
the supper table stood, covered with snow
white cloth, and displaying his wiie's set o
bluc.spriggcd china, that was only brought
out on special occasions.
The tall mould candles were burning there
on, and on the hearth blazcd cheerful fire
"iIasn't that old fellow gone yet - askeC
Mrs W. She heard his voice as he returnct
from the door.
"No, and what DO you suppose? liz
wants us TO let him stay all nightI'
"lndccd, wcll do no such thing? We
can't have the likes Of him in the house now
Where could he Sleep"
"Not in tbs best room, even if Mr.. n
should not come"
| "No indcedl'
"But really don't see, Jane, how we car
turn him out Of doors. He doesn't look like
a very strong man, and it's dark and cold
and full three miles to D.
ITS too much kc ought to have gone on
while he had daylight, and not fingered here
as he did, till it got dark.
ave can't turn him out of doors, Jane
and its no use TO think oft. He'll have tc
stay, somehow"
"But what can we do with him?'
| "IIc seems like decent man at least and
/ doesn't look as ifhc had anything about him
! We might make him bed on the flool
somewhere
II wish he had been Mt Guinea before ht
came here" said Mrs. W. irctlully. Tn,
! disappointment the conviction that Mr.. n
would not arrive, occasioned her to feel, anC
the intrusion of so unwelcomc visitor aS
the stranger, completely unhingod her mind
"Oh, wcll,' replied her husband, in a
soothing voice, ''nevcr mind. We must
make the best of it, He came to us tirct
and hungry, and we warmed and fed him
| He now asks shelter for the night, and We
must not refuse him, nor grant his request
in a complaining or II reluctant spirit. You
know what the Bible says about cntcrtain
ing angels unawarcs."
angels! Did you ever sec an angel lool,
like him !"
"llaving never seen an angel" said the
farmer, smiling, 81 am unable to speak as tc
their appearance"
This had the effect to call an answering
smile from Mrs. w. and better feeling at
her heart. II was finally agreed between
them that the man, as he seemed like a de.
cent kind of persons, should be permitted to
occupy the minister's room, if that individ-
ual did not arrive, an event to which they
both looked with but little expectancy. II
he did come, 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, nc informed him that they had do
cided TO let him stay all night The man
expressed 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, viii h consisted Of coffee,
warm short cake and broilcd chickens. .Af.
ter all was on the table, short conference
was held ns to whether it would do not to in
vtc the stranger to take supper 1t was true
they had given him as much bread and bacon
as he could eat, but then, us long as he was
going to stay all night, it looked too inhospi.