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

to Join them. So, making virtue of neces.
sity, he was kindly asked TO come to supper
an invitation which be 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 aud
dressed in his best, in order to grace the mi,
nistcr's reception, Charles was full of talk,
and the parents felt II mutual pride in show.
ing him oil, even before their humble guest,
who noticed him particularly, though he had
not much to say. "Comc, Charley, said Mr..
W, after the meal was over and he sat lea
ming in his chair, "can't you repeat the prct.
ty hymn mamma learned you last Sunday 2"
Charley started off without further invita-
ton, and repeated very accurately two or
three verses Of new 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 arc there ?"
asked the father
The child hestatcd, and then, looking up
at the stranger, near whom he sat, said in
noccnty,
"llow many are there =
The man thought for some moments, and
said, as if in doubt,
eleven, are there not 2"
"Eleyen," calculated Mrs. W., in unfcig-
ned surprise.
"Elcyeny' said her husband, with more
IL. Al. ;,,I hi, ,-,t,n iIG
it possible, sir, that you do not know how
many commandments there arcy How many
are there, Charley Come, tell mc--you
know, of COURSE
"rcn,' replied the child.
Fright, my son, " returned Mr. W, looking
with a smile Of approval on the child.
"Rglt. There isn't child Of his age in ten
miles who can't tell you there are ten CON-
man1men,s.'
Did you ever read the Bible, SIR" al
dressing the stranger.
"Whcn was a little boy used to read it
sometimes But am sure ! thought there
were eleven commandments Are you not
mistaken about there being only tcn:'
Sister W. lifted her hands in unfeigncd as
constituent, and exclaimed,
Could any one believe III such ignorance
of the Biblcl'
Mr. ". did not reply, but rose, and going
to one corner OF the room where the Looi
book lay upon the small stand, he put it on
the table before him, and opened at that por'
ton in which the commandments are recor-
dcd.
There. :" he said, placing his finger upon
the proof Of the strangers error. There
look for yourself"
The man came round f. ON his side Of the
table and looked over the strangers shoul-
der. ." ....
There ton, dye scci' r.. ...
"lcs, it docs say, replied the man; ana
vet It seems to me there are eleven. Fm
sure have always thought So
Doesn't it say ten hcret' inquired Mr.
". with marked impaticncc in hls voice.
at does certainly"
"Wcl, what more DO you want? Can't
you believe the Bblcf"
40 yes, believe the Bible; and yet, il
strikes me somehow, that there must be Gle.
ven )mmandments. Hasn't one been added
somewhere else.
sister ". to bear Such ignorance OF sacred
matters they felt to be objectionable. y
long lecture followed, in which the man was
scolded, udmonishea, and threatened with di-
vine indignation. At its close nc modestIy
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 conduc-
I ted TO the little square ROOM accompanied by
the Bible. Before leaving him alone, Mr.. w.
fclt il to be his duty TO cXhort him to splri'
tual things, and he did so most earnestly for
ten or fifteen minutes. But he could not sec
that his words made much impression, and
he finally left his guest, lamcnting his obdu,
racy and ignorance.
~ the morning he came down, and me
ting Mr.. W, asked him if he would be SO
kind as to lend him a razor, that he might
remove his beard which did not give his lace
very attractive appearance. ii 5 request
was C IN plied with.
eve will have prayers in about ten mi
nutcs," said Mr.. W. as he handed him the
razor and shaving box.
The man appeared and behaved with due
propric'y at family worship. Alter break
fast he thanked the farmer and his wife Tor
their hospitality, and parting, went on hs
journey
Ten o'clock came, but Mr.. y. had no' arr
we'd. So Mr. and Mrs. W. started for the
meeting house, not doubling that they would
find him there. But they were disappoin-
ted \ goodly number Of people were inside
the meeting house, and goOdly number
outside, but the minister had not arrived,
"Whcre is Mr. Mp inquired do,
zen voices, as a little crowd gathered around
the farmer
ale hasn't come yet. Something has de-
tanned him. But still look for him-in-
deed, fully expected to find him here.
The day was cold and Mr.. w, after bcco'
ming thoroughly chilled, concluded to go in
and keep good lookout for the minister from
the winCow near which he usually sat.
Others, from the same cause, followed his
example, and the little Westinghouse was
soon 'l'eo, h hna one "'e. h a'V," t.n.J I ,ow.rs
pug '.' ine t; .a'n?., m,v na ,u '.os a l;t,is
snc uoor 'ao', ."e ~; ~ mas tper', ~ nrar;onS
" 5 ssS na ssss ssIa,, y. aann tho .;SJs
, n