Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-01-03
oI wish he had been in Guinea before he


visitor as the stranger, completely unhinged
her mind.
ooh, WE'LL" replied her husband, in q
soothing voice, "never mind. We must
make the best of it. He came to US tired
and hungry, and we warmed and fed him
tle now asks shelter for the night, and VIC
must not refuse him, nor grant his request
in complaining or reluctant spirit. You
know what the Bible says about entertain.
ing angels unawares"
"Angcls! did you ever see an angel look
like him :"
Having never seen an angel" said the
farmer, smiling, / am unable to speak us to
their appearance"
This had the effect to call an answering
smile to the face of Mrs W., and better
feeling to her heart 1t was finally agreed
between them that the man rs he seemed
like decent kind of a person, should be
permitted to occupy the minister's room, il
that individual did not arrive, an event 10
which they both looked with small expec-
fancy If he did come, why the man wonld
have to put up with poorer accommodations.
When Mr.. w. returned to the kitchen,
were the stranger had seated himself before
the fire, he Informed him that they had decid.
ed to let him stay all night. The man en-
pressed in few words a grateful sense Of
their kindness, and then became silent and
thoughtful.
Som after, the farmers wife, giving up
all hope of Mr.. Ms arrival, had supper
taken up-whch consisted of coffee, warm
short cake, broiled chickens. After all was
on the table, short conference was held as
to whether it would do to invite the stranger
to take supper. 1t was true they had given
him rs much bread and bacon as he could
eat, but then, as long as he was going TO
stay all night. it looked too inhospitai to sit
down to the table aud not ask him TO join
them. So, making virtue Of necessity, he
was kindly asked to come to supper-an
invitation he did not decline. Grace was
said over the meal by Mr.. W., the coffee
poured out, the bread helped, and the milk
served
There was fine little boy, six years old,
at the table, who had been frightened up
ard dressed in his best order to grace the
minis,ers's reception. Charles was full of
talk, and the parents felt a mutual pride in
showing him off, even before their humblest
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 leaning back in
his chair, can't you repeat the pretty hymn
mamma learned you last Sunday"
Charley started off without further in.
vitation, and repeated very accurately two
or three verses of 4 new camp'meetlng
hymn, that was just then very popular.
Now let US hear you say the Command,
ments," spoke up the mother well pleased
at the child's performance
And Charley repeated them with the aid
of little prompting
GLOW many Commandments are there?
asked the father.
The child hcstated, and then loking up
at the stranger near whom he sat, said in
nocently:
"How many are there|
The man thought for some moments, and
said, us if in doubt:
eleven, are they not!"
Eleven!' calculated Mrs. W. in unle's"'
ed surprise.
"EIeven 2" said her husband, with more
rebuke than astonshment in his voice.
{" Is it possible, sir, that you don't know
how many Commandments there are E
How many are there, Charley! Come, tell
me, you know OF course"
"Ten,'' replied the CHILD.
"Right, my son. returned Mrs. W. look
ing with smile Of approval on tue child
Z" Right. There isn't child of his age IN
ten miles who can't tell you there are ten
Commandments. Did you ever read the
Bible, sir?
"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 up her hands in unesn-
ed astonishment, and exclaimed:
Gould any one believe it! Such lgno-
rance Of the Bible!"
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 at that por-
ton in which the Commandments are record
ed
There" he said, placing his finger upon
the proDf of the strangers error. "Tbere.
Look for yourself
The stranger came round from the side Of
the table and looked over Mr.. WIS shoulder.
There, dye see?'
Yes, it does say ten" replied the man !;
"and yet it seems to me there are eleven.
I'm sure always tho't So"
"Doesn't it say ten!" Inquired Mr.. w.
with marked impatience in his voice.
1T does, certainly"
"Well, what more do you want! Can t
you believe the Bible 2"
40, yes, believe the Bib!e and yet, 1t
strikes me somehow, that there must be
eleven Commandments. Hasn't one been
added somewhere else Z"
Now this was too much for the brother
and sister to BEAR Such ignorance OF sa-
cred matters they felt to be objectionable.
A long lecture followed, in which the man
was scolded, admonished, and threatened
with divine indignation. At its close he
modestly asked if he might not have the
Bible to read tor an hour or two before re-
tiring for the night. This request was gran
ted with more pleasure than any of the pre-
ceding ones.
Shortly after supper the man was conducted
to the little square room, accompanied by
a. L IL