M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-06-08

| "NS"S"i Nhi osNolioiiCQ az euEll dC-
tions as these from the son OF deacon
OF the church, who has been trained up
under the benign influence of religion.
What do you think your father will
say, who has labored so long and faith.
fully for the good OF the church, when
he hears what things his son has been
guilty of?" g. -, ,s.s1.
sit will make little difference to me
what be says, as long as | am my own
MASTER" answered Joshua.
"Only think of the wickedness in
this thing" continued the deacon,
(Which ii suffered to be carried out,
will sncely bring a worse punishment
upon this town than that sent upon Sod
ON and Gomorah. Now take my war
ming and advance no farther in this
abomlnable sin, but tear down that no.
tIce, and" ..H
81 am much Obliged to you," inter-
rupted Joshua, "lor your kind interest
IN my welfare; as it is contrary to my
custom to receive advice and obey it
immediately, | shall reject your kind
counsel Tor the present, but will give it
due reflection for the remaining part oil
the day; and il | come to the conclu-
sion to take it down, | will give you
notice this evening at the school house.
In the meantime, however, shall guard
it sale." r"
The deacon seeing that it was no use
to reason with him withdrew, leaving
Josh in quiet possession OF the corner.
Evening came, and the old school.
house was filed to oyerilowing. The
old folks knowing that their children
were determined upon going, resolved
among themselves 10 60 and overawe
them. In the first of the meeting ev.
erything went on swimmingly in their
favor, and it seemed that the younger
portion were terrified into submission,
until they were to take final vote to
see 1t they would have a school when
up went two thirds OF the hands pres
ent. This was more than the deacon
and his followers bargained for; so ta.
king their hats they quickly lett, CIV
ing up Tor second time contested
field 10 their young sprouts, who then
chose a committee OF which Josh was
chairman, to hire master and provide
a suitable place for the school. -.a
The next day the committee hired
the hall over Esq. PeaBody'S shop,
whose religious scruples against letting
1t Tor a dancing SchoO, were overcome
by the dollar. They then went to the
city and engaged teacher. The school
was TO commence in one week. In
the meantime all the girls who were
blessed with such luxury got their
lnduIgent grandmothers to teach them
the steps, and then they would steal off
with other girls and practice. Once
they got into Uncle Tom SINNERS
barn, and frightened him so, that he
nearly went into fits, for he thought the
world was coming to an end. At an,
other time they were i'll Sally Dolille's S
garret and the old lady, thinking that
the witches were in her house, went
and nailed horse shoe On the chamber
door. .s. rs-. fo E-I-..s
That week was an eventful one for
B, there was more business trans
acted in it than there had been for
months before Mr.. Dunlap, the store
keeper, sold greater part Of his goods
and had TO go to the city to purchase
more. Old Dick Spikes, the shoema.
ker, was completely "run up back riv-
err Oh shoes, and he had also to make
tracks for the city, fora new supply
And In like manner was it with all
whose business came within the limits
Of the wants of the scholars.
On account oil the new life i'm parted
TO the village, there was reaction in
most of the minds OF the inhabitants,
and they consented, before the end OF
the week, to let their children CO.
Among those who held out against it
as great evil was Deacon Parsons. =
Perhaps the fall aud defeat at the cor
ner, may have had something to do
with his tremendous opposition. Be
that as 1t may, ont thing is certain aud
that is, that Joshua Butterfly invited
Ruth Parsons, the Deacon's only daugh-
Ter to 60 with him, and she assented,
if 1t could be done without the knowl-
edge of her father, as she well knew it
would be extreme folly to think OF get
ting his consent.
Where there is a willthere is way,
is an old saying, and though ever so
antiquated is applicable in the case OF
the Geacon's two children. They with
her mother agreed that Ruth should
stay at home the first night, in order to
prevent suspicion on the part of her la-
ther; butthe second she should go, Mrs.
Parsons telling her husband that she
had gone to little gathering at one OF
the neighbors. This plan worked ad>
mirably Tor the first half Of the school,
and then the deacon began to- mistrust
all was not welbwith these gatherings,
and tina: they were in fact, no more nor
less than whathe detested, the dancing
school. But he had too much pride to
own that lie thought such thing, as
he had frequently boasted of the obe>
i L.. l : l. l.