Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-12-27

stood there eating, said Mister, how do you
manage to keep your peachesi' Keep them!'
said he, and he stared at me what do YOU
mean = Yes said /, don't the BOYS steal
themF Boys steal them = said he no. in
deed ! why, sir, said I, Il have a lot full OF
peaches, and ! cannot get half of them. here
me Old mans voice grew remulous--'bccause
the boys in my parish steal them so.' why,
SIR said he, don't their parents teach them not
To steal Aud grew all over in a cold sweat
and told him, Il was aicared they didn' -
why, how you talk = said the man; do tell
me where you live = Then, said Father Nor
ns' the tears running over, 81 was obliged to
tell him lived in the town Of G."
Alter this, Father Morss kept his peaches.
Oar old friend was moi less original in the
logical than in the Illustrative portions of his
discourses. His logic was orihat familiar. col
loquial kind which shakes hands with common
sense like an old friend. Sometimes, too. his
great mind and heart would he poured Out on
The vast themes Of religion, in language which
though homely, produced al The effects of the
sublime. He once preached discourse on the
text, "The High and Holy One that inhabiicih
elerniiy;" and from the beginning 10 the end it
was train of lofty and solemn thought. When
IN his usual simple earnesiness, and his great.
rolling voice, he told about "The Great Gud--
the Great Jehoyah'-and how the people in
this world were ila'lering and worrying, and
afraid they should not get lime to do this, and
that, and 'tolher. But" be added, with foil
hearted satisfaction, 'ihe Lord is never in
hurry he has It all to do, but he has time
enough, for he inhabileh eternity" And the
grand idea Of infinite leisure and almighty re-
sources was carried through the sermon with
equal strength and simplicity.
Although the old man never seemed 10 be
sensible Of anything tending TO :he ludicrous in
his own mode Of expressing imself, yet he had
considerable relish for humor, and some shrewd-
ness Of rcpartee. One time, as he was walk.
ing through aueighboring parish, famous for its
profanity, he was stopped by whole flock Of
the youthful reprobaies OF the place -
Father Morris, Father Morris lhe DEVILS
dead :" =--=.
as her said the old man. benignly laying
bis hand on the head Of the nearest urchin - !
s. You poor fsiherlcss childrcnr'
But the sayings and doings Of this good old |
man, as reported in the legends Of the neigh. |
are more than can be gathered or re- |
ported. lie lived far beyond the common age
of man, aud continued, when age had impaired /
his powers, TO tell over aud over again, the same
Bible stories that he had told 50 often before.
recoleet hearing ofihe joy that almost broke
he old man's heart, when, after many years
ilisent watching and nurture of the good seed
ll his parish, 1t began TO spring into vegetation
sudden and beautiful as that whch answers the
patient whlchlng Of the husbandman. Many a
lar !, worldly hearted man-many a sleepy. in
attentive hearer--manY n lsiless. idle ,a..-ss
1efson, began To give ear TO words that had long
allen UNDECIDED. A Leighboring minister, who
iad b'en sent for TO see and rejoice in these re.
iulls, describes the scene, when on entering the
little church, he found an anxious crowded au-
iitory assembled around their venerable teach
IT, waiting for direction and instruction. The
I'D man was sitting in his pulpit, almost chok-
ng with fulness Of emotion as he gazed around
Father" said the youthful minister, ~ sup
'ose you are ready to say with old Simeon,
Nov, Lord, leitest thou thy servant depart in
leaee, for my eyes have seen thy salvation"
'Sariln, sariln," said the old man while the
ears streamed down his cheeks and his frame
hook with emotion.
II was not many years afler that this simple
md loving servant Of Christ was gathered in
ieace unto Him whom he loved His name is
asst passing from remembrance, and in a few
'ears, his memory, like his humble grave, will
'e entirely grown over and loreolien among men
hongh ii will be had in everlasting remem-
rance by Him who fr2eiieth noi his Servants
md in whose sight the death OF his saints is
'recious.