The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-04-10
HOW DEACON BROWN GOT SOLD.
bYFRANK FRkEoUILL.

pether delusion. He was strenuous Ao
yocate of church discipline, and IT, his every
day walk presented to the world an example
of the most rigid piety. Though, perhaps a
trifle Puri,anic and bigoted, he was yet a man
of the sternest and most incorporating
virtue. But, ms Tom Hood says;
II, "Alasl for the rarity
or Christian chaIiv
Under the sun.
The old Deacon had not the least OIL Oh H.
Having no fauIts or foibles of his own Cat
leus, he thought SOY that called aloud for
charity. he could not understand why they
should ever form a component part in the ma
lures of other people. He had passed the
hey.day of youth, and had quite forgotten
that he was once young. With much bust.
ness and responsibility resting on HIMSELF he
failed to see how those with fewer cares
could possibly be merry and unconcerned.-
Indeed, the Deacon witnessed many very
common human phenomena for which he
could assign no other cause than moral de-
pravily, and, withnl, he had one weakness
which very naturally grew out of his lack OF
charity. This was most unbounded credu-
lity as to the short comings which gossip is
daily charging upon some member OF a CON-
munity. So credulous was the Deacon IN
this respect and so ready TO believe in the
culpabity of another, that he was often made
the victim of practical joke; and though he
lived in village of not over five hundred
Inhabitants, he had been made to believe it
contained several gambling dens, and, at least,
two Peter Funk auction shops. He was ut
one time convinced that society Of Freelov.
ers held meetings in the Town Hall, but, be-
fore completing his plan for their suppression,
they turned out to be Lodge Of Know
Nothings. Thus he was often put on the
wrong track, but, unlike knight Russ Ockside,
NJ. D., he never quite succeeded in "getting
his eye.teeth cut" But it is only the last
drive played off on him that We design re-
cording. 1t happened in this wise: Elder
Wisely, pastor of Deacon Browns church,
was on q tour at the South for the benefit OF
that clerical disorder, the bronchitis. Mrs.
Wisely, the second wife of the elder, was for
some reason lef. at home. This lady was
quite youthful, and had by her gentle quail
ties won the esteem of the entire parish. II
was during the absence of her worthy hus-
band that Deacon Brown on going to the
Post Office one morning, received the follow
ing communication:
PoDGEvILLE, July 18th, 1856.
MIR. BRowN-Dear Sir: take the liberty
to disclose TO you some facts, which have
given me ms much pain as they will yourself.
| know, beyond all question of doubt, that a
stranger very mystrriously made his appear
ance last night in the private parlor Of Mrs.
Wisely. He was first seen there about half.
past eleven o'clock; no one saw him enter the
house, and up to the present hour this morn
ing he has not been known to depart. think
this new visitor was expected and that he is
destined to share the affections Of Mrs. Wise
ly. The voice of this new conner has been
distinctly heard in her room, and she has been
even heard to address him in the tenderest and
most louing tones.
Such are the facts You can act in the
premises as your sense Of duty may dictate.
NV opinion Is, that should Elder Wisely be
informed of this strangers advent, it might
hasten his return. Yours truly,
(Signed) A FRIEND OF FIDELITY.
As the Deacon read this epistle there was
a visible tremor in his hand He polished
his eye. glass with silk handkerchief, and
perused it carefully second time. But Dea-
con Brown was not the man to swerve from
duty, though it led him where he would not
40. In moment he was resolved. Putting
the letter in his hat and buttoning his coat to
the chin, he hastened down to his hardware
store, and whispering to confidential clerk,
proceeded to the residence of Mrs. Wisely
He struck his cane very decidedly on the
pave, greeted no one with his usual good
morning. but seemed absorbed in the con-
temptation Of great purpose. Arriving at
the scene of his triumph, he stationed his
clerk n front of the house, and, giving the
bell-knob a cautious pull, was soon admitted
by the servant-gir. The following dialogue
then and there took place:
'Is Mrs. Wisely inn
Yes, sir, she's in bed, sir
The Deacon here examined his watch, and
muttered, 'half.past sevenr He then asked /:
'How long before Mrs. Wisely will rise,
MANI
well, really, sir, can't tell; won't you
take seat in the parlor, sirr
mo, thank you--can't stay. Did Mrs.
Wisely have company last night MANI!
Yes, Sir; believe she did, sir; she--she
-
Here the girl blushed, hesitated, and, striv.
ing to conceal her embarrassment, showed
too plainly that she would evade the true ex.
PLANTATION. The Deacon interposed, us If to
relieve her, and said:
The company, suppose nam, was a
young gentleman--a stranger to your
Yes, sir; believe he is, SIR
is tina! young gentleman in the house
now, mamr
80 DO sure, SIR
will you be so kind az 10 state in what
part of the houser
He is in Mrs. Wisely's bedroom, SIR
The Deacon's manner by this time become
greatly excited, and he gasped out: