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

public morals, nor WINS this idea OF his alto
pether a delusion. lie was strenuous ad-
yocnte of church discipline, md In his every-
day walk presented To the world an example
Of the most rigid piety. Though, perhaps,
triar Puritunic md bigotrd, he was yet man
OF the stprnest and most incorporating
virtue. But, aS Tom Hood says:
"Alasi for the rarity
or Christian charity
Under the SUM-"
The old Deacon had not the least bit of it,
Having no faults or foibes of his own lat
lens, he thought SOY that called aloud for
charity, he could not understand why they
should ever form component part In The ma.
lures of other people. lie had passed the
hey.day Of youth, and had quite forgotten
TINT hr was once young. With much BUSH
ness md responsibility resting on himself, he
failed to see how those with Fewer cnrrs
could possibly be merr. and unconcerned.--
Indeed, the Deacon witnessed many very
common human phenomena for which he
could assign no other cause than moral de
praviiy, and, wittal, he had one weakness,
which very naturally grew ont of his lack of
charity. This WINS most unbounded credu.
litv Ms to the short couinas which gossip il
daily charging mon some member of n COM
m,n;,v. So crrdulous was the Dencon In
this respect, and 50 rendy 10 believe in the
culpabilty of another, TINT he was often made
the victim of practical joke; and though he
lived in a village Of not over five hundred
;nb,bi,np,s. he Ind been made to believe |,
..,;,,a ,,,,,h,;n,, dana and -, I.,.,
s"" n,
TWO re'e' MIN "u'''"" '"oP'' ""s Nv
one time convinced that n society OF Freelov
ers held meetings in the Town Hall, but, be-.
r,,-. c,,nn,.,;n, hin ni,n far their suppressi,n.
~ p
t"ey '"'"e" "u' '" w """s' W
No,hlngs. Ihus lie was oieh put ON the
wrong track, but, unlike Knight Russ Ockside
nj. d.. h. never Quit. succeeded in "rettinu
H., a.. ,...,
"'s W.. '
'drive' played on on MN 'hat We design re-
cording. II happened in this wise: Elder
Wisely, pastor of Deacon Browns church
-, H.. S,,,h g., ,h.. Inf, -,
W" =,
That clerical dls"rner' the orohch't's' Mrs'
Wisely, The second wife of the elder, was for
some renson left ut home. This lady was
o,;,. ,,u,bful and had bv ber g.r,l. ou,li.
a.. ,.,, ,,,., ..,..,r NJ H.. .n,;r. r,r;.h 7,
,,,. d,r;rn III. ,,..rc. If b.r wn,,hv b,s-
band ,,,, D.,,o, p,,w, ~, ,o;,o q, ,,.
D., ms. AN. m.r,;,, ,.c.;v.d Tho f,,IIow
;, ,,,,,,,;,.,;,r.
p,no,v,,r I,,v ,s,, 1879
MR BRowr- Dear Sir: tax. IN, liberty
to disclose to you some facts, which have
given me ~ much pain nv they w'I' yourself
.,.anas, q. y, ,,,rs, s,n.,, n,.d.. h;S ,,,,,,.ar
ancc 1,st i1ht in the pri,nt. parlor of Mrs
Wisely. H. was first seen there about half
past eleven "cl"ck; u" one saw mn, Ter 'ht
~" ivy %"u up w. Wv. ..r", ''"' r. ' ' ,';,'I
this new Wis tor was erpecipd, md ,In, he j,
destined to sh IRE the affections of Mrs. Wise
". The voice OF this new conner has hrr'
u.'an'ny ,.''u ~ wv ,"" u. ' ~. sm Wv "..'
mos, lor;ue ,one, ~ " "
Sucn ure the facts You can act in tn
premises "s your sr'se of duty may dictate
NY "r"''n ~ wa. NV" ''n.' "as! ="
Ia.,.,, Lilo ,..,,,,n Vo,rs ,rnI,
(Siun-d) A FRIEND OF Fidelity.
As the Dencon rend this episile there wa
n visible trrmor in his hand. He polishe,
his eye glass with a silk handkerchief, an,
pprused il carefully second time. But Dpu
con Brown WIS not the man tn swerve fror
duty, though it led him where he would M
60. In moment he was resolved. Pu,tin
the chin, he hastened down to his hardwar
store, and whispering to n confidential cI-rl
proceeded to til. residence of Mrs. Wisely
lie struck his cane very decidedly on th
pave, greeted no one with his usual goo
morning. but seemed absorbed in the con
temptation of great purpose. Arriving II
the SCENE of his triumph, he stationed hi
clerk IN front Of the house, and, giving tn
bell.knob cautious pull, wns s"on admitte
BY the servant.girl. The following daogu
then and there took place:
Us Mrs. Wisely inr
'Y-s, sir; she's in bed, SIR
tn. Deacon here examined. his watch, an
muttrred, 'hulf.past seven! lie then asked
'How long before Mrs. Wisely will rist
mam!'