Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-01-23
miscellaneous.
MIssIoNvILLE BENEvoLENCE.
BY CHARLES cAsrLEroS.

In the snug, cosy bar-room Of the
Farmers Inn" at Missionyille, sat six
young men. It was cold, bleak eve
ming in December; and the wind that
howled and drove without, drifting the
snow and rafting the shutters, gave to
the blazing fire and steaming kettle ad-
ditional charms and comforts. There
was Peter Hobbs, youth Of fye-and-
twenty, who seemed to be the leader,
par erccllence, of the party. He was
good natured, intelligent, frank looking
man, and was really noble-hearted cit
izen. Then there was John Fulton, a
youth Of the same age, who worked with
Hobbs, both being journeymen carren-
tiers. Samuel Green was a machinist
Walter Mason, tin-worker; Lyman
Drake, a cabinet maker, and William
Robinson, clerk. They ranged, in
age, from twenty three to twenty eight,
and were really Industrious youths, re-
ceiving good wages, and maintaining
good characters for honesty, sobriety and
general good behaviour. Yet they were
looked upon by some as ungodly youths,
and given over to perdition. True, they
belonged to no church; and, amid amid I'll: the
various conflicting creeds by which they
were surrounded, they had not yet set
tied down upon any one in particular,
believing that there was good in all of
them, and evil among the members Of
each.
On the present occasion, they were all
Of them smoking, and the empty mugs
which stood upon the table near them,
showed pretty conclusively that they had
been drinking something besides water.
The subject Of the cold winter had been
disposed Of; the quality of the warm ale
and cigars had been thoroughly discuss
ed, and at length the conversation turned
upon the missionary meeting, which had
been held in the town on the previous
Sunday.
don't know but this missionary
business is all right" said Sam Green,
knocking the ashes from his cigar with
his little finger, 'sbut at the same time,
| don't believe in it. Them Hindoos
and South Sea Islanders may be savage
and ignorant by our scale Of measuring
folks, but that is no reason why we
should send all our money off there,
while our own folks are starving at
home"
Did you put anything into the box ~
asked Lyman Drake.
No, | didn't. When they showed it
into my face, told 'em I'd left my
money at homeland SO l had.
You're about right, SAM said Bill
Robinson. 'tBut / did more than you
did When the box was handed to me /
spoke rightout, so that everybody around
me heard. / told the old deacon that If
he'd take up subscription to help the
poor folks III our own town, I'd put In
something
(" What did he say to that2"
Why, he said sosds we're Of more
consequences than bodies. So just said
back that / guessed he'd find il hard
work to save soul out Of starving
body. But you soc that aren't the shing.
They won't try TO save the souls. mr. the
bodies either, Of their own townfolks ~
Now, when Squire Trueman came here
to settle, they tried quick enough 70 save
bis SOUL You see his body was already
sailed down with ten thousand dollars, 50
bis soul was worth something to EN-.
That's the dogs Of ii. Why don't they
try to save poor old Israel Trasks soul,
and his wife's, too n
Wasn't there committee Of the
church that visited old Israel last month";
queried Drake.
Yes, there was" answered Sam,
giving bis cigar an indignant shake !;
s'and what did they do2 They went there
four on 'en-and found the old folks
suffering for want Of food and clothing.
They tried TO make the old man believe
that their religion was the only true one
III the world, but no wouldn't. So they
gave him three tracks and little cheap
book, and then went away. That's what
they did. BY hockey. aforc ia give q
cent to such chaps TO send Off 70 feed
their missionaries in Bangwhang and
Slapaam Islands. I'd throw It into the
fire."
/" But these missionaries arc honest
pcople. and do gomo good" remarked