Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-07-16
81 DIDN'T THINK OF Ir.n

rim, "the man is coming here"
Mrs. Perrin was q little round dumpling
of a woman, with mild. benevolent face,
and smile almost always on her lips
On the occasion Of this exclamation she
was at work in her kitchen. shelling PEAS,
and her neighbor, Mrs. Jerkin, sat be-
side her, knitting. The misisler was
seen at some little distance coming to-
ward the house. Mrs. Perrin had her
cap ribbons tied upon the crown. her
sleeves rolled up to the elbows, her old
blue howered apron on. and her house
hold implements around her, and it was
this unftness OF dress that brought out
the irreverent speech.
"Who, the minister" asked Mrs. Jer-
rim. an expression of peculiar character
passing over her face.
eyes; why in the name of mercy didn't
he come yesterday, when L was all clean
ed up? In the morning, too, when I'm
in such stew!'' said Mrs. Perrin, unity
ing her cap strings as fast as she could
and pressing down her sleeves, while the
persp;rdtiou rolled down her face
"Land Of promised h4ven'ta minutes
time" - and sure enough before the
words were out Of her mouth, the minis
ter stood on the steps of the kitchen.
LA. Sir! how are you! I'm mighty glad
to see you. Won't you g round to the
front door. and III let you into the par
lor; sin't fit to be looked at here"
'Do let me sit down here. good Mrs.
Perrin; don't drive me into your phrl1r,
Just because happen to be u minister
There, nov, | am comfortable. it you will
allow me- and he seated himself in IL
chair.
Now. Mrs. Perrin. insist that you go
on with work; or shall l shell the peas Tor
you?" he asked. observing the basket by
her side.
"La! how comical no, I'll Just go
through with the job, seeing as you say
so; we must all mind the minister; and
she took up her work again. After a
few minutes Of pleasant discourse, the
minister. quite rested and refreshed with
Il draught Of new milk, arose to 20 on his
way. .r-
AS soon as he was out of sight, Mrs.
Jerkiu began praising him.
''He's a gOud man. and breaches such
beautiful plain sermons" she said
Even the little children can understand
them. Do you remember his last Sab
baths discourse?'
"Oh. yes. and didn't he give it to some
of our folks? | wouldn't stood in Jerry
Cooks shoes for something. | tell you
Did you see Jerry Cooks face. just as rec
as beet? Let me see-his text was
Swear not at all Didn't he handle il
beautifully"
"Yes took good deal Of it to my,
SELF" said Mrs. Jerkiu; "and don
know but l felt almost as bad as Jerry
Cook"
"You!" exclaimed Mrs, Perrin; ''yo,
took it to yourself! why, you dom
swear. do you?"
The neighbor could not help laughing
at the comical expression of the little, fat
rosy face before her.
EYES," replied Mrs. Jerkin, "I foun'
that had been swearing the greater por
ton of my life, though. L hope, ignorant
ly, and l resolved to give it up immedi
ately: since then I've been careful of my
speech"
Mrs. Perrin looked first amused, thet
thoughtful: but the shells fell on tht
floor. the knitting needles clicked, th
cat purred, the sunshine lay across lh'
fields, everything told of quiet and con
tentment. and the two women only spok
occasionally as they worked.
"Good heavens" exclaimed Mrs. Per
rim, looking up. "there's the bird Gag,
open! suppose the bird has gone" She
shut the door, and was about to resume
her occupation, when she observed sin
gulAr smile ON the face of her com panion
that arrested her attention.
"Of what are you thinking she ask
ed.
"Of that expression you used just now
and dare say you would think quite in
nocently." ...
ooh! said good heavens!'-I remem
ber," replied the little woman more so
berly: why that is nothing!''
"But Christ said it was" returned the
other; ''don't you remember the wolds
For l say unto you, Swear not at all;
neither by heaven. for it is Code
throne?'"
"Oh dear! never thought of it I'm
sure" said the little woman; "why. it i
real swearing, isn't it?"
II consider it so," replied Mrs. Jerkin
"Dear me. and I've got such habit o
it," said Mrs. Perrin again.
"Do you think it is wrong to say. Ii
the name Of mercy In the name of pa
tience?" asked Mrs. Perrin.
''Most decidedly" replied Mrs. Jerriu
"Christ says:, Let your communication
be yea. yea. aud nay. nay; and he adds
For whatsoever is more than these, com
eth of evil {"