Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-13
WASHINGTON
man -youmight bean ornament to both church
and state, as our minister says"

/" Why, as to that, aunt Lizzy,.a cheerful
countenance consider as the best index Of a
grateful heart and you know what the Bible
says on that subject you fast, be not
MS the hypocrifes of a sad countenance; but
anoint thy head and nash thy tace' (aunt
Lizzy began to feel for her pocket handl1er-
chief, for she was a taker Of snuff that thou
appear NOT unto men to fast"
'Now, there squire, that's just what told
you; see how you have the Scripter at your
tongues end; what useful man you might be
in our church, If you'd only be doer as well
as a hearer of the wordn sa "
Gas to that aunt Lizzy, do not see that
your professors as you call them, are whit
better than am, in pricate. respect sin
cere profession as much as any man; but |
know enough of one of your church, whom you
think great deal Of, to know that she is no
better than she should bei'
AT these inuendoes, Aunt Lizzy's little black
eyes began to twinkle; she sat down beside the
Squire, in order to speak in a lower tone
spread her handkerchief over her lap, and be-
gan TO tap the cover of her snuff box in true
style, and all things being in readiness for a
regular siege Of 'scandalum magnatum, she
commenced fire
snow, Squire, want to know what you
mean by one of our church know who you
mean the trolope-I didn't like so many
curls about her head, when she told her expe-
rience" ="
The Squire, finding curiosity was putting his
boots on, had no occasion to add spurs to the
heels, for the old lady had one in her head that
was worth both of them. Accordingly, he had
no peace until he consented to explain what he
meant by the expression lin prioate this
was dear word with Aunt Lizzy.
"Now, Aunt Lizzy, will you take a Bible
oath that you will never communicate what
am about to tell you to living being, and
that you will keep it while you live as a most
inviolable secret ?"
Eyes, Squire, declare | wont never tell no
body nothing about it as long as breathe the
breath of life; and I'll take a Bible oath on it !;
thele sartin as | live, Squire, before you or
any other magistrate in the whole country"
swell, then, you know when l went up to
Boston year ago."
Eyes, yes, Squire, and | know who went
with you, too-Susey B. and Dolly T. and her
sister Prudence"
Never mind who went with me, aunt Lzzy
there was whole lot of passengers-but
but
"None Of your butts, squire-ou out with tiff
folks will act so--a trollope"-
But, aunt Lizzy, I'm afraid you'll bring me
into the scrape"-
"Tve told you over and over again that no.
body never shall know nothing about it, and
your wife knows amt leaky"-
my wife would't have her know what
was going to say for the world; why, aunt
Lizzy, if she should know it,
"Well don't be fear'd, squire, once for all,
I'll take my oath that no living critler shan't
never, as long as live, know lisp ont"
"Wel, then, if you must know it. slept
with one of the likeliest of your church mem
bers nearly half the way up!"
Aunt Lizzy drew in. a long breath-shut up
her snuff f-box, and put it in her eocket mutter-
ing to herself
"The likeliest of our church members !
thought it was Susy d. likeliest this comes
Of reing hattered-a troilope. Well, one thing
Iknow-'the way oftransgressors is hard; but
hope you'll never tell nobody ont, squire, for
sartin as the world, if sich thing should be
known, our church would be scattered abroad
like sheep without shepherd"
In few moments aunt Lizzy took her de-
parture, giving the squire another caution, and
a sly wink as she said good by--lct me alone
for n secret.
It was not many days before Squire p. re-
ceived very polite no;e from Parson G., re-
questing him to attend netting of the church,
and many Of the parish, at the South Confer
ence room, in order to settle some difficulties
with one Of the church members, who, in order
to clear up her character, requested Squire p.
to be present
The Parson, who was very worthy man,
knew the frailty Of some Of the weak sisters,
as auLt Lizzy called them, and, as he was par
ticular friend Of Squire P.'s, requested him in
his note to say nothing of it TO his wife, But
the squire took the hint, an | telling his wife
that there wasa Parish meeting requested h r
to be ready by two o'clock, and he would call
for her.
Accordingly, the hour Of meeting came
the whole village Hocked to the room, which
could not hold half Of them All eyes were
alternately on the Squire and Suscy b. Mrs.
p. stared, and Susey hooked as though she
had been crying fortnight. The Parson, with
soitened tone, and in as delicate manner as
possible stated the story about Susey b. which
he observed was in every bodys mouth, and
which he did not himself believe q word Of
and Squire p. bcirg called on to stand witness
after painting in lively colors the evils Of
slander, with which their village had bcsn in
tested, and particularly the church, called on
Aunt Lzzy, in presence Of the meeting, and
before the church, to come out and make ac-
acknowledgement for violating Bible oath Aunt
Lizzy's apology was, that she only told Doa-
con Snipe's wife on't--and she took an oath,
that she wouldn't never tel nobody else ont
Deacon Snipe's wife had, it appears, sworn
Roger ToothalSer's sister never to tell nobody