The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-07-29
Avoiding the Re,ponsihilitv

Brothers Crump and Noel were mem
bers OF the church, and both clever, hon
est men, who paid their taxes and debts,
as the same annually occurred, with a reg.
uarty at once Christian and commenda-
Bile. If, when the settling day came
around, Brother Noel was " short, 4"
Brother Crump was sure TO be in funds,
and, on the other hand, il almost seemed
Providential how, if Brother Crump fell
Behind" Brother Noel always had a
surplus. Thus, borrowing from and lend
ing to each other, worshipping at the
same church and living a mile apart, an
intimacy gradually ripened between them;
so at last they did not hesitate TO speak in
the frankest and most familiar manner to
each other, even in regard 10 their re-
spective foibles.
Now it came to pass that Brother
Crump during the liveliest period of the
cotton season, drove into Wetumpka and
disposed OF his crop Of ten bales, at the
very fair price Of twelve and half cents
per pound 1t was more than he cx-
pec'ed, and, as the world was easy with
him, he determined to invest, and did
actually invest portion of the proceeds
of the sale ol the cotton, in barrel Of
Western whiskey, paying therefor at the
rate OF precisely two pounds OF mddling
cotton for one gallon Of do whiskey -
OF course it was known in the settlement
that old Crump had bought whole
barrel, and after few weeks, people
began TO observe that his nose grew red
der and his eyes more moist, The idea
that Brother Crump was drinking too
much, dittused itself in the neighborhood,
until, as one might say, it became cpl
demical. People talked and talked
more especially what few of other denom-
nations of Christians there were there
about.
Brother Noel was sore troubled Mt the
scandal, and especially regretted the in
! jury it brought to society at Sharon. So
one morning he stepped over TO Brother
Crump's and found the old man in q doze
on the little porch,
"Won't you take dram ?" asked
Brother Crump, as soon as he was made
aware of the presence Of his neighbor--
"Why, yes Pm not agin a dram when a
body wants it,"
Brother Crump got his bottle, and the
friends took dram apiece. Don't you
think, Brother Noel, )" said Crump, " hat
sperits is blessin ?" Yes" replied
Noel "sperits is blessin' that some Of
US abuses" "Wcll, now, Brother Noel.
who do you think abuses the blessin'?"
"Well, it is hard to say-but people talk
don't you think that YOU drink little
too much, Brother Crump ?" 1t is hard
to say" returned Crump. Sometimes
I've thought was drinkin' TO much, and
then agin I'd think may be not, What is
man? A weak a0orrum of the dust -
So | left it to the Lord to say whether |
was a goin, too far in sperits. put the
whole 'sponsibilty on him l prayed, ef
l was drinkin' too much, for him to take
away my appetite for sperits." Here,
Brother Noel groaned Piously, and asked,
"What then, Brother Crump ?"--
" And" replied Crump, GIVE prayed
that prayer three times, and he hain't
done it, So I'm clear OF the 'sponsibility,
any way"
" The Lords will be done % ejacu,
lated Noel, and after taking another
dram, he went home, thinking all the way
how cleverly Brother Crump had cleared
the responsibility.