Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-26


could he sleep 2"
"Not in the best room, even if MN should
not come"
"No, indeed p
But really l don't see, Jane, how we can
turn him out of doors. He doesn't look like q
very strong man, and it's dark and cold, and
full three miles to D"
It's too much he ought to have gone on
while he had daylight, and not fingered here,
as he did, till it got dark"
1--WE can't turn him out of doors, Jane, and
it's no use to think of it. He'll have to stay,
somehow"
But what can we do with him ?"
He seems like decent man at least and
does not look as if he had anything bad about
him. We might make him bed en- the floor
somewhere"
81 wish he had been in Guinea before he
came here !" said Mrs w, fretfuy The
disappointment, the conviction that Mr.. n
would not arrive, occasoned her to fret, and
the intrusion of so unwelcome visitor as the
stranger, completely unhinged her mind
ooh, well !" replied her husband in sooth-
ing voice, never mind We must make the
best of it. He came to US tired and hungry,
and We warmed and fed him. He now asks
shelter for the night and we must not refuse
him, nor grant his request in q complaining or
a reluctant spirit. You know what the Bible
says about entertaining angels unawares."
angels Did you ever see an angel look
like him ?"
Having never seen an angel" said the far
mer, smiling, &C. am unable to speak as to
their appearance"
Thic bod ba 10
smile from Mrs w and q better feeling at her
heart. 1t was finally agreed between them
that the man, as he seemed like decent kind
of person. shond be permitted to occupy the
minister's room if that individual did not ar
rive, an event to which they both looked with
but little expectancy If he did come the man
would have to put up with poor aCcommoda-
tionS
When Mr.. w returned to the kitchen,
where the stranger had seated himself before
the fire, he informed him that they had decided
to let him stay all night. The man expressed
in few words the grateful sense of their kind
ness, and then became silent and thoughtful.
Soon after the farmers wife, giving up all
hope of Mr. y IS arrival, had supper taken up,
which consisted of coffee, warm short cake and
broiled chickens After all was on the table,
a short conference was held as to whether il
would do not to invite the stranger to take
supper. 1t was true they had given him as
much bread and bacon as he could eat, but
then, as long as he was going to stay all night,
it looked too inhospitable TO sit down to the
table and not ask him to join them. So, max
ing virtue necessity, he was kindly asked to
come to supper-an invitation which he did
not decline Grace was said over the meal by
Mr. W., and the coffee poured out, the bread
helped, and the meat carved
There was fine little boy, six years old, at
the table, who had been frightened up and
dressed in his best, in oder to grace the minis
ter's reception Charles was full of talk, and
the parents felt a mutual pride in showing him
off even before their humble guest, who no.
ticed him particularly, though he had not much
to say Come, Charley" said Mr.. w, after
the meal was over, and he sat loungng in his
chair, cant you repeat the pretty hymn
mamma learned you last Sunday"
Charley started off without further invita-
tiOn and repeated very accurately two or three
verses of new camp,meeting hymn, that was
then very popular.
Now let US hear you say the command
ments, Charley" spoke up the mother, we'll
pleased at her childs performance.
And Charley repeated them all with the aid
of little prompting.
How many commandments are there p
asked the father
The child hesitated, and then looking up at
the stranger, near whom he sat, said innO-
Gently
How many are there ?"
The man thought for some moments, and
said, as if in doubt, " Eleven are there not ?"
Eleven !" calculated Mrs W, in unfegned
surprise
eleven !" said her husband, with more re-
buke than astonishment in his voice. Is it
possible, sir, that you do not know how many
commandments there are How many are
there, Charley? Come, tell me-you know, Of
course"
"Ten," replied the child.
Right, my son." returned Mr. W., looking
with q smile of approval on the child. Right.
There isn't a child of his age within ten miles
who can't tell you there are ten command
ments"
"Did you ever read the Bible, sir ?' address
ing the stranger ?"
"When | was little boy / used to read it
sometimes. But | am sure thought there
we're eleven commandments Are you not
mistaken about there being only ten ?"
Sister w, lifted her hands in unfeigned as
tonishm9nt and exclaimed, Gould any one
believe it p? Such ignorance of the Bible ?"
Mr. W. did not reply, but rose, aud going
to one corner of the room where the good book
lay upon the small stand, he put it on the Ia
bic before him, and opened at that portion in
which the commandments are recorded.
There" he said, placing his finger upon
the proof of the strangers error. "There !!
look for yourself"
The man came round from his side of the
table and looked over the strangers shoul-
der
There ten, dye see 7"
a. Yes IL does say y renlied the man AID