Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-08
MISCELLAN A N Y.
Yankee Curiosity.

"Ten Years of Preacher Life" relates the follow
ing incident, which occurred in Alabama
AT another time | was on my way from
Montgomery to Tuscaloosa, distance OF one
hundred and thirty or forty miles. We had
ridden eighteen hours, and stopped at the town
of Marion to dine. A number OF the passengers
left the stage at this place. and their seats were
taken by others among these were gentleman
and two ladies, who, of course, occupied the
back seat. AsI was Immediately opposite, on
the front seat, the elder of the ladies commenced
q conversation with me. was stranger to
every one of the party, and it must be promised
that q leather cap, linen overcoat, figure COM
pletely covered with dust Qor the season was
very dry,) and withal an exceedingly youthful
appearance, did not render my presence very
imposing.
"Traveling sr2" she began in voice which
at once revealed to Inc her New-England origin.
"Yes, madam, as far as Tuscaloosa"
"Ah, | see; on your way to college,"
"No.n
"What! you are not going to take course,
then2"
Il left college some time SINCE"
"You've been to college2"
eyes, Madam"
"What one?"
| luuOIS SOiit&c.
"Ah, | guess that don't amount to much
Where do you live sirl"
NJ can scarce be said to live anywhere; but
have been spending some time in Montgomery.
Sab, in Montgomery-do you know tue Rev.
Mr.. Mlburn of that place2"
"Yes, ma'am, / have some acqnaint ance with
him." 1 replied, with entire self,possesslon.
"rve had great desire to hear him preach,
she continued. "My husband, niece, and my
self stopped in Montgomery last Saturday, but
unfortunately was taken very ill in the night
at the hotel, and was 50 sick all the next day
that none OF US could get out to church. We
were very much disappointed"
II don't think you missed much."
"What do you mean, sir2' she saiG rather
tartly.
"Only that heard him preach twice on Sun
day, and didn't think much of the sermons"
'You didn't think much Of the sermons" she
replied, with sneer. II think it perfectly dis
gusting TO hear the young men OF the present
age talk about ministers; that's the regular cant
nothing is eloquent or great enough for our
would-be smart young men. II an angel from
heaven were to come down aud preach, sup
pose you would criticise him. Your mother
ought to have taught you better, sir, than to
4
Ihad been your mother Birch oil-birch oil,
sir, is the thing that's wanted in the education
of these times"
"Really ma'am,n replied, with great hu-
mity; II had no potion of disparaging Mr..
Miburn, or of limiting the slightest disrespect
| towards the Christian ministry"
| sob, no; of course you hadn't"
After moment she resumed, VI suppose You
mean to study lawS"
| "No.n
"Medicine9"
mo"
"Ah, you're going to be planter and not a
professional man2"
81 am q sort of professional man now"
"You professional man--I should like to
know what profession you belong to2"
81 am a preacher, ma'am."
"a preacher!" she exclaimed, with unfeigned
surprise, ''do you belong to any church,"
1 Eyes"
"To what church 2"
'sTo the Methodist"
"Oh, L beg your pardon" she said; thought
from your appearance you must be one of the
Comeouters. We are Just from Boston, where
we've been visiting our friends, and they've 8
dreadful lot of people there that wear long hair
and look very frowzy, and are called Come
cutters. | don't know where they come from
but can guess where they're going to-.
thought you must be one of them," then be
thinking herself she repeated, ITO the Methods
Chureh7 l see how it is"
"Young meD," she proceeded, with great so
emnity, "envy and jealousy are the meanes
passions that rankle in the human bosom, and
am afraid that nothing is more common than fo
young ministers to have such feelings toward
their elders and their betters Letme warn yor
against indulgDg that, for it looks to me very
much as if you had such feelings toward the gen.
tleman Of whom we have been speaking. Yor
are just beginning life-get rid OF them or they
will ruin you"
''I am very much obliged to you for your good
advice, but really | am not aware that am the
victim of these bad passions, and Mr.. Milburn il
the last man in the world of whom | would be
Jealous or envious."
"You may think so but oh! the heart is de-
ceitful and desperately wicked" She then wen,
on in more cheerful tone, "May take the lib
erty of asking your namea"
'Certanly, madam; my name is Milburn."
"Ahl" she said, "any relation to the gentle
man of whom we have been speaking2"
'To tell you the truth, am not aware that
there Is any other person of that name in Mont
gomery."
"Are you the pastor of Methodist church
there?"
81 am; and you must allow me to thank you
for the manner in which you have defended me
from myself"
Soon after we reached Greensborough, where
we went our several ways, and saw them nc
more.
If men could find the fabed fountain that is
said to restore youth and health and beauty,