Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-19
Speaking his Mind.

Oiu DEACON 1obhouse had habit of
frequently thinking aloud. Especially if
any matter troubled him, he had to talk it
over with himself before his pence of mind
could be restored. One day he was alone
in his barn, pitching hay from the scaffold
to the NOW, when his neighbor Stevens
went to find him. Stevens heard voice
and listened. lie was condemning, in the
strongest terms, the extravagance of the
minister's wife.
She sets worse example than Satan !"
exclaimed the Deacon, by way of climax.
And having freed bis mind, he was pre-
pairing to come down from the loft. when
Stevens glided out of the barn, and came
in again, just as the Deacon landed on the
flo r.
How de do, Deacon" cried Stevens.
wait to borrow your half bushel an
hour or two"
oh. sartin. sartin," said the Deacon.
The measure was put into the neighbours
hands and he departed
1t was peaceful communicable min
RS wife was an excellent woman. not
withstaudIng her love of fnery, and Dea-
con dollhouse was Of all men the least
disposed to make trouble in the society.-
Hence the sensation which was produced
VIXEN the report circulated that he had used
almost blasphemous language in speaking
Of that amiable lady. The sweetest tenn
pCred woman would not like to hear of a
z ave aud influential Deacon declaring
that "she sets worse example than Sa-
tan ~ The minister's wife, whose ear was
in due time reached by the report, felt in
high degree incensed, and sent her hus-
band to deal with the honest old man.
The latter was astonished when told of
the charge against him.
never SAID so ?" he sclemnly averred
You are quite positive that you never
did 2" said the minister.
Heaven knows! it's false as false can
bel" exclaimed the Deacon. Whatever
Thoughts | may have had about your wlfe's
extravagance-andl am now free to say
do think she has set our wives aud daurht
ers raining after new bonnets and shawls
| and such vaDities-whatever thoughts Pye
had, though, I've kept 'em to myself: |
never mentioned 'em to living soul, new
er"
The good mans earnestness quite con
WINGED the minister that he had been falsely
reported. 1t was, therefore, necessary to
dig to the root of the scandal. Mrs. Brown
WI" "hu WIN the minister WIG, naQ heard
Mrs. Jones say that Mr.. Adams said that
Deacon dollhouse said so and Mr.. Adams
being applied to, stated that he had the
report from Stevens, who said that he
heard the Deacon say so. Stevens was ac-
cord nGly brought up for examination, and
coniron. ed with the Deacon.
It's an outrageous falsehood I" said the
Deacon. You know, Stevens, never
opened my lips to you on the subject, nor
any ether man."
=" heard you say So" remarked Ste
vens, when l went to borrow your half
! bushel"
There never was such lie! Stevens.
Stevens" said the quivering Deacon,
lyon know -
| " Wait till explain" interrupted Ste-
vens.
t. was on the barn floor, you was up on
the scaffold pitching hay. and talking to
| yourself. l thought it too good to keen
so, just for the joke, l tod what heard
| you say"
The Deacon scratched his head, looked
humble, and admitted that he might. in
that way, have used the language attrib
u'ed to him. To avoid trouble in the soc,,
ETY., he afterwards went to apologize to the
minis er's wife.
" You must consider" said he, "that
was talking to myself, and when talk tc
myself. L am apt to speak my mind rer,
freely"