Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-04-25

corrector does not know what it is to be d
gentleman.
And do you think gentleman cannot pre-
vail with such plain folks as these without
bluster, and casting away his own true ua.
turc Does not the greater contain the less?
And who told you that this old Hoosiet far
mer, in cowhide boots and homeSpun clothea.
slow Of speech and awkward in manHer,s hoa
the ttuest gentleman God ever made
".
Father says you must come home with US"
said Miranda Leighton, pointing to where "Fa-
ther" stood before the meeting house door
holding the mare, who was restive for her
dinner. There were q plenty Of invitations to
come and stay with u.s." but Squire Leigh
ton" carried the day, bore of Paul, who found
himself presently in a comfortable farm house,
where his host presented him in farmer fashion:
"Thi. is the old lady ; this is Miranda
and this is John, my boy | wish he wasn't
such bad boy. Make Yourself at home, and
try to like US and our ways. They amt very
fine but we mean what we say"
"In what way is John such bad fellow ~
Paul yentured to irqaire, by way Of setting
himself at ease with that young nan, who
looked at the certain degree Of suspicioni as
one Of his natural enemies.
Wherupon Johns mother made sorroWful
confession of his tricky propensites, Of his
dislike to church, of his fondness for other
boys just like him and Miranda completed
the display of Johns utter depraVity by rela-
ting the incident of the cat.
At which the Reverend Paul laughed so
heartily that even glum John ventured on
emile, and Miranda had her fun all over
again.
When dinner was over, and while the old
folks smoked their pipes Paul persuaded
John to show him over the farm. The eonse-
quenee of which showing was that John
turned to Miranda with puzzled look. and
the remark that that thare minister warn't
bit like any other be ever saw Why Sir"
said the poor fellow, che laughs just like
other people ; and made me tell him about
everything on the place And be likes fishing,
and I'm going to show him the creek And
he didn't know what harrow was till l told
him )" added John with chucke, "and 1'm
to show him how to plow"
" So you think he'll do ?" querried Miranda,
quietly.
81 dunno yet" said John, resuming bis eau.
tious look Il dunno Yet-but | think"
Having won over John, Pau's fame soon
went Through oil the countryside and as
he proved himself tolerable shot, q good
fisherman, and sensible fellow generally, the
boys" who had beer 50 long the plague OF
Shottover meeting house, presently made him
their honored captain, without whose presence
or countenance no fun could prosper, while
they delighted to be for him . guard, often
more Jealous than wise.
But what avais to recount at length the
peaceful trinnpbs. Of the Reverend Clifton
His first victory decided the campaign and
be surprised the bretbern at the next annual
Conference meeting by requesting unless some
one else wished the place. to be Continued
in Shottoyer another year.
"What Paul Clifton could have found In
Shotto5er ?" was a question which puzzled
every body but Clifton himself, till this day
Fair, and gentle, and dearly beloved read
er, you guessed it long ago, didu's you And
| am not such an ungrateful ooor as to dsa-
point you-tilI one day the bishop was invited
to dedicate new meeting house in Shotto-
yer and this done, was requested "to units
in the holy bands Of matrimony" (Which b6hds
they wear lightly to this day.
THE REVEREND rAU1 CLIFTON