Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-08-16
SEeaking His Mind.

Old Deacon Hobhouse had 4 habit
of frequently thinking aloud. Especially
if any matter troubled him, he had to
talk it over with himself before his
peace Of mind could be restored. One
day he was alone in his barn, pitching
hay from the sca@iold to the NOW, when
his neighbor Stevens went to find him.
Stevens heard voice, and listened 1t
was the deacon, talking to himself lie
was condemning in the strongest terms
the extravaganza Of the ministers wife.
'tShe sets a worse example than
Satan!' exclaimed the deacon, by way
of climax.
And having freed his mind, he was
preparing to come down from the loft,
when Stevens glided out of the barn,
and came in again just rs the deacon
landed on the floor
GLOW de do, deacon?" cried Stevens.
II want to borrow your half bushel an
hour o. two
so, sartin, sartin, said the deacon
The measure was put into the neighbor's $
hands, and he departed.
1t was a peaceful community, the
minister $ wife was an excellent woman,
notwithstanding her love Of finery, and
Deacon Hobhouse was of all men the
least disposed to make trouble ia the
society Hence the sensation which
was produced when the report circula-
ted that he had used the most bias phe-
nous language in speaking of that ami
BILE lady. The sweetest tempered wo-
man would not like to hear Of a grave
and influential deacon declaring that
she ''scts a worse example than Satan''
The minister's wife, whose ear was in
due time reached by the report, felt in
high degree incensed, and sent her
husband to deal with the honest old man.
The latter was astonishcd when told of
the charge against him.
II never said SOL lie solemnly averrcd.
"You are quite positive that you never
did?" said the minister.
"Heaven knows! It's false as false
can be!' exclaimed the deacon. "W hat
ever thoughts l may have had about
your wife's extravagances-and | am
no,c free to say | do think she has set
our wives and daughters a-running after
new bonnets, and shawls, and such van
ites-W hateycr thoughts I've had, tho
I've kept EN- to myself | never men
toned EN- to a living soul, never.
The good mans earnestness quite con-
viuced the ninister that he had been
falsely reported. 1t was therefore
necessary to dig to the root Of the scan
i dal. Mrs. Brown who told the minis
ter's wife, had heard Mrs Jones say
that Mr.. Adams said that Deacon Hob
house said Sc; and lIr. Adams being APP
piled to, stated that he had the report
from Stevens, who said that lie Acera
the deacon say so. Stevens was accor-
dinghy brought up for examination, and
confronted with the deacon.
''lt's an outrageous falsehood!' said
the deacon. :s..l ou know, Stevens, !
never opened my lips to you on the sub
Iject-nor to any other man.
Il heard you say remarked Stevens
coolly, ''that the ministers wife sets a
worse example than Satan; and | can
take my oath Of it.
"n hen? where?" demanded the ex,
cited deacon.
''In your barn. replied Stevens
when fwentt borrow your halfbushel. >
''There never was such Eel''
Stevens-Stevens,' said the quiverine
deacon-"you know"
"Wait till L explain, y interrupted
Stevens IL was on the barn floor, you
was up on the scafold pitching hay
and talking to yourself. [ thought it
too good to keep; so JUS for the joke, |
told what | heard. y
/ The deacon scratched his head
looked humble, and admitted that he
might in that way, have used the Ian
guage attributed to him. Tc avoid
trouble in the society, he afterwards
went to apologize to the minister S wife.
''You must consider" said he, "that
I was talking to myself, and when | talk
to myself am apt to speak ny mine:
re'y .treely.' #