Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-08-03
The Eleventh Commandment.

couple in New Jersey, who belonged to the
Methodist Church. A new Presiding Elder,
Mr.. N, was expected in that district; and ss
the ministers all stopped with brother w. and
his wife, every preparation was made to give
him cordial reception. The honest couple
thought religion, in part, consisted In making
some parade, and therefore the parlor was put
in order, and nice FIRE was made, and The
kitchen replenished with cakes, chickens and
every delicacy preparatory to cooking.
While Mr.. W. was out at his woo6pile plain
looking, coarsely dressed, but quietike pedes-
trisn came along and inquired the distance to
the next town He was told that it was three
miles. Being very cold, he asked permission to
enter and warm himself Assent was given
very grudgiogly, and bDth went into the kitch-
en-. The vile looked daggers at this untimely
intrusion, for the stranger had on coWhlde boots
an old hat and thread-bare, but neatly patch.
ed coat. At length she gave him chair beside
the Dutch oven which was baking nice cakes for
the Presiding Elder, who was momentarily ex-
pected, as he was to preach the next day at the
church mile or two beyond.
The stranger, after warming himself, prepsr-
ed to leave, but the weather became more in
clement, and as his appetite was reused by
viaDds about the FIRE, he asked for some little
refreshments before he sat out on a cold walk
to the town beyond. Mrs. w. was displeased,
but on consultation with her husband, some
cold bacon and bread were put on an old table,
and he was then somewhat gruf1y told to eat.
II was growing dark, and hints we're thrown
out that the stranger had better depart, as it
Was three miles TO town. The wife grew petu-
liant, as the new preacher did not arrive, and her
husband sat whistling the air of "Auld Lang
Syue," while he thought Of the words of the
hymn-"When can read my title clear" and
felt as If he could order the stranger off with
out any further ado.
The homely meal was at last concluded-the
man thanked him kindly for the hospita lity be
had received, and opened tho door to 20. But
II was quite dark, and clouds denoting storm
filled the heavens
you Say it is full three miles to D-7'
Il do ssid W coldly. Il said SO when you
A.st stopped, and you ought to have pushed on
like prudent man. You would have reached
there before IL was quite dark
'But | was cold and hungry, aud might have
tainted on the way
The manner of saying this touched the farm
er's feelings little.
'You have warped me and fed me, for which
am thankful. Will you now bestoW auothel
act of kindness upon one 10 strange place, and
II he goes out In the darkness, may lose himself
and perish in the cold2'
The peculiar form in which this request wal
made, and the tone il which it was uttered, pu
it out of the power of the farmer to say no
go iu there and sit down. be answered
pointing to the kitchen, 'and will zee wha
she esys.'
And Me-. w. went into the parlor where tb,
supper table stooc, covered with the snow whit,
al od n. :logn e l.
sprigged china, thu. was brought out only OF
SPECIAL occasions.
The tall mould candles were burning thu
on, and on the hearth blszsd the cheerful FIRE
Hasn't that old fellow gone yetp ssked Mrs
W. She heard his voice as he returned from
the door.
mo, and what do you suppose7 He wants u
to let him stay all night
Indeed! we'll do no such thing! We can
have the like Of him in the house now. Wher'
could he sleep9'
Not 10 the best room, even if Mr., N. should
not oome.'
nv, IojOOjr
Bat really, don't see, Jane, how we car
turn him out Of doors He does not look lik,
q very strong man, and it's dark and cold, ant
full three miles 10 D.
'It's too much. He ought to have gone OF
while he had daylight, and not fingered here al
he did till it got go dark
I'VE can't turn him out of doors, Jane, anG
it's no use to think OF IL. He'll have TO sta,
somehow
But what can we do with him7'
'He seems like a decent man at least, an
does not look as If he bad anything bad abou
him. We must make him bed on the foo
somewhere in the house,
| Il wish he had been in Guinea before he cam
here said Mrs. w fretfully.
The disappointment and the conviction tina
Mr.. N. would not arrive, occasioned her to fee
sore, and the intrusion of go unwelcome sViait
or as the stranger, completely unhinged he
mind.
'Oh, well,' replied her husband, in soothin
voice, never mind, We must make the be'
Of it, He came to us tired and hungry, and W
warmed and fed him. He now asks shelter f
the night; we must not refuse him, nor graI
his request in a complaining or reluctant spiri
You know What the Bible says about entertain
ing angels unaWares.'
'Angels! Did you ever see an angel loo
like him2'
Having never seen an angel said the farmS
smiling, Il am unable to speak as to their aI
pearance.'
This had the effect to call an al bring smi
on the face of Mrs. W., and better feeling
her heart.
1t was finally agreed between them that Il
man, as he seemed like decent kind of perso
should be permitted to occupy the minister
room If that individual did not arrive,
event TO which they both looked With but sms
expectancy. If he did come, why the mi
would have to put up with poorer accommod
tion.
When Mr.. W. returned 10 the kitchen whe
the stranger had seated himself before the I'll