Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-03-21
SPEAKING HIS MIND.

Old Deacon Hobhouse had a habit of fre-
quently thinking aloud. Especially if any mat
1 ter troubled him, he had to talk it over with
himself before his peace of mind could be re-
stored. One day he was alone in his barn
pitching hay from the scafEold to the NOW
| whea his neiehbOr Stevens went to find him.
Stevens heard voice and listened It was
the Deacon talking to himself. He was con-
demning in the strongest terms the extrava-
gance of the ministers wife.
| "She sets a worse example than Satan = ex-
claimed the deacon
( And having freed his mind he was prepar-
! ing to come down from the loft, when Stevens
I glided out of the barn, aud came in again just
as the deacon landed on the floor.
Glow de do, deacon ?" cried Stevens. 81
want TO borrow your half bushel an hour or
two"
20, sartin, sartin,' said the deacon. The
measure was put into the neighbors hands and
he departed.
1t was peaceful communicable minis
ter's wife was an excellent woman notwith-
standing her love of inery, and Deacon Hob
house was ofall men the least disposed to make
trouble in the society. Hence the sensation
that was produced when the report was circu-
lated that be had used the most h.aSphemouS
language in speaking of that amiable lady
The sweetest tempered woman would not like
to hear Of grave and influential deacon de-
claring that ''she set a worse example than
Satan ~ The minister's wife, whose ear was
in due time reached by the report, felt in a high
degree incensed, and sent her husband to deal
with the honest old man.
The latter was astonished when told of the
charge against him.
Il never said 50 p he solemnly averred.
"You are quite positive you never did?" said
the minister.
"IIeaven knows. It's false Us false can be,''
exclaimed the deacon "Whatever thoughts
may have had about your wife's extravaganza
and | am now free to say l do think she has
set our wives and daughters running after
new bonnets aud shawls, and such yanities-
whatever thoughts I've had though, I've kept
'em to myself; never mentioned them to a
living soul, never"
The good man 8 earnestness quite convinced
the minister that he had been falsely reported.
It was therefore necessary to dig the root of
the scandal. Mrs. Brown, who told the min
ister's wife, had heard Mrs. Jones say that Mr..
Adams said that Deacon ITobhouse had said
so; and Mr.. Adams being applied to, stated
that be bad heard the report from Stevens, who
said he had heard the Deacon say so. Stevens
was accordingly brought up for examination
and confronted with the Deacon.
ITS an outrageous falsehood," said the
Deacon. You know, Stevens, never open
edmy lips to you Oh the subject, nor to any otb=
er man.
Il heard you say" remarked Stevens, coolly,
that the minister's wife sets worse example
than Satan and can take my oath of it,"
"Whcn2 Where ?'' demanded the excited
| Deacon.
"In your barn." replied Stevens, "when
went to borrow your half bushel."
There never was. such lie Stevens
Stevens" said the quivering Deacon, "you
| know"
await till I.explain," interrupted Stevens.
Il was upon the barn floor and you was up on
the scaTold and- pitehing hay and talking to
yourself, thought it was TO good to keep
SO, just for the joke told what ! heard you
say"
The Deacon scratched his head, looked hum
bled, aud admitted, that he might in that way
have used the language attributed to him.
To avoid trouble III the society, e afterwards
went to apologize to theminister's wife.
You must consider said he, "that was
talking to myself; and when talk to myself,
l am apt to speallsmy mind rather freely
| True Flag.