The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-11-18
The kissing Deacon.

In one Of our New England towns lived
Deacon Brown, Il staid, digniied sort of
Christian, and II model OF propriety Dca-
con Brown had the misfortune To lose his
wife, and at the age of forty found himself
with n family of four small children with
out a mistress to his farmhouse. As he
could not Immediately take another wife
and avoid exciting scandal, and could not
get along without some one to take charge
oil the kitchen and nursery, he had recourse
TO employing young woman as house.
maid.
Nancy Sterls was laughing romping
beauty, who delighted in txpeii nenting
upon the Deacon, by way OF testing tho
strength of human nature. For long time
the Deacon was invuncrable but at last.
in a moment of unguarded weakness. hs
MAS led into temptation, and into commit
ting slight indiscretion' with his beau
tiful housemaid when. in bis w0nted cool.
ness and presence Of mind, he was Mortified
at the enormity of his sin, In vain he re.
pentcd and grievcd over lost virtue.
Finally, us a last effort for casing hia
conscience, at the conclusion al the ser
vices on the following Sabbath morning, he
arose and requested the forbcarancc OF the
brethren and sisters few moments, when
Hc clCVlllhCu ihSHi ~ h'hihp NV lViio""
ing cen essiOn:
My Christ an fri mes; You all know that
lost my dear wife some months ago (sobs
and tcars), ahd that Nancy -Stcrns has beeu
keeping house for me; and you kiIoW that
| have little child not a year old. Well,
that little child would cry in H. night, and
IT would hc long inc before could quiet
it: and last Tuesday night-God forgive
me : the child cried SO hard that Nancy
arose and came into the room, and leaned
over the bed to hush the ebild--and.
brothers and sisters, her leaning over me
made me forget Christi"
Here the worthy Deacon broke down
entirely, and stood weeping. wailing. and
blowing his nose.
What did you do ?" stcrnly demanded
the minister.
"I-I-I kissed her. stammered out
the Deacon between his sobs bat have
heen very sorry about it, and prayed to be-
forgivca-and ] want you TO forgive ms
and pray for mc. Lrothers and sisters"
As the Deacon bowed himself upon his
seat, like the mighty oak before the tor
nadO, Deacon Goodtelow arose, and as
tonishcd the audience still more by saying:
Brothers and sisters You have heard
what brother BroWn hss said, AID u0W he
wants CTR forgiveness. For my part,
think brother Brown is truly pcnitcnt, ami
am viking To forgive bin with my whole
heart. Aud, brothers ard sisters, will
ad still further, that if | had no wife, and
a pretty girl like Nancy Sterns should come
10 my room, and lean over my bed, and
lean over me, I'd kiss her, aud abide the
consequences
ANEcDoTE or Mn. LNcoLS.- IN hS late
speech at the Union meeting in Troy, \. l..
Col Forney spoke of Mr.. Lincoln and ia
reference to the President, the speaker told
story Of Mr.. Lincoln, who invited him 10
tho Soldiers Home, aud did him the honor
to read the letter which he had indited
and Afterwards sent 10 the Illinois conven-
tion. When he had done so. he said.
"Well. Forncy. what do you think of iti"
said. Mr.. President. the criticism on yOnr
letter will be, that yHI haven't said what
you are going to do when the rebels have
laid down their arms and SIed for peace"
President Lincoln" That is Just what did
not prgpose 10 do. sufficient unto the
day is ,iis evil thereof" II reminds me of
an old Methodist Elder in Illinois, Jabez
DoaAic. who attended conference, and
inst ss il broke mp "a terrible storm came
on. fhe msiEbers of the conference began
to consult in relersnGs 60 a certain stream
near by, which had a lad habit Of rising
on such occasions. very suddenly. aud
rendering il difficult 10 gee across. Elder
DOHHie cut short their discussions 10y IN
terruptinS them saying, l.st va wait iiN
we get TO the creek, and then God viii
show us way 10 get across.