East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-01-18

4
them out on tho table. He appeare,
surprised, and thought gratifed, a
the largeness of their contents. Ry
der, who was close behind Tom anc
myself, whispered softly,
| i have unfastened the door wher
you hear me move make rush.
The old gardener, then, pouring oui
the contents of the second purse, ex-
claimed:
Why, there is almost enough 10
build our new house of God! Let me
see what the third contains
He took up the third purse.
Now whispered Ryder, make a
rush.
We did so, and at the same moment
heard the old fellow hammoring away
with his flint and steel. The front
door, however, flew open before us,
| the next stop ---> E..l vs..svl,~s IA.
the garden. The night was pitohy
dark. We rushed blindly through
the nursery ground, scrambled through
brambles and prickly shrubs, ran our
heads against trees, and then forced
ourselves through a thick hedge. At
last, with scratched faces, torn hands,
and tattered clothes, we tumbled over
a bank into the high road. This was
the work of but few minutes. If
our faces could have been seen, it
would have been thought from our
horror stricken countenances, that in
stead of having risen from prayer, we
had been pursued by Old Nick him
self.
Our horses were soon found, and we
galloped to Ryder's residence. Lights
were procured, and we sat down. We
were black, ragged and dirty. We
looked at each other, and in spite of
our miserable adventure, roared with
laughter.
we may laughp exclaimed Tom.
but IL this adventure is blown, and we
are found out, Cornwall will be too
hot to hold us for the next seven years.
We have made pretty night of it.
We have lost our money; been obliged
to pretend to pray for two hours be-
fore a heap of gunpowder, while that
iron-faced, ugly, red-capped brute,
threatened us all with on immediate
passage into eternity. And our money
must go to build a Methodist meeting
house! Bah! 1t is truly horrible. The
fellow has played tho old soldier on us
with vengeance, and we shall be the
laughing stock Of the whole country
The affair was not ended. Reports
were that three men, disguised as
black demons, with horns and tails,
had entered tho cottage of the old
gardener, who had not only terrified
them, but had frightened them out of
a good sum of money, which he in
tended to devote to the building of a
new Methodist meetinghouse. 1t was
given out that on the 1fnllawiRR SSneo
preach a sermon, and afterwards So
.icit subscriptions for the new meeting
house, when no would relate the re-
markable manner in which he was so
providentially assisted with funds for
tho building. Our mortifcation was
complete. Tom, whose hatred Of
Methodism was intense, declared no
would blow up the meeting house as
soon as it was built. Our curiosity,
however, was excited, and we all de-
termined to hear our adventure of the
night related by the old gardener, if
we could contrive to be present with
out being suspected.
Sunday evening arrived. The meet
ing house was crowded to suflocation,
and with the dim lights then burning
in the chapel, we had no difficulty in
concealing ourselves. The sermon was
short, but the statement of our adven-
ture was related most minutely and
circumstantially in the old mans
quaint homely and humorous phrase
ology. This evening he seemed to ex-
eel himself and was exultingly humor-
Gus. The old fellows face glowed
with delight and satisfaction. Inever,
said he, never saw black faces pray
with greater DEVOTION
Il have some doubt, however, he
silly observed, if their prayers were
quite heavenward. They sometimes
turned their faces toward the door,
but the lifting of tho flint and steel
kept them quiet
He then added, with a knowing
shake Of the head and exulting laugh:
but they had not smelt powder like
tho old soldier whom they came to
rob. No, no; it was large heap
ay, large enough to frighten old Gen.
eral Clive himself. The candle was
lighted, the flint and steel were ready.
You may ask, my friends, if i myself
was not afraid. No, no; my dear
friends shouted he: This large heap
Of gunpowder vast was my stock,
my whole years stock, of look seed
The whole congregation somewhat
irreverently laughed; even the saint
almost shouted; many clapped their
hands. / was for a moment stupe-
fed at the announcement, but at last
could hardly suppress my own laugh
ter.
! We subscribed to the fund, to avoid
suspicion, and left the meeting. After
the sermon we joined each other, bu
could not speak. We could barely
chucble 'leok-soed,' and then roaret
with laughter.
1t was good joke, though not OK
actly to our taste. 1t has, however
more than once served for subsequen
amusement.
Tho chapel was built with none,
collected by tho gardener. Time ant
circumstances now induce me to thinl
that there has been no detriment I,
morality or religion, by tho erection
of the meetinghousc named, The
Leek- Seed Chapel. "--t. Jitnes Nag
anne.