The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-20


II Don't MEAN HDI"-Tbe following
anecdote of Rev. James Axley, famllary
known as sold jimmy" renowned and re-
doubtabe preacher of East Tennessee, was
related by Huah l.. White, tor many years a
distinguished Judge in that State, and after
words conspicuous member of the Federal
Senate:
1t was Doised through the town Of Jones
borough that Mr.. Axey would hold forth on
the morning of the ensuing Sabbath. The
famous divine was a great favorite,-wth
none more Than with Judge White. At the
appointed hour, the Judge in company with
large congregation was in attendance at the
house of pray er. All was husbed in expecta-
ton. Mr.. Axley catered and with 1im
clerical brother, who was "put up 10 preach.
poenIa1ion m I1iasiabtjNp ibjsNgp was composed OF border
not the man they had come 10 "bfta beai snls was
queDtly there was good deal OF misbehavior.
TIE discourse was ended and Mr.. Axles rose.
1t is custom in the new country when two
or more preachers are present, for each Of
them to have somethir 6 TO say. The people
think that it IS great waste of time to come
a long distance, and be put Off with short
service. l have gone into church at ell 5ht
o'clock in the no. ming, and have net come
out again until five o'clock In the at erEoou.
Short administrations are the growth oi thick
er settlements.
Mr.. Axley stood silently surveying the con-
eregatIon, until every eye was rlveted. lie
then began:
at may be very painful duty, but 1t Is
very solemn Que, for minister OF the gospel
to reprove vice, misconduct and sin, wbenev-
er and wherever he sees it. out especially is
this his duty on Sunday an at cDuroa. This
is a duty l AN now about 10 attend to.
Sand now" continued the reverend speak
er. pointing with his long finger in the oirec-
tion indicated, that man sitting out yonder
-hehind the door. who got up aud went out
while the brother was preaching, stayed OUT
as loI as he wanted to, got his boots Tull Of
mud, came back and stamped the mad off at
the door, making all the noise he could on
purpose to disturb the attention of the con-
gregation, and then took his seat; that man
thinks mean him. No wonder he does. 1t
doesn't lvok as if he had been raised in the
white settlements, does it, to behave that way
at meeting2 Now my friend, I'd advise you
| to learn letter manners before you come 20
| church next time. hut don't mean him."
"And now," again pointing at his mark,
'that little glrl sitting there, about halfway OF
! the house,-I should judge her to be about
| sixteen wears old,-thats her with tue ar
! tificial flowers on the outside Of her bonnet;
| and on the inside of her bonnet; she has
| preast-piD on, too, (they were very severe
| upon all supel huities OF dress, s,l-she that vas
giggling and chatterIng all the time the broth
er was preaching, SO that even the old sisters
in the neishbornood, couldn't hear what he
was saying though they tried. She thinks
mean her. I'm sorry from the bottom oil my
heart for any parents who have raised gfr
to her time OF day and haven't taught her how
| to behave when she comes to church =
| Little girl, you have sgraeed your parent;
as well as yourself. Behave better next time
won't you? But don't mean hef.P
| Directing his finger 10 another aim, ES said
That man sitting there, that looks as bri:,b
and pert as IL he never was asleep in his life
and never expected to be, but that just
as soon as the brother took his text, laid
his head down on the back OF the seal
in front OF him, went sound asleep sIePt tns
| whole time and snored; that man tnlnSs 1
| mean him NV fifend, don't you know the
cbnrch ain't the place to sleep? fyou need
81 ,ost wv didn't you stay at home, take of
nonr clothes, and go to bed? That's the place
~ sIeen, not at church. The next time YOU
have chance to hear a sermon, advise you
60 l,eep awake. But don't mean him."
Thus did he proceed, pointing out every
man, woman, and child, who bad in the slight
est deviated from betittiug line OF conduct
| characterzing the mlsdemeanor and reading
| sharp lessons OF rebuke.
Judge White was all this time sitting at the
| end of the front seat, just under the speaker
enjoying the old eentleman's disqulsIton Il
the last degree; twisting bis neck around Il
note if the audience rellshed the "dowu com
ings" as much as he did; rubbing his hand:
smiling, chuckling inwardy. Between hi
teeth and cheek was moustrous quid Of to
bacco, which the better he was pleased tb
more he chewed; the more he chewed th
more he spat, and behold, the floor bore wilt
ness to the results. AT length, the old gen
| teman strainhtenino himself up to his Ia
height, continued, with great gravity -,
And now, reckon, you want 10 ,v kuVw
whom do mean. mean that diity' S nSStS y
filthy tobacco chewer, sitting on t. ibe enS no,,t
that front seat" his hnger, mean ,snlosee VIVA
ba % bas "b beeI, @S al about Look at those puddle
on e the nSs floor; floor fro wouldn't ge. into toem -
Thuf OF The tails Of his sisters bs S,s'scs eress sip
through that hat T%e6 Ss never iGs eSeIed
tnoye en- 1uI tobacco in church.-Rer. W. H. MI
| buTD