The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-13

THE following narrative of a practical
joke is told by Grace Greenwood, ola GER
tain d pctor Elliot, a noted charac ter, OF
noted old Connecticut town.
Late one dark night, being summoned to
a patient in a neighboring parish, DIR. Ell
lot went for his horse to his barn, which
was at some distance from the parsonage.
Just as he was about to enter, he heard
some one coming out, and Immediately
concealed himself behind a large bush in
the lane, hiding his lantern under his
cloak Presently the wide barn-door
swung open, and man appeared, bending
beneath an immense load of hay bound
together by rope. Through loops of
this rope he had thrust his arms, and he
carried the huge mass like a peddler's
pack.
The Doctor suffered this thieving Atlas
to pass him then, taking the candle from
his lantern, he crept softly forward and
set fire to the hay, then again concealed
himself. In moment that moving hay
cock was one great, cracking blaze, and
the thief, with wild cries, was frantically
tlinging it from his head and back. He
succeeded in extricating himself without
nelp, and then ran as though pursued by
fiends across the snowy fields.
Some months after this there came to
the Doctors study pale, thin, melan-
choly looking man; who, after much
painful hesitation, expressed desire to
make confession of sin. With serious
and sympathetic manner, yet with, sus-
pert, sly twinkle in his eye, the minister
set himself to listen.
1--WE had dreadful load on my con-
science, Doctor, for cosid'ble SPELL and
it does seem as eff 'twould kill me. Tn
eeny most dead now"
"Ahl is it possible9 What can you
have done? You are respectable man
and churchmember," replied the Doctor,
in seeming surprise.
"Yes, i jned the church thirtyyear ago."
replied the old farmer; then, sinking his
voice 10 an awsOme confidential tone, he
continued: "But I'm dreadful sinner,
for all that, Doctor: and, bein' church
member, my sin, you see, was of too much
account to be winked at, and judgment
follered close arter it. o dear, o."
pray tell me your trouble, brother"
"Well, Doctor, it cOnsarns y0u."
Indeed p
eyes One time last winter, [ got
| leetle short of fodder, and | thought to
myself as how you had more'n enough for
your critters and so one night the Devil
tempted me to go over to your barn, and
| tu-O dear, o.!
ITO help yourself to a little of my sur
plus hay; eh ?"
Yes, Doctor, jes SO! But never got
| home with that are hay The Lord would
Mt let me du it. had load on my back,
and was carryin' it away when all III
once 1t burst into blaze about my ears !"
Struck by lightning"
ono Dnatnr II moo a oloor oirhf T'ua
| Jest made up my mind that fire dropped
down from Heaven and kindled that are
hay. Twas judgment an warnin',
an I'm afeared sort of forerunner of the
flames of hell. haint had no peace OF
mind sence, nor felt like eatin good meal
of vittals AT last thought might feel a
leetle better eff I'd jest own up to you, an
ask your pardon an your prayers"
To the establishment of the poor peni-
tent, the minister laughed out right mer-
rily. Then he said: "Be c0mforted,
neighbor; your little thieving operatio Il
was hardly of such consequence Heaven
as all that 1t was l who caught you at it,
and set fire to the hay from my lantern
and must say you yelled Justify and ran
briskly, for a man of your years. Why
didn't you tell me if you wanted hay /:
Now go home in peace, get well, and steal
no more"
"You, Doctor? You? Be you sartir
sure you sot fire to that are bundle o.
hay?"
Eyes, quite sure; that was my owl
little bonfire | hope it didn't scorch you
much. L noticed, when you came to meet
ing the next Sunday, that your hair was 8
little singed AS for the flames of hell
neighbor that's your own lookout. Itrust
there is time to escape them yet"
$50, sol twas you did it all The Lori
be praisedl" exclaimed the farmer, fer
vently. at rally is an amazln, relief, an
my old woman was right; for she says
Go to the minister an confess says she
AN thatll lift the biggest heft of the sir
off your conscience, an be better than Goc
tor stuff. says she. An so you did it
Well, folks say you're a master man for 8
joke; but this ere one was more solemn
than sermon to me, an more effectoOal
Doctor, | do believe"
So saying, the farmer departed in peace
and the parson kept the secret of his name
even in his own family, always, l think