Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-05-14
An Effective Lesson.

THE following narrative Of a practical
joke is told by Grace Greenwood, ofa GER
tain Doctor Elliot, noted character, of n
noted old Connecticut town.
Late one dark night, being summoned to
n patient In noighboring parish, DIR. El-
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 baTn-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
tho thief, with wild cries, was frantically
flinging il from his head and back. He
succeeded in extricating himself without
help, and then ran as though pursued by
fiondS 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.
pect, sly twinkle in his eye, the minister
set himself to listen.
" I've had dreadful load on my con-
science, Doctor, for a cosid bic spell and
1t does seem as Of 'twould kill me. I'm
eeny most dead now"
"Ah is it possbleP What can you
have doncP You are q respectable man
and churchmember," replied the Doctor,
in seeming surprise.
"Hes jined the church thirty ago"
replied the old farmer then, sinking his
voice to an awsome confidential tone, he
continued but I'm q dreadful sinner,
for all that, Doctor: and, bein' a church
member, my sin, you sec, was of too much
account to be winked at, and Judgment
follered close arter It, o dear, Or
Pray tell me your trouble, brother"
"Well, Doctor, 1t consarns gou."
Indeed -
"Yes. 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 overto your barn, and
tu-O dear, or
"To help yourself to little of my sur.
plus hay eh W
"Yes, Doctor, jes sol But never got
home with that are hay. The Lord would
MT let me du it. l had load on my back
and was carryin' il away when, all tu
once 1t burst into blaze about my ears y
"Struok by lightningY"
No nnptnr IL ,1nor ,,irht To-,
Jest made up my mind that fire dropped
down from Heaven and kindled that are
hay. Twas a judgment an warnin',
an I'm aleared u sort of forerunner of the
flames of hell. haint had no peace of
mind sence, nor felt like eatin' a good meal
of vittals. AT last thought might feel a
leetle better ef I'd jest own up TO you, an
ask your pardon an your prayers"
To the astonishment of the poer peni-
tent, the minister laughed out right mer-
rily. Then he said: "Be comforted,
neighbor; your little thleving operation
WAS hardly of such consequence to Heaven
as all that 1t was who caught you At it,
and set fire to the hay from my lantern
and l must say you yelled Justify and ran
briskly, for 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, Doctor2 Youg Be you sartin
sure you sot fire TO that are bundle OF
hay?"
Yes, quite sure; that was my own
little bonfire. hope it didn't scorch you
much, noticed, when you came to meet
ing the next Sunday, that your hair was a
little singed. AS for the flames of hell,
neighbor that's your own lookout. thrust
there is time to escape them yet"
80, sol twas you did it ALI The Lord
be praisedl" exclaimed the farmer, fer.
vently. 1t rally Is an amazin, relief an
my old woman was right; for she says
Go TO the minister an confess, says she
AN thatll lin the biggest heft of the sin
of your conscience, an be better than doc,
tor stuff says she, An so you did it
Well, folks say you're master man for a
| joke but this ere one was more solemn
than sermon To me, an more ettectooal
| Doctor do believe"
SO saying, the farmer departed in peace
and the parsou kept the secret of his name
even in his own family, always, think.
.