The Republican journal., 1869-10-21
CLERICAL ANECDOTES.

Dr.. Elliot n noted clergyman of an old
Connecticut town, being ''well-to-do," and
keeping neither lock nor bolts on his posses
Sions, was frequently visited by burglars in a
small way.
Coming homo late one night from a visit to
poor parishioncr, he heard, on passing
through his kitchen, a strange, swashino noise
in his cellar, soon followed by the sound of
Stealthy steps coming up the stairs. Hidino.
behind the door he saw emerge a tall man
lending under huge basket, filled with salt
pork, just taken dripping from the brine.
The doctor recognized a poor neiohbor.
and stepping forward, said kindly: You
have a heavy load there. Allow me to assist
you.,'
With a cry Of dismav, the culprit dropped
the basket, and actually fell on his knees. en-
treating forgiveness, on the plea that this was
his first otfense, and that his family were suf
1crmg from want OF food.
But my tricnd,' said the doctor, ..vou
certainly knew you had only to come to me
and ask for help to get it, without damaging
your soul with sin and your coat with brine
in this way forgive you of course, but |
do think yol have taken more than your share
Of pork. | viii divide this with you, and.
wien you want more, or anything else, lust
come and tell me frankly
And, against the remonstrances of the
poor wretch, he compelled him to take lust
halt OF the stolen meat, saying, ''Carrv it to
your Wife, with my compliments. | hope it
will 90 down Just as slick as though YOU had
not taken ii without leave.
Dr, Elliott never revealed the name of this
man, though he enjoyed telling the story, as
ne did one somewhat similar, which is well
worth preserving
One dark night he went for his horse in the
vel 1t Il i,tn a.,
parsonage Just rs he was about to enter, he
heard some one coming ont, and immediately
concealed himself behind 4 large bush in the
lane, hiding his lantern under his cloak
Presently the wide barn door swung open.
and man appeared, bending beneath an i'm
mcnse load Of hay hound together by rope
Through loops OF this rope he thrust his
alms, and he carried the hugh mass like a
pcddler's pack. The doctor suffered this
1hleying Atlas to pass him; then taking a
candle from his lantern, he crept softly for
ward and set fire to the hay, then again con-
cealed himself. In a moment that moving
haycock was one great, cracking blaze and the
thet, with wild cries, was frantically tiinoino
ii from his head and back. He succeeded in
eXtricatmg himself without help. and then
ran as though pursued by ilends across the
snowy fields.
Some months after this there came to the
doctors study pale, thin, melancholy look
mg man, who, after much painful hesitation,
expressed desire to make a confession of
SIN. With serious and sympathetic manner,
yet with, l suspect, a sly twinkle in his eve,
the minister set himself to listen.
''l7'c dreadful load on my conscience for
aconsiderabe spell; and it does seem, doctor,
rs ei't would Kill me. I'm almost dead now.'
''-Ah is it possible 4? What can YOU have
done? You arc respectable man and a
church member" replied the doctor in seem
ing surprise
Yes, j'incd the church thirty years ago
replied the farmer; then sinking his voice to
IN awesome confidential tone, he continu-
ed: but I'm a dreadful sinner, for all that
doctor; and, bein' church member nv sin,
You see, was OF too much account to be wink
ed at, and Judgment follnred close on artcr if
o dear, Oi'
PRAY tell me your trouble brother''
''Well. DOCTOR it consalns you.''
'.Indced,''
"Yis. One time, last winter, | got a lcctlc
short of fodder, and thought to myself as
how you had morc'n enough for your critters
and so one night the devil tempted me to 90
over to your barn, an TOO dear, or
''To help yourself to a little Of my surplus
hay, eh pr
''Yis, doctor, .jes SO! But never got home
with that ar hay. The Lord would not let
me do it. had a load on my back, an was
carryin' it away, when all at once it burst in
to blaze about my ears
''Struck by lightning?.''
'FNo, doctor, it was u clear night. I've lest
made up my mind that fire dropped down
from Heaven and kindled that ar'hay Twas
Judgment an q warnin', an I'm afeared
sort .of torerunner Of the flames of hell l
haven't had no peace of mind since, nor felt
like eatln' good meal. At last, thought
might feel better if I'd jest own up to you, an
ask your pardon an your prayers.
10 the astonishment of the poor pentcnt
the minister laughed outright merrilV. Then
he said: ''Be comfored, neighbor; your lit
tie thieving operation was hardly Of T such
consequence to heaven as all that It was
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 60 home in peace, get well and
steal no morc.''
''You doctor! You? Be you sartin sure
you sot fire to that ar hay?"
eyes quite sure; that was my own little
bonfire. hope it didn't scorch you much l