The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-02-20

story goes, he proceeded to give an edit
ing discourse ON the Sin and folly Of pro-
hne swearing"
When l first heard it, Recognized the
story. It was an old acquaintance. 1t
had been doing service in England, It.
was told of Rev. Rowland Hill, only in
his case the topic was not the weather,
but the theatre, on which the young mans
profanity was expended. But stock sto-
ries, like couriers, like to change horses.
Before l knew 1t the saddle was shifted to
my back, nor have ever been able to
shake 1t off, | have denied it, twice in
print, many times by letter, and a hun
dred times in conversation, sall in vain.
Denying one Of these stories is like
fighting Canada thistles. Ifyou cut them
up ten more will sprout from each root,
and II you let them alone million will
spring from the seed. The only way to
exterminate the Canada thistle is to plant
1t for crop and propose to make money
out of 1t. Then worms will gnaw 1t, bugs
will bite 1t, beetles will bore it, aphides
will suck it, birds will peck il, heat will
scorch it, rains will drown it, mildeW and
blight will ride it. Allnature helps weeds
and runs down crops. We are afraid to
deny it. 1t would start off a-walking like
Weston. A new batch of letters would
come moaning and inquiring at our door.
Fresh Vigor would be given to its withered
limbs, and like the wandering Jew, it
would go tramping up and down creation
till the last day. No, for safety's sake, we
do not propose to deny it any more! 1t
would be the ruin Of innocent souls, as
this narrative which / now shall give will
prove.
And the narration ofthe incident brings
me back to the question whether one can
remember what never happened. 1t will
be seen that he can. ..F..
Sitting at friends table, one evening, l
was telling an incident that befel me-in
this wise
"a young man from Buffalo called to
see me to-day. He said that he had heard
young lady, in large company, relat-
ing the story of my beginning a sermon
with the phrase: 1T is id hot He
at once contradiCted it. She affirmed it
positively He replied l have lately
read published denial of the story from
Mr.. Beecher himself She answered ;
Why, was present myself at his church
and heard it with my own ears Of
course he could not say what he thought, but
replied, l am going to New York, and |
will myself call and ask Mr.. Beecher,'"
The case seemed so fragrant, that said
to him: "When'you go back, wish you
would take occasion, before witnesses, to
say to the lady, from me. that she Ties
and that she bpOOOS that she lies, and that
che knows that know that she lies"
This was very improper language, but l
was angry, and, besides, had been reading
the Tribune.
When had got thus far, asweet young
girl, who sat opposite me-brought up un
der me almost from the cradle, and as in.
capable Of knowingly telling falsehood
as a rosebud would be Of committing bur
glary-this innocent and charming child
of fifteen looked over at me, and said
"But you did say so, didn't you, Mr..
Beecher? heard your
For a moment there was silence. Then
came q crash of laughter from the whole
company. Confused and blushing scarlet,
she said:
"Why, Ialways thought that had heard
you say t" -......- ,....-...
For the first time then believed that q
person might distinctly remember what
never took place. Itake back the message
to the Buffalo lady, and humbly apologize
for supposing that one could not recall Q
thing which never happened.