The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-04-15
A MINISTER In A NEW ROLE.
How he Cleaned his Cistern, and What
Came of 1t.
From the Cincinnati Chronicle.1

From the Cincinnati Chronicle1
A few days since well known minister,
who owns house in the West End which
is now vacant, paid the premises visit,
for the purpose of examining their con-
dltion. After taking survey of the
house and finding everything in good con-
ditlon, the reverend gentleman took a
look into the cistern, the bottom of which,
to his sorrow, he found to be covered with
sediment, old tools, tin pans, stones.
bricks, etc. After viewing the filthy
mess for some time, the frugal minded
old gentleman came to the conclusion
that in view of the hard times and high
price of labor, the wisest course he could
pun sue was to clean it himself, especially
as his sermon was written for the week,
and he, In consequence, had plenty of
leisure. Having once resolved, the old
gentleman lost no time in executing.
Proceeding to house he Invested himself
of every article of clothing save his draw
ers, and thus attired entered the cistern,
went manfully work, with hands and shov-
Ell, until the whole mass was thrown up.
Having completed his task, he wendell his
way to the house for the purpose of dom
ming his costume of sober black, when,
oh, horror horrors! not garment was
to be seen whore he had LETT them. All
were gone. Thieves, it appears, who had
not the fear of the law or the reverend
cistern cleaner before his eyes, had enter
ed the house, while the old gentleman was
was digging away to the tune of Old Hun
dred, and stolen his clothes. Here was
a nice predicament to be placed in. Not
stitch of clothing to hide nakedness,
save the sadly damaged drawers and no
means ofprocuring any save by an app
pearance on the street in his primitive
costume, which modesty forbade, but the
chilling temperature of the house urged.
Exercise was his only means of keeping
warm, while racking his brain to decide
upon method ofrelief Sc at it he went,
and notwithstanding his conscientious
scruples on the subject of dancing some
Of the liveliest hoedowns ever executed
by a minister, at least-in this city, the
silent walls of that deserted dwelling then
witnessed. The noise of the old gentle
mans terpsichorean performance finally
attracted the attention and brought to
his aid a number of the neighbors, whose
horror and astonishment can be imagin-
ed at witnessing the performance Of a
breakdown by their respected fellow-citl-
zen In costume almost as scanty as a
Georgia full drees. -
Thinking, of course, that the old gen.
tleman had gone as near stark mad as he
was stark naked, the neighbors approach
ed him with great caution, and not for
some time after his discovery was it de-
cided to furnish him clothing in order
that he might 60 at large. One of the
boldest of the party, however. finally ap-
preached near enough to hear his explana-
ton of his strange appearance-which
the appearance of the cistern corroborat-
ed when a suit of clothes was procured,
the old gentleman clothed and warmed,
and allowed to depart in peace, amid the
suppressed filters, giggles of the specta-
tors. He has, we believe, since decided
to give up the cistern cleaning business.