The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-10
A Clerical AnecdOte.

DR.. Elliott, a noted clergyman of an old
Connecticut town, being " well-todo," and
keeping neither locks nor bolts CD his pos
sessions, was frequently visited by burglars
in small way.
Coming home late one night from a visit
to poor parishioner, he heard, on passing
through his kitchen, strange, smashing
noise in his cellar, soon followed by the
sound of stealthy steps coming up stairs.
Hiding behind the door, he saw emerge a
tall man, bending under huge basket, filled
with salt pork, just taken dripping from the
brine.
The doctor recognized poor neighbor,
and stepped forward, said kindly: =" you
have heavy load there. Allow me to as
sist you"
With a cry OF dismay, the culprit dropped
the basket, and actually fell on his knees,
entreating forgiveness on the plea that it
was his first offence, and that his family
were suffering for want of food.
"But, my frieud," said the good doctor,
"you certainly knew you had only to get
it. without damaging your soul with sin and
your coat with brine in this way 1 forgive
you, of course but 1 do think you have
taken more than your share of pork. will
divide this with you, and when you want
more, or anything else, just come and tell
me frankly"
And, against the circumstances of the
poor wretch, he compelled him to take Just
half of the stolen meat, saying, Garry it to
your wife, with my compliments. hope it
will go down just as slick as though you
had not taken it without leave"
DR.. Elliott never revealed the name of
this man, though he enjoyed telling the
story, as he did one somewhat similar,
which is well worth preserving:
One dark night he went for his horse IN
the barn, which was at some distance from
the parsonage. Just as he was about to en-
ter, he heard some one coming out, and I'M
mediately concealed himself behind large
bush in the lane, hiding his lantern with
his cloak. Presently the wide barn door
swung open, and man appeared, bending
beneath an immense load of hay bound to-
gether by rope. Through loops of this
rope he thrust his arms, and carried the
huge mass like peddlar's pack. The doc
tor suffered this thieving Atlas to pass him;
then, taking candle from his lantern, be
crept softly forward and set fire to the hay,
then again concealed himself. In moment
that moving haycock was one great, crack
ling blaze, and the thief, with wild cries
was frantically flinging it from his head and
back He succeeded in extricating himself
without help, and then ran as though pur
sued by fiends across the snowy fields.
Some months after this there came to the
doctors study pale. thin, melancholy look
ing man, who sfter much painful hesitation
expressed desire to make confession o.
sin. With serious and sympathetic man
ner, yet with, suspect, sly twinkle in hi!
| eye, the minister set himself to listen.
"rve had dreadful load on my con
science for aconsid'ble spell; and it doe.
seem doctor, as eff It would kill me. Tn
Almost dead now"
"Ah! is it possible? What can you hav,
done2 You are respectable man, and a
church member" replied the doctor in seem
ing surprize.
| Eyes, j'ned the church thirty years ago,
replied the old farmer; then sinking In
voice to an awsome, confidential. tone, h,
continued : But I'm dreadful sinner, fo
all that, doctor; and being a church mem
Der my sin, you know, was of two mucl
amount to be winked at, and Judgment fol
Tered close on after it. o dear, or
| pray tell me your trouble, BROTHER"
| "Well doctor, it consarns you"
| "Indeed ~
| "Yes. One time last winter Igot it'll
short of fodder, and 1 thought to myself a
how you had more'n enough for your critters
and so one night the devil tempted me t.
1 IN RI how, ~ 10 n n
| ITO help yourself to little of my surplu
hay, eh 2"
| "Yis, doctor, jes so! But 1 never 60
home with that ar hay. The lordwould no
let me do it. l had load on my back
an was carryin' it away, when all at once i
burst into blaze about my ears
| "Struck by lightning 2"
| "No, doctor, it was clear night. "
just made up my mind that fire droppe,
down from Heaven and kindled that ar hay
Twas a judgment an warnin', an Tn
afeared sort of forerunner of the flames @
hell. At last I thought I might feel llttl
better if I'd jest own up to you, an ask you
pardon an your prayers"
| To the establishment of the poor penitent
the minister laughed out merrily. Then h
said: "Be comforted. neighbor; your littl
thieving operation was hardly of such cor
sequence to heaven as all that 1t was
who caught you at it, and set fire to the ha
from my lantern; and must say you yelle,
Justify and ran briskly, for man of you
years. Why didn't you tell me if you want
ed hay? Now go home in peace, get we
and steal no more"
"You, doctor! You2 Be you sartil
sure you sot fire to that ar hay 2"
"Yes, quite sure, that was my own it'll
bonfire. | hope it didn't scorch you much
l noticed when you came to meeting tn
next Sunday that your hair was littl
singed. As for the flames of hell, neighbor
that's your own look our 1 trust there i
time to escape them yet"
| $50, so twas you did it all! The Lor,
be praised F' exclaimed the farmer fervent
ly. at rally is an amazin' relief, an my oil,
woman was right, for she says: $50 to tn
minister an confess, and that'll lift the big
gest theft IF the sin off your conscience, an
be better than doctor stu7." An YOU did it
wen, foiks say you n naast<f ss,ar, f.,,r !,
joke; but this one was more solemn than
sermon to me, an more effectual, doctor,
do believe" .s'.. ~. 80;
So saying the farmer departed in peace
and the parson kept the secret of his name
even in his own family, always, think.