The Portland daily press., 1869-09-08
struck by lightning z.

DIR. Elliott, noted clergyman of an old
Connecticut town, being "we-to-do," and
keeping neither locks nor bolts on his posses
sions, was frequently visited by burglars in
small way. One dark night he went to the
barn for his horse, which was some distance
from the patsonage. just as he was about to
enter he heard some one coming out, and i'm
mediate1Y concealed himself behind large
bush in the lane, hiding his lantern under his
cloak. Presently the door opened, and man
appeared, bending beneath an immense load
OF hay bound together by rope. Through
loops of this rope he had thrust his aims and
he had carried the huge mass like pedlar.
The Doctor suffered this tbieving Atlas to
pass him, then he crept softly foi ward and
taking the candle from his lantern, set fire to
the hay, and concealed himself In a mo-
ment that moving hay-cock was one great
blaze, and the thief was flingng it from his
back and shoulders. He succeeded in extri-
eating himself without help, and then ran as
though pursued by fiends, across the snowy
fields. ...a.. I'D
Some months after this there came to the
Doctors study pale, thin man, who after
much painful hesitation, expressed desire
to make confession of sin. With serious
manner, yet with, l suspect, sly twinkle in
his eye, the minister set himself to listen.
"Pve had dreadful load on my conscience
Doctor, for spell; and it does seem as eff
'twould kill me-"
"Ah! is it possible? What can you have
done? You are respectable man and a
church member" replied the Doctor, in SEEM
ing surprise.
"Yes, jined the church thirty years ago" !"
replied the old farmer; then sinking his
voice to an aweSome, confidential tone, he
all that, Doctor; and bein' a church member
INV in too rp1Ioh appOnnt fO hn win knd
at, and Judgment folered soon arter it."
spray tell me your trouble"
"Well, Doctor, it consarns you."
''Indeedr'
"Yis. One time last winter got little
short of fodder, and l thought to myself as
how you had more than enough for your
critters; and so one night the Devil tempted
me to go over to your barn, and tu-oh dear,
ohw
ITO help yourself to little hay, eh?"
"Yis, jist so. But l never got home with
that are hay. The Lord wouldn't let me do
it. had load on my back, when all at
once it burst into blaze about my ears"
"Struck by lightning?'
"NO' Doctor, it was clear night. Pve
made up my mind that fire dropped from
Heaven and kindled that are hay. Twas a
judgment, an Pm afraid sort of torerunner
of the flames of He'll, l thought might feel
little better Ell I'd jest own up 10 you, ana
ask your pardon and your prayers"
To the astonishment of the poor penitent
the minister laughed outright. Then he
said;" Be comtorted neighbor; your little
thievng was hardly of such consequence to
Heaven as all that. 1t was L who caught you
at it, and set fire to it from my lantern; and
must say you. yelled Justify and ran briskly
for man of your years. Now go home in
peace, get well, and steal no more"
'!You, Doctor, you? Be you sartin sure
you sot fire to that are hay?"
eyes, quite sure; that was my own little
bonfire. hope it did not scorch you much,
l noticed when you came to meeting the
next Sunday, that your hair was little
singed. As for the flames of hell, neighbor,
that is your own lookout"
I $50, so! twas you did it after all. The
Lord be praised! exclaimed the farmer fer
vently. "It's raaly an amazing relief and
my old woman was right for she said go to
the minister and confess said she. And so
did it.
well, folks say you are master man for a
joke; but this one was more solemn to me
than a sermon, and more eftectooal, Doctor.
do believe"
So saying the farmer departed in peace
and the parson kept the secret of his name,
even to his own family, always l think.