Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-09-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Innocent Sabbath Breaker.

A certain jolly farmer, who lived several
miles from the Westinghouse was astOuished
to observe one Sunday morning his near neigh.
Dor. pious Deacon hard at work in his hay
field. with his sons and his hired men" But
the truth diVined; the deacon. who
took no paper aud owned no nlmanac-was. in
short, not literary man-had mistaken the
day of the week, aud his we'll ordered family
had adopted his error. am sorry to add that
l'eing more of wag than n saint. our farmer
declined to eUlighten the innocent Sabbath
breaker, but drove on, chuckling. toward the
sanctuary. The deacon looking after him.
and. pausing in the midst of the broad swath
he was cutting. exclaimed
EFF there nint neighbar Doolittle. and Miss
Donlittle. and all tho children. dressed up
and goin' visitin' Saturday mnrnin' in the
midst of hayin' time. That beats all =
The next morning the deacon and the dea>
cons wife. his SONS and daughters. his hired
man. the hired girl. and the bound boy" all
arrayed in their best. set out for meeting in
good time and in good order-the eldest son
on horseback. with the eldest daughter mount
cd behind him piilon the deacon with
the rest of the family, in the big farm wagon.
drawn by u pair of stout roans, who logged so
heriy along with their meckest Sunday look on.
The family delusinn extended even to the vel
low dog who trotted in the rear of the decorous
turnout without a secular rrisk or bark or
gambol
On the way tn the village tho deacon was
surprised and shocked to see several oc his
fellow townsmen at work in their ield-. Tie
invariably stopped to reprove and adminish
them. but the joke of his own Sunday work
had spread through the neighborhood, aud
was so much relished that no one cared to un-
deceive him. Each turner's excuse for his
impiety was the necessity of getting in his
hay before shower. which he pretended was
imminent, though the sky was clouiess.-
Expostulations and replies were something
after this sort:
"Why. Uncle Zebulon. this here is fine
day. with no appearance of rain"
''Jes. so, deacon but the winds a lco'lc
unstiddey, and believe in taking time by the
iorelnck."
''But, uncle; it's the Lords time
Yes. deacon but intend to send load
of this here hay to Parson Mosley, and thatll
make it all square. guess"
"Why. ncighhor Barlow. where under the
canopy do you find signs of rain to-day? ?"
ain my corns, deacon. When they begin
to shoot, I look out for damp spell; and it
always comes. sooner or later"
Why, Ephraim Pettingill! I am beat
You horse-shoeing on Sunday"
Why. you know deacon a mcrciful man
is mcrciful TO his beast"
After each spccious response the deacon
shook his head mourniully and drove on. He
reached the village. drove mp to the meeting
house steps. where he and his hired man hand
ed out the women folks" and chiIdrcn-his
son and daughter had already diSmOunrcd at
the horse block together they marveIIed
much at the closed meeting-house doors and
vacant wagon-shed There they waited more
and more amazed. till several loungers from
the village store gathered round them. laugh
ing and uuizzIlng, till terrible small boy
called ont
"What are you doin' here. Monday morn
ing? Did you sleep over Sunday. or did you
forget to put your beans into the oven Sat
urdav night?"
Upon that hint they went riding and driv-
ing homeward at quite festive rate of speed
albeit in deeply mortified and peDitentia
! state of mind.