Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-09-20

a L 1 u
(FoR THE CoUNTRY.)
@- Is published regularly on TUESDAYS,
THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS, at So per
annum-psyable in advance.
TaE KISSING DEACoN,-ln one of our puri.
tanical towns of New Eagland, says an easter
paper. lived Deacon Brown, very staid, dig
ni6ed sort of Christian, perfect model OF pro,
priety. Deacon Brown bad the misfortune to
lose bis wife and at the age OF forty had found
himself with family OF four small children,
without mistress to his farmhouse. AS be
could not Immediately take anothor wife and
avoid exciting scandal, and could not get along
without getting some one 10 take charge OF ths
kitchen and nursery, he had recourse TO employ
ing young woman as housemald.
Nancy Stearns was laughing, ronplng
beauty, who delighted in experimenting upon
the Deacon, by way Of testing the strength OF
human nature For long time the Deaco
was invulnersbe, but at last, in moment OF
unguarded weakness, he was led into tempta-
ton, and committed igbt ndiscretion' with
his beautiful housemaid. When he recovered
his wonted GOODNESS and presence of mind, he
was horri6ed at the enormity OF his sin. lu
vain he repentcd and grieved over lost virtue.
Finally. as last effort OF casing his conscience,
at the service on the following Sabbath morn
ing he arose and requested the forbearance of
the brothers and sisters iew moments, when
he electrified them by making the follow con-
tessioO.-
'My Christian friends, you know that lost
nv wife som- months ago (sobs and tears, and
that Nancy Stearns ha, been keeping house
for me. And you know that l have little
child not wear DID, Well, sometimes that
child would cry in the night, aud it would be
long time before could quiet it and last
Tuesday night-God forgive me!-the child
cried 80 hard that Nancy arose and came luto
the room and leaned over the bed to hush the
chid-and, brothers and sisters, her leaning
over me there made me forget Christ.
What did you do " demanded the minister,
steruly.
I-I-ki-ssed her' stammered out the
Deacon, between his sobs, but I've been very
sorry about it, and prayed to be forgiven, and
want you to forgive and pray for me, brothers
and sisters.
AS the Deacon bowed himself upon his seat
like the mighty oak before the tornado Dea-
con Goodfeow arose and astonished the au-
deDce still more, by saying
brothers and sisters, you have heard what
brother Brown has said now he wants our
forgiveness. For my part, believe brother
Brown is truly penitent and l am willing to
forgive him with my whole heart Aud, broth
ers and sisters, will add still further, that it
| had no wife, and pretty girl like Nancy
Stearns shoad come into my room, and lean
over my bed, and lean over ne, Ia kiss her,
sin or no sin -
SPLENDID DEsCRIPTIoN-On certain
occasion one Paul Denton, a Methodist preach
er 10 Texas, advertised barbecue with better
liouor than is usually furnished. When the
people assembled, desperate 10 the crowd
cried out, ''Mr Paul Denton, your reverence
has lied. You promised not only good bar
becue, but better liquor. Where's the liquor?
'There ?' answered the missionary, In tones
of thunder, and pointing his finger at the
matchless double spring gushing up 10 Two
columns, with sound like shout OF Joy, from
the bosom of the EARTH There !! ne repeat
ed, with look as terrible as lightning, while
his enemy actually trembled at bis ieet'
There is the liquor which God the Eternal
brews for his children! Not IN the slmmerlng
still, over fires checked with poisonous gases
and surrounded with the stencil and slckenlng
odor of corruption does our Father In Heaven
prepare the precious essence OF lite pure water.
But 10 the glade and grassy dell, where the
red deer wander and the child loves to play,
there God brews it; aud down in the deepest
valleys, where the fountains murmur aud
the rills sing and high up in the mountain
tops, where the granite gitters like gold 10 the
sun, where the storm clouds brood and the
sea, where the hurricane howls music and the
biz waves roll chords, sweeping the march OF
God-tbere he brews 1.-THE beverage OF llte,
health. giving water And everywhere 1t lsa
thing of beauty cleaning on the dewdrop,
singing in the summer rain, shining 10 the Ice
gems ii ! they seem turned to living jewels;
spreadipg golden veil over the setting sun, or
awhile csuze around the midnight moon;
sporting in the cataract, sleeping 10 the acier,
dancing in the hail shower, folding its bright
curtins softly around the wlntry world; ana
weaving tho many coored lrls that seraphlc
zone of air, whose warp is the rain drops OF
earth, checkered over With celestial powers
the mystic hand IF retraction-that blessed
lite water; no poison bubbles on its brink, lis
foam brings no madness and murder; 20 blood
stains its LIQUID glass; pale widows and siarV
inc children weep no burning tears 10 lis depths!
Sneak out nv friends, would you exchange II
for the demons drink, alcohol!
A shout like the roar OF a tempest answered
"No!"
REED B1RDs.-Thesc little fellows having
reared their broods on the vast meadows OF the
Northern and Middle States, have gone TO
Winter quarters. They arc known while with
us as the bobolink. AS the Fall draws near
thew change their plumage from the gorgeous
black and golden white OF the Summer season
to a sober green and russet. and the mae IS
not dstinguishabe from the other sex. lm,
msse focks gather and fly Southwark toward
the cod OF August. When they get to Penn
syvapia and Virginia, they stop for time on
the rcedy banks of the Delaware, Potomac and
James Rivers, and get fat and luscious
Connoisseurs tells Us that no bird equals IL
delicacy the ortolanS OF the plains OF Italy.
Such have never par,aken of the reed birds Of
our own country. The former nave fat on the
sides and hips and are SO small that halt
savory as they are, the remembrance Of the
A. Got ;n;o