Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-07-01

my,"a renownedand redoubtable precah-
er of East Tennessee, was related by
Hugh L. White. for many years dis
tinguished Judge in that state. and after
wards conspicuous member of the Fed
eral Senate: p4 u.
1t was noised through the town Of
Jonesborough that Mr.. Axley would hold
forth on the morning of the ensuing Sab
bath. The famous divine was a great
favorite, with none more than Judge
White. At the appointed hour, the
Judge in company with large congre-
cation, was in attendance at the house of
prayer. All was hushed in expectation.
Mr.. Axley entered and with him cler-
ical brother who was "put up" to preach.
The congregation was composed Of q
border population; they were disap-
pointed; this was not the man they had
come to hear; consequently there was
good deal of misbehavior. The dis.
course was ended, and Mr.. Axley rose.
1t is custom in the new country, when
two or more preachers are present, for
each of them to have something to say.
The people think it is great waste Of
time to come long distance, and be put
off with short service. have gone
into church at eight o'clock in the morn
ing, and have not come out again until
five o'clock in the afternoon. Short adj
ministrations are the growth of thicker
settlements. t9
Mr.. Axley stood silently surveying the
congregation until every eye was riveted.
He then began: ka7a ~
1t may be very painful duty, but
it is very solemn one, for minister Of
the gospel to reprove vice, misconduct
and sin, whenever and wherever he sees
it. But especially is this his duty on
Sunday and at church. That is duty
am bound to attend TO-"
"And now" continued the reverend
speaker, pointing with his finger in the
direction indicated, that man sitting
out yonder behind the door, who got up
and went out while the brother was
preaching, stayed out as long as he want
ed to, got his boots full of mud, came
back and stamped the mud off at the
door, making all the noise he could, on
purpose to disturb the attention of the
congregation, and then took his seat;
that man thinks mean him. No won.
der he does. 1t doesn't look as if he had
been raised in the white settlements, does
it, to behave in that way at meetingf
Now, my friend, I'd advise you to learn,
better manners before you come to
church next time. But don't mean
him."
"And now," again pointing at his
mark, " that little girl sitting there,
about half way of the house-I should
Judge her to be about sixteen years old
that's her with the artificial flowers on
the outside of her bonnet; and the in
side of her bonnet she has breastpin,
too, (they were severe upon all superfu-
tiles of dress,) she that was giggling and
chattering all the time the brother was
preaching, SO that the old sisters in the
neighborhood couldn't hear what he was
saying. though they tried hard. She
thinks / mean her. I'm sorry from the
bottom of my heart for any parents who
have raised girl to her time of day and
havn't taught her how to behave when
she goes to church. Behave better next
time, won't your But don't mean her."
| Directing his finger to another aim, he
said "Thatman sitting there, that looks
as bright and pert as if he never was
asleep in his life, and never expected to
be, but that just as soon as the brother
took his text, laid his head down on the
back of the seat in front of him, went
sound asleep, slept the whole time and
snored; that man thinks mean him.
| My friend, don't you know the church
amt the place to sleepf If you needed
rest, why didn't you stay at home. take
off your clothes, and 60 to bed That's
the place to sleep, not at church. The
next time you have chance to hear .
sermon, I advise you to keep awake.
But don't mean him."
Thus did he proceed, pointing out ev.
cry man, woman and child, who had in
the slightest deviated from BETTING
line of conduct chsracterizing the mis-
demeanor, and reading sharp lessons Of
rebuke.
Judge White was all this time sitting
at the end Of the front seat, just under
the speaker, enjoyingthe old gentleman's
disquisitions to the last degree twisting
his neck around to note if the audience
relished the downcomings" as much a.
he did; rubbing his hands, smiling,
chuckling inwardly. Between his teeth
and cheek was monstrous quid Of to-
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