The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-05-10

unprepared was he for the event that ne
could rot recover himself, but down ne
went and never turned upward until he
bumped the bottom. The whole affair
to him was most supremely ridiculous,
and he laughed most heartily as he vent
down and came up, and expected to see
the whole crowd laughing when bis eyes
peeped out of the water, but there was
no laughing there. Every one thought
he wa. arowued-had seen the plunge
aud lost sight of him for so many mo-
mepts that the utmost horror had seized
them, and the spectacle presented TO the
gaze of the parson as his head popped up
out of the water was amusing ina iced
There they stood in breathless silence,
with mouths and eyes strete he'd open,
and aismay, all as Solemn as des:h,
printed upon every cOuntenance. 1t at
once occurred to the young parson that
he could turn lis solcmnity to account,
so getting one of the young gentlemen
to give his hand, he pulled himself up,
receiving liberal share OF red clay and
mud. At once he mounts d large stump
for rostrum, and the company gathering
around, he makes them speech. Behold
the parson! dreuched, and bedaubed
With clay and mud, his hair plastered to
the skull, his pants clinging with tenaci-
ty to his person, his left hand sOiled by
red CLAW, and his right holding his watch
which was soaking wet. His hat, all vet
md soiled, was kindly held by Miss K.
He makes his bow and speaks as follows:
Ladies and Genhenca-A sad acci-
dent has unexpectedly befallen me, and
am now drenchcd aud muddy as you
behold. The accident itself is q tfiffe'
but great results often follow insisnlh
cant causes, and the part of wisdom is, to
forecast the future, and guard against
the approach of evil. There are always
persons ready to misrepreseut and e1-
aggerate, and the probability is, that this
little event may be used to my detri-
ment. As small body ofsnow, falling
from the mountain top, gathers IN
volume at every increment of space,
Aantil it becomes formidable mass,
crushing beneath its weight everything
which opposes its progress, so with
rumor, mingled with scandal, the lnsig,
nificaut occurrence Of to day, may be-
come formidable power to crushing
my ministerial reputation and destroy
iny ny usefulness. This siu,pIe incl
dent. connected with the most innocent
recreation, may, by the mystic hand of
rumor, be distorted into a huge monster,
which shall bear no likepess to the
original. | started, ladies and gentlemen,
in the humble and lahorious field OF
itinerant ministerial labor, with an
homes, desire to do god. My greatest
ambition is to advance my Redeemers
Kingdom and win souls to Christ, and |
stand to-day, ready to sacrifice friends
comforts, position aud life itself, if need
be, to accomplish this eud /; and.l am
unwilling to risk this, or any other
event of the kind, in the way OF my
usefulness, aud call upon you, this
day, to aid me in my purpose. have not
We: been around my circuit. There are
ten churches to be visited for the FIRST
time, and if the people hear, before l
get to these churches, that,I have been
on fishing party and fallen over board
even if the report takes this simple aud
true form, there are plenty Of people,,
censoroue enough to say, owe must
have very triaing yoong preacher this
year. He is already going with the
girls on fishing parties Instead Of attend =
ing to his duties as a minister, and has
actually fallen into the creek" Another
will say, 81 never did believe in these
fishing parties no how, they are only
courtins parties after all, and 1 expect
,he has just come on our circuit to &c. q
wife," Another will say, "well,1 never
expected any better, for, the Conference
always sends Us tae poorest preachers
any how. ! saw this young man, and 1
do Mt like his looks at all, he is too fof-
|ish and iona of the girls to suit II
don't believe I'll 30 out, whsn he comes
round to our church." Aud. % twill
90, prejudice will increase, aud dislike
! will strengthen and my years labor will
be spent for nauSht. But you ladies aud
gentlemen, have it 10 your power 70 put
me,figasesha.k .ksedgne rishs 6 ,Bsiasa
all this. l have often heard itsaid, that
10 gentleman can keep a secret, but !