Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-03-29
A CLERICAL AyECDOTE.

and keeping neither locks nor bolts OF
his possessions, was frequently visited by
burglars in small way. IL,
Coming home late one night from
visit to poor parishioner. he heard. OF
passing through his kitchen, strange
smashing noise in the cellar, soon followed
by the sound of stealthy steps coming VI
the stairs. Hiding behind the door, he
saw emerge tall man, bending under q
huge basket, filled with salt pork, just
taken dripping from the brine.
The doctor recognized a poor neigh
Dor, and. stepping forward. said kindly
You have heavy load there. Allow
me to assist you"
With cry of dismay, the culpri
dropped the basket, and actually fell or
his knees, entreating forgiveness on the
plea that it was his first offence, and tha,
his family were suffering for want Of
food.
9 But, my friend," said the good doc
tor,."you certainly knew you could ask
and get it, without damaging your SOU
with SIN and your coat with brine in thi,
way. forgive you, of course, bnt I dc
think you have taken more than YOU
share of pork. l vii! divide this with
you, and when You want more, or any.
thing else, just come and tell me frankly
And against the Iemonstrances of tLe
poor wretch, he compelled him to take
just half of the stolen meat, say ing, Gar.
ry it to your wife with my compliments
hope it will go down just as slick as
though you had not taken it without
! leave"
DR.. Elliot never revealed the name OF
this man. though he enjoyed telling The
story, he did one somewhat similar, which
is worth preserving.
One dark night lie went for his horse
in the barn, which was at some distance
from the parsonage Just as he was
about to enter, he heard some one coming
out. and Immediately concealed himself
behind large bush in the lane. hiding
his lantern with his cloak. Presently
the wide door swung open, and a man
appeared. bending beneath an immense
load of hay bound together by rope.
Through loops of this rope he thrust his
arms, and carried the huge mess like a
peddlers pack. The doctor suffered this
thieving atlas to pass bin then, taking
the candle from his lantern, he crept soft
ly forward and set fire to the hay, then
agail concealed himself. In moment
that moving haycock was one great,
cracking blaze, and the thief, with wild
cries, was frantically finging it from his
head and back. He succeeded in extri-
eating himself without help, and then ran
as though pursued by fends across the
snowy fields.
Some months after this there came to
the doctors study, pale, thin, melan-
choly looking man, who, after much pain
full hesitation, expressed a desire to make
a confession of sin. With serious and
sympathetic manner, yet with, | suspect,
a sly twinkle in his eye, the minister set
himself to listen.
i've had dreadful load on my con-
science for considerable spell and it
does seem, doctor, as eff 'twould kill me.
I'm a most dead now
"Ah is it possible? What can you
have done? You are respectable man,
and church member - the old farmer,
then sinking his voice to an awesome,
confidential tone, continued: But
I'm dreadful sinner for all that, doctor,
and being church member, my sin, you
see, was of too much account to be wink
ed at, and Judgment followed close on
after it. 0 dear, or
ITO help yourself to little of my
surplus hay, eh ?"
"Yis, doctor, jes so! But I never got
home with that ar hay. Tie Lor6 would
not let me do it | had a load on my
back an was carrying it away, when all
at once it burst into blaze about my
ears
Struck by lightning p q. f
"No. doctor, it was a clear night. I've
Just made up my mind that that fire
dropped down from Heaven and kindled
the hay Twas a Judgment and warn
in, an I'm afeared sort of forerunner
of the flames of hell. At last thought
| might feel little better if d jest own
up to you, an ask your pardon an your
prayers .
To the astonishment OF the poor PEN
itent, the minister laughed out merrily
Then he SAID: F.: "Be comforted neighbor,
your little thieving operation was hardly
of such consequence to Heaven as all
that 1t was l who caught you at 1t,
and set fire to the hay from my lantern
aud must say you yelled Justify and
ran briskly for man of your years
Why didn't you tell me you wanted hay
Now go home in peace, get well, and
steal no more" ..f.,...... l....
A REPORTER thus graphically describes