The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-24

noble stiffness in the back.
r - Grand Rapids Eagle.
Why the Minister Kicked the
Deacon.
A good many years ago, when the
Methodists were rather unpopular in
the Eastern States, witty divine of
that denomination was serving his
second year in country town in
New England. 1t was rather re-
markable in those days for the Con-
ference to send the same minister
two successive years to the same
church, especially in country town;
but it was done in this care, and it
seemed to be entirely satisfactory to
all concerned. The clergyman en-
joyed the confidence and love of his
own church and parish, and he had,
by his piety and fidelity to the cause
of Christ, won the respect of all
good people who knew him, outside
of his own parish. So the other two
churches, Congregationalist and
Baptist, had begun to manifest
spirit of tolerance toward him and
his church quite unusual for them.
About Thanksgiving time a regu.
lar attendant of the Baptist Church
died the Baptist minister was sick,
and the Congregationalist minister
was out of town. Under the cir
cumstances it was decided to invite
the Methodist minister to conduct
the funeral exercises. The invitation
was accepted, and at the proper time
the good clergyman started for the
house of mourning. He had some
four miles to travel on foot, and to
save distance, left the road and went
across fields and through woods.
Near this by-way where he was tray
cling there lived an old lady-a
member of his church. As he was
SO near, he thought he would call a
moment. The old lady did not go
to church very often; it was so far
from her home, and she was lame,
too; she was, therefore, of course,
oVerjOyed to see her minister, and
what he had intended should be a
momentary call was prolonged into
quite a visit in spite of all his efforts
to get away.
The old lady was making sausages
when he called. At last he told her
he must 60, but she said he must
wait a minute while she put up
mess of sausages for him to carry
home with him-enough for his fam
ily's dinner. He tried to explain to
her the improperly of her plan I'M
der the circumstances, but she was
inexorable; take the sausages he
must, and she could fix them so they
would be no inconvenience to him,
and the matter need not come to the
knowledge of any one else,
The sausages were neatly done up
in white cloth and snugly pinned
two parcels-and put in the pockets
of his swallow tailed coat behind
a parcel in each pocket.
Then he hurried away. Innocent,
kind-hearted old lady! she did not
imagine what grief, shame, NORTH.
cation and sorrow of heart this little
act would cause her pastor and he,
in his hurry to make up lost time,
little dreamed what awaited him in
consequence of the old lady's gift i!
When he arrived at the house of
the deceased, he found large COM
pany awaiting. The neighboring
farmers from far and near had as
sembled to pay their last tribute of
respect, and perform the last sad
Offices that the living can perform for
the dead some had come with car
riages, and their horses were hitched
to surrounding trees, fences and
posts. They had allowed their dogs
to follow them. There was a large
of men and boys about the
dooryard, waiting for the minister,
who was late; the women had mostly
gone inside, and the dogs were ex-
changing ciVilities, or inciVilities, in
true dog style, as they happened to
take liking, OF disliking, to each
Other-trotting about with their tails
rolled up in rigid coils, scratching
the ground aside at time, causing
the dust to fly, and casting approving
chances, or uttering low groWls of
warning, according as they felt
toward each other.
When the minister arrived he was
recognized, shook hands with such
as he was acquainted with, and was
introduced to others. He had bur-
red to get there in time, got heated
up, and warmed up the sausages in
MS pockets. They we're very saYory, !
and were emitting a fragrance that
loon came in contact with the olfac-
:Ory nerves Ofthe hungry dogs. The
after left off their attentions to each
'ther and began to snuff for the
Iource of the pleasant odOr, which
hey highly appreciated; and they
Don traced it to the minister. They
clustered about him in a very friend.
= manner, but no notice was taken