Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-09-24
"Wsl. P.r,on Morrel had way o.

prayin with his eyes open. Folks said
it warn't The best way. but il was Parson
Morrels way anyhow, and - as ho Was
prayin' he couldn't help ssein' that Dss.
con Titkins was " noddin' AND bobbin'
out toward the place where old Dick WAS
leedin' with the sheep, front o. the mestin'
house door"
Lem snd me was siltin' where We
could look out. and we jest see old Dick
stop isedin', apd look at he deacon.
The deacon hsd II little round head IL
smooth AS an apple, with nice powder.
ed wig on it, and he sol there maxim
bnbs aud bows. and Dick begun 10 think
it wns .ulhin' sort o pussonal. Lem and
me w>s siltin' Jest where We could look
oul aud SEQ The hull pictur, and Lem was
tit to split"
"Good, now" says he, that critter'll
pay the deacon of lively pretty Soon
The deacon bobbed his head spell.
and old Dick he shook his hsrns and
stompod Mt him sort % lhreatenin'. FL
haly the deacon he snvo great bow
and brought his head down at him, and
old Dick he sol out full tilt and come
down on him ker chunk, and Knocked
him head over heels into the broad aisle,
aud his wig flew one way and he tothsr,
and Dick made lunge ut it as it flew,
aud carried il OF ON his horns"
Wal, you may believe that broke up
the msetin' for one willis, for Parson
Morrel laughed out, md all the girls and
boys they ,tompcd and roared, and the
old deacon he got up and began ru bbin'
his shius--causs he didn't see the joke
ont "
lyon don't orler laugh says he, it's
no lsughing mslter.-iI's solemn thing.
SAYS he Il might have been sent into
',nrujry 10y that darned crilter, says he.
Then they roarsd and haw. hawed the
more to seq the deacon dancn' round
with his iitllc shiny head, so smooth \ ily
would trip up ont. Il believe my soul.
yon'd aush to sea me in my grave, says
he
"WaI. the truth ont was, twas jest one
of them Dustin up times thai nstur has,
when there mt Aothin for it but 10 give
in twas jest like the ice breakm' up in
The Charles riycr-it all comes al once
and no whoa 10 it. Sunday or no Sum
day, sin or no sin, The most oil 'em laugh
ed till they cried, and couldn't help it.
"But the deacon hs went home feelin'
pretty sore xbou. it. Lem Sudoc he
picked up his wig and handed !, to him.
Says he. old Dick was playing aithing
man, wa'ut he, descons Teaeh you to
make allowance for other folks that get
sleepy"
Then Mrs. Ti,kins she went over 10
Aunt Jerushy Scran's and Aunt Polly Ho.
kum's. and they hod pot % lea over it,
and greed it WAS awful of l'arson Morlel
Ia sci .ich nj example, and sulhin' had
goi 10 bo done about il Aiss Hokum
said shc allers knew that Pslsou Morrel
hadn't no sprIoosiity, and now IL had
broke out into open sin, aud led all The
rest ol 'em into it. and Mrs. ritkins she
said such man want tit TO preach, and
Miss Hokum said she couldn't never hear
him ngn and tho next Sunday the dea-
con and lis wife they hitchsd and drv
eight miles oyei 10 Parson Lothrop's and
took Aunt Polly on the back seat.
oval, the thing growed and growed,
ill It seemed rs if there warn't uothin'
else talked about, cause Aunt Polly aud
Miss Titkin. and Jcrushy Scran they
didn't 40 nothin' but talk about it, and
that sot everybody else talkin'.
Finally, it was greed they must hev
council to settle the hash. SO al the
winmcn they went to chopping minse,
and making up punkin pies and cranberry
tarts, and b'ilin doughnuts, gslten' ready
for the ministers and delegates-'cause
counsels always cat powarlul-and they
had quite 4 stir, like gineral trainin'.-
The hosses, they was hitched all up and
down the stalls, a.stompin' and switchen'
their tails, and all the women was talk.
in, and they he'd up everybody round fol
witnesses, and finally Parson Morrel he
said: Brethren, says he, jest let me tell
you the story Jest as it happened, and il
YOU don't every one OF you iaugh as hard
as did. why, then, III give ap.'"
The parson was master hand NJ
setlin' off story ana aiore he'd done, hs
got 'em all in sich a roar they didn't
know where to leave off. Finally, they
give sentence that there hadn't no temp
tation took him but such rs is common to
nun; but they advised him aftcrward,
alters to pray with his eyes shet, and the
parson he confessed he oIter "a done it,
and meant to do better in future. and SO
they settled it.
$50, boys" said Sam, who always
drew morel, "ye see it Farms you you
must take care what ye look at, sf ye
want to keep from laughin' in meeting.