The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-04-12
Pompey's Conscience.

Several years ago, in a New Eng
land village, might be found very
fourishing Congregational church
which was served by an elderly pas
tor of great worth and Of unusual
ability as preacher. It was as com
mon then, as it Is now uncommon,
for the pastoral relation among them
to grow stronger with age, and not
unfrequently to last lifetime.
"But times change, and we change
with them," the Roman poet saws,
and so our old friend the pastor
found. He was not at all disposed
to yield up his position; although he
knew from cold looks of some, and
averted faces of old friends, mem
bers of his congregation, that he did
not stand so well with the "new set"
who had sprung up in the room of
their fathers. Coming events cast
their shadows BEFORE" and the good
man felt in his bones that he was to
see trouble ere long.
Matters came to crisis in the
following fashion: The malcon-
tents had for some time been finding
fault-now with his doctrines, which
were "old fogy," and "out of date"
now with his sermons which were
"too long," too prosy," without
fire" and "not ola sort to touch the
heart" again with his manner, which
was "cold," "too grave and monoto-
nous" to suit the young people; in
fact, they had pretty much over
hauled everything that could be
made handle of to get the good
parson out of his congregation. And
he did not or would not pay any at
tentioA to what at last came to his
ears, through some of the gossips.
they resolved 'to bolt"
They had borne it as long as they
could. They wouldn't endure it any
longer. They resolved on the "next
Sabbath to rise in a body and leave
"the meeting"
They did so, and took pretty
large proportion of the congrega-
tion, not all decidedly opposed to the
parson, but several of them of that
class who are ready to follow others
to good or evil-more "wax noses"
One of these was named Pompey,
shortened into Pomp, which, in fact,
suited well with his character, for
POmp was a Well-dressed negro on
Sunday, and felt hImself "as large as
any white man." Pomp had heard |
the conversations Of his white breth-
rem, and had determined to bolt with |
them, if they should leave the con-
And he did.
AS Pomp joined the rebels on the
they were greatly taken
sbaek. They did not evidently con-
slider him to be as much honor to
heir movement,as he judged himself.
So one of them opened fire upon
lim:
"Pomp! what are you doing out
lereP'
"Me, sab? Pse got tired de par
ion."
"Tired what have you to say
against him?"
"Oh, muffin special agin de man,
,ut dozzept like his teachin's. His
is too long; I goes to sleep,
re see. I likes somfen more citing
ike; and, de fact is, my conshuns
Won't let me sit any longer under his
,reachin'."
Conscience, Pomp! That's too
,oodw
eyes, sab! Can't the gemman of
olor hab conshuns, Pse like to
1nowT'
swell, 1 s'pose he can Pomp; but
THAT do you know about conscience?
What is concience?
"Conshuns, sah2 1 think l knows
that conshuns is. Conshuns, sab!
ahemw (Pomp here
rev himself up, put his hand upon
is breast, with his finger pressed in
rmly, and with his eyes rolled up
4 a sanctimonious fashion, said, with
reat energy), 'Conshuns is dat feel
4 here, what says, / won't. OATS
sahr'
There is great deal in our day
-hich is said and done under the
acred name of conscience, but when
educed to its true meaning, it is
othing more nor less than that feel
lg within of sheer self-will, which
lys, emphatically, with eyes raised
heaven, hand upon the breast, and
1ger pressed to the heart, 81 wont.
IS POmp's conscience.-Church
OurRal.
One Scott, who runs a skunk skin r
Lnnpru in TndionoDO1;e r,,.,..I .