The Lincoln County herald., 1872-10-09
Cold CHSiard. or How a Deacon got
OCOrred,H

"Corced."
A very marked character was Deacon
H., who was long time citizen of St.
Louis, coming here when he and the city
were alike in their youth and remaining
until he took his departure from this
mundane sphere to reap the reward Of an
exemplary life. A few years agc, when
the Temperance excitsment--of which
father Mathew was tho great high priest
prevailed so generally over the Eastern
and Western states, no greater enthusiast
lent bis energies to the advancement Of
total abstinence principles than Deacon
II. He was about fifty years Of age and n
bachelor; and 20 much abashed by the
presence Of ladies, that save in the way
of business, be aiways took good care to
avoid them. lie had been brought up
puritan Of the most ultra Calvanistic
type, and this cheerful creed had per-
ueatsd every fibre of his being and shone
forth in almost every act Of his life,
Naturally q kind hearted man. his cast
iron principles had so warped bis human
ity that 10 charity for the errors or fail
ing Of others could fHd avenue to his
heart. 1t was his pride (unconsciously)
that even 10 minor or indifferent matters
his actions were governed by a stern
sense of duty. But that he lived con
scieutiously y up to the level of his profes.
sion, no one who knew him doubted
lie was liberal to the poor-not from any
sympathy with their Irivatious-but be-
cause 1t was his duty to bestow aims in
proportion to his means lilo was not
liberal to his employees, because it was
likewise his duty to be prudent aud eco
nomical. Nor was he liberal or charitable
to professors of o different faith from bis
own, his duty forbiddiuy him iu any way
to countenauce error.
Still he was man to be respected, and
in q manner admired even by those who
found the most fault with his ris id and
rigorous creed, for lie was honest and
true, and above taking advantage of any
Of the chances which fell in his way Of
reap,ng unfair gains from his fellow man
No damaged or inferior goods ever went
out of his esta ab.ishmsnt as first class, but
the clerk who had been detected in mis-.
representing the quality Of any article
would have gone out very suddenly.
With all these good qualities, he could
not help but be high I,gnitury in the
church. In one way his services were
almost indispensable to the impscunious
congregation of which he was member
Ho held as . point Of conscience that
wheever travelled in the service Of the
church should pay his own expenses.
This singular crotchcd caused him to be
in great demand as a delegate to synods
general assemblies, &c, of the church
These occasions were anxiously looked
for by his clerks, who took advantage o
his absence to relax little from tha
severe propriety Of department which
was exsctsd from them when he wal
present. In other words-their own
"thsy had good time when the old maj
was away
Christmas was approaching, and th'
boys were delighted when they learned
that "Old stub and twist"--as they irrev
ersutly designated him among themselves
would be of to a convention durinl
Christmas week. They resolved to hav'
an especial high old time on that festive
occasion, to make up for the similar occa
sious when they had been compelled Il
attend church in gravely decorous mau
ncr and Christian frame ot mind.
10 Deacon H.'s store was long coun
ter reaching from end to cad, the onl.
one Of the kind pertaining to any OF tn
establish usnts whose clerks we're 10 tn
same set with the Dsaeon's. Although
it was rather risky, in the event Of dis
oovery, it was determined to hold tn
Christmas festivities where this lon
counter could he utilized for the purpos
Of setting out to advantage, the "galsumE
hsu." spread it was resolved upon
have on this super ordinary occasion,
come of after the store was closed
night. Numerous guests we're invited
y and every preparation was made to chez
the hearts and stomaohs Of the expeote
participants. No civilized person woul
expect, of course, that egg. noG could
any possibility, be overlooked, for wh'
: would Christmas be without 1t but
, = eckssy end dslvsiov- Consequently