Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-01-23


doors, saying, "I'll teach you to give
the lie to minister of the Gospel"
This was "religious" service, some
thing over half century ago.
GOES TO THE 'CApEMY.
In the fullness of time my father
sent me to an Academy. l had ex-
alted ideas of the dignity of precep-
tor. That dignitary was absent preach
ing when l entered the school, but
came back in the middle of the FORE
noon and told the boys that in the
midst Of his preaching an old woman
hoped up and began screeching. He
told her to hold her peace. 1t was
time of revival and the old Scotch
pedagogue and preacher didn't know
what a revival was, as l found out af-
forwards.
The preceptor had lost his wife 3
short time before, and he felt anxious
to have the loss made up. There was
girl in the school named Hannah.
He shortly got SO as to call her "his
Honey" He used to climb trees and
steal robins eggs from the nests to
make into necklaces for "Ho-ney."
One day he got on a weak limb, 10 or
II feet up, and the limb broke, with
tremendous consequences to the peda-
gogue and the surprised eggs. At last
ne married Hannah.
The pedagogue | never liked. Among
other reasons mad this: Father asked
the principal one day swell, how is
John getting on3"
Cant never make much of him."
replied the pedagogue. "He's too full
Of the devil" This was not flattering
to my vanity, as my father Immediate
ly reported it to me.
IN PUBLIC, on THE STAGE.
remember the first time | tried TO
declaim. couldn't find a place to
put my hands or my feet. 'Eellor
Citizens: Ladies and Gentlemen" said
l. "Fellow Citizens: Gentlemen aud
Ladies'" Another pause. Ladies
and Gentlemen Felou Citizens "a
painful pause-then the house came
down, and l found place to put nv
feet. suppose they applauded, be-
cause got through so soon.
This was about the winding up of
my educational career Going To
school with me, was going for good
time.
HIMsELr A PEDAGoGUE.
1 blundered along. finally got to
keeping school and succeeded well. by
skillfully keeping my ignorance out of
sight. Such was my popularity as a
teacher that at the end of my third
year, l got as high as SIP per month,
HOW HE LEARNED To LOVE n. L. RUN
Then went TO learn a trade with
man who was periodical drunkard.
Before l was aware Of it, l found |
was on the way to intemperance. |
felt ashamed of myself. Then l re-
solved to reform and take only little,
but the result was, l took little more
afterwards. Perhaps some of you
know the effect of taking little
more"
l signed pledge which | drew up.
and laid it in a private drawer. |
kept it. perhaps two weeks. Then |
went home, erased the date, dated it
ahead and began anew.
The next glass that was offered me
was glass of wine by lady's hand.
You know how hard it is to resist the
delicate hands and beautiful counte-
nance Of a woman. went home, at
tempted TO erase the date IN my pledge
again, but accidentally inserted the
pen through the paper, and then de-
stroyed the document.
HOW HE UNLEARNED y. Err
In 1924 went to teach Il school
and found the scholars had got up
Temperance pledge. l took an active
part in the Society. This was the be-
ginning Of better days for me.
HOW lie BECAME A CHRISTIAN.
Yet at this time l was skeptical in
religious matters and made sport of
religion, had u remarkable dream,
ending in my being converted among
the Methodists. l awoke and found
it all a dream. l despised the Metho-
dists and said: shall l give up my
religious principles for a dream!"
Two years after ] went to my first
Camp-Meeting and trust was soundly
converted to God. l went, swear
ing man; returned, praying and a
happy man. The year following, re-
ceived the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Five years ago | was wonderfully re-
newed at Camp-meeting at Vine
land. ainoe then ! have had peace,
every day.
| HE HAS A "CALL" TO PREACH.
Soon after being converted l was
called to preach the Gospel. told
my wife about it. She is wise and
good woman as ever was. why, John,
ironically said she. you look like
preachin' the Gospel, don't ye? That
couldn't stand, SO 1 held my peace