The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-02-15
COLD CUSTARD


A very marked character was Deacon
IT,, who was long time citizen of ST.
Louis, coming here when he and the city
were alike in their youth, and remainin .
until he took his departure from this nun
dane sphere TO reap the reward of an ex-
enplary life. \ few years ago, when in
The temperance excitement of which
Father Matthew was the great high priest
prevailed SO generally over the Eastern
and Western States, no greater enthusiast
lent Ms energies 20 the advancement of
total abstinence principles than Deacon IL.
He was fifty years of age and bachelor !;
and so much abashed by the presence OF
ladies, that, save in the way of business
he always took good care to avoid them.
lie had been brought up Puritan OF the
most ultra Calvmlstic type, and this cheer
tul creed had permeated every fibre of his
being and sh0ne forth in almost everv act
OF his lite. Naturally kind. hearted man.
his cast.lron principles had so wrapped his
humanity that no charity for the errors or
falllngs of others could find an avenue to
his heart. 1t was his pride (uncon.
sclously) that even in minor or Indifferent
matters his actions were governed by a
stern sense Of duty. But that he lived
conscienciousiy up to the level of his pro
fessiop, no one who knew him doubted
lie was liberal TO the poor-not from any
sympathy with their privations-but be-
cause II was his duty to best0w aims in
proportion to his means. He was not lib.
eral to his employees, because it was like
wise his duty to be prudent and economi-
cal. Nor was he liberal or charitable to
professors OF a different faith from his own,
his duty forbidding him il any way to
cOuntenance error.
Still he was man to be respected, and
in manner admired by those who found
the most fault with his rigid and rigor GUS
creed, tor he was honest and true, and
above taking advantage Of the chances
which fell in his way OF reaping unfair
gains from his fellow men. No damaged
or inferior goods ever went out Of his
establishment as frst.class, but the clerk
VINO had been found misrepresentlng the
quality OF any article would have gone
out very suddenly.
With all these good qualities, he could
not help to be high dignitary in the
church. In one way his services were
almost indispensable TO the impecunious
congregation of which he was q member.
lie held as point Of conscience that who.
ever Travelled in the service of the church
should pay bis own expenses. This sin.
gular crotchet caused hun to be in great
| demand as delegate to synods. general
assemblies, &c, of the church These
occasions were anxiously looked forward
TO by the clerks, who took advantage of
DIS absence to relax a little from that
severe propriety of department which
was exacted from them when he was
present. In ether words-their own
" they always had good time when the
old man was awavn
oh-lstmas was approaching, and the boys
were delighted when they learned that
Old stub and twist "-as ihey irreyerent
ly designated him among themselves
would be Oft to a convention during
Christmas week. They resolved to have
an especial high old time on that festive
occasion. to make up for the similar 90.
caslons when they had been compelled to
attend church In a grayely deeorous man
nef ana Christian frame of mind.
In Deacon HIS store was long counter
reaching from erd to end, the only one of
the KIND pertaining t. any of the estab.
tlshments whose clerks were in tho same
set with the Deacon's. Although it was
rather risky, in the event Of a discovery.
1t was determined to hold the Christmas
festivities where this long counter could
be utilized for the purpose of setting out
to advantage the galumptious spread
1t was resolved to have on this super
ordinary occasion, to come off after the
store was closed at night Numerous
guests were invited, and every prenara-
uon was made to cheer the hearts and
stomachs of the expected participants.
NO civilized person would expect of course.
that egg.nog could, by any possibility, be
overlooked; for what would Christmas
be without it but mcckery and delusion?
Consequently "a huge bowl of this favorite
beverage OF the unsophisticated was IRE.
pared as the piece de resistance of the ca.
rousal.
Some sollcltude was felt as to the IRE.
mature return Of the Deacon, which would
involve the necessity Of selecting another
place as the scene for the festivities. but the
eventfui evening arrived without him or
any word OF him. At eleven o'clock pre-
cisely the whites were up,n the doors
having been previously closed, as we'll as
any little stray chinks that would permit
OF ray of light. The feast was to be a
" close corporation from even the knowl.
edge of which all were to be excluded
save the elect. AT this critical moment a
starting rap at the front door sent dismay