The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-02-20
A MIDNIGHT MEETING.

a MlDN1HHE MEEIlNG. M :
1 always did think my brother Solo
mon little hard on me, though con
fess that there was reason for it. Mine
were not exactly his ways, you see fol
mine we're more the ways of pleasant
ness and his the paths of peace.
But could 1 help it that I was not
born a parsOn, like Solomon? Every,
body isn't born a parson. Indeed,
don't find that as rule it runs much In
families and even if it did, you couldn't
expect that two such parsons as Solo
mon could be born and reared in tie
bosom of one homestead.
A long time ago, when we were boys
together in tight blue jackets, with gilt
buttons, and deep frilled collars, used
to try with all my might and main to
initiate Solomon, and when we were ex-
hibited in society I always echoed ver-
batim every remark beard him make,
so that I might share his fame. But
that was as I tried long ago, and gradu-
ally such close following in Solomon s
steps grew tedious, SO l chose a wider
way. | was warned great deal against
this wider way, but somehow lounged
easily into it when I found how diff
cult it was to be always as good as Sol
omon. sE ...
After any particularly jovial evening
at the sqUira's, or at 10 F'leming's at
Blagly (tbe squire bred the b .st fight
ing cocks in the country except JOS,
and JOS whisky was the primest that
ever escaped duty, you may guess that
my heart didn't bound with Joy at the
sight of Solomon's long figure and long
face still on ordinary occasions Solo
mon and I we're good friends, and l
locked forward to the day when he
should convert me to his own ways,
and we should read the book of ser
mons sloud by turns through our old
age. But then knew there was plenty
of time for that.
Well, we had marked the fight of the
season and had backed JOS bird heav-
iIy. The little affair was to come off
on Sunday afternoon, and for all the
week before we were so excited 90 and
I, and our chums, and the squire and
his chums) that we spent every even
ing together F.; discussing our birds and
our bets not to mention the dispatch
ing of good deal of the squire's home
brewed, and of my old port, and of JOS
scotch. You see we didn't read so
much in those days as you do now, and
so spent more time over these light
duties. We didn't talk very much
either, one of Solomon's sermons divi-
ded among us would have lasted us all
for week; but we smoked-well, pret-
ty steadily. q
The Sunday came at last, and in the
morning I sat in my corner of Solo
mons pew, paying the greatest atten-
ton to him: for I wouldn't for the
world he should know where I was 60
ing in the afternoon, or that l had the
slightest interest either in JOS bird or
the squire's. What was my horror then
when Solomon, right in the middle of
his discourse q always knew it was the
middle when he began to say "lastIy'O,
alluded darkly to '' besetting sin of
the age" as a sport at which only Satan
could laugh. "And he," concluded
Solomon, and 1 felt his eve upon me.
"chuckles with glee to see men degrade
themselves. / broke out into damp
heat. Could anyone here turned traitor
and told Solomon? I kept my eye
down upon the carpet, and tried to
make resolution that should be my
last cock-fght; but somehow the reso-
luton jumbled itself up with specula-
tions as to how the squire would feel
tonight when he was beaten, and how I
should feel when pocketed my 9l00
winnings.
q should certainly buy that colt of
JOS; and now think of it, may as
well get Solomon new umbrella. ]
dare say he didn't mean anything about
cock fighting after all. He always had
whims for attacking our sports, and of
course that innocent diversion must take
its turn, like bowls and billiards.
/ had forgiven Solomon by the time
he had doffed his gown and joined me
in the church-yard, and I only said,
amiably, "You were rather hard upon
us all to day as usual, SOL"
"Was ?'' he questioned, in his slow
way. "Hard or soft, it does but little
good Jacob"
1 turned the conversation giDgerly. [
could not easily prove his words to be
untrue, and it wouldn't be polite if I
did-so didn't.
Goodbye, Sol," said with great
relief, when we reached the parsonage
gate.
"Shall I see you at the service this
evening ?" was Solomon's most unfortu-
nate inquiry, as he slowly removed his
umbrella to his left hand preparatory to
giving me his right. 81
81 hope so, but cannot say am
quite sure" answered in that way for
the purpose of breaking it to him as
gently as L could. | knew Solomon
felt this sort of thing as sharply as
felt a razor scratch in shaving, so I put
it that way, that I hoped so, but could
not say that was quite sure.
I'm sorry you are not sure, Jacob,
said he "I should have liked to have
seen you at church tonight. don't
feel very we'll to-day, so will you come
in now and stay the afternoon With Z"
81 wish I could, Sol, said I as jaun-
tily as possible, 'fbut the fact is I've
promised an old frien at Luckheaton"
Iuckheaton lay in the direction exact
opposite TO Blagly) "to go over and
have quiet chat with him. He is not
able to go about himself"
/ suppose Solomon was shaking hands
in his ordinary manner, but his long
fingers seemed to me to have tied them
selves about mine to hold me back.
''You want a new umbrella, SOL"
I, neatly preparing the way
for the gift / had in store for him and,
I thought, turning the conversation with
consummate tact.
"Do I?" asked Solomon, looking
down upon the machine as if he had
never seen it before in his life. "We
both of rs want a good many things, |
Jacob; new habits, new aims, new
"Ah! yes, indeed we do" sighed I,
as [ felt the grip of his |
fingers relaxing. You're looking all /