The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-01-09
A MIDNIGHT MEETING.

A MIDNIGHT MEETING.
always did think my brother Solo
mon little hard upon me, though L
confess that there was no reason for it.
Mine were not exactly his ways, you
see for mine were more the ways of
pleasantness and his the paths of
peace.
But could help it that / was not
born a parson, like Solomon =? Every
body isn't born a parson. Indeed, l
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 Solomon could be born
and reared in the bosom of one home
stead.
A long while ago, when we were boys
together in tight blue jackets, with gilt
buttons and deep frilled collars, l used
to try with all my might and main to
initiate Solomon, and when we were ex-
hibited in society always echoed ver-
batim every remark L heard him make,
so that / might share his fame. But
that was, as / said, long ago, and
gradually such close following in Solo
mons steps grew tedious. so L chose a
wider way. | was warned great deal
against this wider way, but somehow L
lounged easily into it when found how
difficult ii was to be always as good as
Solomon.
After any particularly jovial meeting
at the Squire's or at 10 Jennings at
Blagly (the Squire bred the best fight
ing cocks in the county 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 Solomons long figure and long
face still, on ordinary occasions, Solo
mon and / were good friends, and L
looked forward to the day when he
should convert me to his own ways. and
we should read the book of sermons
aloud 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
heavily. The little affair was to come
off on Sunday afternoon, and for all the
week before we were so excited 90 and
1 and our chums), that we spent every
evening together, discussing our birds
and our bets not to mention the dis
patching of good deal of the Squire's
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
lighter duties. We didn't talk very
much either-One of Solomon's sermons
divided among us would have lasted us
for a week but we smoked-well, pretty
steadily.
The Sunday came at last, and in the
morning | sat in my corner of Solo
mons pew, paying the greatest atten-
ton to him ; for | wouldn't for the
world he should suspect where / was
going in the afternoon, or that / had
the slightest interest in either JOS bird
or the Squire's What was my horror,
then, when Solomon, in the very middle
of his discourse q always knew it was
the middle when he began to say
classify, ~ alluded darkly to "beset-
ting sin of the age, as sport at which
only Satan could laugh. "And he"
concluded Solomon, and / felt his eye
upon me, chuckles with glee to see
men so degrade themselves" | broke
out into a damp heat Could any one
have turned traitor and told Solomon
kept my eyes down upon the carpet,
and tried to make resolution that this
should be my last cockfght but some
how the resolution jumbled itself up
with speculation as to how the Squire
would feel tonight when he was beaten,
and how l should feel when / pocketed
my G100 winnings.
% shall certainly buy that colt of
JOS and now l think of it, | may as
well get Solomon a new umbrella. /
dare say he didn't mean anything about
cockdghting 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 dotted his long gown and joined
me ID the church-yard, and | only said,
amiably,
You were rather hard upon us all
to-day, as usual, Sol"
Was L 2" he questioned, in his slow
way. " Hard or soft, it does but little
good, Jacob"
turned the conversation gingerly.
could not easily prove his words to be
untrue, and 1t wouldn't be polite if /
did-so / didn't.
g Good bye, Sol, said with great
relief, when we reached the parsonage
gate.
Shall 1 see you at service this
evening p was Solomon's most unfortu-
nate inquiry, as he slowly removed his
umbrella TO his left hand, preparatory
to giving me his right.
al hope so, but cannot say I am