The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-02-20
MSHE NsgSRIBUHE.
A MIDNIGHT MEETING.

man little hard on me, through COLI
fess there was reason for it. Mine We're
not his ways exactly, 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 ? Everybody isut
born a parson. Indeed. / don't find
that. as a 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
homestead
A long time ago, when we we're boys
together in tight blue jackets, with gilt
buttons and deep frilled collars, / used
to try with all my might and main to i'm
itate Solomon, and when we were exhib-
tied in society [ always echoed verbatim
every remark heard him make, SO that
L might share his fame. But that
was, as I said, long ago, and gradually
such close following in Solomon's steps
grew tedious. so / chose a wider way.
i was warned great deal against this
wider way, but somehow / lounged cas-
ily into it when I found how difficult it
was to be always as good as Solomon.
After any particularly jovial evening
at the Squires or 10 Fleming's at Blagly
(the Squire bred the best fighting cocks
in the country except JOS, an6 JOS
whiskey was the primest that ever escap-
ed 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, Solomon and
[ were good friends, and [ looked for
ward 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 flight of the
season, and [ had backed JOS bird heav-
lily The little affair was to come off on
Sunday afternoon, and for all the week
before we were SO excited 90 and L and
orr chums, and the Squire and his
chtzms) that we spent every evening to-
gether discussing our birds and our
pets, not to mention the despatching of
good deal of the Squire's homebrewed,
and of my old port, and of JOS Scotch.
You see we didn't read so much in those
DAVIS as you do now, and so spent more
time over these lighter duties. We didn't
talk mnch either. One of Solomons
sermons divided among us would have
lasted us all for week !; but we smoked
we'll. pretty steadily.
The Sunday came st last, and In the
morning [ sat in my corner Of Solomon S
pew, paying the greatest attention to
him for / wouldn't for the world he
should know where [ was going in the
afternoon, or that l had the slightest in
terest in JOS bird or the Sqmre's. What
was my horror, then, when Soloman, in
the very middle OF his discourse Il
always knew it was in the middle when
he began to say '4astly'') J, alluded darkly
TO ''besetting sin of the age, y as a sport
at which only Satan could laugh. "And
he" concluded Solomon, and | felt his
eyes upon me, ''chuckles with glee to
see men SO degrade themselves / broke
ont INTO 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 cook-tight /; but some
how the resolution iunnbled itself up
with speculations as to how the Squire
should feel when / pocketed my f100
winnings
L should certainly buy that colt OF
JOS; and now I think OF 1t, j may rs
well get Solomon an umbrella. L dare
say he didn't mean anytbin1 sJOut cock
lighting after ali. lie ala vi, had whims
for attacking our sports, and of course
that innocent diversion must take its
turn, like bowls and billiards.
[ had forgiven Solomon hY the time ne
had dotted his gown ana joined me in
the church yard, and only said amiably,
You were rather hard upon us all to-
dan, as usual, Sol"
WAS 1 % he questioned in his slow
way. Hard or soft, ii does but little
good, Jacob.
( turned the conversation gingeriy.
could not prove his words as untrue, and
it wouldn't be polite II ] did-so I didn I
Goodbye, Sol. I said with great re-
lief, when We reached the parsonage
gate.
shall l see you at the service this
evening g was solomon most unfortun-
ate inquiry, as he slowly removed his
umbrella to his left hand, preparatory to
giving ne his right
II hope 50, but I cannot say I am
ouite sure" 1t answered IN that way for
the purpose of breaking 1t to him as
4 I-...,x.- Nss1loTS1nr1 Talt