The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-15

ruCI WAS Jhey sdlu twas pun Jnere
cause the land want good for nothing
else, and the folks thought putin meet
in'-house ont would be clear savin'---
but Parson Morrel he didn't like it--and
was free to tell 'em his mind ont that
twas like bringin' the lame and the blind
to the Lords sarvice, but there twas.
There warn't better minister nor no
one more set by in all the State than Par
son Morrel. His doctrins were right up
and down good and sharp, and he give
saints and sinners their meat in due sea-
son, and for consolin' and comfortin' wild
ders and orphans women, sot lots by him
and he was allus' ready to take tea round,
and make things pleasant and comfortable,
and he had good story for every one and
a word for the children, and may be an
apple or cookey in his pocket for 'em.
Wal, you know there amt no pleasin'
everybody, and ef Gaberiel himself, come
right down out O. heavan, was to come and
be minister expect there'd be pickin'
at his wings, and sort O. fault findin.
Now Aunt Jerushy Scran and Aunt Polly
Hokum they sed Parson Morrel want SOL
emn enough. Ye see there's them that
thinks that minister ought to be jest like
the town hearse, SO that ye think o. death,
judgment and eternity, and nothin' else,
when ye see him round and eff they see
him rosy and clipper, and havin' a pretty
nice sociable sort of time, why they say
he amt spiritooal minded. But in my
times I've seen ministers, the most awak-
enin' kind in the pulpit, that was the live
lest when they was out ont. There is a
time to laugh, scripture says, though some
folks never seem to remember that there
is"
"But, Sam, how came you to say it was
Ike Rabbits fault? What was it about the
sheep?"
ooh, wal, yis-I'm comm to that are.
1t was all about the sheep-I expect they
was the instrument the devil sot to work,
to temp Parson Morel to laugh in prayer
time.
aye see there was old Dick, Ike's bell
wether, was the fightin'est old crittur that
ever ye see. Why Dick would butt at his
own shadder and every body said it was a
shame the old critter should be left to run
loose, cause he ran at the children and
scared the women half out their wits.
Wal, used to live out in that parish in
them days, and Lem Sudoc and used to
go out sparkin' Sunday nights to see the
Larkin gals-and we had to go right cross
the lot where Dick was-so we used to go
and stand at the fence and call, and Dick
would see us and put down his head and
at us full chisel, and come bunt agin the
fence and then I'd catch him by the horns
and hold him while Lem run and got over
fence ON t'other side of the lot, and then
I'd let 60 and Lem would holler and shake
a stick at him and away he would go full
butt at Lem, and Lem would ketch his
horns and hold him till came over-that
was the way we managed Dick-but eff he
come sudden up behind feller, he'd give
him butt in the small of the back that
would make him run on all fours one
while--he was great rogue, Dick was.
Wal, that Summer / remember they had
old Deacon Titkins for tithing-man and
tell you he give it to the boys lively. There
warn't no sleepin' nor no playin', for the
deacon had eyes like gimblet, and he was
quick as cat, and the youngsters he'd to
look out for themselves. 1t did really seem
as If the deacon was like them four footed
beasts in the Revelations that was full o.
eyes behind and before, for which ever way
he was standin' if you gave only wink,
he was down on you and hit you tap with
his stick know once Lem Sudoc jist
wrote two words in the psalm-book and
passed it to Keziah Larkin, and the dea-
con gave him such tap that Lem grew as
red as a beet and vowed he'd be up with
him some day for that.
Well, Lordy Massey, folks that is too chip
per and high steppin' has to have their
come downs, and the deacon has to have
his.
THAT are Sunday | remember it now
jest as well as if twas yesterday. The
parson he give us his great sermon, re-
concilin' decrecs and free agency-every-
body said that are sermon was a master
piece. lie preached it up to Cambridge at
commencement but it so happened it was
one Of them bilin' hot days that come in
August, when you can fairly hear the
huckleberries sizzlin' and cookin on the
bushes, and tho locust keeps gratin' like
a red hot saw. Wal, such times, decrees
or no decrees, the best ON us win got