Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-07-17
selefted gelistellanv,
A DECEIVED MINISTER.

1cter ;, one OF the prlnclpal German
churches in st. Petersburg, was filed by
Parson B, who like most of the
preachers of that wealthy sect, had
amasscd considerable fortune, and was
much esteemed by his congregation. =
Not day passed without numerous APP
plications to him for assistance of various
kinds, and no applicant was ever sent
away without a word of consolation, or q
more substantial gift.
One day, as he was compelled by in
disposition to keep his room, woman
came and craved bis interference She
said that she had lately removed to St.
Petersburg with her husband, who was a
silversmith, and who had succeeded in
establishing himself so well that he earn
cd an ample support for both of them I;
but he made her wrctched by his persis-
tent and outrageous ill-trcatment, with
out the slightest provocation or retort on
her PARTIAL of which had until now
been patiently endured
The pastor expressed his regret that
indisposition prevented him from leaving
the house.
"Bring your husband to me" said he.
"Tbat will be no easy matter" return
ed the woman, "for if he suspected that
a rebuke is waiting for him. he will not
come. No, he must know nothing of it
beforehand. But if l tell him that you
want to buy something from him, then
he'll not fail TO wait on your reverence .
THAT is lucky thought" said the
pastor, "for / am about to purchase a
complete service of silver"
"And he has Just finished very beau
tiful one" said the woman. 1T is in
deed very beautiful"
The next day the silversmith came
with his chest, accompanied by the wo-
man.
The pastor was secretly surprised to
see her with him. but advanced to meet
him, saying, "Ah! the silver?"
Eyes, your reverence" said the man,
II have brought the service as you de-
sired"
very well,'' said the pastor abe
so good as TO come with me into my
study"
When they we're alone, the good clcr-
gyman began to speak urgently upon the
duty of husband, and dwelt with i'm
pressive eloquence upon the sacredness
of the vow which married partners make
before the altar to each other.
His listener seemed very much aston
ished, and several times attempted to in
terrupt his discourse, but the pastor beg
ged him to hear him to the end.
"Wbat excuse can you make for your
conduct ?" he asked, in conclusion. =
"What is the cause of it? You look so
mild and good-tcmpered, my friend -
How comes it that you are such a bad
husband ?"
"But let me say just one word, your
reverence. | am"
81 know what you mean to say. You
are usually as meek as lamb, and only
impetuous at certain times but to go so
far as to beat your wife p
"You have mistaken the person, rev.
ercnd sir. l have never beaten my
wife"
How !! said the pastor. do you
deny it?-fe p
"Becausc, continued the man, Il am
not married"
"Why, your wife is at this moment
waiting in the next room"
WHO? My wife Your reverence is
mistaken. ! have no wife That wo-
man is your housekeep; she came to
me with a communication from you to
bring service of silver for your inspec-
ton.
The pastor began to look uneasy
"She certainly is no housekeeper Of
mine. She must be mad woman" said
he.
"Or thief" said the silversmith.
They went hastily into the next room
but it was empty! The woman had
disappeared with the chest of silver; and
all the efforts Of the police to recover it
were in vain.
The incident is calculated to give rise
TO many weighty considerations. The
trick was so well devised and planned
that it would have succeeded with the most
prudent and circumspect. The silver
smith left the silver il the outer room,