Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-07-27

and broiled chicken. After oil was ol
| the table, short conference was held a!
TO whether it would do not TO invite The
stranger 10 take supper. L. WAS true
they had given him as much bread ant
} bacon rs lie could eat; but then as long
as he was going to stay all night, it look
ed too inhospilable to sit down to the
table and not ask him 10 join them. Sc
making a virtue Of necessity, he was
kindly asked 10 come in to supper. an in
vitation which he did not decline. Grace
was said over the meal by Mr.. Wade, and
the coffee was poured out, the bread help.
ed, and the meat served.
There was ire little boy OF some liy G
or six years old at The table, who bad
been frightened up and dressed in his
Test in order TO grace the minister's re-
ception. Charley was full OF talk. aud
the parents felt n natural pride in show
ing him oii even before their humble
guest. who noticed him particularly, al-
though he had not much to say.
Come. Charley" said Mr. Wade after
the meal was over, and be sa, leaning
back in his chair, cant you repeat the
pretty hymn mamma learned You last
Sunday ?"
Charley started OF, without further in
yitaIion, and repeated, very accurately.
two or three veIses OF Il new camp.mee,-
ing hymn, that was just then very pop
ular.
Now let us hear YOU say the Com
mandmenls, Charley" spoke up the
mother, well pleased ut her chiId's per-
lormancs. And Charley repeated them
with only The aid OF 4 lille prompting.
"IIow many commandments arc
lherc?" asked the father.
The child hesitaled. and then looking
up at the stranger, near whom ho sat.
said innocenty-
"llow many are ,here2"
The man thought Tor some moments,
and said rs If in doubt
Eleven, are there not p
"Eleyenn ,itculated Mrs. Wade,
looking up toward tho man in nnlcigned
surprise.
Eleven" said her husband, with
mole OF rebukc than asloni, hment in his
voice. is it possible, sir, that you do
not know how many Commandments
there are, Charley, come! Tell me; You
know, OF course"
Ten" said the child.
Right, my son." returned Mr.. Wade.
with q smile OF approval. Right. Why,
there isn't a child of his age within ten
miles who can't tell you that there are
ten commandments. Did you ever read
the Bible sir?" addressing the stranger.
when / was q little boy, | used to
read in it sometimes. But l'm sure
thought there were eleven Command
menls. Are you not mistaken about
there being only ten ?"
Sister Wade lifted her hands in un-
leghed astonishment. and exclaimed
Gould any one believe it. such igno.
rance OF the Bible ~
Mr.. Wade did not reply, but he arose,
and gong to one corner of the room
where the Good Book lay upon small
mahogany stand. brought it 10 the table,
and pushing away his plate, cup and sau
Ger, laid the volume before him, and
opened that portion in which the Com
mandments are recorded.
"There!n he said. placing his finger
upon proof OF the mans error There
Look for yourself!"
The man came round from his side of
the table, and looked over the farmers
shoulder.
There Ten;-d'ye see !"
"Yes, it does say ten." replied the
man, "and yet it seems to me there are
eleven. I'm sure have always thought
So"
doesn't it say ten. here2" inquired
Mr. Wade, with marked impatience in
his voice.
at does certainly"
"Well what more do you wantP Cant
you believe in the BiblePn
30, yes believe in The Bible, and yet
somehow il strikes me that there must be
eleven commandments. Hasn't one been
added somewhere elseP"
Now this vas too much for brother and
sister Wade to bear. Such ignorance on
sacred matters they felt 10 be unpardona.
BILE. 4 long lecture followed. in which
the man was scolded, admonished and
thre eatened with Divine indignation. At
its close he modesty asked il he might
have the Bible TO read for an hour OF two
before retiring to rest. This request was
granted with more pleasure than any of
the preceding ones Shortly alter supper
he was conducted TO the little spare room
accompanied by the Bible. Before leav-
ing him alone. Mr.. Wade felt it his duty
to exhort him on spiritual things, and he
did so most earnestly Tor ten or fifteen
minutes. But he could mt see that his
words made much impression, and he
finally left his guest, lamenting ignorance
and obduracy.
In the morning the man came down.
| onI r,aatino Mr. Wade asked him ii he