Connecticut western news., 1875-03-12
DEACON FOWLER,S SIN.


 In 1868 the town of Westfield, Massa chusetts, celebrated its 2OOth anniversary, on which occasion the Hon. Wm. G Bates, very well known in this regon, delivered the address. This address. as also the other proceedings of the C. lebration, were published in volum Among other things were published a series of sketches of the early inhabitants, A friend of ours well remembers the scene ut the DeacOn's confession in church, and has heard lengthy, but good all the way through. ED. NEWS.
 On the South side of Little River, on the farm now owned by Mir. Northan, in small farm m-house, below the hill, resided Dea. Ebenczer Fowler. He had family of children, who have all cmigratod for foreign parts, or have deceased. Dea. Fowler was just man, always ready to pay, to the last cent, all the debts, and careful to collect all his dues. He was 8 very religious man, punctual in his atten- dance at meeting on Sundays and other days; and though snow, or rain, or mud, covered the streets, he was sure to be seen l in his conscientious travel, for the mile and a half from his residence to the place of assembling. It so happened, that he had 8 small debt against Roswell Holcomb, who | lived in the old Holcomb tavern, at "The Elms," on Pine Hill. He had agreed with him, to do his whitewashing, on a certain future day; and he was to begin early. On the day agreed upon, as he supposed, he was incensed at the non-appearance of Hol- comb, with his whtewashing equipments i; and he started and travelled, with rapid strides, towards the home of his debtor, breathing out hls intend d utterances of indignant reproach.
 Holcomb, the unconscious victim of these intended rebukes, was quietly smok- ing his pipe, on the front porch, in his usual serenity. He was decided charac- ter. He was large man, of dark complex ion, with black curly hair; and he had a "big manly voice." so loud, that, as it was said, his Cloud laugh" could be heard from his house 10 the "Grcen." 8 distance of half mile. He was man of gaeat humor,
 -a sort of practical wag,-a getter-up' of ludicrous stories, which he used to tell to the great amusement of bsr-room auditory. We need hardly add, that he was poor; and that he was only anxious for the means of present enjoyment, at the smallest exertion of his bodily powers, in the way of labor. Upon the morning in question,-a quiet Sabbath morn,-he was surprised at the rapid strides of Deacon Fowler, in his everyday clothes, in the direction of his residence and he was still more surprised at the salutation of the Deacon. The latter at once upbrsided Hol comb with the breach of his agreement tc work for him that day, in whitewashing hii domicile. The quick wit of the latter 8, once took in the mistake of the Deacon. at to the day of the week and he, of course, determined to make music out of it. He al first denied the agreement. but, upon the earnest a severation of the fact, he fell back upon the denial of it, on that 4articulaa daY. The Deacon became more excited
 and, at last, charged Holcomb with being { promise breaker, a man who would not pay his debts, and who did not regard hii promise, or his word.
 Holcomb, at last, with an assumed solcmnity, admitted his poverty, confessed that his life had not always been the mos exemplary: "but" said he, ''poor as l am and bad as 1 am, I am tco much of a goot citizen to do your whitewashing on this day and you, Deacon Fowler, an officer of the Church, ought to be ashamed to asl } me, Think not" said he, "that because you live in retired place, beneath the hill ) where man cannot see us, am wicked enough to violate this day!" The deacor } did not comprehend this invasion of Afri ca ;'' SO he asked Holcomb what he meant You know, Deacon Fowler, we'll enough what mean! You think that because an poor, and have to work for living, thu whole week, am wicked enough to stes away down to your house, below the hill } and spend the Sabbath-day in whitewash 3 ing" "The Sabbath-day! exclaimed th ? Deacon, in unaffected astonishment. 9Th 3 Sabbath day :" "Oh, Deacon Fowler, don be hypocrite, too! You we'll know wha ) day it :" And, warming with his pretend 2 ed virtuous indignation, he shouted out, il 7 his stentorian voice, "You want to insul the poverty, and corrupt the principles, o 7 pure man! You-you-you''-but tn Deacon was no longer a listener, though h could hear the angry Philippies ringlnI t out, like brazen trumpet, till, at last, tn
 bubble of pretended virtuous indignation burst, and a real, hilarious, Holcomb laugl