Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-25
NO. 72.
Tales aud Sketehes.
THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

BY s. ARTHUR.
us there o good fire in the little spare
| room, Jane?" said Mr.. Wade. a plain
country farmer, coming into the kitchen
where his good wife was busy preparing
for supper.
"Ob, yes, I've made the room as COM
Portable as can be-" replied Mrs. Wade;
''but | wish you would take up a good
armul of wood now, so that we won't
have TO disturb Mr.. N, by going into
the room after he gets here.'
eff he should come this evening"" re-
marked the husband. ''But it is getting
late, and I'm sure,hc won't be here before
the morning"
ooh, | guess he will be along soon. I
have felt all day as if he were coming"
They say he is good man and
breaches most powerfully. Mr.. Jones
heard him preach in New York at the last
conference, and tells me he never heard
such sermon as he gave them. 1t cut
right and left, and his words went home
to every heart like arrows of conviction"
81 hope he will be here this evening""
remarked the wife as put some cakes ia
the oven.
"And so do t. remarked Mr.. Wade, as
he turned away and went out to the wood
pile for an armful of wood Tor the expect
ed minister's room.
1t was Saturday afternoon and nearly
sundown. Mr.. N, who was expected
to arrive, and for whose comfort every
preparation in their power to make, had
been completed by the family at whose
house he was to stay, was the new Presid-
ing Elder of the B. District, in the New
Jersey Conference. Quarterly meeting
was to be held on the next day, which was
Sunday, when Mr.. N was to preach,
and administer the ordination of the
church. Being his first visit to that part
of the District, the preacher was known
to but few if any OF members, and they
all looked forward to his arrival with in
terest, and were prepared to welcome him
with respect and affection.
The house of Mr.. Wade was known as
the ministers home. For years, in their"
movements through the circuit, the
preachers as they came round to this part
in the field of their appointed labor, were
welcomed by Brother and sister Wade,
and the little spare chamber made COM
Portable for their reception. 1t was felt
by these honest-hearted people more
privilege than duty. thus to share in
their temporal blessings with the men of
God who ministered to them in holy things
They had their weaknesses, as we all have.
One Of their weaknesses consisted in firm
belief that they were deeply imbued with
the genuine religion. and regarded things
spiritual above all worldly Considerations
They were kind, good people, certainly,
but not as deeply read in the lore of their
| own hearts, not as familiar with the secret
springs of their own actions, as all of
should desire to be. But this was hardly
to be wondered as see that their positions
| in the church was rather elevated as COM
pared with those around them, and they
were the subjects OF little distinguishing
marks, tlattering TO the natural man.
While Mr.. Wade was splitting log at
the wood pile, his thought on the new
Presiding Elder, and his feelings warm
with the anticipated pleasure of meeting
and entertaining him, man of common
appearance approached along the road,
and when he came to where the farmer
was. stood still and looked at him until he
had finished cutting the log, and was pre-
pairing to lift the cleft pieces in his arms
Rather cold day this" said the man.
Yes, rather" returned Mr.. Wade,
little indifferently, and in a voice meant
did not impress him favorably.
"lIow far is il to D-?" inquired the
man.
Three miles, replied Mr.. Wade, who
| having filled his arms with wood, was be-
ginning to move off towards the house.
$50 far? ?' said the man in tone that
was slightly marked with hesitation. 81
thought it was but little way from this"
Then with an air of hesitation, and speak
ing in respectful voice, he added, IL
would feel obliged if you would let me 90
in and warm myself. | have walked for
two miles in the cold, and as D. is still
three miles off, shall be chilled through
before get there"
SO modest and natural a request as this.
Mr.. Wade could not refuse, and vet, in the
way he said-"Oh, certainly"-there was
a manner that clearly betrayed his wish
that the man had passed on and preferred
his request somewhere else. Whether this
was noticed or not, is of no consequence;
the waytarer, on this assent to his request,
followed Mr.. Wade into the house.
"Jane," said the farmer as he entered
the house with the stranger, and his voice
was not as cordial as it might have been,
'let this man warm him by the fire. He
has to go AL the way to D. this even
| ing aud says he is cold"
There is a kind of magnetic intelligence
in the tones of the voice. Mrs. Wade un-
derstook perfectly, by the way in which
this was said, that the husband did not feel
much sympathy for the stranger, and only
yielded the favor asked because he could
not well refuse to grant it. Her own OBJ
seryation did not correct the impression
| her husbands manner had produced The
man dress though neither dirty nor rag
ged, was not calculated to impress one ia
vorably.
His hat was much worn, and the old
gray coat, in which he was buttoned up TO
the chin, had seen so much service that il
was literally threadbare from collar to
| skirt, and showed numerous patches,
darns, and other evidences of needle work
applied long since to its original naanufac-
ture. His COW hide boots, though whole,
had coarse look; and his long dark
beard gave his face, not a very prepossess-
mo one at best a not very attrac,;va as