The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-11-09
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calls him-is pastor of one of ou
churches. He has long been know
as an :. eccentric preacher, and cal
: knock more square feet of religion
8 out of any text inthe Bible than al
: the rest of the ministers in town pu
t together. Creeds, dogmas and form
all fail with Old Birthstone, and N,
matter how often you hear him III
subject OF bis discourse always wind
up with highly dramatic picture Q
the sinner and the heat of the plac
prepared for him. Sulphur and blu
blazes are his only topics, and he ex
pounds them in a manner forcibl,
enough TO make strange hearer thinl
he is sitting on a dynamite barre
waiting for it to be touched off. o
course his popularity has ceased to at
tract attention in our town. but some.
how or other Old. Birthstone alway.
breaches to crowded house every
Sunday night. Saturday morning as
several of our prominent men were
standing in front of Moore's grocery
they were accosted by rough, seedy.
looking countryman, who inquired il
they knew where he could dispose OF
a lot of sulphur. -----;-;-.-;
us it good sulphur ?" asked the wag
of the party, winking slyly at the rest.
"Yes, Of course it is good" (" was the
reply.
/ "Will it burn readily ?"
SWELL, reckon it will"
'"'rhink, it would scorch a devil p
persisted the wag.
The countryman gave him an injur-
ed look aud was about to drive on.
when the wag stopped him by asking
il he really warted to sell the load.
"Yes siree," was the reply.
as"Well." said the wag, az know a
man that will buy it from YOU II IL is
good article to burn. See that white
house standing back from <fhe road ?,
lie added, pointing directly at Old
Birthstone s. residence. ".Tust stop
thsre, inqnIre for Mr.. Willis, and tell
him yen have load of first-class sui.
phnr. He isa little peculiar aud will
try to make you believe he doesn't use
it, but stick to him right close and /
am sure You can make q bargain.
Watch him sharp, however, for he will
swear that he Is minister, SO he can
get yonr load at half price, bat just
tell him that trick is old and he will
cave right in."
s. iii watch him." replied the country
man, as he drove of, followed by the
entire party, who took near cut, and
reaching hearing distance hid them
selves to await the result of the inter.
view.
In response to the countryman's
ring Old Birthstone himself appeared
at the door.
"Want any sulphur" inquired the
countryman, closely eyeing the form
before him.iHEIss Ea5
Sulphur! Do want any sulphur +?
No, sir, have no use for sulphur" re.
piled the old man in amazement.
"Come, now, 1 know better than
that" replied the countryman. wink
ing at him familiarity.
n"Why, my dear sir, am q minister.
What use have I for load of sui
phur!" gasped the astonished clergy
man.
"Oh, that's too THU, old fellow;
come now, stop lying and tell me
what you'll give for two barrels of sui.
phur." Ieol 'eal -
81 tell you am minister" fairly
shrieked the old man. -
no'That's too thin, tell you," replied
the countryman, with an oath.
"Ob, you vile sinnerl You BIAS
phemous wretch! Are you not aware
that there is lake of fire prepared
for those who take i'm vain the Crea-
tors name r. asked the horrified old
man, trembling with excitement.
"A lake of what!" gasped the
10 EIHf zz
ga lake Of fire and birthstone, where
the fire never quencheth and the sui
phur never faileth," slowly repeated
the man of PRAYER. 81
fhat may all sound very WE'LL" re-
piled the bewildered countryman," "but
would like to know who runs that
fire ?"
why sir, have yon never heard OF
The pie of liniquity prepared for the
devil and his angels? They, my dear
sir, tend this everlasting fire."
"Well, then, old fellow" laughed
he country man, firmly believing the
Did man was only a little deme nted,
lon't you think you had better buy
his lot OF sulphur in case the supply
Town there should run short"
With shrek of agony Old Brim.
tone darted info the house, leaving
he countryman TO hunt for another
ustomer for his sulphur. and as he
eft town with the same two barrels It
3 safe TO presume that he found no. ,
'ody willing 10 purchase his firey
ommodity--l Mobile II Register. f
That SAME MAN--1'he man who =
enld have once purchased the site of