Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-23
Ten ana one are Eleven.
From the Christian Unioa.l

from the Christian Unioa.l
Deacon Leviticus Scribe, the head OF
representative New England family,
was dercended from some of four broth
ers who emigrated from the mother
country in the year of grace, 1889
He was proud of his Puritan blood,
paid his taxes and pew rents with
commendable promptitude, was never
absent from prayer meeting, never
sighted the contribution box. and al
ways allowed his left hand to know
what the right was about. He also
conducted large Bible class between
services, and expounled to the middle
aged single ladies and old folks the
Levitical and Mosaic laws with consid-
cradle show Of erudition, and with a
decided leaning towards the ''eye for
an eye and tooth for a tooth" doctrine,
rather than the beautiful a~d simple
teachings of the New Testament The
deacon owned and worked a rugged
plantation, which, but for artificial
stimulants, would be sterile and unpro-
ductiye; but he and the boys were in
dustriouS and frugal, and each year
saw the Scribe bank account increased
or the plantation enlarged: besides,
Mrs. Scribes was the personiicatioa of
sanctimonious thrift-her house and
appurtenances were the neatest and
best appointed Of any in Skinnersville,
and she was understood to be in ear
nest in every good word and work,
especially when those words and works
were. from the manner of their doing,
likely to be trum4pted fort throughout
the village. But she was very stern
woman, strongly disposed not only to
pass speedy judgment upon alleged
ngdoers, but to be their social exc
cutioner. The phrase (slightly alter
ed). 'Woman's inhumanity to woman
makes countless thousands mourn, ,"
found in her exact exemplar When
poor Mary Marston stumbled in the
path Of virtue and all Skinnersvilie
held up its hands in holy Indignation,
Mrs. Scribe was loudest in her de-
nunction Of the half-crazed, broken
hearted girl; and when the poor,
houseless, homeless waIf applied for
shelter and work, she ruthle,sly shut
the door of so called Christian home
in her face. That night Mary took
the express train for New York and
entered upon the thorny road that
leads, all SO swiftly, to tie blackness
OF despair
1t was Saturday evening, and Mrs.
Scribe had literally set her house in or
der-ev 3rything polishable had been
severely polished, including the chill
drcn !; the ''spare room" had been
thoroughly overhauled, because
strange minister who was to supply the
vacant pulpit next day was momentari-
y expected. Deacon Scribe and the
boys had just come in from days
work In the woods--longer and more
tiresome than usual. because the next
was day upon which their physical
rest could be enjoyed even. at the ex-
pense of physical nouriShment and
the Deacon thought it was no sin to
work himself to the verge of exhaus-
ton on Saturday, aud then snooze
himself back to life in his pew on the
following day. The ''ch9res" had all
been dene; cheerful hickory fire blaz-
ed and cracked on the hearthstone
the ample table, with its snowy spread
and crowded furniture, stood IN its ac-
customed place; the thoroughly
brushed and polished children shining
in clean faces and frocks. deported
themselves discreetly and demurely. as
If their little lives had been directed by
the rod rather than the gentle teach
ings Of maternal love; and everything
indoors betokened an abundance Of
creature comforts, for the deacon was
noted throughout all the region for
spiritual and physical thrift
Mrs, S, cluEg to the ancient notion
that Sabbath commenced at sunset
Saturday evening, and when the time
arrived a rigid veto was put upon all
''vain recreations' and the sportive
tendencies characteristic of guileless
childhood, and which constitute its
chiefest charm, were crushed remorse-
lessly Intimate laughter was sternly
frowned down before the childish feat
ures had time to shape themselves into
full blown smile Prepare for Sab
bath and for sanctuary privileges " said
she to the children, solemnly, and
then there came rap at the back door.
1t was not loud, like the knock Of a
sheriff, nor positive, like the summons
Of one sure Of his welcome, but faint.
hesitating sort of rap like that Of
tramp or distant cousin The dea-
con responded somewhat gruffly. ''walk
in y Mrs. S. trowned, the. children
looked solemn, and middle-aged man
in worn habiliments and with haggard
face stepped upon the threshold and
hesitatingIy solicited an opportunity to
rest by the fire. Mrs. Scribe ungra-
ciously handed him chair with wood