The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-27
Deacon onhiltree,s Pew.

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Deacon Ophiltree's Pew.
II there is anything Mr.. Ophiltree is
particular about, it is his own individual
corner in his own particular pew. He
can't halt enjoy the sermon ii he has to
sit anywhere else than in the inside cor
ner OF No. 81, right hand side OF the mid
die aisle. For years he has occupied
this seat as regularly as Sunday tnorh-
ing came round. He has heard the gos-
pel "dispensed with" by one minister
after another. From that seat he has
smiled and nodded encouragement to the
Boanerges who have preached the gos-
pel after the ideas Of Deacon Ophltree,
and has trowned iorbiddiugly and terri
bly, at the hapless prebendary who has
dared tOenuhciate doctrines which were
disagreeaOle to No. 81. No usher or sex
| ton ever so far forgot himself as TO put
any one in that corner because the Dea-
| con was Ntte late. 1t was always
considered sacred.
Imagine then, the Deacon's amaze
ment last Sunday morning whbn he en-
tered the church, wrapped in aprofound'
study Of the doctrine OF regeneration
| through 'sanctitication, to see solemn,
| limportant-lo looking stranger in his
precious corner. The DtacOn brought
1
Ipew and gazed at the stranger in OPEN
mouthed but voiceless wonder. The,
stranger, never returning his gaze, sat
l'twirling his thumbs and looking straight
TAT the pulpit. Deacon Ophiltree doubt
ling the evidence OF his senses, backed
out into the aisle, and took out his spec.
| tacles, rubbed them, and placed them on
lhis nose. Then he tilted back his head
and looked at the pew number "htty-
ltwo." PIain as ever "ffLy-two" was
lin the world. There could be no mis-,
flake about that. Then he advanced to
THE head OF the pew, and bent his head
doWn until his chin touched his breast, :,
and gazed tixedly at the stranger over
This spectacles. There was no mistake
about that. The stranger was there.
Then the Deacon stepped back one
pace, leaving the entrance to the pew
unobstructed, SO that the stranger could
lsget out without any trouble. But the
STRANGER didn't appear to have any idea.
of evacuating his position. He grew a
little restless under the Deacon's in
licensed glances, but he only 'tidgeted a
IlitIle in his seat, and stopped tWirling
his thumbs to pick up a hymn-book,
(which he opened at "Hold the Fort" and
Tread that stirring bit OF religious mill
ltary composition with evident comfort
lamazed. Possibly" he thought, "the
Iintruder does not see me-" Then he took
lout his handkerchief, red silk standard,
(which looked like a pocket edition of a
garrison flag, and burying his nose in
this warlike banner, blew toot that
Iechoed through the room like signal OF
defiance. The stranger never moved, but
he bent his eyes upon the page before
/ him and read the line,
/ "Hear the bugle blow,"
with much mental unction.
The Deacon was more astonished than
lhe would have been II the end of the
church mad tailen out. He crammed his
Ihandkerchiefin into the crown uf his hat
! with the defiant air of a man who meant
business, and inflated his lungs, and
called for the strangers attention with
a stentorlan
"A-hemV
The stranger idgeted a little, turned
livery red i'll the lace, and looked up,
lglanced around and saw the congrega.
/ evidently made up his mind to .'hold the
tort" until Gen. ;Ruger's troops elected
him, if he had to stay there all winter
So he settled himself again, and witnou,
looking at the Deacon, turned over u
1 the hymn
"A charge to keep have?'
The minister rose to give out tht
opening hymn, but the congregation ad
no eyes or ears for anything but the in.
dignant Deacon and the immovable
stranger. The Deacon was about TO in
a touch upon his arm, and gentle
anly-looklng church Official said:
~ VIII show you seat, sir, If YOU
please"
I 'lSeat?" said the Deacon, in suci
wrathful undertones tn4t he was nearl,
, choked.
@Seat. That" pointing to the blush
! ing but obstinate stranger, "that corne
il my seat. TIE seat 1 have occupie
, and paid tor, for these nine years past
ii "You are merely mistaken" said tAt
! placid official, sand you are interrupt
, ling the service and dIstracting the mil
lister. The seats in this church have
been free tor the past five years."
| The Deacon looked around him o.
though he expected the ground to slid
! from beneath his teet, ana CLEAN OF in
telligence and dismay passed over hi
face. 90 'e,-.i 81 "'a .i'. d
"This is" he gasped, and could ge
no further. o. !.t-a ss i- u.
"Ehe Church of the Lost Sheep" ex
plaiaed the Official. g., i.at, ~ .,'-.
The titters OF the congregation fol
lowed the mortified Deacon to the doc
as he bent, his steps toward his OWL
Church OF the Ransumed, and when ht
got There he struck everybody duml
with amazement by. dropping into; tu,
seat nearest the door; and il a cow or al
ichtyosaurus had waltzed in and taken
its seat in the outside, corner of No. 81
Deacon Ophiltree- wouldn't have been IA
the least bit surprised, and wouldn't
fhave raised the least murmur OF objec
tion.-[ Hawkeye.