Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-22
A Cow Teaching Theology.

Old Mr.. Bunnell was peculiar man.
When little child he was peculiar. He
didn't want to rock, or creep, or walk like
other children. lie seemed to prefer to
creep sideways or backward, rather than
forward Aud when boy, no play suited
him, no plan was exactly right. When
other BOYS wanted to skate, he wanted to
slide. When they wanted to slide down hill,
he wanted to run on the ice. When they
learned to read in the usual way, he turned
his book bottom upwards, and learned to
read in that way. Not that he was cross or
morose, but peculiar. lie wanted every
thing done his own way. When he became
man, and rode barebacked when Others
used the saddle, and MIXED his COW on the
left side instead of the right and used an OK
harnessed with the old horse, why, people
said, "Mr. Bunnell is a peculiar man, and
let it all pass. But there were places where
he found it hard to travel with other people.
Especially was this so on the Sabbath. lie
never could enjoy the singing in the church,
because the chorister always got hold OF the
wrong tunes; and he could not enjoy the
prayers, because they were too long or too
short, too abstract or too common. They
were always out of joint. If the heather
were prayed for, he thought that the heather
at home might as well be remembered. II
the nations were mentioned, he thought the
Jews ought to be mentioned by name. In all
cases, somebody was left out or put into the
PRAYERS that ought not to be. He didn't
mean to scold or find fault" he said, but
he did love to have things done right
Poor man he never had them done right.
| He professed to like his minister, and did
like him as well as he could like anybody.
| But there were awful mistakes i'll his preach
| ing. Sometimes a most important point, as
he thought, was left out. Sometimes things
were put in a way which nobody could ull-
derstand. Sometimes things almost heretlcal
were broached. What could he do 2 Hegave
hints and propounded queries to his minis
ter, and his minister so gently and kindly
passed them off that it seemed like pouring
water on ducks back. At length, when
patience seemed about to give out, and
when he could stand it no longer, he went
over to his neighbor, Deacon Wright, and
poured his troubles into his ear Now
Deacon Wright was quiet man, said but
little, but thought more. When he did
speak, it was always to the point. He knew
all about Mr.. Bunnell, had great patience
with him, and great regard for him. Ht
used to say, "Mr. Bunnell loves to growl
but he never really bites" The deacon wa
lust going out to the barn to fodder his cat
tie, when Mr.. Bunnel came up and bade hin
GOOD moruing-if | can call such colo
morning good Now, deacon, I've just on'
word to say. | can't bear our preaching
4 get no good. There's so much in it tina
don't want, that grow lean on it. | los
e my time and pains" "Mr. Bunnell, com
,, in here There's my COW, Thankful-sh
! = can teach you theology" "A COW teacl
theology What do you mean :" NoN
see have just thrown her forkful o
y hay. just watch her. There now Sh
has found a stick-you know sticks will &c
+ in the hay-and see how she tosses it on
side and leaves it, and goes on to eat wha
is good There, again She has found
burdock, and she throws it one side and got
L on eating Aud there She does not relis
e. e, that bunch of daisies, and she leaves then
y, y, and-goes OH eating. Before morning st
will clear the manger of all, save fe
sticks and weeds, and she will give mill
= There's milk in that hay, and she know
how to get it out, albeit there may be no
and then stick or weed, which she leave
of But if she refused to eat, and spent the tin
n scolding about the fodder, she, too, won
e- % grow lean, and my milk would be dri'
n, up. Just so with our preaching. Let u
old COW teach you. Get all the good yc
can out of it, and leave the rest. You "
's' find great deal of nourishment in it," N
Bunnell stood silent moment, then turn
away, saying "Neighbor, that old COW
: no fool at any rate"