The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-03-22

to take an interest in these fellows at
such times, they're going TO have
plenty of chances mighty seon.'
CHAPTER IL.
On the morning after the meeting
the happiest man in all Barton was
the Reverend Jonas Wsdgewell. He
had been one Of the first to agitate the
subject Of . grand temperance demon
onstrstion; in fact, he had, while
preaching the funeral sermon of a
young man who had been drowned
while drunk, prophesied that the sad
event which had on that occasion
drawn his hearers together would
give mighty impetus to the temper
ance movement; then, like sensible,
matter-of-faet prophet, he sxerted
himself to the uttermost that his pro-
phesy might be fulfilled. He sub
scribed literally to the fund which
paid for advertising the meeting; he
labored personally full hour with
a performer on the big drum, and end
ed by persuading him to forego COON
hunt on that particular night that he
might take part in hunt fer nobler
game. The Reverend Jonas had
drafted all the pledges which were
circulated during the meeting, and
had seen TO it that they contained no
weak or ungramatic expressions which
might tempt thirsty souls to treat dis
respectfully the documents and the
principles they embodied. He had
reached the church door at the third
tap Of the bell, had greeted all his rev.
erend brethren with hearty shake
with both his own hands, and had Of
fered the Reverend Timotheus Brown
SO many pertinent suggestions as to
the prayer which that gentleman had
been requested to make that the an
cient divine remarked, with n touch
of sanity sarcasm, that he did not
consider that the occasion justified
him in making departure from his
habit of offering strictly original pray
ers. s.
Through the whole course of the
meeting good pastor .M.sslgsxeu. sat
pulpit sofa, his body inclined little
forward, his hands upon his knees,
his eyes cleaning brightly through
polished glasses, and his whole pose
suggesting the most intense earnest
ness. He discsrnsd telling point be-
fore its verbal expression was fully
completed, his hands commenced to
applaud the moment the point was
announced; his vanished boots and
well-stored head beat time alike TO
"Shso Fly, "the march from" Norma, "
'Sweet Spirit, hear my prayer and
such other airs as the band was not
ashamed u play in public; he sprang
from his seat and spprovingly patted
the youthful backs Of the pretended
drunkard and his mother; he laughed
almost hysterically nj the wit of the
lecturer, and moistened handkerchief
after handkerchief as the able speaker
depicted the sad results of drunken
ness. While the pledges were being
circulated the reverend man occupied
position which raked the house, and
he was the first to announce to the
faithful i'm the front seats the capture
of any drinking man. He intercept
ed Tom Lyker, a tinship apprentice
who had signed the pledge, in the
aisle, immediately after the audience
was dismissed, and suggested they
should together hold q season Of pray
er in the study attached to the church,
and the rather curt manner in which
the repentant but not altogether regen-
crate Thomas declined the invitation
did not abash the holy man in the
least, for as the audience finally dis
persed he secured few faithful enes
with whom he adjourned to the study,
and enjoyed what he afterward refer
red as to a precious season.
Mrs. Wedgewell, who rendered but
feeble reverence unto him who was
at once her spouse and her spiritual
adviser, had been known to say that
when the old gentleman was wound
up there was no knowing when he
would run down again; and all who
saw the good man OIL the morning af-
ter the meeting admitted that his
wife's simile was an uncommonly good
one. Squire Tomple believed SO fully
in the advantages of the early bird
over all others in search of sustenance
that his store was always open at sun
rise; yet George Doughty had just
taken the third shutter from the front
window when a gentle tap on the
shoulder caused him to drop the rath'
er heavy board on his toes. As IN
wrathfully turned himself he heheld
the approving countenance and ex
tended congratulatory hand of thu
Reverend Wsdgewell.
George, my dear, my noble young
friend" said he, as the irats youth
squeezed his agonized toes, you have
performed most noble and meritori
Gus action-an action which you viii
never have cause to regret"
, For moment or two the young
mans face said many things not seem
ly to express in appropriate words t
the clergyman, but when he ceased t
caress his toes, his sense Of politenes
returned to him, and he replied:
Ut hope I sha'n't repent Of it, but
) don't know. 1t may be noble an
meritorious to sigh the pledge, but
: fellow needs to have twenty times a
, much man In him 10 keep It,"
"Now you don't mean to say, Georg
, that you'll allow such vile appetit
: to regain its ascendancy over you?
! pleaded the preacher.
Il "'7Isa'ta vile appetite" quickl
: replied the young man. ~ nee
whisksy as much rs I need bread an
y buttsr-yes, and great deal NOR
!. too. I have to open the store at sui
q / -. eud kn>,, a. omar, tlIe nina 0pclOr