Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-03
A Pious Witness.

Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Tilman and
three very pretty daughters, who reside at
the southern end of Greenville avenue,
were before Justice TIP. Eskridge, charged
on warrant with annoying a neighbours
family with uncbmplimentary and some
times violent remarks. The eldest Miss
Tilman, who was dressed quite attractive
ly, occupied herself during the examina-
ton with reading letter, and sometimes
looking up for a moment to check her
mother After the statement of the COM
plant by the plaintiff, Mrs. iilman de-
manded to be sworn, and from her
evidence the reader may gather a good
deal Of information about the trouble, as
we'll as much simple piety.
"Mr. Eskridge," remarked Mrs. T., af-
ter having taken the customary oath upon
the Evangelist, II have no acquaintance
filled the faces of the plaintiffs.] l never
knew anything about the warrant, and |
couldn't have been more astonished when
they brought it at 4 O'Clock this afternoon,
if had been called upon to meet my
Saviour. Here the witness paused to let
the audience comprehend the awful sud-
denness of the surprised She says called
her grey headed.-What of that, Mr.. Esk-
ridge? Is there any harm in that? 1 am
grey-headed. Grey hairs is honorable.
Who's ashamed of 'em. The bible says
they is honorable, and say SO. She says
|. called her old What of that: Mr.. Esk-
ridge? Tam old. [ am brought here this
AFTERNOON with one foot in the grave, and
50 is she-she has one foot in the grave,
too. Here the witness paused again,
partly to give the court time to contem-
plate the awful spectacle of two persons
with foot each in the grave, and partly
to listen to murmured remonstrance
from the plaintiff at the description given
of her physical condition. She says that
l called her old Cotton woman, because
she had to put a piece of cotton behind
her ear. Mr.. Eskridge, wear cotton. All
of us can't wear silk, and when we can t
wear silk we must wear cotton. | am not
proud: l wouldn't get mad if anybody
should say | wear cotton. I was well
brought up, Mr.. Eskridge; we'll brought
up, and don't get mad at any person say
ing / wore cotton. And now, Mr.. Esk-
ridge, what is all this about? [ ask if it
would not be better for two old women
like US, instead of quarreling here about
chillen's fights, to be preparing to meet
our God at the bar where we must both
meet. Here the old lady seemed to warm
up.l Let US! Oh let us sing some old
hymn, and kneel down here and pray to-
gether, and sing a doxology, and make
friends and 60 home. THE count not at
once adopting this pious suggestion, the
old lady, thinking her proposition was too
large, modified it, Let us then sing a
small doxology, a small one. or something
of that kind, and separate with the best
Of feeling"
The court, who had never heard of le
gal case settled bya doxologY, was astonish-
ed. Miss Tilman looked up from her let
ter. The police stared at each other, Won
dering where the costs were to come from
if the matter was settled by a doxology,
large or small. The old lady stood await
ing the Justices decision, which she at
tempted to aid by the suggestion:
''Just a small doxology, MI. Eskridge.'
The justice dismissed the case, and Mrs.
Tilman, and her good-looking daughters
marched out without the doxoogy having
been sung.