The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-08-23
A Texas MAN illustrates tine DIM
Guilty Of Telling the Truth
ON RA1LroAD IN Texas,
August 14th, 1879.

To the Editor OF the Comet:
There is much difference In living on the
railroad and in being off the railroad
mean near the railroad. How rarely DO wo
mean Just what we say, or say just what we
mean! Mr.. Todd was blacksmith IN Mis-
sissippi His wife's name was Sue. MIR.
Todd found it necessary or convenient TO
whip Sue occasionally. At least Mr.. Todd
was inclined--was frequently inclined-to
whip she. He uniformly called her pet
Names and violated one of the command
ments in speaking to his wife. Mr.. Todd
was given to strong drink, and used to
stand around the village grocery door, and
rub his brawny arms, somewhat begrimed
with SCOT. Mr. Todd told anecdotes too.
He once related that he had been on the
plains, and was asked if he saw any Butfa-
Ices and he replied that one morning ne
met drove and that it took him three
DAYS to pass through it, and that he could
see no land for that time on account OF the
Buffaloes. Did Mr.. Todd mean exactly
what he said? If he had been pressed, he
might have been forced to say, "see here'
HODGES" On one occasion Mr.. Todd went
to the anxious seat at revival in the Bap'
fist church. Rev. Mr.. White, of NJ,
Mississippi, was conducting the meeting
Sue had been forward and laid her case be-
fore her Maker, and had been blessed. That
circumstance, together with Bro Whites
earnest appeals, and demonstrations that
Mr.. Todd was in danger unless he sought
assistance, brought that worthy husband to
the front. He carried large stick in his
hand, and being for the first time on his
knees, he was troubled to dispose of his
stick, but finally, the stick disposed OF itself
and fell, with great noise, on the floor
The audience looked on with astonish-
ment, and Mr. Todd placed his face between
his hands, and deposited face and hands on
the bench before him. Mr.. Todd was tall
man-the position was new one, and
feeling of painful WEAKNESS came upon
Mr.. Todd, as did the greatest anxiety to re-
ceive blessing and be dismissed. Bro
White and some other co-laborers were
going from one penitent to another, and
speaking words of comfort, hope and in
struction. MIR. Todd was anxious for some
one to reach him and dispose of his case.
Many of the penitents near Mr.. Todd were
| nok y1n1arotopI
but he listened attentively to the advice
given by the good people who were going
round, and thought he discovered the frame
of mind to which Bro. White especially de-
sired to bring his seekers. At last Bro.
White, full of good feeling, as he always is,
came to Mr.. Todd and spoke to him softly.
Mr.. Todd did not understand exactly the
words spoken, he said, ''Passon, did you
speak TO me?" at the same time partially re-
moving one hand and opening one eye.
The good Parson said, yes, and
Mr. Todd Immediately resumed his
original position, and shut his eye
81 asked You what is your condition
of mind and HEARTH Mr.. Todd thought
that he saw his way out, by making a
candid statement such as he had heard
recommended to others, and promptly re-
piled, 81 am the chief of sinners" and in
a tone of voice loud enough to be heard by
most devoted and able ministers that have
adorned the Mississippi pulpit, is not en-
tirely free from the infrmity of humor,
and was placed at some disadvantage by
the promptness and aptness of Mr.. Todd's
response, and passed to the next penitent,
intending, no doubt to return to Mr.. Todd,
in due season, when he could look more
solemnly at the the huge blacksmith. Mr..
Todd construed the brothers departure to
the satisfactory character of his declaration,
arose, resumed his stick, and returned to
his seat. In this case, did Mr.. Todd say
exactly what he meant? If, on the next
day, at the village grocery, some one from
the country, who never treated had called
him the chief of sinners, or, if Sue had
addressed him in that way, don't you think
Mr.. Todd would haye said, ''see here
Hodges"
All this is written 20 show that men in
general do not mean precisely what they
say, Or say precisely what they mean; and
it is in order, most usually, to say, before
going, see here Hodges"
Much Of what we see in the papers about
being called out by 'many voters" or ''vox
populi' does not convey definite idea of
the true state of the case. l knew a man
once in Noxubee county to get his neighbor
to write call upon him to run for the
Legislature, and requested the friend to
suggest some sacrifices to be made by the
aspirant The latter revised the call and
omitted some OF the difficulties suggested,
fearing the public might decide that he
could not afford to run, before he could
siy, ''see here Hodges"
The question suggests itself, can parties
afford to speak the naked truth on all occa-
sions and prosper in our social organism?
All of us have read Acts, chapter 5, and
know what befell Annanias and his wife,
yet we go on venturing where Annanias
fell.
l began this letter for the purpose of
telling you something of my travels in
Texas, but got switched off on a moral side
track and have now only space left to say
that the crops of Texas are shorter than they
have been since 1860.
Z I may write you again, while wandering
up and down IL rough the earth.
RIOHARD