Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-01-13
me-" utter his vow of committal to the
promptings Of conscience.

Deacon Wiseman and his wife comforta.
bly, settled themselves in their easy-chair.
for twilight chat, the Deacon began re.
lating some of his experience in the work
which he had so zealously undertaken.
"This morning, Desire" said he, 81
felt moved to labor with Ben Halsey
You see Ben bought the widow Thatcher
wood-lot. She's slack kind of body,
anyway, and couldn't tell how many
acres there was in it; but left the sur
veying to Ben, which, l must say, WASN'T
very cunning in her, considering that she
was to be paid by the acre, and consider
ing what kind of fellow Ben is. His
brothers helped him on the job, so they
had it all among themselves-carried the
chains, did the reckoning and managed
everything. Thirty-fve acres, they said
it was, and Ben paid the widow accord
ingly. Nobody would have disputed OF
made any fuss, if Tom Anderson hadn't
happened around just at that time, and
mentioned to one and another that his
father sold that wood-lot to John Thatch-
er, and sold him forty acres, too. Then
folks began to talk and speculate and
think over about it pretty lively. Mis-
Thatcher said there never had been q rod
of the lot sold, and if there was forty
acres when John bought it, there was
forty acres then. Push it, Mis- Thatcher,
push it, Squire Parton told her. A
hundred dollars isn't to be shook off OF
ev'ry bush. Push it, and III back you.
But Mis- Thatcher only answered, III
Ben Halsey's cheated me he knows it,
and ought to make restitution; and when
it comes to vengeance, that rests in
stronger hands than NINE
"Well, now, that was the Christian
way Of looking at it, Desire. wouldn't
have taken vengeance into my own hands,
still can't bear to see woman mis-
used; besides, | thought there might
come time, Desire e"-the Deacon's s
voice dropped to tender cadence, while
he reached out his hand and gently touched
the gay chintz covering Of the chair in
which Desire was sitting-"there might
come time. Desire, when you'd be left
alone and need somebody to stand be-
tween YOU and the extortioners Of the
world. So, as | remarked before, felt
moved TO labor with Ben.
Al .L..l. LII f-.ajnu, - cpaa ,pn
and I'm certain told him the truth. OF
course, though, he fired up the first thing
and had over something about folks mind
ing their own business. And look here,
Deacon Wiseman.' he cried, you talk
about peoples rights, don't it strike you
that have rights, and that you're rather
interfering with them"
"'No. Ben,' replied l, for no man has
right TO do what is wrong, and no other
man has 4 right to stand by consenting
while he does it. In this ! can say as
have read, that Lord Bacon once said, in
concluding one Of his great speeches in
the House of Commons: 81 have told
you my opinion. | know it had been
more safe TO have been silent, but it is
more honest and loving to speak. When
a man speaketh he may be wounded by
Others. But as he holds his peace from
good things he woundeth himself. ~
Lord Bacon be hanged said Ben,
and started off in huff.
Take it kindly, Ben,' called
after him. Remember I'm an old
man, and your dead father and | was
bows together But he didn't look
around, only muttered a word or two
that couldn't quite catch, and walked
on the faster.
whether what Id done would amount
to anything or not, didn't know; but
Just now, when | was coming up the hill,
somebody jumped over the fence from the
east-side lot and said, as pleasant as you
please, 'Halloa, Deacon! 1t was Ben,
and then he went on, Cant you speak to
fellow that don't devour widows houses
We've been over that lot again, and
guess there was mistake (he looked
kinder shame-faced over the word, YET
couldn't exactly own up, you see, to It's
having been a mistake made a-purpose,
and | guess there was mistake, said
he, in the frst measuring, for we've go'
it forty acres this time, and I'm on my
way home from paying hundred dollars
more to Mistress Harriet Thatcher
"'God bless YOU, Ben! said ], 'and
surely he will
"Tm glad l had the courage to speak,
Desire. Justice has been exalted, and
OH I'm glad, so glad Of that"
But Deacon Wiseman shall not be can
onized on his own testimony alone. Let
US establish his right to such high honor
at the mouth Of two or three witnesses
A couple Of Deacon Wiseman's towns
men CHANGING to meet, some time aftel
the event recorded. and talking Of this
and that. one observed to the other
'Well, Deacon Wiseman did a nice thing
the other day"
"How so:" queried his companion.
Haven't YOU heard? Why, Parker
and Stevens disagreed over something per-
tanning to the new library building. II
wasn't anything to speak of in the be-
ginning, only a slight difference in opin'
ion; but you know Parker is rather hot.
headed, and he made some pretty aggra.
waiting remarks. Stevens don't lack fol
spirit, either, and showed proper resent
ment, you may be sure. So the thing
kept growing; they both getting maddel
and talking sharper every moment. What
made it worse was, there were goot
many by to see and hear, the most o.