The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-09
International sunday.SchOOl Lessons.
The Eleventh Commandment.

We have before us, says the Chicago
STANDARD of q recent date, an anecdote
which, in all its substantials, we have
seen going the grounds of the papers
for over a quarter of a century. We
have two copies before us. In the one
the celebrated John Leland, Baptist
minister of Western Massachusetts, in
the last generation, is the hero. The
one we print below is credited to the
Christian at Work, and Rev. Alexander
Mcclellan, d. D., of New Jersey, who
flourished little later, is introduced.
The rest of the story-names excepted
lis nearly word for word Read it.
The story is very good one whether
John Leland, DR.. Mcclellan or any one
OF score of others. figures in it: L
1t was in a New Jersey town that DR..
Mcclellan was to preach. The occasion
was a special one, and the church, the
largest in the surrounding country,
would be crowded. At the little station
where the cars stopped, DIR. Mcclellan
got off, and taking carpet-bag in hand
and a venerable affair it was-the
Doctor tramped along in unclerical
garb. With boots more substantial than
elegant, and his pants tucked in them,
he looked least like minister and most
like farmer who had just left the pillow
in the field. At the end of mile he
came to substantial farmhouse. occu-
pied by well-to-do farmer, Mr.. Quirk,
we will call him, who was an elder of
the church whose pulpit the Doctor was
to occupy. 1t was late Saturday even
ing. Approaching the house he met a
lady, it proved to be Mrs. Quirk, of
whom he inquired, "Can l get bite
here?"-for the Doctor, as is often
the case with DDS, had quite sharp
appetite. Mrs. Quirk glanced at the
doctor and took in the unkempt appear
ance of the man. ''Wen," was the re-
ply, somewhat hesitatingly given, 'you
can 60 into the kitchen, and the girl
will give you something" And into
the Kitchen he went. After he had fed
beautifully, if not daintily, the family
assembled in the kitchen as was their
won't, and our disguised doctor being
among them, conversation was carried
on by the farmer and his wife after the
Usual fashion. In this our friend did
not participate to any great extent; but
once, Bible themes being touched upon,
Elder Quirk, as if to quiz his guest,
asked him if he knew how many Com
mandments there were. "Eleven, !"
said our pseudo laborer; "isn't that
right?' "Eleven!-just hear the man."
said Elder Quirk. eleven! it is pity
you didn' tknow your Bible better; there
are ten Commandments, my friend, not
eleven;" and then Elder Quirk, straight
ening himself, proceeded to enumerate
them, one by one, adding his own in
valuable comments as he proceeded.
All this the Doctor took meekly, till the
hour for retiring came. "Can you
give me a shake-down for the night?"
The Elder thought moment; would
it do to house man who didn't know
how many Commandments there were?
Finally a happy idea struck him; it in
volved nothing less than a compromise.
There was the room over the wood
shed occupied by the farmers "hired-
man" The newcomer could take
that and he took it, Sunday morn
ing came, and the new guest break
tasted as he had supped, with the
help in the kitchen. Then came
church time. Deacon Quirk remarked,
1--WE are church-going family; don t
you wish to go with us to church, We
are all harnessed up; there is some
straw in the wagon and you can lie on
that; besides, DR.. Mcclellan is to
preach. .'''t 'H.'lH '4.i
"Who is DIR. McClellanpp im al
"Why! don't you knowP-didn't you
every hear Of the great DIR. Mcclellan,
of New Brunswickpe
az don't know whether I'll go to
church or not; but you go on, and per-
haps L IL follow you, and if / do my legs
will take me there d .a., .'..'
"Well, you had better start on, then,
as we are going to lock up"
The guest "started on" as was sug-
gested, and the Elder, fastening up the
house, got into the wagon with his fam
lily and drove to church. .,..
The congregation waited, and it was
nearly eleven o clock before the Doctor
came, Elder Quirk meantime growing
anxious. sf W .,e Z I.uI
finally the church-door opened, and
tramp, tramp, tramp, down the middle
aisle, Came the Elders guest of the
night. And what was the Elder s
amazement at seeing his friend who
slept in his wood-shed mount the pulpit
stairs and commence the services!
The Elder in a whisper sought infor-
nation of the elder next to him in "the
Elders pew" 800 ".p -rW gi7.
"Who is that?o .gtgizf-..
"Why, the great DR.. Mcclellan, of
course"
''You don't say SO! lin an agitated
whisper) why, slept that man in my
wood-shed. and fed him in the kitchen!'
! GAnother version of this story states
that the text chosen by the minister on
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