Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-04-28
The World Coming to an End

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Something like fifty years ago Unole Eli
and Aunt Ruth, a good old couple jogging
along ifa's downward way, retired to rest
With no thoughts concerning the end Of
the world in, mind to destroy sleep, or even
tronbls them during the hours allotted to
slumber. Aunt Ruth was devout Epis-
copaIisn, Unele Eli ON equally devout
Methe dist. 1t might have been midnight,
when, for some unaooountable reason tho
female head Of the house awoke. The bed
stood facing two windows, out upon the
village green, and as her Dyes unolosed she
beheid sight that sent thrill of fear
quivering through every fiber of hsr being.
The heavens we're on fire, and the stare
were falling to earth like the waters of an
Illuminated Niagara.
Aunt Ruth slid from tho bed to her
knees, while with one hand she groped for
her prayer book, the other hand being oc--
cupied with an attempt to awaken, by
sories of vigorous shakes, her consort, who
yet slept and snored unconscious of the i'm.
pending calamity.
"Daddy! daddyp she cried; "daddy
wake up; the day of judgment is come"
The only response to her appeal was a sue
oession of snores, for which Unolo Eli was
famous, and on accession of terror on her
part, le5t the affair should happen before the
sleeper could be aroused.
ooh, Lordy; have mercy. Daddy! dsddy!"
she again shrieked, this time administering
q thorough shaking up; "Daddy, the world
is on fire--coming to and end-proy, daddy,
pray, tho day Of judgments come!'
"Ugh! chi" grunted the old gentleman,
only half awake. "Ruth, what's the''-
ho never foished that sentence, for just
then he caught sight of the celestial pyr-
oteohnical display, aud with single bound
,saulted over the head Of his alarmed part
nor, landing in the middle of the apart.
-ment.
'Ruth! Ruth! where's my brceohesY" he
Dried, as he pranoed about in his thin and
by no means voluminous attire; "where's
my brooches, I say7"
"Never mind your breeches, daddy; pray,
daddy, pray" sobbed bis terrified compan.
ion.
"Tormcnt you, Rrth," yelled Unolo Eli,
awakening the children who slept on the
next floor above; "torment you, Ruth,
where's my breeches2"
"Never mind your breeches, daddy?,
:moaned Aunt Ruth; "nevcr mind your
'breeohes, but pray, daddy pray-the day of
Judgments coms."
But daddy did mind his breeohes, and
continued galloping about the room, over
turning chairs and tables, barking his ahina
aud stumbling over everything within his
circuit, hunting fur them.
Meantime Aunt Ruth remained upon her
knees. praying or attempting to pray, aud
beseeching Unole Eli to do likewise.
At length, just as he was passing her for
The twentieth time, che caught him by his
'scanty garment and besought him: "Pray
daddy, pray; tho day of judgment"
"Torment you,. Ruth" he roared, as he
broke away from her clutch; "tormont you,
ruth, don't care if the day of judgment
has come, I amt going without my
.breeohes"
Nor did ho. He found them about the
time the fireworks ceased, and the end Of
the world hadn't come, after all.
The good old souls have long since
passed. sway, but the story remains, and is
told for the benefit of believers in Mother
Shipton's prophecy. If it hos a moral they
will be sure to find it.