The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-04-07
The World Coming to an End.

Something like fifty years ago Uncle
Eli and Aunt Ruth, good old couple
jogging On along life's downward way,
retired to rest with no thoughts con-
Cerning the end of the world in mind
to destroy sleep, or even trouble them
during the hours allotted to slumber.
Aunt Ruth was devout Episcopalian,
Uncle Eli an equally devout Methodist.
1t might have been midnight, when,
for some unaccountahle reason the fe-
male head of the house awoke. The
bed stood facing two windows, out upon
the village green, and as her eyes un-
closed she beheld a sight that sent a
thrill of fear quivering through every
fiber of her being. The heavens
were on fire, aud the stars were
falling to earth like the waters of an il
Illuminated Niagara.
Aunt Ruth slid from the bed to her
knees, while with one hand she groped
for her prayer-book, the other hand
being occupied with an attempt to
awaken, by series OF vigorous shakes,
her consort, who yet slept and snored
unconscious of the impending calamity
"Daddy! daddy I" she cried; daddy,
wake up; the day of Judgment is
come" The only response to her appeal
was succession OF snores, for which
Uncle Eli was famous, and an accession
of terror on her part, lest the affair
should happen before the sleeper could
be aroused.
Cob, Lordy; have mercy, Daddy !!
daddy" she again shrieked, this time
administering a thorough shaking up;
Daddy, the world is on fre-coming
to an end-pray, daddy, pray, the day
of judgments come !"
"Ugh eh?" grunted the only gentle
man, only half awake. Ruth, what's
the"-he never finished that sentence,
for just then he caught sight of the
celestial pyrotechnical display, and with
q single bound vaulted over the head Of
his alarmed partner, landing in The
middle of the apartment.
"Ruth Ruth where's my breeches?"
be cried, as he pranced about in his
thin aud by no means voluminous
attire; "where's my breeches, I say?"
"Never mind your breeches, daddy;
pray, daddy, pray" sobbed his terrified
companion.
"Torment you, Ruth" yelled Uncle
Eli, awakening the children who slelt
on the next floor above; torment you,
Ruth, where's my breeches"
"Never mind your breeches, daddy 2"
moaned Aunt Ruth; "neyer mind your
breeches, but pray, daddy, pray-the
day OF judgments come"
But daddy did mind his breeches,
and continued galloping about the
oom, overturning chairs and tables,
barking his snins and stumbling over
everything within his circuit, hunting
for them.
Meantime Aunt Ruth remained upon
her knees, praying, or attempting to
pray, and beseeching Uncle Eli to do
likewise.
at length, just as he was passing her
for the twentieth time, she caught him
by his scanty garment and besought
him: pray, daddy, pray; the day of
Judgment"
"Torment you, Ruth" be roared, as
he broke away from her clutch; "tor-
ment you, Ruth, 1 don't care if the day
of judgment has come, l amt agoing
without my breeches!"
Nor did he. 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 away, but the story remains, and
IS told for the benefit of believers in
Mother Shipton's prophecy. If it has
a moral they will be sure to find it.
Bright and positive eolors will not be