Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-06-10
A MIDNIGHT MEETING.

there was reason for it, Mine were not ex-
actly his ways, you see-mine being the ways
Of pleasantness, and his tho paths Of peace.
But could help II that was not born a
parson like Solomon Everybody isn't born
parson. Indeed, don't find that, as a rule,
It runs much in families and even IL II did,
you couldn't expect that two such persons as
Solomon could be born and raised in the bo-
som Of one family.
A long while ago, when we were boys to-
gether-in tight blue jackets with gilt but
tons and deep frilled collars-I used to try
with all my might and main to initiate Solo
mon and when we we're exhibited in socie-
ty, always echoed verbatim every remark l
heard him make, so that 1 might share his
fame. But that was, as 1 said, long ago, and
gradually such close following in Solomon's
steps grew tedious, SO chose q wider way.
was warned great deal against this wider
way, but somehow lounged easily into it
when found how difficult it was to be al
ways as good as Solomon.
As said TO begin with, always did think
Solomon little bard upon me. II l used
language any stronger than Quaker's, he
would maintain q marked and impressive ST.
lence himself; if l took anything stronger
than lemonade, be would ask meaningly for
water 10 my discontinue; and if-after we
had grown up and were living each of us
alone in his own house-I took part in the
harmless recreations of the age, would for
the next few days live in mortal terror of
Solomon's appearance at the gate with his
book Of sermons under his arm, and the odor
of outraged sanctity about him. His figure,
coming through the gate, even without that
brown book under his arm, would have been
impressive enough, but it never did appear
so. He was curious in appearance, was Sol
omon, being emphRtically long in every way.
His legs and feet were long his arms and
hands were long his hair was long. His
nose was long, and his sermons were long.
His coat-tails were uncommonly long, too
and, indeed, / think the only things about
him which were not long were his sleeves.
After any particularly iovial evening at the
squires or Joe Fleming's at Blagly (ths
squire bred the best fighting cocks in the
country except Joe's and Joes whiskey was
the primest that ever escaped duty y you
may guess that my heart didn't bound with
Joy at the sight of Solomon's long figure and
long face still, on ordinary occasions, Sol
and / we're good friends, and looked for
ward to the day when he should convert me
to his own ways, and we should read the
book Of sermons aloud by turns through our
old age. But then 1 knew there was plenty
of time for that.
Well, we had marked the fight of the sea-
bOu, ulu L nhu DuCkSu OANu nchNh1.
The little affair was to come of on the Sun
day afternoon, and for all the week before we
were SO excited (Joe and and our chums,
and the squire and his chums) that we spent
every evening together, discussing our birds
and our bets, not TO mention the dispatching
of good deal of the squire's4 home-brewed,
and OF my old port, and of Joe's Scotch.
You see, we didn't read so much in those days
as you do now. and so spent more time over
these lighter duties. We didn't talk very
much either; one of Solomon's sermons, di-
vided among us, would have lasted us all for
the week. but we smoked-well, pretty
steadily.
The Sunday came at last, and in the morn
ing l sat in my corner of Solomon's pew, pay
ing the greatest attention TO him; for
wouldn't for the world he should suspect
where 1 was going in the afternoon, or that
had the slightest interest in either Joe's bird
or the squire's. What was my horror, then,
when Solomon, in the very middle of his dis
course q always knew it was the middle when
he began to say ''lastly'), alluded darkly to a
''besetting sin of the age" as sport at which
only Satan could laugh. "And he" conclud-
ed Solomon, and 1 felt his eye upon me,
''chuckles with glee 10 see men so degrade
themselves" l broke into a damp heat
Could any one have turned traitor and told
Solomonl / kept my eyes down upon the
carpet, and tried to make q resolution that
this should be my last cock fight but some
how the resolution jumbled itself up with
spsculations as to how the squire would feel
tonight when he was beaten, and how
should feel when l pocketed my 800 win
nings
Il shall certainly buy that colt of Joe's !;
and, now think of it, may as well get Sol
omon q new umbrella. dare say he didn't
apvtbina ahnuf gnaE Hobtinn affair oil
He always had whims for attacking our
sports, and, of course, that innocent diver
sion must take its turn, like bowls and bill
iards."
had forgiven Solomon by the time he had
dofed his long gown and joined me in the
church yard, and only said, amiably:
''You were rather hard upon us all to-day,
as usual, SOL"
"Was l ?" he questioned, in his slow way.
''Hard or soft, it does but little good, ia
cob"
/ turned the conversation gingerly. I
could not easily prove his words to be untrue,
aud it wouldn't be polite il did-so didn't.
Goodbye, Sol, said, with great relief,
when we reached the parsonage gate.
"Shall l see you at service this evening ?"
was Solomon's most unfortunate inquiry, as
he slowly removed his umbrella TO his left
hand, preparatory to giving me his right.
II hope 50, but cannot say l am quite
sure"
answered in that way for the purpose OF
breaking it to him ss gently as l could.
knew solomon felt this sort of thing as sharp
ly as l felt a razor scratch in shaving, so
put il that way, that hoped 80, but could
not say was quite sure.
''Pm sorry you are not sure, Jacob, said
he Il Ishould have liked to see you at church
tonight ! don't feel very well to-day, 50
viii you come in now and stay the afternoon
with me 2"
81 wish could, Sol, said /, as jauntily as
possible, 'but the fact is I've promised an
old friend at LuekheatonP Duckheaton lay in
the direction exactly opposite to Blagly) ''tc
| go over and have quiet chat with him. He
IS not able to 60 about much himself"
l suppose Solomon was shaking hands in
his ordinary way, but his long fingers seemed
to me to have tied themselves about mine, tc
hold me back.
''You want new umbrella, SOL" remark
ed /, neatly preparing the way for the gift
had in store for him and, as / thought,
turning the conversation with consummate
tact.
do II" asked Solomon, looking down
upon the machine as if he had never'seen il
before in his life. 1--WE both of us want a
good many new things, Jacob new habits,
"Ah yes, indeed we do !" sighed l. as
felt the grip of his fingers relaxing. you're
looking all right, am glad to see. Don't &c
and fancy yourself ailing, Sol it's woman
ish trick, and not at all like you"
mo, am not fanoiful, he said, tuckinl
his book tenderly under his long arm
Goodbye, then, jacob l shall see you
again sometime tonight, shall II"
Awkward, that query at the end, but nod
ded yes TO him just as il l had known-le
me see, where was n Well, solomon and
parted very good friends. He looked bacl
at me with smile as / waited, and afterward
looked back at him with smile too, for, al