The Baltimore County union., 1886-05-08
Stories Told of Cough.

he late Jonn b. GOugn tolu StoIy
as we'll in private as in public, says a
writer in the Philadelphia Times. The
following are remembered among some
of the experiences he used to relate:
'On one OCCASION, he said, Il had made
an appointment in a small town in
Massachusetts, and rode seven miles to
fill it. On arriving at the church as
the people were assembling l found no
one to receive me. I asked middle
aged rustic if he could tell me where l
could find the president of the temper
ance society.
81 reckon I'm him,'.he replied, la
conically.
''Ah! we'll, my name is Cough, l
said.
''Wall, calkilate it's about time to
skin in
'In we went, and l sat in pew until
he came to me and said: Il guess it's
time to begin
''Is there any one to offer prayer9' l
asked.
'No; the parsons away
els there no deacon?'
''I 'spect I'm a deacon
"Well, can't you pray?'
"No; l reckon l speak in the meet
in
'As I passed into the pulpit he stood
beneath it and called out to the audi
ence: 'Mr Cough is in de desk an he's
a. a.gwine to lectur'.
Il proceeded to lecture as well as |
could, and when l had finished and
taken my seat at the back of the plat
form my agricultural friend called out
from below: 'We will now purceed to
take up a collection for the benefit of
the lactoorer' He then 'purceeded' to
pass his hat around among the people,
who had begun to rapidly leave the
church as soon as they heard the omi-
nous word collection. When he had
completed his task he dumped upon the
table in front of the pulpit the contents
of his tile and, shaking the lining, said
to me: char! That ere is all for you.
| amt a-gwine to take nothin' out for
the lights.
'sThe amount did not exceed $3.50.
81 do not want it, l said.
"Wall, l swow! Yer don't want all
that money!
"No.'
s'Wall, then, 1 reckon I'll take it,
and suiting the action to the word he
swept the money into his hat, placed it
on his head and walked off without an
other word, leaving me to enjoy a
hearty laugh as the only recompose for
my nights work.
in one of the first towns of which
spoke outside of Worcester l labored
for three evenings, and was told by the
committee at the conclusion of my last
address that they had no funds in the
treasury and did not like to take up
collection, but that if l would come
again and give three more lectures |
would be literally paid. l consented
and shortly afterward began my other
course of three lectures. AT the terml-
nation of the second one a gentleman
--~-s nnd eaid that as Mr.. Cough had
not been paid of the occasion OF IFS Pr~
vious visit to that town, he suggested
that a collection be taken up for the
purpose or IcnIun0I ari"s him.
ssI object to collections said another
gentleman; 'but if we must have one let
it be tomorrow night, when we will all
come prepared.
sThe third evening was very rainy
and a collection amounting to S1.oo
was taken up. A gentleman near the
table remarked when the money was
counted: The amount is very small
do not mind making it up to 81 out
of my own pocket, for the laborer is
worthy of his hire and he very EN-
phatically laid down two silver dimes.
| refused to take 81 for six days work,
during which my personal expenses had
been S., and departed. The next day
received from three liquor-sellers S.
bill enclosed in letter, in which they
said that they thought l had worked
hard enough to be better paid.
sOnce after lecturing at considerable
personal expense in town some dls-
tance from Worcester, where expected
a remuneration at least sufficient to re-
imburse me, 1 was merely rendered a
vote of thanks. I arose and requested
that the vote should be put in writing,
as perhaps the conductor on the train
would accept it for my fare. The COM
mittee took the rint and liberal col
lection was then taken up for me.