Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-03-05


young uns wot amt married yit."
This was good logic, but the feeling on
the subject proved to be even stronger,
for the mothers in the company became
so angry at their children being consid-
cred devils that for time there seemed
TO be danger of an Amazonian attack on
the unfortunate speaker. Many violent
propositions were made, some Of the
younger men going so far as 10 offer to
burn down the church. II was finally
agreed that old Peter should be uncere-
moniously ousted from his place in the
pulpit which he had filled SD many
years.
AS the week passed OH some of the
older men of the congregation, who had
friendly feelings toward their old com-
panion and preacher, talked the matter
over among themselves, and afterward
succeeded in gaining the general con-
sent that Uncle Pete should be allowed
a chance to explain himself, and give
his grounds and reasons for his AS
founding statement in regard 10 woman
kind. Ii he could show Biblical an-
thority for this, of course nothing more
could be said. But if he could not, then
.e must get down from the pulpit, aud
sit for the rest of his life on back seat
Of the charch.
Uncle Pete arrived at home very late
on Saturday night, and retired TO his
simple couch, without knowing any
thing of the terrible storm which was
to burst upon him on the morrow. But
the next morning, long before church
time, he received warning OF what was
to happen. But the old man possessed
a stubborn soul, not easily 10 be fright
ened.
"wot / says in de pulpit" he remark
ed, "I'll 'splain in de pulpit you all ud
better git long to de chu'ch. an when
de time fur de service come, I'll be dar. y
As soon as he entered the church he
was formally Instructed by committee
of the leading members that before he
began TO open the services he must
make il plain to the congregation that
what he said on the preceding Sanday
about every woman being possessed OF
seven devils was Scripture truth, and
not mere wicked nonsense out of his own
brain. If he could not do that, they
wanted no more praying or preaching
from him.
Uncle Pete made no answer, but, as
ccnding the little pulpit, he put his hat
OH the bench behind him where 1t was
to repose, took out his red cotton pocS-
ethandkerchief and blew his nose In his
accustomed way, and looked about him.
The house was crowded. Even Aunt
Rebecca was there.
After deliberate survey Of the audi
ence, the preacher spoke: "Brev'ren
an sisters, | see afore me Brudder Bill
Hines, who kin read de Bible, an has
got one. Amt dat so, brudder?"
Bill Hines having nodded and mod
estly grunted assent, the preacher con-
tinued: "An' dar's Ann PriscilIa's
boy, Jack, who amt brudder yet,
though he's plenty old 'nuf, min | tell
We, an he kin read de Bible fus' rate,
an has read it ter me ober an ober
ag'in. Amt that so, Jake"
Jake grinned, nodded and hung his
head, very uncomfortable at being thus
publicly pointed out.
can dar's good old Aunt Patty, who
knows more Scripter dan ennybuddy
h'yar. havin' been teached by de little
gals from Kunnel Jasper's an by dere
mudders afore 'em. / reckon she know
de hull Bible straight froo, from the
Garden of Eden 10 de New jerusalem.
An dar are udders h'yar who knows dc
Scripters, some one part an some an
udder. Now | axes ebery one oh you
all wot know the scripters ef be don 7
member how de Bible tells how our
Lor' when lie was on dis yearth cas-
seben debbils out o. Mary Magdalum9'
A murmur Of assent came from the
congregation. Most Of them remcm-
bered that.
"But did emmy oh you ebber read, or
hab read to you, dat lie ebber cas' 'em
out o. emmy udder woman"
Negative grunts and shakes OF the
head signiEed that nobody had ever
heard OF this.
"welI, den," said the preacher, gaz-
ing around, call de udder women got
'em yit."
A deep silence fell upon the assem-
bly,, and in few moments an elderly
member arose. "Brudder Peter" he
said, ~ reckin you mought as well glib
ont de hymn. FRANK r. Stockton, in
the Century.