Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-01-16

he been able 10 rid himself, in his last
cerning women that had been gathering
themselves together for years, but his
absence from home had given him a
holiday from the harassments of Aunt
Rebecca's tongue, so that no new notions
of woman's culpability had risen within
him. He had dismissed the subject alto
gether, and had been thinking over a
sermon regarding baptism, which he
thought he could make convincing to
certain of younger members .of the con
gregation.
He arrived at home very late on Satur-
day night, and retired to his simple couch
without knowing anything of the terrible
storm which had been gathering through
the week. and which was to burst upon
him on the morrow. But the next morn
ing, long before church time, he received
warning enough of what was going to hap
pen. individuals and deputations gather
ed in and about his cabin,-some to tell
him all that had been said and done; some
to inform him what was expected of him;
some to stand about and look at him; some
to scold; some to denounce; but, alasl not
one to encourage; nor one to call him
'Brudder Peter" that Sunday appellation
dear to him ears. But the old man pos
sessed a stubborn soul, not easily to be
| frightened.
''Wot | says in de pulpit, he remarked,
'1'l 'splain in de pulpit, and you all I'D
better git long to de chuch, and when dc
time fur the sarvice come, Tli be dar"
This advice was not promptly acted
upon, but in the course of half an hour
nearly all villagers and gone off to the
church in the woods; and when Uucle
Peter had put on his high black hat, some
what battered, but still sufficiently clerical
looking for that congregation, and had
given something of a polish TO his cowhide
shoes he betook himself by the accustomed
path to the log building where he had so
often held forth to his people. As soon as
he entered the church he was formally in
| structed by q committee of the leading
members that before he began to open the
gregation that what he had said on the pre-
ceding Sunday about every woman being
possessed by seven devils was Scripture
truth, and not mere wicked nonsense out
of his own brain. fhe could not do that,
they wanted no more praying or preaching
from him.
Uncle Peter made no answer but as
cended the little pulpit, he put his hat on
the bench behind him where it was used to
repose, took out his red cotton handker-
chief 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 his audience
the preacher spoke: "Brev'ren an sisters,
| I see afore me Bruider Bill Hines, who kin
read de Bible, an has got one Amt dat
so, Brudderf"
Bill Hines having nodded and modestly
grunted assent, the preacher continued.
can dar's Aun' Priscillas boy, Jake, who
amt brudder yit, though he's plenty old
'nuf, min, tell ye; and he kin read de
Bible, fus'rate, an has read it to me ober
an ober ag'in. Amt dat so, Jakei" .
Jake grinned, nodded, and hung his
head, very uncomfortable at being thus
publicly pointed out.
"An' dar's good ole Aun' Patty, who
| knows more Scripter' dan ennybuddy
h'yar, havin' been teaehed by de little gals
from Kunnel Jasper's, an by dere mudders
afore 'em. l reckin she know de hull
Bible straight froo, from de Garden of Eden
to de New Jerus'lum. An dar are udders
h'yar who knows de Scripters some one
part an some anudder. Now / axes ebery
one Oh you all wot know de Scripters eff
he dom remember how de Bible tells how
our Lor' when he was on dis yearth cas-
seben debbils out O. Mary Magdalumi"
A murmur of assent came from the con.
gregation. Most of them remembered
that.
"But did emmy OBJ you ebber read, or hab
read tn you, dat he ebber cas- 'em out O.
emmy udder woman7"
Negative grunts and shakes of the head
signifed that nobody had ever heard of
| this.
"Well, den," said de preacher, gazing
blandly around, "all de udder women got
EN- yit."
A deep silence fell upon the assembly,
and in few moments an elderly member
arose. .'Brudder Peter" he said, II reckin
you mought as well glib out de hymed."
On New Years Day, before the Goals,