The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-06-12
ogical opinions Of the community and

\ VI ~ as gave evidence OF POSSESSING
any opinions definite enough for state
ment.
1t came to be Mr.. Craig's habit (,
drop into the leagueroom and towart
the close Of the evening to have shor
Scripture lesson from the gospels
Geordie's opportunity came after tn,
meeting was over and Mr.. Craig haC
gone away. The men would han.
about and talk the lesson over, ex
pressing opinions favorable or unfa
vorable. as appeared to them good
Then it was that all sorts of views, re
| liSious and otherwise, We're aired and
examined. The originality Of the idea 5
the absolute disregard of the authority
OF church or creed, the frankness witt
which opinions were stated and tn,
forcefulness Of the language In which
they were expressed combined to make
the discussions altogether marvellous
The passage between Abe Baker, the
stage driver, and Geordie was particu
larly rich. 1t followed upon very
telling lesson on the parable OF the
fharisee and the publican.
The chief actors in that wonderful
story were transferred to the Black
Rock stage and were presented in min.
er's costume. Abe was particularly
well pleased with the scoring Of the
"blanked old rooster who crowed so
BANKED high and somewhat incensed
at the quiet remark interjectcd by
Geordie that "it was nae credit till a
mon tae be sinner" and when Geor-
die went on to urge the importance OF
right conduct and responsibility Abe
was led to pour forth walls of con-
temptuous wrath upon the Pharisces
and hypocritcs who thought themselves
better than other people. But Gcordie
was quite unrutlled and lamented the
Ignorance of men who. brought up in the
"Ep""scopawlyun or Mcthody" church,
could hardly be expected to detect the
Antinomian or Arminian heresics.
"Aunty Nomyun or Uncle Nomyun,"
replied Abe, boiling hot, my mother
was Methodist. and I'll back any
BANKED Methodist against any blank
ETY. blank long faced, lantern jnwed,
skinilint Presbyterian" And this he
was eager to maintain to any mans
satisfaction If he would step aside.
Geordie was quite unmoved, but has
tened to assure Abe that he meant no
disrespect to his mother, who, he had
nae doot, was a clever enough bud
die, tae Judge by her son." Abe was
speedily appeased and offered TO set
up the drinks all round, but Geordie.
with evident reluctance, had to de-
cline, saying, INA, ma. lad: I'm league
man, we ken" And I was sure that
Geordie at that moment felt that mem.
bership In the league had its draw
backs.
Nor was Geordie too sure Of Cralg's
orthodoxy, while, as to Mrs. Mavor,
whose slave he was, he was in the
habit Of lamenting her doctrinal con-
dition:
shes fine wumman, nae dOot;
but, puir cratur, she's fair carried
ava WI the errors o the Epeesco-
pawlyuns."
1t fell to Geordie. therefore, as a ga
cred duty, in view Of the laxlty Of
those who seemed to be the pillars OF
the church, TO be all the more watch
full and unyielding, but he was delight
fully Inconsistent when confronted
with particulars. In conversation with
him one night after one of the meet
ings, when he had been specially hard
upon the ignorant and goddess, limo
Gently changed the subject to Billy
Brecn, whom Geordie had taken to his
shack since the night of the league.
He was very proud Of Billy's success
in the fight against whisky, the credit
OF which he divided evenly between
Mrs. Mavor and himself.
Hes fair daft aboot her" he Cy-
planned to me, IAN III 10 deny but
she's great help-ayc, vcrra con-
sccderable asseestancc-but, mon, she
docsna ken the whusky an the inside
o a mon that's wantin it, Aye, puir
buddie, she diz her part, an when
ye're bit restless an thrawn after
yer days wark it's like walk in a
bOnny glen on simmer eve, with the
birds liltin' about, tae sit in yon roomie
an hear her sing. But when the night
is on an ye canna sleep, but wauken
WI an awfu' thurst an wi dreams o.
cOzy fresides an the bonny sparklin'
CLOSES. as it is WI puir Billy-aye. it's
then ye need n mon wi guild grip be-
side ye."
What do you do then, Geordie"
asked.
900, aye, ju!st gang for bit walk
wi the lad an then pits the kettle on
an makes Il cup o tea or coffee, an
afr he gangs tae sleep like a bairn."
Poor Billy" said pitylngly. There
Is no hope for him in the future. l
fear"
"Hoot ava, mon" said Geordie
quickly. "Ie wadna keep GOT puir
crater frae creepin' in that's daein' his
bestr /
But, Geordie." demonstrated, "he
doesn't know anything Of the doctrines I.
I don't believe he could give us the
chief end OF man"