Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-10-23

And haven't YOU ever heard tell OF that!
The storm set in as great surprise,
And the fakes, of most remartabl.
size
They came a-nuttering out Of the sFtNs
Till they filled the fields and leveled t..e
lanes
And drifted against the window panes
And banked the houses snug and right
TIL they shut out just about all the light
And folks burned candles day and night
To hear this story ds one shoud,
1t must be thoroughly understood
That Deacon Pratt was of Puritan stock
With faith fixed as the plymouth
Rock.
And he never had met 4 force or shock
That swerVed his will the n3erest mite
For black is black and White is white,
And wrong is wrong aad right is right.
Said the Deacon Keep that thought iii
sight
And you'll find your way by day or
night
Though in all things else so circumspect
The Deacon owned one grave defect:
But where is the man who is quite cor
rect?
"ris more than d mortal dare expect.
And some are candid enough to say
1t is better that men are made that way,
For somewhere meanness must get out.
And one good weakness. without doubt,
NJ axes the rest Of the moral structure
He loved tobacco. the Deacon did,
And never was found without his Guild.
But he tried his best to keep it hid,
For the Deacon clearly reasoned that
The sly. keeneyed Jehosaphat.
On seeing the sire take his chew
Might some time dare to try it, too.
Which the Deacon vowed would never
do.
So the boy was made to understand
He would have his packet soundy tanned
II ever ne dared TO taste or touch
The thing the Deacon loved SO ,nuch:
And AS far the worlu mad seen or
heard.
The Deacon never broke his word.
AS | was saying the snow came down
Till the Deacon. who'd planned to drive
to town
That very day. was quite shut in.
And. as a punishment for his sin,
lie hadn so much a single chew.
so what in the world the man to do!
He was all of trembe; his nerves. ere
long
Were quite unstrung. and the world
:he outward sign Of an inward grace
hat sometimes shone on tne Deacon's
Seemed gone forever, and in its place
Was sorry look of deep dismay
And those who got in the Deaeon's way
Were quite surprised a the things he'd
say:
And once he kicked at the old house cat
IN fact, did several Things like that
.;o1t
In one who posed as a shining light
The Deacon, in seeking substitute
For the noxious weed. chewed hurdock
root,
And cinnamon, licorice, sassafras.
Gloves, honeset, =peppermint-alas!
He'd have willingly chewed a pitch pine
Knot
Or anything else, no matter what
Sweet. sour. bitter cold or hot
If only it would have touched the spot"
The snow kept coming more and more
TIL the Deacon. I fear, he almost swore,
For he fumed and fretted and said by
George!
This is worse than the suffering at VAL
ley Forge:
For. though I've plenty of food and
There's something dearer than both OF
those"
Roys are their fathers born again.
And preeept is forgotten when
Example iiils the eyes OF men.
Like sire like SON, the youth had
learned
TO use the weed he should have spurned.
Down in his heart the Deacon's boy
Well knew he held the keys to joy
But, an. he dare not rouse the ire,
The fierce, the all-eonsumng fire
The laying on-of- hands desire
OF that stern Puritanic sire
by saying to him. You shall share
My stock since | have some to snare"
The Deacon verged upon collapse
When a Mondrous thing occurred. per-
haps
Twas sent in answer to his pryaer
For when he rose up from his chair
Q Joyous spectacle. lying where
He was sure to see it. now what do sou
think
The Deacon saw, and quick as a wink
Slipped into his pocket? Twas a twist
Of tobacco half as big AS his fist
And the Deacon saying his last Amen"
Gave one swift glance at the boy and
then
BY reason of instinct, clearly knew
The truth, and knew that his boy did.
Did he trounce that younEster long and
good,
AS stiff-necked, true-blue Puritan
should?
An no! His drawn face beamed and
smiled
In way that meant "0od bless YOU.
chiid:'
As his trembling knees resought the floor
And he said: Let US all give thanks
once mOre!"