Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-26
Ezra'S
 Evil Spirit
By T. C. Harbaggh
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles)


 The revival in Blackberry had been in progress three weeks, with vary ing success. The young minister who had recently taken charge pronounc. ed it fruitful field; but some of the elders shook their heads. as they had had more experience in the Lords vineyard than he.
 Ezra Grubbs was one of the oldest citizens of the village. He was long. lank, and had a face that resembled parchment in color, while from un- der his chin peeped whitish beard, which he seldom trimmed. He had buried his first wife some years be- fore, and afterward seemed to avoid designing widows and old maids. keeping pretty close to his little tink. ering shop just back of the rambling main street. His brief sojourn in the vineyard of the Lord had ended with the runaway mentioned by Mrs. Hinton, which occurred in this wise:
 Old Ezra had borrowed team from a neighbor for the purpose of replenishing his woodpile, and while returning with the jag of wood, most ly unseemly looking limbs, the horses became frightsusd and dashed down through Blackberry, distributing the wood at divers stations along the route.
 Rage had full possession of the old man, for he had a temper which the soothing influences of the church had not altogether curbed, and while he whipsawed he let out some expres- sions which simply mortified the on- lockers. To be plain, he swore like the army in Flanders and elsewhere. and when he finally checked the head long career of the team, and brought the animals to standstill, with nothing lost but his jag of wood and a good deal of his religion, he drove back and reloaded.
 There were those who thought the old man should be brought before the council for his language, and disci- plined. for they argued that 1t was terrible example to the younger members. any one of whom might have runaway at any time. Old Ezra heard of the movement which certain designing persons within the pale of the church had set on foot, and one evening at prayer meeting he rose in his seat and offered an ex- planation.
 He did not excuse himself, after saying that he was terribly tried on the occasion of the runaway. He admitted that he had temper which broke out at times. and while he said that perhaps he had used Ian. guage not entirely proper. he aston ished all by saying that he really be lieved that the horses began to slow up when they heard his words. This was a little too much for the meet. ing. and when Elder Tompkins asked him if he had anything to say why he shouldn't be disciplined. he quiet. I ly picked up his hat. and said that they could jest wipe his name from the books for the present" This was solemnly ordered done. and Ezra Grubbs was thus relegated to the "beggarly clements of the world"
 A year had passed since these events, which had been more than a nine days wonder to Blackberry and the surrounding community.
 Now another revival was at hand. and those who thought they could discern the inner thoughts of man imagined that Ezra Grubbs was in the act of returning to his first love" The Widow Stebbins. whose COW he drove to pasture. the widow being childless. refused to confirm or deny these prophecies; but when the old man began to attend the meet ings. very modestly taking a back seat. those who thought he had been again "smitten- were confirmed in their belief
 The last night of the revival saw the church well filled All eyes were turned upon Ezra Grubbs when he came in and walked down the narrow aisleL He looked neither 10 the righ, nor to the left. but slid quietly into a seat just In advance of the one oc cupied the night before.
 The services did not warm up until after the sermon. when the meeting became thoroughly revivzlistic. and -ameus- ruse from all parts of tho hcuss. interspersed with pArfs o1