Year: 1872




mature return Of the Deacon, which
would have involved the necessity OF Sc
lecting another scene for the festivities,
hut the cvsntful evening arrived without
him or any word of him At ii o'clock
precisely the "wittles we're up the doors
having been previously closed, as well as
any little stray chinks that would permit
the e,caps Of any ray of light The
feast was to be "closc corporation" even
from the knowledge of which all were to
be excluded save the elect. At this crit.
ical moment a startling rap at tho front
door sent dismay into more than Que
stout heart, the proprietor of which
would have faced battery without finch
ing. After q brief consultation the door
was opened timorously, and in walked
the deacon, causing such a CONSERVATION
as might have been experienced by "a
flock of sheep on tho advent of woll
He had travelled all day on horseba
making forced march for the purpose
Of being able to spend Sunday (tho next
day. in his usual haunts. Very unex.
pectcdly, be manifested no displcasurc at
what was going on, but on the contrary
expressed himself as very glad to sec
something to eat, as BIO had partaken of
no food since en- early dinner that day
The prospect Of having him for guest


ut rather dampsr on the spirits of the
company, for he was any y,hiug but gay
and festive cuss, being as great Journalist
as tho Scotch covenanter who asked a
blessing on being about to kiss his sweet
heart. Opportunity was taken to cov-
ertly smuggIe tho bowl of egg.nog into
the back room, and as that was the only
contrabaud article present, serenity was
restored us soon as it Was out of the way.
After the solemn invocation of blessing
by the deacon the feast began, and pro
gressed as satisfactorily as could have
been expected with such skeleton in the
closet. But that bowl of egg neg stuck
in every gizzard. 1t was too bad that it
should remain in the back room vast.
ing its sweetness on the desert air.


At lensth one Of the erks, with a
knowing wink, asked the chief if there
was not bowl Of cold custard in the
back room. He was answered by dep
recatory and cautious look, but it was
too late. The deacon had heard the
question and answered, "If you have,
bring it in, for am particularly fond Of
custards." Ot course there was no back
ing out possible now, and SO the "cod
custard" was brought in aud with much
misgiving served out to the company
Every one expected that the deacon
would instantly detect what it was, when
there would have been big rumpus and nc
mistake, but he was more un. sophisticated
than they suspected, for he had not only
never tasted egg pog 10 his life, but had
never seen any before. Some consterna
ton was experienced when he passed up
0 bowl for his rations, saying he liked tc
soak bread in it aud cat it with u spoon
for while they imagined he might ulti


mately be pacified as to the mere pres
ence Of the insidious fui J, they knew be
would never forgive them for allowing
him to get drunk on it uuwit!ingly
This seemed likely to be the inevitable
result, however, as when he had tnshcC
his bowl he passed it for second deal
saying thut it was the best custard he ha,
over tasted in his life. When he go
through, he sat down by the hot stove
and as he had been riding all day in th'
cold, and was chilled to the bones, hi
soon began to experience the combined
influence of thawing out and becoming
permca,ed with large dose of su unac
custoued stimulant. "How strangely
feel" said he sit is astonishing what q
curious effect is produced by sitting by


hot fire after getting chilled through b.
riding all day in the cold" finishing hi
sentence with q very ominous yawn
Soon he would have fallcn on the floor
had not one OF the clerks held him up
and then with a long pull, strsug pul
and pull altogether, a successful effor


was made TO get him onto lounge in tn


back room, where he instantly sank int


a drunken stupor. 1t is scarcely peces
sary to say that the boys took advantag
!, of the circumstance to have thcir higl
: old time TO their hearts content. Th
. deacon failed to put in his appearance
next morning at bis favorite church
being too busily engaged in sleeping o.
the effects of cold custard, q job which b


did not get through with unit late in tn
afternoon. He never suspected tho caus
Of his long .lumber, but attributed it t
the effects Of cold and fatigue. Find
ing on inquiry, that the custard had bee
made in the store, he asked for the rccip
for making it, as he wished his sister t
make somo at home, and formula wa
given him, selected from . cookery bool
but she was never able to make any I
suit him. He said it did not taste at .
like that he had eaten at the store, ss


was not likely it should, seeing there wa


no liquor in it. 1t was favorite boas


of his that during his entire life not
J drop Of spirituous liquor had ever en-
tered bis mouth, and the worthy dsaeo
died 10 that dslusisn. And this i. tn
true story Of how deacon got sornst
Republican.


Dssotioo TO public opinion was evince