Year: 1873

\ very marked character was Dca-
con H.. who was long time citizen
OF st. Louis, until he took his depart
urc from TIL, mundane sphere to reap
the reward of an exemplary life \
few wears ago, when the tcmperuncc
eNcItemcnt-of which Father Matthew
was the great high prIest-prevaiIed
so generally over the Eastern and
W c>tcrn States, no greater enthusiast
lent hs energies 70 the advancement
OF total abstinence principles than Dca-
con ii. He was about fifty wears and
bachelor, AMI So much abashcd bv
the presence Of ladies', that, save iii
the way ot business, he always took
good care to avoid them.


lie held aS point Of conscience
that whoever travelled in the service
OF the church should pay his own cN-
penseS. This singular crotchet caused
him 10 be in great demand as dele
gate to svnods, general assemblies,
etc, Of the church. These occasions
were anIiously looked for bv his clerks.
who took advantage Of his absence to
relax 4 little from that severe pro-
prety Of department which was exact
cd from them when he was present
In other words-their own-"thev
alway, had 4 good time when the Old
man was away.


Christmas WAS approaching, and the
boy, We're delighted when they learned
tnI,
irrevcrently designated him among
themselves-w would be off to convcn-
ton during Christmas


In Deacon HIS store was a long
counter from end to end, the only one
of the kind pertaining to anv of the
establishments whose clerks were in
the set with the Deacon's. Although
it was rather risky, in the event of q
discovery, it was determined to hold
the Christmas festivities where this
long counter could be utilized for the
purpose of setting out TO adv antage
the "gumptious" spread it was resolved
upon TO have on this super ordinary
occasion, to come off after the store
was closed at night.


Numerous guests were invited and
every preparation was made to cheer
the hearts and stomachs of the ex-
pected participants. No civilized per-
son would expect, Of course, that egg
nog could, by any possibility, be over
looked, for what would Christmas be
without it but mockery and delusion.
Consequently a huge bowl of this
favorite beverage of the unsophistica-
ted was prepared as the piece de resist
ance of the carousal.


Much solicitude was felt as to the
premature return of the deacon, which
would involve the necessity of select
ing another scene for the festivities,
but the eventful evening arrived with.
out him or any word of him. At
eleven o'clock precisely the "wittles
were up" the doors having been previ-
ously closed, as well as any little stray
chinks that would permit the escape
of ray of light. The feast was to be
''close corporation even from the
knowledge of which all were to be ex-
cluded save the elect. At this critical
moment startling rap at the front
door sent dismay into more than one
stout heart, the proprietor Of which
would have faced a battery without
fiinching.


After brief consultation, the door
was opened timorously, and in walked
the deacon, causing such a consterna-
tion as might have been experienced
by flock of sheep on the advent of a
wolf. He had travelled all day on
horseback, making a forced march for
the purpose Of being able to spend
Sunday (the next day. in his usual
haants. Very unexpectedly, he mani.
tested no displeasure at what was