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Show An Honest De.ron. Deacon M. was an bonest old codger, cod-ger, a kind neighbor, and a good christian, chris-tian, believing in the Presbyterian creed to the fullest extent ; but lack-a-day ! the deacon would occasionally get exceedingly '"mellow," and almost dulge in his favorite cider biandy to such an extent that it was with t iffi-culty iffi-culty that he reached his pew, in th; broad aisle, near the pulpit, and between be-tween the minister aud the village squire's. One Sunday morning the parson told his flock that he should preach a sermon ser-mon touching many glaring sins so conspicuous among them ; and that he hoped they wouid listen attentively, and not flinch if he happened to be so vere. The afternoon came, and the house was full. Everybody turned out to hear their neisrhbors "dressed down" by the minister, who after well opening open-ing his sermon, commenced upon the trausgrcssors in a loud voice, with the question: "Where is the drunkard'.''' 1 solemn pause succeeded the inquiry, in-quiry, when up rose Deacon M., his face red from draughts of his favorite di ink, and steadying himself as well as he could by the pew rail, looked up to the parson and replied, in a treniblint; and piping voice: "Here! am," ( if course a consternation in the congregation con-gregation was the result of the honest deacon's response. However, the parson par-son went on with his remarks as he had written them, commenting sevcrely upon the drunkard, and closed by warning him to ibrsake at once such e vil habits if ho would seek salvation and flee the coming wrath. The deacon dea-con then made a bow and seated himself him-self again. "And now," asked the preacher in his loudest tones, "where is the hypocrite hypo-crite '.'" A pause, but "u one responded. Eyes were turned upon this and thai man. but the most glanoes seemed directed di-rected to the squire s pew, and inde 'd the parson seemed te squint bard in that direction. The deacon saw where the shaft wa-aimed. wa-aimed. arid rising onoe more, leaned over his pew rail to the squire, whom he tapned on the shoulder), and thu-add'-essed; " C'""i'. fuu', ich'i dua l i'iu f't up.' J did uhrtt lit cd-'l me! .;. |
