Show OWNING UP deacon ba M was ah an honest lonest old codger a kind imd obliging neighbor neigh liok dor and a g good churchgoing church going christian believing in his hia c creed reed to the fullest extent but this pillar of 0 the church was at t times a little shaky in fact the deacon would get exceedingly aeed cee n gy mellow and almost every sunday at d dinner dinder der ner be he would indulge in his favorite cider e r brandy to such an extent that it was with some bittle difficulty that be he reached his hia pew which was in the broad aisle near the pulpit and between the ministers and the village quires squires one sunday morning the parson told his bis alock flock that he would preach a sermon to them in th til e afternoon touching many glaring sin sins s that he grieved to io see so conspicuous among them and that he be hop hoped ed they would listen attentively and pov pot flinch if be he should happen to be severe the afternoon came and the house aias was full everybody turned out to hear their neighbors dressed down by the minister who after well opening his sermon commenced upon the transgressors gres sors in a loud laud voice with the question I 1 where mer is the drunkard A solemn pause succeeded this inquiry when rose deacon bl with his face radiant from copious draughts of oi his bis favorite drink at his hits noontide meals meal and stead steadying yin himself as well as he could by the pew paw rail looked up tip to the parson and replied in a pi piping ping and ald tremulous voice here I 1 am 1 I I of course a consternation among the we congre gratian was the result of the honest deacons response however the parson went vent 01 on with his remarks as he had written them commenting upon the drunkard and winding up tip by barnin warning 0 him at once such evil habits babits habo babo if lie he would seek salv salvation atlon aaion and flee the coming wrath the deacon then made a bow and seated himself and now out spoke the preacher man in his loudest tones where is the hypocrite A pause paus but no one responded eyes were turned upon this and that bat man but the most glances seemed to be directed to the squires bew pew a and indeed the parson seemed to nard hard ard in that direction the deacon saw where the shaft was levelled bevelled level led or where it should be bg aimed and arid rising once more leaned over the pew rail to the squire whom he tapped on oa the shoulder and arid thus addressed come comes squire why dont you get up 1 I did when be he called on meil mell |