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standing more in the way of the temperance cause than any thing else at the present time. Professed Christians refusing to sign the pledge! And who is it that thanks you for it? Not good men, but the rum-seller, and the drunkard! Yes, you are the song of the drunkard, and the devil rejoices in the stand you take. No doubt some miserable ragged sot is quoting you at the present time, and refusing to join the society, because you refuse. You know not how many you may save from a drunkard's grave by signing the pledge at

once.

B.

I never thought on't so before.

P. It is high time for you now then, to begin to view it so-Your conscience testifies this moment, that you have not done your duty-You would not have come here this morning, or have felt hurt by the discourse last evening, if you had felt satisfied with your Now candidly tell me, am I not cor

course. rect?

B. Why sometimes I've had doubts, and thought perhaps I ought to jine the society for the sake of others.

P. I felt sure such was the fact. Now

then, as it can do no harm to any one, join the society, and let the world know you are a true teetotaller. Throw away all that nonsense about pledging and signing away liberty, and do your whole duty as a man, and a Christian. Now will you not do it? Remember, by so doing, you will, at least, remove one stumbling block out of the drunkard's way. You will do it will you not?

B. I don't want to say sartin, but I'll think on't.

We can give the reader no further information about this interview; for seeing the minister was considerably nervous, and out of patience with this poor brother, we came away when the conversation had progressed thus far.

CHAPTER XII.

THE CONTRAST.-UGLY DEACON BRAKE.-GOOD DEACON DRAKE.

Salathiel Brake was one of the deacons of a church in Connecticut. He was a tall, gaunt man, and had a long, meagre, shallow face, with a very sharp nose. He was not a man of very kind spirit, and always appeared as if something had happened to make him particularly crabbed and morose.

He was never very courteous in his behavior, and consequently was not regarded as a dignified and affable gentleman. His neighbors did not look upon him with much respect, because they believed he was trickey and underhanded in his business transactions. He was considered as no ornament, either to his profession as a Christian, or to his office as a deacon, on account of the inconsistencies in his walk and conversation. His heart was a stranger to true benevolence; and as to charity, he gave not a cent, unless it could be blą

zoned with a trumpet's tongue. He was quite rich in the things of this world, but so poor in faith, that the egg of an animalcule might have held it all, and yet had room to spare.

In the church, he was positive and dictatorial, and was always unwilling to yield in the least, to the opinions and wishes of his brethren. He was an exceedingly troublesome man to his pastors, and made more difficulty for them than all the rest of the church put together; and was actually the means of driving several of them away. He appeared to take delight in perplexing and worrying his minister. He never seemed at rest in the church, unless he had something on the docket, which caused exciting discussions; and as he was as fickle as the wind, he presented the sort of living paradox, of violently supporting both sides of a question, that is, at different times. For instance, one time he was a flaming abolitionist, and nothing would do, but to open the meeting-house to all sorts of anti-slavery lecturers, and yet, in less than a year, his views and feelings had so changed, that he effectually vetoed the opening of the house to one of the best lecturers in the land.

In a similar manner he wheeled about in reference to the temperance question, and several other topics of interest, that came before the church.

No one could tell, when any subject was brought before the church, on which side deacon Brake would be found, from knowing the side he had formerly espoused; but all knew, that let the subject be what it would, he would talk loud, long, and fiercely about it. It was always a relief to the brethren, if he was out of town, or if any thing happened to detain him at home on church meeting evening. If he was ill, they were not glad of his sickness, but they were glad if the church. meeting occurred while he was sick, for his unkindness, and harshness, and poor counsels were never desirable at the meeting.*

But we take pleasure in turning from him, to speak of Simon Drake, who was one of

* This deacon ought to have been disciplined, and he would have been, if the church had had the spirit they ought to have had; but the fact was, he had in some unaccountable way gained such a Popish ascendancy over the minds of many, that the church were afraid of him.

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