He was perfectly unconscious of the cause of
the disturbance, and remarked to us, after the service was over,
"Well, ma'am, did we not get on famously? Now, worn't that a
BOOTIFUL discourse?"
"It was, indeed; much better than I expected."
"Yes, yes; I knew it would please you. It had quite an effect on
those wild fellows. A few more such sermons will teach them good
behaviour. Ah, the bush is a bad place for young men. The farther in
the bush, say I, the farther from God, and the nearer to hell. I
told that wicked Captain L - - of Dummer so the other Sunday; 'an','
says he, 'if you don't hold your confounded jaw, you old fool, I'll
kick you there.' Now ma'am - now, sir, was not that bad manners in a
gentleman, to use such appropriate epitaphs to a humble servant of
God, like I?"
And thus the old man ran on for an hour, dilating upon his own
merits and the sins of his neighbors.
There was John R - -, from Smith-town, the most notorious swearer in
the district; a man who esteemed himself clever, nor did he want
for natural talent, but he had converted his mouth into such a sink
of iniquity that it corrupted the whole man, and all the weak and
thoughtless of his own sex who admitted him into their company.
