Off-Hand Sketches | Page 6

what she had to set before him would not be
relished. While he thus sat musing--the subject of his thoughts is of no
particular consequence to be known--his attention was arrested by
hearing Aunt Nancy exclaim--
"Ki! Here comes Massa Martin!"
The preacher turned his head and saw a man approaching with the
decided and rather quick step of one who had something on his mind.
"Is that brother Martin?" asked Mr. Odell, calling to Aunt Nancy, who

was near the window of her hut.
"Yes, please goodness! Wonder what he comin' here 'bout."
"We'll soon see," returned the preacher, composing himself in his chair.
In a few minutes, the farmer, looking sadly "flustered," arrived at the
door of the old negro's humble abode. Odell kept his seat with an air of
entire self-possession and unconcern, and looked at the new comer as
he would have done at any other stranger.
"Mr. Odell, the new preacher on this circuit?" said Martin, in a
respectful manner, as he advanced towards the minister.
"Yes, sir," replied Odell, without rising or evincing any surprise at the
question.
"I am very sorry indeed, sir! very sorry," began Martin in a deprecating
and troubled voice, "that you should have been so badly neglected as
you were to-day. I had no idea--I never once thought--the preachers
have always stayed at sister Russell's--I took it for granted that you
were there. To think you should not have been invited home by any one!
I am mortified to death."
"Oh, no," returned the preacher, smiling; "it is not quite so bad as that.
Our good old sister here very kindly tendered me the hospitalities of
her humble home, which I accepted gratefully. No one could be kinder
to me than she has been--no one could have given me a warmer
welcome."
"But--but," stammered forth Martin, "this is no place for a preacher to
stay."
"A far better place than my Lord and Master had. _The foxes have
holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not
where to lay his head._ The servant must not seek to be greater than his
Lord."
"But my dear sir! my house is a far more suitable and congenial home
for you," urged the distressed brother Martin. "You must go home with
me at once. My wife is terribly hurt about the matter. She would have
come over for you herself, but she is not very well to-day."
"Tell the good sister," replied Odell, affecting not to know the
individual before him, "that I am so comfortable here; that I cannot
think of changing my quarters. Besides, after Aunt Nancy has been so
kind as to invite me home, and provide for both me and my horse,
when no one else took the least notice of me, nor seemed to care

whether I got the shelter of a roof or a mouthful of food, it would not
be right for me to turn away from her because a more comfortable place
is offered."
It was in vain that Martin argued and persuaded. The preacher's mind
was made up to stay where he was. And he did stay with Aunt Nancy
until the next morning, when, after praying with the old lady and giving
her his blessing, he started on his journey.
When, at the end of four weeks, Mr. Odell again appeared at the little
meeting-house, you may be sure he was received with marked attention.
Martin was the most forward of all, and, after preaching and
class-meeting--there was a pretty full attendance at both--took the
minister home with him. Ever since that time, the preachers have been
entertained at his house.

THE PROTEST.

READER! did you ever have a visit from that dreaded functionary--that
rod in pickle, held in terrorem over the heads of the whole note-paying
fraternity, yclepted a notary? I do not mean to insult you: so don't look
so dark and dignified. I am serious. If no--why no, and there let the
matter rest, as far as you are concerned; if yes, why yes, and so I have
an auditor who can understand me.
As for me, I have been protested. I say it neither with shame nor pride.
Yes, I have suffered notarial visitation, and am still alive to tell the tale.
I was in business when the exciting event occurred, and I am still in
business, and I believe as well off as I was then. But let me relate the
circumstance.
When I first started in the world for myself, I had a few thousand
dollars. In a little while, I found myself solicited on all sides to make
bills. I could have bought fifty thousand dollars' worth of goods as
easily as to the amount of five