Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1859 — Wouldn't Pay the Debt. [ARTICLE]

Wouldn't Pay the Debt.

In Endiana there is a Clergyman almost as remarkable for eloquence and excentricity as Lorenzo Dow himself. On charity occasions, his pathos, wit, and bitter satire, arc sure to win more bank-notes and gold to the plate than the decorous eloquence of half a dozen other men. On a late occasion, he' was delivering a temperance sermon, which produced unusual effect on the audience. Among other things, he asserted, as a result of his own observation, that a confessedly “moderate imbiber” was sure to become a confirmed inebriate, within five years after he reached the stage of indulgence. lie was interrupted here by a man in the audience, who started up in great excitement, proclaiming kimself a moderate drinkof ten years’ standingfand one on whom the habit made no progress. The Clergyman stopped short, leaned over the pulpit, and when the man had ceased speakii.g, called out: “I say, friend, stand up here and let me have a look at you.” The man made an effort to brave the host of eyes turned upon him, and stood his ground. “Nearer, man!” cried the minister, beckoning with his long finger. “Hoid a l ght up to this brother’s face, some of you. Stepup on a bench and give us a good look, will you?” Th° “moderate drinker” was not to be looked down or talked down, not onlv got on the bench, but allowed a lamp to be held close to bis face. The minister bent over his cushion, and gave the face a long survey. “That will do,” said he, in a calm voice, and giving his shoulders a slight shrug, “that will do my friend; and now I say, if I owed the devil a debt of a hundred drunkards, and had paid him ninety-nine, and he wouldn't take you in full payment nt the end of five years, I would never pay him.”