ON SOME SHAMS I HAVE KNOWN.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 190, 25 July 1874, Page 2

ON SOME SHAMS I HAVE KNOWN.

By “ You Yanos.” If there is one sham more detestable than another it is the religious sham. I once knew “ an excellent man,” as he was generally termed by his acquaintances, W’iio not only' outwardly practised, but also preached, religion beautifully. It was quite a treat to hear him. A far greater treat it was to see that man going home completely overco ue with the spirit of his devotion, or some other kind of spirit, staggering along clutching hold of the palings, expressing his opinion that he was “ very weary indeed.” He came to grief at last through some little transactions connected with hymn books, forgetting to pay for them, and omit ting to return the moneyzl -believe, but still he lasted a very long time. I travelled once with that man, and it was remarkable the quantity of times he had to pull up to adjust his girths oj; sjirrup leathers, waiting always until I gofemt of sight. When he caught me up' again, a perfume as of whiskey stole from, him, but of course it would have been scandalous to have hinted that such a holy man drank ! Then there was another shining light, a Sunday' school teacher and promisi*iig Rechabite, to see him marshalling a procession of children carrying banners &e., and singing “Father, dear father, come home,” was grand, it was not nearly’ so imposing to watch him sneaking into the bar by the back entrance shortly afterwards for a drop of “ cordial” said cordial being gin and cloves! He has given up Sunday school teaching, but is still a shining light, at least his nose is. There was another brilliant example in the case of a man who went twice every Sunday to Church with the largest Bible it has ever been my lot to behold, under his arm. How he sang! How’ he uttered the responses I I He got up subscriptions for charitable purposes, and there used to be strange rumours afloat in respect to the ultimate destination of these subscriptions—one rich thing I heard about him I can’t help repeating.

Among a lot of old lumber knocking about near a deserted house he espied a pretty fair piece of calico. He said to a bystander “ I wonder who owns that ?” ’Don’t know,” was the answer, “ but I know you don’t.” “It would come in so handy for me,” said he. “ Then why not take it, no one can see you,” said this man, who was . very wordly-minded. “ Ah!” said the religious professor, “ that’s a mistake my friend. There is always One above who sees these things saying which, he put the calico under his coat and went.,. This jjt.au has exchanged religion for a tiinSf as ?i|ot being a sufficiently paying game; lie keeps a public house, and is noted for retailing rum locally known as “ kill-soldier,’ ’ twoglasses of which liquor would paralyse any ordinary man. He is prospering in his worldly affairs, and doubtless, when he has poisoned half his customers and amassed a little money, w ill leave off “ shanty-keep-ing,” and take to psalm-singing once more. Another man I have met with always had the reputation of being such an earnest man, and so good; so he is—to himself. He is open to make everything he can, and does not stick at lies to suit his purpose ; yet he will tell you that he could not live in a place where the Word of God is not preached at least once a week. For lending money at cent per cent; for believing ill of all his friends ; for traducing their characters behind their backs; for buying land for a friend and putting his own name in the deed, I would back him against any of the more open, therefore, honester, scoundrels about. For doing all this in a snivelling, canting, and hypocritical manner. I hardly know his equal, and certainly do not his superior. Yet I believe that man will get on’, I do indeed ; but I hope not.