PETER'S SICK WIFE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3511, 27 March 1880, Page 1

PETER'S SICK WIFE.

Yankee! are proverbial for their witty sarcasm and cutting remarks, but the following is an authenticated instance where our worthy American cousin comet -off second best. The most gallant part of it is that he is " considerably sat upon " by an Englishman :—An English divine paid a visit to New York a short time ■ ago, and owing to some pressing engage* tnents at home, he was only able to pass three or four days there; but one of these days happening to be the Sabbath, he thought be would like to hear the mfojt distinguished; preachers in the city. Accordingly, to be in good.time for the service, he ' left bis hotel early, and obtained • capital seat in the oh a rob; but, .instead of the celebrated minister be expected to hear stepping into the pulpit, a young man, who was evidently only serving his apprenticeship, made his appearance, and in due course commenced his sermon from the text " Peter's wife l«y sick of the fever." The discourse did not commend itself to the visitor as : being distinguished by its eloquence, so he decided upon going to another church in the afternoon in the hopes that be should still have an opportunity of hearing one of the leading preachers of his denomination. A damper was, however, put upon' his hope when the same young man rose to the desk, selected the same text, and preached the same sermon. Being gifted* with that irrepressible nature which characterises <an Englishman, his aims were not to be defeated in tbis way, so he/ determined at night to patronise the leading oburch in one of the . suburbs, where he thought he would be far enough away from his friend. Once more'he was doomed to disappointment, and there he sat like. Patience on a monument to hear the old story over again about Peter's wife and her fever recited by the self* same voice, until he felt that he could almost repeat the sermon'word for word, next morning, when the English clergy- . man was riding down to the steamer to .. embark upon bis return voyage home, who should get into the railway carriage with bini but the youthful American ecclesiastic, who at once interrogated him with; " I SBy, friend, guess you're a Britisher P" " Yes, sir, I have that bonor," was the, meek- reply. "Been over, here longP" " No, sir, only a few days." " I calculate you take this to be a mighty fine country —now, don't you?" "Well," said the Englishman, "I must say I am not disappointed with the country." Then burßt in the Yankee, "By/theway, I guess you have some fresh news to tell us P " " No, sir, nothing in particular, except that I heard three times yesterdpy the same pareon preach three sermons from tbe same text, that Peter's wife laysick of the fever, so I guess Peter's wife is dead now." The Englishman saw nothing of bis friend after the train reached the next station.