QUOTING SCRIPTURE TO A PURPOSE.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1152, 20 February 1874, Page 4

QUOTING SCRIPTURE TO A PURPOSE.

This story is in the best style of American humour. Between eighty and ninety years ago there lived in the Connecticut river valley two farmers one of whom was named Hutt and the other Clark. In the course of a few years they were appointed deacons of the the church, and they both adorned their profession. About the time of their election a very grievous famine prevailed in the valley, and the farmers generally were laying up their corn to plant the ensuing season. A poor man living in the town went to Deacon Hutt, and said : " I have come to buy a bushel of corn. Here is the money." He was keeping double the usual quantity for seed corn next year, and had to stint his own family. The man urged his suit in vain. At last he said: "Deacon if you dont let me have the corn I shall curse you. " " Curse me ?" said the deacon, " how dare you do so ?" " Because," said the man, " The Bible says so." "Nonsense," exclaimed the Deacon Hutt. " Tes it does," replied the poor man. " Well," said the deacon " if you can find any such text, I'll give you a bushel of corn." They went into the house, when the man went to the old family Bible, turned to Proverbs 11. xxvi., and said "He that holdeth corn, the people shall curse him, but blessings shall be upon the head of him that selleth it." The deacon was fairly caught. "Come along," said he, "and I will be as good as my word." He took him to the corn-house, and measured him out a full bushel of corn, helping the man to put it into his bag, assisted him in slinging it upon his shoulder and just before his departure, being somewhat of a wag, he said, with a twinkle of the eye, " J say, neighbor, after you have carried this corn home, go up to Deacon Clark and curse him out of another bushel."