The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman PotterAdams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
General
The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman Potter
Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Political fiction
"You needn't think you are such a treasure! The town can get along
well enough without you. By my military reputation, if I don't think
all this ado about the poor pig is a trick to get the advantage of a
neighbor you imagine hasn't got as good a lien upon heaven as
yourself. Now, good man, do you take the safest plan, give the
animal up to its owner, and trust to heaven for the price of the
chickens, for it is written somewhere, that peace makers, being
blessed, should not be peace breakers-"
"To quarrel is not my desire," interrupted the elder; "for such
would not become me, who have no experience in arms; but I enjoin
you to give up the life you are living, and so turn your energies to
Christ's truth, that you may become worthy of heaven."
"Heaven has nothing to do with my pig!" rejoined the major. "Nor do
I think this talking of heaven, while keeping him in bondage, will
amount to much. Come! turn him out, be a christian, practice what
you preach, and trust to heaven for the reward, as you would have me
do!" To this the elder replied somewhat testily, that he would keep
the animal fast locked up until the damages were settled,
notwithstanding his faith in future rewards was in nowise shaken. I
entered the bar room and found the major thrusting his hands into
the huge pockets of his trowsers, walking round the elder, who was a
man of meek aspect, and singularly lean of figure. Then canting his
head with an air of self complacency, he enjoined the elder not to
separate his works from his faith.
No sooner had the major caught a glance of me, than he approached,
saluted me as became his military rank, and drew me aside to show me
how handsomely the Patriot had recorded his arrival. This done, he
commenced recounting the causes of his dispute with the parson, who
would every few minutes speak up, and dispute the truth of his
assertion, which so displeased the major, that had the parson been a
fighting man, he would have challenged him to mortal combat, as it
is called. As it was, he contented himself with getting in a
passion, and swearing to have revenge, though it cost him six years'
separation from his wife, Polly Potter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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