d not put words into the witness's mouth."

Wood was a native of Stirling, a thinly settled country town
near the foot of Mount Wachusett. The people of that town
were nearly equally divided between the Unitarian and Universalist
congregations. Each had its meeting house fronting on the
public common or Green, as it was called. In the summer the
farmers would come to meeting from distant parts of the town,
bringing luncheon with them; have a short intermission after
the morning service, and then have a second service in the
afternoon. During the recess, in pleasant summer weather,
the men of the two congregations would gather together on
the Green, discussing the news of the town, and very often
getting into theological controversies. In the winter, they
gathered in the tavern or post-office in the same way. There
was one Universalist champion who told the gathering that he
would make any man admit the truth of Universalism in five
minutes. He was a well known and doughty champion, and the
Unitarians were rather loth to tackle him. But, one Sunday,
Lawyer Wood came home to spend the day at his birthplace,
and the Unitarians thought it was a good chance to encounter
the Universalist champion. So they accepted his challenge
and put Wood forward to meet him.

The Universalist theologian began: "You'll admit there is
a God?"

"No, I'll be damned if I do," replied Wood.

The fellow was completely non-plussed. He had got to take
up his five minutes in compelling Wood to admit the existence
of a Creator. So he was obliged to retire from the field
discomfited.

Another of our leaders at the Bar was Henry Chapin. He had
made his way from a rather humble place in life to be one
of the leaders of a very able Bar, Mayor of Worcester, and
to hold a place of large influence in the various business,
social, charitable and religious activities of the community.
He was not specially learned, specially profound or specially
eloquent. But he had a rare gift of seizing upon the thought
which was uppermost in the minds of excellent and sensible
men, country farmers, skilled workmen in the shops, business
men, expressing it in a clear and vigorous way, always agreeing
with the best sentiment of the people. This, with an unfailing
courtesy and pleasant humor and integrity of character and
life gave him great popularity. He was exceedingly happy
in short speeches at dinners or at political meetings. He
had a fund of