t's Martin Luther Wilson's sock,' says she. 'I spent the day
with Mis' Wilson three or four weeks ago, and I saw her round off the
toe of this very sock.'

"Well, of course, Brother Wilson started off to look for Martin
Luther, and as soon as he was out o' hearin', Judge Grace brought his
cane down on the pavement, and says he, 'I hate to say such a thing of
my own pastor's son, but they named that boy after the wrong man when
they named him Martin Luther,' says he. 'They ought to 'a' named him
Beelzebub. That's one good old Bible name,' says he, 'that'll fit a
preacher's son nine times out of ten.'

"Brother Wilson went all around the square inquirin' for Martin
Luther, and found out that Martin and the rest o' the boys had been
seen goin' towards the river, all of 'em bleatin' like young lambs
callin' for their mothers. So he come back to the church, and says he
to Judge Grace, 'What mortifies me most in this matter is that a boy
of mine should have so little sense as to tie his own sock on the
bell. It was the act of a fool,' says he, 'and I shall see that it is
properly punished.'

"So when Martin Luther got home late that evenin', his mother was
standin' on the front door-step waitin' for him, and she took him by
the hand and led him into his father's study. And Brother Wilson held
up the sock, and says he, 'My son, can you tell me how this came to be
tied on the clapper of the church bell?' And Martin Luther says, as
prompt as you please, 'Yes, sir; I tied it on myself.' Martin's mother
said Brother Wilson looked mighty pleased at that. And then he says,
'Well, didn't you know you'd be found out if you tied your own sock
on?' And Martin Luther says, 'Yes, but I had to take my chances on
that, for if I'd gone home to git a rag or anything like that, Uncle
Gloster might 'a' had the church locked up before I could git back.'
Mis' Wilson used to say that Brother Wilson laughed like he'd heard
good news when Martin Luther said that, and says he, 'Well, I'm glad
to know you are neither a liar nor a fool, but, all the same, I shall
have to correct you severely for this offense.'

"Brother Wilson believed in Solomon's plan for raisin' children, and
in them days preachers didn't try to explain away the meanin' of a
Bible text like they do now. So he give Martin Luther a good
old-fashioned whippin', and then he called for John Calvin, and says
he, 'I know you were as deep in the mud as your brother was in the
mire, and