The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-07

furnished better subject for his venge-
ance than the attenuated frame of the late
parson. Oh! what nice beating he would
have He had heard, too, tina, some Me
thodist preachers were rather spirited, and
he hoped this one might prove so, that he
might provoke him to fight. Knowing
that the preacher must pass on Sunday in
the afternoon, he gave his striker Holt
day, and reclining on bench, RECALLED
himself on the beauties of Tom Paine,
awaiting the arrival Of the preacher.
|, was not over an hour before he heard
the words
How happy are they who the Saviour obey,
And have laid up their treasures above"
sung in clear full voice and soon the
vocalist, turning in the angle Of road,
rode leisurely up, with a contentcd smile
Oh his face.
GLOW are you, old slabsides Get off
your horse and join in my devoiions,"
said the blacksmith.
Il have MANY miles to ride" replied
the preacher, and haven't time, my friend ;
III call as | return"
Your name is Subbleworth. and you
are the hypocriie the Methodisth have
sent here, Ell I"
MY name is Subblewovth,' he re-
piled meekly.
Didn't You know my name was Ned
Forgeron, the blacksmith, achat whips
every Methodist minister that goes through
this gap!' was asked with an audacious
look; sand how dare you come here ~
The preacher replied that he had heard
Forgeron's name, but presumed that he
did not modest well behaved travellers.
"You presumed so Yes, you are the
most presumptuous people, you Method
lists, that ever trod shoe-leather, any how.
Well, what'll you do if don't whip you
this time, you beel-headed disciple you ~
MIR. Subbeworth proiessed his will
ingness to do any thing reasonable TO avoid
such penance.
"Well, there is three things YOU have
to do, or III maui you into jelly. The
first is, you have TO quit preaching; the
second is, you are to wear this las, will
and testament of Tom Paine next to your
heart, read it every day, and believe every
word you read and the third is, you are
to curse the Melhodiss in every crowd
you get into"
The preacher looked on during these
novel propositions, without line of his
face being moved, and, at the end, replied
that the terms were unreasonable, and he
would not submit to them.
"Well, you have got whaling to sub
NIT to, then. III larrup you like blazes
I'll tear you into doll rags, corner ways
Get down, you long faced hypocrile."
The preacher demonstrated, and Forge
ron walked up to the horse and threaten
ed 10 tear him off if he did not dsmount;
whereupon the worthy man made viz
the of necessity and dIsmounted.
81 have but one request to make, my
friend, aud ihat Is, that you won't beat ne
with this overcoat on. 1T was present
from the ladies' Of my last circuit; and
do not wish TO have il torn"
"On with it, and that suddenly, you
brazened-laced imp, YOU
The Methodist preacher slowly drew
or his sutcoat, as the blacksmith contin-
ued his TRADE OF abuse on himself and his
sect, and as he drew his right hand from
the sleeve and threw his garment behind
him, he dealt Mr.. Forgeron Il uemendu-
Gus blow between his eyes, which laid
that person at full length on the ground,
with the testament Of Thomas Paine be-
side him. The Rev. Mr.. Subbleworth,
with the tact Of connoisseur in such mat
tiers, did not wait for his adversary to
rise, but mounted him with the quickness
of cat, and bestowed his blows with a
bounteous hand on the stomach and face
Of the blacksmith, continuing his song
where he had lief. oil, on his arrival at the
smithy---
"Iongue cannot express
The sweet comfort and peace
OF a soul IN its earliest love-"
until Mr.. Forgeron, from having expe.
rienced "frst love- or some other sensa
ton, equally new to him, responded has.
! lily. enough nough. nough take hin
off" But, unfortunately, there was ne
one by to perform that kind Office excep
the old roam, and he munched bunch o
grass, and looked on as qietIy as if hi
master was happy at a campmeeting.
Now" said Mr.. Subbeworth, "lherC
/ al. AZ. 4