Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-08-25
Deacon Thrope's Pigeons.

were about to be destroyed by the large number of wild pigeons that came about, Dea- con Thrope and several of his friends were sitting outside the log meeting house one Sun day morning. waiting for the minister to arrive, and, as matter of course, talking about the prospect of having " nothing to feed on" through the coming winter
 It's orfuli" said one of the company "I never See the pigeons so thick afore. My Bill and Ben went down to the roost last night, and killed bsgful with clubs I think they'll take all my corn"
 "Oh, yes, it's orful." replied the others.
 That's nothing to what me and my Felix Joshua did, day before yesterday" said the deacon. "You know my bottom field there? Well, they come in it so thick you couldn't see the ground. 1 went down to scare lem ont and peradventure they rig up like cloud you couldn't see the sky for lem. hollored and slapped my hands till I was plum worried out, but it did no good. They just swarmed around over my head and as fast as I went to one side ot the field they began to pour down on tother Felix Joshua had just got up to the crib with load of corn for he was gath erIn' the ridge field, and 1 went where he was ana told him to go to the house and get his snoV,9uh and my shotgun, and We goes down. lie sllpt along on one side of the field, and sllpt along on tother, till we got about middle ways and then gin holler and up they flew like whirlagust. 1 blazed away in the thick l est of lem, and Felix Joshua blazed away in | the thlckest of 'em, and what do YOU think? They were gone in a second. Then me and Felix Joshua, we elem over the fence. and says he to me, Father, this beats all creatiop!, Says to him, Go fetch the steers and wagon and upon my word and honor we picked up ten busheLsi"
 The good brothers stared wildly around them, and would probably have accused their deacon of lying had they not been interrupted oy the arrival of the preacher, and the annouce- ment that meetin' was a'goin to begin"
 Alter the services were over little groups of the faithful might have been seen here and there, engaged Ill earnest conversation Their subject was an exciting one as you may have inferred from the length of their faces and the earnestnesS of their gestures. If you had lis tened to their conversation, you might have heard something about as follows:-
 Did you hear what brother Throne said bout him and his Felix Joshua killin' ten bu- shels Of pigeons at one shot?"
 " Yes, it's orful, aint it?''
 It's lie as shure as shootin'. I don't know what got into brother Trope."
 " W hatll be done about 1t? It mustn't % so--ltll rum the name of the church"
 We'd better fetch it up next meetin', and make hlm take 1t back, or church him."
 And so It would go on. Of course the good deacon heard whispers of it, which gave him no little uneasiness. However he had been into several scrapes before, and had come out clear, and he doubted not he should meet with the same good luck on this occasion. Until the meeting day arrived, the entire settlement was in an uproar. Nothing was talked of but Deacon ThropeS ten bushels of pigeons. The good brothers said it was too bad to have the church disgraced by deacon who told such unreasonable tales, while the sisters wiped their spectacles, sighed, and said, It is hard telling the power the evil one exerteth'
 At last the exciting day arrived The preach- CT stated that the church was ready for the transaction of business, whereupon brother Fin4ge arose and sad:
 " Brother Deacon Thrope says him and his fetIA Joshua killed ten bushels of pigeons at one shot. The church dou't believe it. and would love to hear what the brother has to say for himself''
 With much soemnity the deacon arose, and after casting a serious look over the congrega- tion, and eevating his eyes to the ratters few times spoke as follows:
 " Brethren, there is a sad mistake out-I didn't say we killed ten bushels at one shot, but"
 What did you say?' interrupted one of the brothers, who was present when the deacon flrSt told about his pigeons. "Did'nt you say you and your Felix Joshua both blazed away?''
 "Yes"
 "Did'nt you say you both elem of over the fence?"
 !" Yes, peradventure"
 Didn't you say that Felix Joshua said Fa- ther this beats all creaton?"
 "I did, brother"
 "Dldn't you say that Felix Joshua fetched the steers and wagon, and you picked up ten bushels of pigeons?"
 "There is the mistake, my brother" replied the deacon, again raising his eyes towards the rafters. Il didn't say we pick up ten bu. shels of pigeons Brother Fingle is mistaken; 1 said"
 Ies l know what you sad,'' interrupted several; "you did say it, and we can prove it easy enough? You can't come that game over us, old hoss-hy."
 "Order, brethren," said the minister; "leps hear brother Thrope's story, and then you can make any remarks you can wish"
 Well, as was sayn,' resumed the deacon, " l didn't say We picked up ten bushels of pi- geons-Brother Fingle is mistaken-I said we picked up ten bushels of corn that the pigeons had shattered off,
 "AmeD," went up from the congregation, and rush made at Deacon Thrope to shake him by the hand. It is needless to say that he was restored to good fellowship and confidence.