The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-06-13
Deacon Tlarope7s Pigeons.
A CAPITAL STORY

y
crops in some of the Western States were
| about to be destroyed by the large num-
Der ofwild pigeons that came about Dea-
con Thrope and several of bis friends
were sitting outside the log meeting house
one Sunday morning, waiting for the
minister to arrive, and, as matter of
course, talking about the prospect Of hay-
ing "nothing to feed on" through the COM
ing winter.
ats orftll" said one of the company
81 never see the pigeons so thick afore.
My Bill and Ben went down to the roost
last night, and killed bag full with
clubs. think they'll take all my corn"
ooh, yes, its orfll !" replied the others.
'That's nothing to what me and my
Felix Joshua did, day before yesterday"
said the deacon. "You know my bottom
feld there? We'll, they come in it so
thick you couldn't see the ground
went down to scare 'em out, and perad-
venture, they riz up like cloud; you
couldn't see the sky for 'em. / hollered
and slapped my hands, and tore around
till | was plum worried out, but did no
| good. They just swarmed around over
my head, and as fast as | went to one side
of the field they began to pour down III
t'other. Felix Joshua had Just got up to
the crib with load of corn, for he was
gatherin' the ridge field, and 1 went to
whar he was and told him to go to the
house and get his shot gun, and my shot
gun, and see if We couldn't drive them ar
pigeons out'n the bottom field. So he
goes and gets his shot gun and my shot
gun, and we goes down. He slipt along
on one side Of the field, and slipt along
on tother, till we got about middle ways,
and then | gin holler, and up they
flew like a whirlagust. l blazed away in
the thickest of 'em, and Felix Joshua blaz-
ed away in the thickest Fem, and what
do you think? They were all gone in a
second. Then me and Felix Joshua, we
elem over the fence; and says he to me,
Father, this beats all creationp Says I
to him, Go fetch the steers and wagon,
and upon my word and honor, we picked
up ten 6ushels"
The good brothers stared wildly around
them, and would probably have accused
their deacon Of lying had they not been
interrupted by the arrival of the preacher,
and the announcement that ''meetin" was
q goin' to begin"
After the services were over, little
! groups of the faithful might have been
seen here and there, engaged in earnest
conversation. Their subject was an excl
ting one, as you might have inferred from
the length of their faces and the earnest
ness of their gestures. Ifyou had listened
to their conversation you might have
heard something as follows:
''Did you hear what Brother Thrope
said bout him and his Felix Joshua KILN
ten bushels Of pigeons at one shot?"
eyes, it's orful, Amt it?"
sIt's lie as sure as shootin.' don't
know what's got into Brother Thrope.'
'Whatll be done about it? 1t mustn't
go so-it'll ruin the name Of the church"
"We'd better fetch it up next meeting
| and make him take it back, or church
him."
And so it would go on. Of course
the good deacon heard whisper 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 neeting-day arrived the entire settle
ment was in an uproar. Nothing was
talked of but Deacon Thrope's ten bushels
of pigeons. The good brothers said it was
too bad to have the church disgraced by
deacon who would tell such unreasona-
Bile tales, while the pious old sisters wiped
their spectacles, sighed, and said, s'lt is
hard telling the power which the evil one
exerteth."
AT last the exciting day arrived. The
preacher stated that the church was ready
for the transaction of business, whereupon
brother Fingle arose and said:
Brother Deacon Thrope says him and
his Felix Joshua killed ten bushels Of pig
cons at one shot. The church don't be-
Eeye it, and would love to hear what the
brother has to say for himself"
With much solemnity the Deacon arose
and after casting serious look over the
congregation and elevating his eyes to the
rafters a few times, he spoke as follows:
"My brethering, there is sad mistake
out didn't say we killed ten bushels of
pigeons at one shot, but"
"What did you say, then" interrupted
one of the brothers, who was present
when the Deacon first told about his pig
cons. didn't you say you and your Fe-
Tx Joshua both blazed away?'
eyes"
"Didn't you say you both elem over
the fence?"
eyes, peradventure."
didn't you say that Felix Joshua said,
Father this beats all creation?"
81 did,brother."
didn't you say Felix Joshua fetched
the steers and wagon, and you picked up
ten bushels of pigeons 60
'sThere is the mistake, nv brother"
replied the Deacon, again raising his eyes
towards the rafters. II didn't say we
picked up ten bushels of pigeons. Broth
er Fingle is mistaken; said"
eyes, I know what you said." Interrupt
ted several; s'you did say il, and we can
prove it easy enough! You can't come
that game over us, old hoss-iy.'
"Order, brethering," said the minister;
'.let's hear Brother Thrope's story, and
then you can make any remarks you may
wish
"Wel, asI was sayin',n resumed the
Deacon, II didn't say we picked up ten
bushels of pigeons-Bro. Fingle is nlista- !