True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-01-20
Deacon Thrope's Pigeons.

| S~NvA AAASPO y IS SvA0s t.e-
Several years ago. when the masts anC
crops in some of the western States were
about to be destroyed by the large num-
Der Of wild pigeons that came about,
Deacon Thrope. and several Of his 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 prospects Of
having "nothing 10 feed on" through the
coming winter: ' f, e.. ~
"h's oriul r. said one of the company;
II never seen the pigeons so thick afore.
My Bill and Ben went down to. the roost
last night. and killed a bag(nlI, with
clubs. | think they'll take all my corn"
80, yes, it's orful," replied-the other.
"Fhat's nothing TO what me and my
Felix Joshua did, day afore yesterday"
said The deacon. "You know my bot
tom field there! Well, they come in SO
thick you couldn't. see the ground. |
went down to scare 'em out. and, perad-
venture, they riz up like a cloud; you
couldn't see the sky for 'em. hollered,
and slapped my hands, and tore around
till | was all wearied out, but it did no
good. They just swarIned around over
my head and as fast as went to one
side of the field, they began to pour down
in i'other. ~
Felix Joshua had just got up to The
crib with a load of corn, for he was ;
gathering the ridge field, aud went tc
whar he was, and told him to 60 to tht
house and get his shot gum, and my sho
gun, and see if we couldn't drive them al
pigeons outn the bottom field. So he
goes and gets his shotgun, and my sho
gun, and we goes down. aiia son o5 p
"He slipt along on, one side Of ih'
field. and l.slipt along on t'other, till W,
got about middle ways, and then I gin
boller, and up they flew like a whirlagust
/ blazed away in the thickest of 'emy anc
what do you Think They were all gop'
in second. Then me and. Felix Jusha
we elm over the fence, and says he tc
me, "Falher this beats all creation !'-
Says Ito bin, "go fetch the steers and
wagon" and upon my honor, we picked
up ten bushels !"
/ The good brothers stared wildly around
them, and would probably have accused
their deacon oflying, had they not beer
interrupted by the arrival Of the preacher
and the, announcement that "meeiing was
going to begin" 7
After the services were over, lille
groups Of tho faithful might have beer
seen here and there, engaged iu earnest
conversation. Their subject was an ex
citing one, as you might have inferred
from .he length of their faces, and the
earnestness Of their gestures. If you had
listened 10 their conversation, you nigh
have heard something about as follows:
"Did you hear what brother Thlope
said bout him and his Felix killing ten
bushels ofpigeons at one sho,''
eyes, it's orful, amt it!"
"lrs lie, as sure as shootin.' l dom
know what's got into brother Thrope."
"What'll he done about it? Itmusn'
60 so-t'll ruin the.name of the church.
"We'd better fetch il up next mee,in'
and make him take it back, or churcl
him." F., &
And SO it would 60 on. OF course thu
good deacon heard a whisper Of it, whicl
gave him no little uneasincss. Howeve
he had been in severa! scrapes before, ant
had como ont clear, and he doubted no
he should meet with the same good lucl
ON this occasion. a faI 8i Gs
| Until the next meeting-day arrived
the entire settlement was in an uproar.-
Nothing was talked of but Deacon
Thrope's ten bushels Of pigeons. Thu
good brothers said it was too bad to hav,
the church disgraced by deacon VIII
would tell such unreasonable tales Will,
the pious old sisters wiped their specta
cles, sighed, and said, alt is hard telling
the power which the Evil One cxerteth. >
AT last The exciting day arrived. Th,
preacher stated that the church was ready
for the transaction Of business; where
upon brother Fingc arose, and said:
"Brother Deacon. Thrupe says hin
and his Felix Joshua killed ten bushel
ofpigeons at one shot. The church DON
believe it, and would love 10 hear wha
the brother has 10 say for himself"
With much solemnity the deacon arose
and after casting a serious look over th
congregation, and elevating his eyes Il
The raiters few times, spukeas follows
"My brethering, there is sad mistake
out---l didn't say we killed ten bushels
Of pigeons at one shot, but--''lao
"What did you say. then y interrupted
one Of the brothers, who was presen
when the deacon first told about his pi
lgeons, "Didn't you say you and you
Felix Joshua both blazed away i"a6s m
Il "Yes."gl g4I Eas&i sw Fal y
| didn't you say you both climbei
overths fencei"ig.b8 miG q efd "a
eyes, peradventure." ., elsaeelis
I = HDidn't you say that Felix Joshua said
This beats all creation ~ p basb h
h. Hldid. brother vlsallo aAl jSia "A aa
p "Didn't you say that Felix Josbu
fetched the steers and wagon, and ynl
picked up ten bushels Of pigeons I" :