Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-12-31
Che 5iorn IclIer.
THE DEAcoN's BOIL.
ny >. W. WALTON.

=
fine specimen OF the old style. sturdy
farmer. honest. conscientious. and hospit-
able to fault, and with one leading van
ity. which was bis farm. and his ability
to raise the finest stock in the whole OF
New England. In his younger days the
deacon had commanded a company of
State troops. which had done service du-
ring the last war with Great Britain. and
though he had failed in the technical ap-
plication of the term. ito smell powder.
pet he hal received the infusion of warlike
spirit. on the principle of once captain,
always = captain stuck to him, and
mingled With the more PEACEFUL cognomen
Of deacon
This wsrlike spirit the deacon coula
never conquer. even though he hal been
frequently rebuked by the good dominic
for show ing so much of the church militant
in his daily bearing. aud could find no
greater delight. when he could obtain an
audience, than in recalling the days of his
captaincy and telling bloodless tales of
when was ont in '13 and IA"
Among the deacon's fac stock was a
ball. a splendid animal. which for strength.
size and beauty, excited the envy and all
miration. Of the farmers Of the whole
country. SO much was the deacon's bull
praised. that very soon its owner began to
believe he possessed the most wonderful
animal that fsd ever existed. and to boast
accordingly. From morning till night.
nothing conll be heard in the neighbor-
hood Of Litch6eld bu. praises Of the dea-
cons bull. and sstima,ions of his value A,
last to such a pitch did this estimation
reach. that the deacon not content with
bearing the palm from every cattle raiser
in the country, sought. like Alexander.
fresh worlds to conquer. and offered his
bull to the composition of the entire coan-
try. To do this properly. Deacon Jones
issued handbill setting forth in glowing
lines the qualities Of his bull. its size. age.
weight AMI color. leading off with chal-
lsnge to any one possessing an animal of
like size and age, to bring it forward. and
vanquish the deacon's bull in fair fight
for one hundred dollars Here it was
that the old warlike spirit peeped forth.
and the deacon instead Of offering to match
his bull for any Of those qualities that go
toward making good beef. profiered the
challenges for its fighting quality.
These handbills were scattered far and
wide. until one. by the all OF peripatet
ic peiler, found its way to the hands of a
MOTEL breeder of stock in the western part
OF the State, who determined on accepting
the challenge on behalf of fine Young
animal of his own. AMI making an attempt
20 fob the deacon's hundred dollars. Ac-
cordingly he started with his bull for tie
deacnn's. but by some delays on the road
he did not reach his destination until late
on Saturday afternoon. whereupon his
stating his errand he was warmly welcom-
ed by the deacon and honest praise be-
slowed upon the splendid animal he had
brought with him. 1t was too late that
evening Tor the trial, and the bull was ac
cordingly driven into the rich pasture to
recruit after the journey. and bis owner
madc free of TIE deacon's house.
The next day being the Sabbath. the
family all set forth to church. the deacon
surrendering his place in the family pew
TO the stranger. and staying at home I'M
der the plea Of not feeling very WE'LL
Af.er they were well gone, the deacon. to
aid in dismissing the thought Of the two
bulls. anil of the coming fight on the m or
row, got down the family Bible and read
. chapter; but still the bulls would mix
themselves with the texts and wander
away with his thoughts At last the dea-
con could stand it no longer, and putting
on his hat. out he went to take just one
look at the fierce monster that was on the
morrow to carry away the laurels from his
Gull, and the hundred dollars, or leave
him the happy victor. There he stood IL
the centre of the field. coal black. and
shaking his fierce. shaggy head in defiance
Ths deacon gazed in admiration. and Their
the thought erept into his brain that to
morrow was long time to wait. and thai
q there was nobody to see, and no one
to tell tales, he might as well give tn,
bulls Just one little turn at each other
that he might be better able 10 judge. ane
that ithe contest waxed too warm he coul(
drive OF his own animal without trouble
No sooner thought than done. and the dea
con stealthily let down the bars that lee
into the field and PROCEEDED to drive in hi
bull. bu, the stranger bull in An instant
saw the entrance open. and without Ielay
rushed through AMI in quicker time thai
Il takes 10 relate. attacked the deacon,
bull The fight was terrible anl the dea
con delighted. For while he forgot hi
Sabbath breaking in the keen enioymen
OF the fight. AMI the belief that his bul
would be the victor, but at length tn
stranger began to have the best of it. an.
the deacon fearing the utter defeat of hi
favori,e. took hand in the fight himself
he tore rail from the fence and rushed a
the black bull. punching and poundin
him in the rear. AMI striving to drive hin
back to his pasture. This attack instea
of attaining its object only increased tn
animals rage. until with one fierce lung
he laid his antagonist on the ground
pierced bin through the chest with on
thrust Of his sharp horns. and laid hir
deal in an instant. No sooner had h
fnishel his work in front. than, like
good soldier. he made for his enemy j
ths rear. and the deacon male for tn
opening in the fence with the bellowin
monster close at-his heels.~ Away the
went, deacon and bull. straight for tn
house. the first putting and blowing unds
his fearful speed. the last paving and be