The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-15
WHIPPING THE PREACHER
BY CAPTAIN HowARD.

! BY CAPTAIN HowARD.
''He must be tanned, boys" .AmG
Harvey Ingsly brought his clenched hant
down upon the large store box beside
which he was standing.
"You are right, Harvey" echoed Wall
Walters, the acknowledged bully oI
Skifton
"Rigbt! right 2" shouted tho others.
"We will show those CHURCH going
people that we will not submit to bully
Raging from anybody, especially a
preacher. Old Buell. was seIh here to
try US, said viii Ashton, rather hand
some fellow of seventeen.
s.He will find us hard customers to
deal with, I'll warrant! He looks week,
but the muscle may be in him.
AYE, it is, boys said stout Bob
Graft II was at mecting-a revival
iii Clark county, last winter. Old
Buell. preached. We attempted to break
it up, and created quite disturbance -
One night Jim Sykes and l put cayenne
pepper on the stove. Buell. saw us, and
stopped preaching. He came down
from the pulpit, caught us by the collars,
shook us like Il terrier shakes rats, car
ried us to the door, and pitched us out
into the snow. The other boys saw
what was in the old fellow, and did not
interfere. / was sore week afterward,
and assure you, boys, that the meet
ing was not broken up. All went on
lpeaceably, and several of the boys join
ed, among them Jim Sykes"
"If he handled yow so easily, Bob,
he must be Samson" said Harvey, as
he surveyed from head to foot the giant
Bob.
"Strong! / think he is," resumed
Bob. "His grip seemed to crush my
shoulder blade
81 think can handle him." said Har-
vey rolling up his sleeves to his shoul-
der, and displaying a mighty arm, the
muscles of which stood out like whip
cords.
"When will we tackle him. asked
young Ashton, eager for the encounter.
'To-uight," said Harvey, who was the
ring leader of the enterprise "Ie
knows nothing of us, save what the
meeting folks tod him, and know they
say nothing good of us.''
'.Of coufse not" said the others.
WASN'T that a scoring he gave us the
other night p remarked Joe Gibbons.
"He thought SO at any fatt,' sneered
Bob.
II know l tremblcd when he said
those gentlemen on the back seat Ev.
cry person present turned their heads
and looked right at u.s.
"You tremble so often, joe" said
Walt. "You remember when old Ran
som caught you in his melon patch p
Didn't you tremble then, eh p
"Don't bring that up here" returned
Joe, who wished bygones to be bygones.
Lets go on with our preacher whipping.
What are your plains, Haryey2'
The boys gathered closer around their
leader to hear his plans.
"They are as follows" began 1ngsly.
We will 90 to the church tonight in a
crowd, and act civil till services is con-
cluded, when we will range ourselves
outside by the door. Old Buell. will
come out last, as usual, and l will step
up and ask him if he thinks our crowd
cut his harness. If he says he does l
will give him the lie, and follow it up
with good drubbing. You must be
ready to assist me, if necessary, and at
tend to members who may want finger
in the pie"
"We will be ready, Harvey said
Nath Jones, laughing at the promised
fun.
A minute later not one of the plotters
could be seeu ON the corner: they had
gone to their respective homes to pre-
pare for the nocturnal adventure.
Skiiften was at the opening of our
story, blessed { y with gang of row
dies, "set'' of young men who kept
the good church-going people and all
pcaceably disposed citizens in awe of
them. tic Tic .set'' was, as we have said,
led by Harvey Ingsly, a tall fellow of
about twenty two. He laid all plans for
the "set,n and was the foremost to exc
cute them. Chickens disappeared at his
bidding, and among other things the
band was guilty of was the declaration
that they would break up any meeting
held in Walnut grove church, about two
miles from Skiffton.
The people, thinking the boys would
not carry out their impious threat, called
a preacher to expomd to them the gos-
pei. But the boys meant what they had
said, and one night nest of hornets
was thrust in broken window, and the
little insects flew hither and thitlcr,
singing great many Of the congrega-
ton and breaking up the meeting.
The church was small, seating two
hundred, and was never full save at re-
viyals, when the windows and doors had
to be opened to allow those who could
not gain admittance to hear Gods word
from the outside.
AS night came on, and Luna showed
herself surrounded by thousands of
beautiful worlds, the Skitlton boys. head
cd by Harvey Ingsly, set out for Walnut
Grove. They entered the church quiet
ly, and took ack seats, as was their
wont. The minister had not arrived yet,
and prayer meeting was being held.
At last one of the doors opened, and
the Rev. Mr. Buell. entered and walked
to the sacred desk. He was man OF
mediuhi heights and a beautiful black
beard fell to his BOSOM His eyes were
full and expressive, but a g'eam of de-
termination could be seen therein. He
was neatly attired; no jewelry could he
seen upon his person. He began his
discourse in modulatcd voice, and as
he warmed with his great subject in true
backwoods style, he laid aside his coat,
and went on.
"Jehu! what muscle" whispered Walt
Walters, as Mr.. Buell. raised his right
arm, and pointed to the crucilixion on
Calvary.
To the delight of the boys, the 'scrvi
ces were at last concluded, aud the mem
bers thronged forward to grasp the min