Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-29
Whipping the Preacher.
BY CAPTAIN HOWARD.

ale must be tanned boys" and Har-
yey IngSley brought his clenched hand
down upon the large store box beside
which he was standing.
"You are right, Harvey" echoed
Walt Walters, the acknowledged bull
ly of Skiffton.
fright right !" shouted the Others
ave will show those church-going
people that we will not submit to bull
ly-ragging from anybody, especially a
preacher. Old Buell. was sent here to
try US" said Will Ashton, rather
handsome fellow of seventeen.
ale will find US hard customers to
deal with, I'll warrant! He looks
weak, but then, the muscle may be in
him.
aye, it ist boys" said stout Bob
Graft. Il was at a meeting-a revi-
vain Clark county last winter. Old
Buell. preached. W G attempted to
5 break it up and created quite dis
turbance. One night, Jim Sykes and |
put cayenne pepper on the stove. Bu-
ell saw us and stopped preaching.-
He came down from the pulpit, caught
US by the collars, shook US like a ter
rier shakes rats, carried 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 a week afterward, and | as
sure you, boys, that the meeting was
not broken up. All went on peacea-
bly,, and several of the boys joined,
!. among them Jim Sykes"
"If he handled you so easily, Bob
he must be a Samson" said Harvey,
as he surveyed from head to foot the
giant Bob.
Strong l think he is" resumed
Bob. "His grip seemed to crush my
shoulder blade
Il think | can handle him., said
Harvey. rolling up his sleeves to the
shoulder and displaying a mighty arm,
the muscles of which stood out like
whip cords.
"When will we tackle him p asked
young Ashton, eager for the encoun-
ter.
4, "To-night," said Harvey, who was
the ring-leader Of the enterprise. "He
knows nothing OF US, save what the
II meeting folks told him, and | know
IS they say nothing good of US.
d "Of course not" said the others.
Wasn't that a scoring he gave us
h, the other night" remarked Joe Glib.
L bOns.
lc He thought 50, at any rate" sneer
9e ed Bob.
y Il know l trembied when he said
,e those gentlemen on the back seat
Every person present turned theiI
Mt heads and looked right at u.s."
III You trembIe so often, Joe" SAID
L Wait. You remember when old Ran
r som caught you in his melon patch
re Didn't you tremble then, eh ?''
'y "Don't bring that up here" return
ut cd Joe, who wished bygones to be by
cones Let's 90 on with our preach
~ er whipping, What are your plans
= Harvey?'
= The boys gathered closer arounc
>, their leader to hear his plans.
+ r "They are as follows" began Ings
- Iy." We will 90 to the church to-nigh
- in crowd, and act civil till service.
~ are concluded, when we will range
~ ourselves outside the door. Old Buel
~ will cone out at last, as usual, and
- will step up and ask him if he thinks
80 our crowd cut his harness. If he sayi
~ he does, | will give him the lie, anC
10 follow it up witt good drub5ng.-
You must be ready to assist me, if
~ necessary, and attend 60 members
~ ~ who may want finger in the pie"
~ IL ave will be ready, Harvey" sale
=, ~ Nath Jones, laughing at the promised
- - fun.
- A minute later not one OF the plot
~ terS could be seen on the corner; they
had gone to their respective homes tt
prepare for their Nocturnal adventure
Irl Skifton was, at the opening of oul
,ir story, blessed p with gang of row
10. dies, a "set" Of young men who KEEP
tie the good church going people, and al
ry peaceably disposed citizens in awe of
ss- them. The "set" was, as we hav,
of said, led by Harvey Ingsly, tall fel
to low Of about twenty-five. He laid al
plans for the "set," and was the fore
he most to execute them. Chickens dis
nd appeared at his bidding, and anon,
y" other things the band was guilty O.
r." was the declaration that they woul
a break up any meeting held in Walnu
Grove Church, about two miles froI
to- Skiffton.
he The people, thinking the boys woul
not carry out their impious threa
iv- called a preacher to expound to ther
nd the gospel. But the boys meant wha
Id, they had said, and one night mes
,cb of hornets was thrust in a broke
m window, and the little insects he'
hither and thither, stinging a grea
many Of the congregation, and breal
my ing up the meeting.
ri The church was small, seating 20
to and was never full save at revival
nd when the windows and doors had
list be opened to allow those who coul
my not gain admittance to hear God
ue, word from the outside.
be- As night came on, and luna shove
NIL herself surrounded by thousands o
'er' beautiful worlds, the Skiffton boy
Use headed by Harvey Ingsly, set out fc