The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-05-14

at amt, eh :" tiercely answered the first
speaker.
"No, it ain'r, sir" quite savagely replied
the third. s~~
ut is anything but trifing case, anyhow,
echoed number two, $50 expect to raise minis.
ters salary and that new steeple, too, out of our
small congregation"
"There is no danger OF raising much out of
you, anyhow, Mr. Johnson" sptefully returned
number one.
"Gentlemen if you please beseechingly in
terposed the sage
II did not come here, Mr. Bulkley, to quarrel"
said one.
"Who started this ?" sarcastically answered
Mr.. Johnson
"Not me, anyway" number three replied.
'You don't say did, do your" says number
one.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Eyes, Mr.. Bulkiey," says johnson, land there's
old Wrinkles, too, and here's Deacon Potter,
also"
Il am here stittly replied the deacon, land
am sorry the Rev. Mr.. Buckley finds me in such
company, SIR
$50 say" murmured Mr.. Wrinkles
Gas far as you are concerned, it is ridiculous"
said the deacon.
This brought Mr.. Wrinkles up, standing
''Sir !" lac shouted, "sirw
But my dear sirs"-beseechingly said the
philosopher.
"Sr !" continued Wrinkles, "sir | am too
old man, too GOOD Christian, Mr. Buckley, to
allow man, mean, despicable toad, like Dea.
con Potter
do you call meme despicable toad 2"
menacingly cried the deacon
Brethren" said Mr.. Buckley, IF am to
counsel il your difference, must have no more
of this uncuristianlike pickering"
II do not wish to bicker," said johnson.
| tn
"but when man calls me a toad-a mean, des-
picable toad
swell, we'll never mind" said Mr.. Buckley
you are all too much excited now; 10 home
again, and wait patiently; Sunday evening
next will have prepared and sent to you
written opinion OF your case, with full and free
aVowal OF most wholesome advice for pre-
serving your church from dr,olation aud YOUR
selves from despair" And the committee left to
await his issue
Now it CHANGED that Mr. Bnlkley had small
farm, some distance from the town of Colchester,
and found it necessary, the same day he wrote
the opinion and advice to the brethren of the
disatfected church, to drop line to his farmer
regarding the fixtures OF said estate Having
written long and Of course elaborate "essay" 70
his brethren, he wound up the days literary ex.
ertions with despatch to the farmer and after
reverie to himself he directs the two documents,
and the next moment dispatches them-but, BY
a misdrecton, sends each to its wrong desti.
nation.
On Saturday evening full and snxious synod
OF the bell!gerent churchmen took place in their
tabernacle, and punctually, as promised, came q
despatch from the Plato of the time and place
Rev John Buckley.
All was quiet and respectful attention The
Moderator took up the document and broke the
seal open, and--a pause ensued, while dubious
amazement seemed to spread over the features of
the worthy President of the meeting.
"Well, Brother Temple, how is it-what does
Mr.. Bulkley say z" and another pause followed.
will the Moderator please proceed ?" said
another voice
The Moderator placed the paper on the table,
took off his spectacles, wiped the glasses, then
his lips-replaced his specs upon his nose, and,
with very broad grim said
"Brethren this appears TO me to DO very sin.
gular letter, to say the least OF i'll"
"Well, read tread IT," responded the won.
dering hearers.
Il will The Moderator began:
GU will see to the repair of the fences, that
they will be built up high and strong and you
will take special care of the old black bull y
There was general pause: a silent MYSTERY
overSpread the community; the Moderator drop.
ped the paper TO rest" aud gazed over the
top OF his glasses for several minutes, nobody
saying u word.
Repair the fences muttered tho Moderator,
at length.
Build them strong and high |" echoed Dea.
con Potter
take special care of the old black bull p"
growled half the meeting
Then another pause ensued, and each man
eyed his neighbor in mute mystery
A tall and venerable man arose from his seat .
clearing his voice with hem, he spoke:
brethren, you seem lost il tho brief and elo
quent words OF your learned adviser. To me
nothing could be more appropriate to our case.
1t is Just such II profound and applicable reply
to us as we should have hoped and looked for
from the learned and good man, John Bulkley.
The direction to repair the fences is TO take heed
in the admission and government of our mem.
bers; We must guard the church by our Makers
laws, and keep out stray and vicious cattle from
the fold And, above oil things, act a trustwor.
thy and vigilant watch over that old black bull
who is the devil, and who has already broken in
to our enclosures and sought TO desolAte ani Law
waste the grounds of our church."
The effect Of this Interpretation was electrical
All saw and took the force of Mr.. Buckley,
cogent advice, and unanimously resolved to bf
governed by it I; hence the old black bull was M,
hers du combat, and the church preserved in
union
The effect produced on the farmer by tho com
municaton intended for the church. history
does not record.