Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-04-28
The Old Black Ball.

Mr.. Buckley was the first settled minis
ter in the town of his adoption, Colches-
ter, Conn. II was with him as afterward
with good old Bro. Jonathan Governor
Trumbull the bosom friend Of General
Washington), good to confer on almost
any matter, scientific, political, or religious
--any subject, in short, wherein common
sense and general good to all concerned
was the issue. As . philosophical reason
er, casuist, and good counselor, he was
looked TO-" and abided BY.
It 80 fell out that congregation IN Mr.;
Bulkley's vicinity got to loggerheads, and
were upon the apex OF raising the evl
one.n instead of splYe to their church,
as they proposed, and split upon The
very nearest they could come to mutual
cessation of hostilities was to appoint
committe of three to wait onlMr. Buckley,
state their case, and get him to adjudicate.
They waited on the old gentleman, ana ne
listened with great attention to their con-
ficting grievances. ,
att appears to me-" said the old gentle
man, "that this is very simple Casa
trifing thing to cause you 80 much vexa-
ton"
$50 saw" says one of the committee.
at don't call it trifling case, Mr..
Buckley" said another.
"No case at ALL" responded the third.
at amt, eh ?" fiercely answered the first
speaker.
"No, it amt sir !" quite as savagely re-
piled the third.
at is anything but a trifling case, any
how" echoed number two, ito expect to
raise a minister's salary and that new
steeple, too, out of our small congrega-
tion."
"There is no danger of raising much
out of you, anyhow, Mr.. johnson" spite
fully returned number one.
"Gentlemen, if you please "-beseech-
ingly interposed the sage.
II did not come here, Mr.. Buckley, to
quarrel" said one.
"Not me, anyway" number three re-
piled.
"You don't say I did, do your" says
number one.
"Gentlemen-gentlem
EYES, Mr.. Buckley" says johnson, and
there's old Wrinkles, too, and here's Dea-
con Potter, also"
81 am here" stiffly replied the deacon,
"and am sorry the Rev. Mr. Buckley finds
me in such company, sir I" >.
"Now, gentlemen, brothers, If you
please" said Mr.. Buckley, "this is ridic-
ulous"
$50 say" murmured Mr.. Wrinkles.
GAS far as you are concerned, it is RI
diculous," said the deacon.
This brought Mr.. Wrinkles up, standing.
"Sir!" he shouted, "sir"
"But, my dear irs"-beseechingly said
the philosopher.
"Sir p continued Wrinkles, "sir! am
too old man, too good a Christian, MI.
Buckley, to allow man, mean, desplca'
BILE toad, like Deacon Potter -
"Do you call meme despicable toad!"
menacingly cried the deacon.
Brethren" said Mr.. Buckley, :" If am
to counsel in your difference, must have
no more of this unchristianlike bicker-
ing , :, ), ,o,n.or
"Nor l don't want to, sir" said the
deacon, "but when man calls me toad
"A mean, despicable toad
"Well, well, never mind" said Mr..
Bulkley "you are all too much excited
now; 90 home again, and wait patiently;
on Sunday evening next will have pre-
pared and sent to you written opinion
of your case, with a full and free avOwal
of most wholesome advice for preserving
your church from desolation and your
selves from despair" And the committee
left to await his issue.
Now it CHANGED that Mr.. Buckley 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 disaffected church,
to drop line to his farmer regarding the
fixtures of said estate. Having written
long and of course elaborate "cssay" to
his brethren, he wound up the days lit
erary exertions with q dispatch to the
farmer, and after q reverie to himself he
directs the two documents, and the next
moment dispatches them-but, by mis-
direction, sends each to its wrong destlna-
ton.
On Saturday evening full and anxious
synod of the belligerent churchmen took
place in their tabernacle, and punctually,
as promised, came a dispatch from the
Plato of the time and place-Rev. John
Buckley.
An was quiet and respectful attention.
The Moderator took up the document ana
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
WQ8L QOcS MAJ. DulhiCy COY oAN oAos~A
pause followed.
"Will the Moderator please proceed 2"
said another voice.
The Moderator placed the paper on the
table, took off his spectaclcs, wiped the
glasses, then his lips-replaced his specs
upon his nose, and, with q very broad
grin, said:
brethren, this appears to me to be q
very singular letter, to say the least OF 1t r
"Well, read tread it," responded the
wondering hearers.
81 will" The Moderator began
"You will see to the repair ofthe fences,
that they be built up high and strong, and
you will take special care of the old black
bull p
There was general pause. q silent
mystery overspread the community the
Moderator dropped the paper to rest"
and gazed over the top of his glasses for
several minutes, nobody saying a word.
"Repair the fences" muttered the Mod
orator, at length. j
"Build them strong and high" echoed
Deacon Potter.