The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-04-21

| uCot CuuCdOCu ultH vi Ills udy Ill tu'
Wooden Nutmeg State, when the i'm
bull was "round," and in his youth.
Mr. Bulkley was the first settled minis
ter in the town of his adoption, Colches
ter, Conn. 1t was with him as afterwarC
with good old Bro. Jonathan (Governol
Washington), good to confer on almos
any matter, scientific, political, or religious
any subject, in short, wherein common
sense and general good to all concerned
was the issue. As a philosophical reason
er, casuist, and good counselor, he wa:
"looked to-" and abided by.
II so fell out that congregation in Mr.
Balkley's vicinity got to loggerheads, and
one" instead of splre to their church
as they proposed, and split upon. The
very nearest they could come to mutua
cessation of hostilities was to appoint a
committe of three to wait oni Mr. Bulkley
state their case, and get him to adjudicate
They waited on the old gentleman, and he
listened with great attention to their con
| flicting grievances.
at appears to me-" said the old gentle
man, {" that this is very simple Casa
trifling thing to cause you so much vexa
tion."
$50 say" says one of the committee.
81 don't call it a trifiing ease, Mr.
Buckley" said another.
"No case at all. responded the third.
1t amt, eh ?" fiercely answered the fist
speaker.
mo, it amt sir!' quite as savagely re-
piled the third
"It is anything but trifing case, any
how" echoed number two, to expect to
raise minister's salary and that new
steeple, too, out Of our small coDgrega-
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.. Bulkley, to
quarrel" said one.
"Who started this?" sarcastically an
swered Mr.. Johnson.
Not me, anyway" number three re-
piled
You don't say 1 did, do you?" says
number one
"Gentlemen-gentlemen!
eyes, Mr.. Bulkley," 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. !Bulkley finds
me in such cornpany, sit :"
"NOw, gentlemen, brothers, if you
please said Mr.. Bulkley, this is ridic-
ulousi''
$50 say" murmured Mr.. Wrinkles.
CAS- far as you are concerned, it is ri
diCulOus," said the deacon.
This brought Mr. Wrinkles up, standing.
"Sir!" he shouted, Z" sirP
"rut, m1 dear sirs "-heseechingly said
the philosopher.
"Srv' continued Wrinkles, "sir! l am
too old man, too good a Christian, Mr.
Bulkley, to allow man, mean, desplca-
bic toad, like Deacon Potter -
ado you call me me despicable toad?"
menacingly cried the deacon.
Brethren" said Mr.. Bulkley, IF | am
to counsel in your difference, l must have
no more of this unchristianlike bicker-
ing
a do not wish to bcker," said Johnson.
"Nor | don't want to, sir" said the
deacon, "but when man calls NE 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 i"suh.
Now it chanced that Mr.. Bulkley had
Il fro hn t.lv
of Colchester, and found it necessary, the
same day he wrote the opinion and advice
to the brethren of the disaifected church,
to drop line to his farmer regarding the
fixtures of said estate Having written
long and of course elaborate essay TO
his brethren, he wound up the days lit
erary eXertions with dispatch to the
farmer, and after reverie TO himself he
directs the two documents, and the next
moment dispatches them-but, by II mis-
direction, sends each to its wrong destina
ton.
On Saturday evening full and anxious
synod Of the belligerent churchmen took
place in their tabernacle, and punctually,
as promised, came dispatch from the
Plato of the time and place-Rcv. John
Bulkley.
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?" and another
pause followed.
"Will the Moderator please proceed ?"
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 very broad
grin, said:
very singular letter, to say the least of it /"
"Well, read tread it," responded the
wondering hearers.
81 will" The Moderator began:
"You will see to the repair OF the fences,
that they be built up high and strong, and
you will take special care of the old black
bull %
There was general pause; 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 word.
Repair the fences" muttered the Mod
orator, at length.
"Build them strong and highr echoed
Deacon Potter.
"Take special care of the old black
bull?" 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;
"Brcthren, you seem lost in the brief
and eloquent words of your learned adj
wiser. To me nothing could be more ap
propriate to our case. II is just such a
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 govern
ment of our members we must guard the
church by our Makers laws, and keep
out stray and vicious cattle from the fold
And, above all things, set Trustworthy
and yigilant watch over that old black