Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-04-28
The Old Black Bull.

: OLD JOHN BULKLEY grandson of the
once famous President Chauncey), was q
minister of the Gospel, and one of the
best educated men of his day in the
Wooden Nutmeg State, when the inn
mortal (or eught-to-be) Jonathan Trum.
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 afterWard
with good old Bro. Jonathans (GovernoI
Trumbull, the bosom friend of General
| Washington), good to confer on almost
any matter, scientific, political, or religious
any subject, in short, wherein common
was the issue As q philosophical reason
er, casuist, and good counselor, he was
looked to-" and abided by.
1t so fell out that a congregation in Mr..
Bulkley's vicinity got to 1ogg erheads, and
were upon the apex of raising the evil
| one" instead Of q spire to their church,
as they proposed, and split upon. The
very nearest they could come to mutual
cessation of hostilities was to appoint q
committe of three to wait onIM Bulkley,
state their case, and get him to adjudicate
They waited on the old gentleman, and he
listened with great attention to their con-
ficting grievances.
It appears to me-" said the; old gentle
man, that this is very simple Casa
e.A1AnS lining W Sauso you 81 muCu NeAa-
tion."
$50 say" says one of the committee.
II don't call it a trining case, Mr..
Bulkley," said another.
No caso at al, ]" responded the third.
"It amt, chi ?" fiercely answered the first
speaker.
mo, it amt sir n quite as saYagely re-
piled the third.
It is anything but trifing case, any
1.<,-
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.
" 1 did not come here, Mr.. Bulkley, to
quarrel" said one.
"Who started this2" sarcastically an
swered Mr.. Johnson.
piled.
"You don't say I did, do yous" says
number one
s n-gentlemenI,,
Yes, Mr.. Bulkley, says johnson, " and
there's old Wrinkles, too, and here's Dea-
con Potter, also"
"I am here, "stiffly replied the deacon,
sand / am sorry the Rev. Mr. IBulkley finds
me In such company, sir p
: Now, gentlemen, brothers, if you
please" said Mr.. Bulkley, this is ridic-
ulous I"
$50 I.say,n murmured Mr.. Wrinkles.
As far as you are concerned, it is ri
diculous," said the deacon.
This brought Mr.. Wrinkles up, standing.
Sir !" he shouted, " sir I'
But, my dear sirs s"-beseechingly said
the philosopher.
"SirP continued Wrinkles, al siri am
too old man, too good Christian, Mr..
Bulkley, to allow man, mean, desplca-
bic toad, like Deacon Potter -
"Do you call meme q despicable toad?"
menacingly cried the deacon.
Brethren" said Mr.. Bulkley, " if am
to counsel in your difference, must have
no more of this unehristianlike bicker-.
ing
Nor don't want to, sir,| said the
deacon, but when man calls me toad
IA mean, despicable toad"-
!" Well, well, never mind" said Mr..
Bulkley "you are all too much excited
now; go home again, and wait patiently;
on Sunday evening next viii have pre-
pared and sent to you a written opinion
of your case, with a full and free avowaf
of most wholesome advice for preserving
your church from desolation and your
SELVES 1IOn QCSpdu. anu
left to await his issue.
Now it chanced that Mr.Bulkley 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 disaffeeted 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 a dispatch to the
farmer, and after reverie to himself he
directs the two documents, and the next
moment dispatches them-but, by 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 a dispatch from the
Plato of the time and place-ReV. John
Bu1kley.
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 ?'
said another voice.
The Moderator placed the paper n,the
table, took off his spectaclcs, wiped the
glasses, then his ips-replaced his specs
upon his nose, and, with very broad
grin, said:
Brethren, this appears to me to be a
very singular letter, to say the least of it |"
"Well, read tread it, responded the
wondering hearers.
az willn 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 a 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 high" echoed
Deacon Potter.
"Take special care of the old black
bull ?" growled half the meeting.
Then another pause ensued, and each
h; iCl,I I.O1. in fa