The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-11

an stop your chIn-music, or by Hoky, you
will rile me y
AS last resort, the gentleman appealed
to the CONDUCTOR who happened to be pass
ing. But the latter declined to interfere.
Such things must be left to courtesy. Be
sides it wasn't his place to take part in the
disputes of passengers So saying, he went
his way, punching tickets, and taking no
further heed.
"Dod blast you, you leo riled me y
shouted the bully, springing to his feet and
striding up to the young man, who didn't
seem quite sensible Of his danger "you've
gone an stuck your nose into other peoples
business, an I'm goin' to pull tr'
An attempt was made to suit the action
to the word but before the metaphorically
offending member had been SO much as
touched, something-it moved SO swiftly
couldn't be positive it was the gentleman's
fist-took Hercules directly between the
eyes, and sent him sprawling to the other
end of the car. He didn't get up immedi-
ately, and when he did, he seemed little
bewildered as to whether he had been
knocked down, or the train had run off the
track. He had had enough, at all events,
wherever it came FROM as was manifest
from the subdued air with which he took
his departure for the smoking car, whittier
his companions soon followed, no doubt
secretly chuckling at the result, as usually
do the chums of a whipped bully.
Pap Kilderkin, the proprietor of the New
Jericho Rest, was the most communicative
Of hosts. Before bedtime that night, was
thoroughly and accurately Sup" in all the
gossip of the place, and had its scandalous
statistics at my fingers ends.
Among other things, I learned that ''sta-
ted preaching had hitherto been among
the wants of the community, but that a
"supply'' had been at length obtained, and
the new minister was expected to enter OIL
his duties ON the morrow. ..
"And refreshin' season he'll hev of it,
said Pap. ,Gsa.
"Why so?" l asked. .'f
"Oh! Bill Grinky an t'other chaps GO
in, to break him in termorrer an eff you
want to see fun, I'd edwise you to go thar"
And did go-not "to see fun" as Pap
Kilderkin suggested, but trust, from bet
ter motives. Pap went too-by what
prompted, prefer not judging.
When we reached the church, the minister
had not yet made his appearance, though
goodly number of hearers had already as
sembled. A few minutes later, yesterdays
delegation to the Blueruin cock-fght, head
ed by the vanquished bully with both his
eyes in full mourning, sauntered in and
walked noisily down the aisle.
"That's Bill Grinkey," whispered Pap,
can them's t'other chaps" .r
"MalSe way for the mourners p sang out
Bill, .crowding, with his companions, into
afront seat, where boisterous conversation
was struck up, mingled with an incessant
cracking of peanuts.
81 kin tell you thar progranny," Pap
continued "a pack of shootin' crackers
II be fetched off doorin' the fust hymn, an
a pair o. game chickens as a couple o. them
chaps got in their pockets, ill be sot fight
in as soon as the texts gin out arter which
genral Ned ill be in order.'
A sudden silence fell upon the congrega-
ton. Not murmur was heard, and the
peanuts ceased to crack. Looking up,
saw the minister in the pulpit; and guess
my surprise at recognizing him as the
young man that had struck out so deftly
from his shoulder the day before.
With clear, manly voice, he gave out a
hymn, which was sung through without in
terruption. A prayer was offered up amid
profound and decorous silence. Another
hymn followed, and then sermon, earnest,
plain practical, without word of cant in
it. From the beginning to the end of the
exercises, not an unseemly sound was heard
save a single incipient crow, promptly
choked of, from one of the Invisible chick
ems.
al say, Bill, overheard said from one o 1
t'other chaps" as they made their way out
"that parsons trump; he breaches a
downright good lick, an fights fair, without
bitin' or goughin'."
1t was easy to see the new minister's sta
tus was settled have since heard that
Bill Grinkey has become an exemplary
member of the church, and the parson the
happy husband Of the young lady, as
whose champion he first achieved popu-
laIity.
eB- "What time is it, Tom% "Just
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