Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-15

THE MORAL POWER OF MUSCLE.

melover Railroad. And "a hard road to
travel" that was. 1t had sleeper grades,
| sharper curves, and more of them than, it
is to be hoped, ever put in peril the public
life and limb before or since.
1t was Saturday afternoon, and we were
to reach Jericho at some indefinite hour
that evening, time not being the essence
of the contract.
At place called Blueruin we stopped
fifteen minutes to "liquor.n There had
been cock fight, and several other fights.
and big crowd there that day, and every
body was in high glee.
The New Jericho delegation returned
by our train, and rougher looking samples
of rustic rowdydom it would have been
difficult to find, even in that favored re-
gion. Among them was strapp:ng six
footer, q very Hercules in proportions,
with a cock-o'- -the-walk sort of swagger
about him, who took possession of two
seats, depositing his body on one and
deadheading his legs on the other. One
cheek was pulled out by an underlying
quid, while ever and anon, with back
action Jerk, he would send nearly gill of
tobacco juice over his shoulder, which
those within range had the privilege of
lodging or taking the consequences of,
as they liked. As for conversation, the
curse of Ernulphus, or the table talk of
Flanders mess room in Uncle Toby's
time, in point of maledctory power, was
| weak in comparison.
At the next station a young lady came
on board, beautiful as Venus and modest
as Diana. How SO rare flower came to
bloom in such wild, was a question to
puzzle over But there was no time to
settle it. The lady was standing and all
the seats were occupied. l was on the
point of Offering mine. when youthful
looking gentleman, of prepossessing man.
ners and appearance. stepped forward
and addressed the couchant Hercules.
"Allow me-" he said, politely, '.to turn
over the back of this seat"
"Hey ?" the other grunted.
The request was repeated.
"See you dod darned first I" was the
gruff response.
'.But, sir" the gentleman began to
expostulate.
| 'Lookee here you y clustered the bully,
''don't you offer to go rile me-that's my
advice, and give it free gratis, cause
| feel trust in YOU"
'.But this lady is entitled to seat" the
stranger persisted.
"Give her your own, then, dod rot you
an stop your chin music, or by Hoky, you
will rile me -
As last resort he appealed to the con-
ductor, who happened to be passing. But
the latter declined to interfere. Such
things must be left to courtesy. Besides,
it wasn't his place to take part in the dis
putes of passengers. So saying he went
his way, punching tickets, and taking no
| further heed.
"Dod blast you, you hev riled me !''
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 come and stuck your nose in 9TH
er peoples business, an I'm going to pull
it
An attempt was made 10 suit the action
to the word; but before the metaphorical
offending member had been as much as
touched, something-it moved SD swiftly
couldn't be positive it was the gentle
mans tist-took Hercules directly between
the eyes, and sent him sprawling to the
other end of the car. He didn't get up
Immediately, and when he did he seemed
a 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 subdIfed air with which
he took his departure to the smoking car,
whittier his companion soon followed, no
doubt secretly chuckling at the result, as
usually do the the chums of whipped
bully.
Pap Kilderkin, the proprietor of the
New Jericho Rest, was the most communi-
catiye of hosts Before bedtime that
night | was thoroughly and accurately
up" in all the gossip of the place, and
had its scandalous statistics at my fingers
ends.
Among other things, l learned that
"stated preaching" had hitherto been
among the wants of the community, but
that a new minister was expected to enter
on his new duties on the morrow.
And refreshin' season he'll hev Of
it," said Pap.
"Oh, Bill Grinkey an t'other chaps are
You want to see fun, I'd edwise you to go
thar"
And did go-not Ito 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 min
ister had not yet made his appearance.
though goodly number of hearers had
already assembled. A few minutes later,
yesterdays delegation to the Blueruin
cock fight, headed by the vanquished bully,
with both his eyes in full mourning, saun-
tered in and walked noisily down the aisle.
"That's Bill Grinkey," whispered Pap,
IAN them's t'other chaps"
Make way for the mourners y sang out
Bill, crowding with his companions into
front seat, where = boisterous conversation
was struck up, mingled with an incessant
cracking of peanuts.
Il kin tell you their progranny" rap
continued; "a pack OF shoo1ing erachers
will be fetched off doorin' the fnst hyme.
an, q nair of game chickens as couple o
them chaps got in their pockets, will be
soft fiehtin' as soon as the text is given out
. arter which gen'ral Ned will be in order"
A sudden silence fell upon the congre-
, cation. Not murmur was heard, the
Seanuts ceased to crack. Looking up,