Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-11-10
THE HOCSTER
8Cho oInMa asfer.
CHAPTER XII.-(coNTIxuED.) }
BY EDWARD EGGLEsToN.

BY EDWARD EGGLESTON.
| CHAPTER XII.-lCoNTINUED.)
TIE lIARDSHELL PREACHER.
In reporting a single specimen pas
| sage of Mr.. Bosaw's sermon, | shal
didCS and other ancient historians did
of making the sermon and putting il
in the hcro's mouth, but shall give
that which can be vouched for.
- You see, my respective hearers ,
! lie began-but alas [ can never pic.
| ture to you the rich red nose, the see
saving gestures, the nasal resonance
the sniilie, the melancholy minor key
and all that. My respective hearers
al, you sce-ah as hOw-ah as my
teX'-ah says that the oX-ah knowetlI
his OWncr-ah, and-ah the ass-ah
| his masters crib-ah. A-h-h! Now
| my respective hearers-ah, they're q
| mighty sight of resemblance-ah a.
tweXt men-al and OXen-ah" Ralph
could not help rejecting that there
was Il mighty sight of resemblance be-
| tween some men and asses. But the
| preacher did not see this analogy. 1t
| lay too close to him bekase-ah,
| you see, mcn-ah is mighty like oxen
-ah. For they's tremcngious dcflc-
rcuce-ah atwiXt different oXcn-ah.
| jest as thar is atwixt different men
ah; fer the OK knoweth-ah his OWN
Cr-ah, and the ass-ah, his masters
| cTib-ah. Now, my respective hear
crs-ah" the preachers voice here
grew mellow, and the succeeding SEN
tences were i'm the most pathetic and
/ lugubrious voice, "you all knOw-ah
that your humble spCaker-ah has got
-ah jest the best yoke of stecrS-ah
in this towmship-ah." Here Betsy
Short shook the floor with 4 suppress
ed litter. "Thcy amt no secil steers
a. them air two of mine-ah in this
whole kcdcntry Of mine-ah. Them
crack oxen over at Clifty-ah ha'n't a
patchin' to mine-ah. Fer the OK
knoweth his Owner-ah, and the ass
all his masters crib-ah.
Now, my respective hearers-ah,
thcy's a ri"htsmart sight of Difference
-ah atwiXt them air two OXen-ah,
jest like they is atWiXt DETERRENT men
-ah. Fer-ah" " here the speaker
grew earnest ana sawed the air, from
this to the close, in most frightfuI
way J., " "fer-ah, yCu sce-ah, when !
go Out-ah in the mornin'-ah toyolle
-ah-up ah-them air stecrs-ah, and
l says-ah, Wo, Berry-ah! ITO,
BDTy-dh! NO, BERRY-Amr why
Berry-ah jest stands stock still-ah
and don't hardly brcath-ah while |
put on the yOke-ah, and put in the
h0w-ah, and put in the key-ah. fer,
I, l., ~, ! -: =,
the OK knoweth his owner-ah, and
the ass-ah his masters crib-ah.
Hal-le-lu-gcr-ah!
But-ah, my hearers-ah, but
all when | stand at t'Other eend of the
yokc-ah, and say, Come Buuk-ah!
come, Buck-nh COME, BUCK-AH!
COME, BUCK-AHr why what do
you think-ah? Buck-ah, that or
merry ole Buck-ah, 'stid of comin'
right along-ah and putin his neck
umder-ah, acts jest like some men
all what is fools-ah Jest kinder sorter
stands of-ah, and kinder sort puts
his head dOwn-ah this ere way-ah,
and kinder looks mad-ah, and says
Boo OO-OO-OO-Gh! !n
Alas Ralph found no spiritual cdI-
fiCaliOn there, and he was in no mood
to bc amused. And so, while the ser
m, II drew on through two dreary
hours, Ralph forgot the preacher in
noticing a bright green lizard which.
having taken up its winter quarters
behind the tin candiestick that hung
just back of the preachers head, had
been deceived by the genial warmth
coming from the great hoX-stOve, and
now ran out two or three feet from his
shelter looking down upon the red
noscd preacher in Il most confidential
and amusing manner. Sometimes he
would retreat behind the candleStick,
which was not twelve inches from the
preachers head, and then rush out
again. At each temperance Betsy
Short would stuff hcr handkerchief in
10 her mouth and shake in n most dis
trcssing way. ShOcky wondered what
the lizard was winking at the preach
cr about. And Miss Martha thought
that it reminded her of a lizard that
she see at the East, the time she was
to BOsting, in 4 jar of alcohol in the
Natural History Rooms.
The Squire was not disappointed in
his anticipation that Mr.. Bosaw would
attack his denomination with some
fury. In fact, the old preacher Outdid
himself in his violent Indignation at
at these people that follow Camp
bcIl-ah, that thinks-ah that Obeji-
cncc-ah will save 'cm--ah, and that
bclongs-ah totemp'rince socicties-ah
and Sunday-schOols-ah, aud them
air things-ah, that's noC orthcriZed
in the Biblc-ah, but comes of the
devil-ah, and takes folks As belongs
to 'cm to heii-ah."
As they came out the door Ralph
rallied enough to remark: lie did
attack your people, Squire"
oh! yes, " said the Squire. Didn't
you see the Sarpcnt inSpirin' him ,"
But when the long, long hours were
ended, Ralph got on the clay-bank
mare and rode up alongside the stile
whence Miss Martha mounted, And
as he went away with heavy heart,
he overheard Pete Jones call out to
somebody:
WeIl tend to his ease Christ
mas,n ChTIsmas was two days oil.
And Miss Martha remarked with
much trcpidation that poor Pearson
would have TO leave. She'd always
been afraid that would be the end of
it. reminded her of something she
heard at the East the time she was
down to Bosting.