The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-05-24


There was grand time over Bnck
Fansbaw when he died. lie was a
representative citizen. He had "kill-
ed his man''-not in his own quarrel,
il i true, but in the defence of stran-
ger beset by numbers. lie had kept
s s,tmptuus saloon. He had been tile
nroprietor of a dasling helpmeet,
whom he could have discarded with
out the formality of a divorce. lie
had held high position in the Fire
Department, and been a very War
wick in politics. When he died there
was a great lamcntation throughout
the town, but especially in the vast
bottom stratum of society.
On the inquest it was shown that
Buck Fanshaw, In the delirHm of Il
wasting typhoid fever. had taken ar
senic, Shot himself through the body,
,ut his throat, and jumped out Of
four-story window and broked his
neck; and after due deliberation the
ijlry. sad and fearful, but with intelli-
ceilce unblintled by its sorrow, brought
Il, a verdict OF death ''by the vista
tion of God" What could the world
do without juries?
Prodigions preparations were made
for the funeral. All the vehicles III
town were hired. and all the saloons
were put in mourning. all the munich
nal and fire company flags were hung
at half-nlast, and all the firemen Or
,erd to muster in uniform and bring
their machines duly drapetl in black.
Regretfill resolutions were passed
and various committees were appoint
ed: among Others, a committee OF one
was appointed to call on 4 minister
fragile, gentle, spiritual new tledg-
ling from an Eastern theological semi
nary. and rs yet utiacq,ainted with
the ways of the mines. The commit
tce-man, ''Scotty" Briggs, made ms
visit.
Being admitted to his presence he
sat down before the clergyman, placed
his tire-hat on an unfinished mantl-
script sermon under the minister's
nose, took from it red silk landker-
chiet, wiped his brow and heayed A
SIGH Of dismal impressiyeness explains
tory Of his business. He choked and
even shed tears, but with an effort he
mastered his voice and said, in lngrl-
briOus tones
"Are You the duck that runs the
Gospel mill next doorY
"Am the-parlon me, believe
do not understand"
With another sigh and a half sol
Scotty rejoincd:
why, you see, we are in a bit o.
trouble, and the boys thought may be
you'd give US a lift, if we'd tackle
YOU; that il. if I've got the right of il
and YOU are the head clerk Of llle dox-
ology works next door.
i am the shepherd in charge of the
flock whose fold is next door.
''The wllieh?"
'.The spiritual adviser Of the little
company of believers whose Sanctuary
adioins these premises.
Scotty scratched his head, reflected a
moment, and then said: !,
s'You rather hold over me, paru. |
reckon can't call that hand. Ante
and pass the buck.
''IIow? beg your pardon: what
did understand you to say:
'Well. you've rather got the DniSe
on me. Or may be we've both got
the bulge, somehow. You don't
smoke Inc aud | don't smoke you.
You see. one of the boys has passed in
his checks, and We want to give him a
GOOD sen,l-off, and so the thing I'm on
now Is to rout out somebody to jerk
ont a little chin-nu;ic for us, and
waltz him through handsome.
NV friend. seem to grow more
and more bewildcred. Your observa'
tions are wholly iacomprehensible to
me. Cannot you simplify them some
wav? At first | thought perhaps
understood you, but now grope
Would it not expedite matters II yoI
restricted yourself to categorical state
ments Of fact unincumbered with OBJ
structiug accumulations Of metaphoI
and allegory
Another pause. and more reflection
Then Scotty said:
.I'll have to pass, judge"
'How:'
you've raised me ont, palrl.
II still fail to catch your meaning.
"Why, that last lead of yo,'rn Is tot
mnnv for me--that's the idea, ! can
neither trump nor follow suit"
The clergyman sank back in iii
chair perplexed. Scotty leaned hi
head on his hand, and gave himself u
to rejection. Presently his taee cam
ND. solrowful and confident.
ave got it now, sos you can sayy,
said he. "What we want is a gospel
sharp. See?'
IL what"
e.Gospel-sllarp, parsOn.'
"Oh! Why did you not say so bt
forey / am c!ergyman-a parson.
s.Now you talk. You see N
blind. and stradd!e it like man. Pr
it there!" extending brawny paw
which closed over tire minister sna
land and gave it shake indicative
fraternal sympathy and ferVent grat
wow we're all right, pard. Let
start fresh. Don't you mind me sfI'l
fling little. becuz we're ina powt
Of troub. You see one Of the boy
has gone up the ilume"-
Gone where" \,
SUP the fiume-throw'd up IL
sponge, YOU know"
.sflrown up the sponge?"
ssYes-kickcd the bucket
s.All-has departed to that mystel
Qua country from whose bourne !
traveller returns" W.,
Return? Well, reckon not. Wh
parl. he's dead"
Eyes, ] understand" , 49,,
.sOh. you do? Well. ! thong
maybe You might be getting tangl'