The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-09-04

dered to wear their uniform, and
bring their machinery duly draped in
black
Regretful resolutions were passed
and various committees appointed ;
among Others, committee of one
was appointed to call on minister
a fragile, gentle, spiritual new fedg-
ling from an eastern theological semin-
ary, and as vet unacquainted with
the ways of the mines. The commit
teeman, "Scotty Briggs" made his
visit.
Being admitted to his presence, he
sat down before the clergyman,
placed his hat upon an unfinished
manuscript sermon under the minis
ter's nose, took from it red silk hand
kerchief, wiped his nose and heayed a
sigh of dismal impressiveness explain
atory of his business. He choked,
and even shed tears, but with al ef-
fort he mastered his voice, and said,
in a lugubrious tone:
"Are you the duck that runs the
gospel-mill next door ?"
"Am l the-pardon me, | believe !
do not understand"
With another sigh and half sob
Scotty rejoined:
"Why YOU see, we are in bit Of
trouble, and the boys thought may be
you'd give us lift, if we'd tackle to
you, that is, if I've got the right oft,
you are the head clerk of the doxolo-
gy works next door"
"The which ?"
"The spiritual advisor of the little
company of believers, whose sanctua-
ry adjoins these premises.
Scotty scratched his head, reflected
a moment, and then said:
"You rather hold over me, pard. /
call the card. Ante and pass the
buck"
"How / beg your pardon. What
did / understand you to say 2"
"Well, you've rather got the bulge
of inc. Or may be we've both got
the bulge somehow You don't
smoke me and / don't smoke you
You see one of the boys has passed
in his checks, and we want to give
him a good send, and so the thing
I'm on now is to rout out somebody
to jerk little chin music for us, and
waltz him through handsome"
my friend, seem to grow more
Your observations are
very incomprehensible to me- Can
you not simplify them some way ?
At first / thought perhaps under
stood you, but now / grope. Would
t not expedite matters if you restrict
ID yourself to categorical accumula-
ions of metaphor and allegory 7"
Another pause and reflection. Then
Scotty said +:
"I'll have to pass, l Judge"
How 7"
You've raised me out, pard."
81 still fail to comprehend your
"Why that last lead ofyourn is too
many for me-tbat's the idea. can't
neither trump nor follow suit"
The clergyman sank back in his
hair perplexed. Scotty leaned his
read on his hand, and gave himself
lp to reflection. Presently his face
.ame up sorrowful but coefident.
'I've gotit now, so you can savvy,"
aid he. What we want is gOs-
,el-sharp. See ~
"a what ?n
"Gospel-sharp, parson."
90! why did not you say SO be-
'efore ? / am a clergyman "A
,arson."
"No,c you talk You see my blind,
nd straddle it like a man! Put it
here !''-extending a brawny paw,
which closed over the minister's small
land and gave it shake Indicative
# fraternal sympathy and fervent
Now were all right, pard. Let's
tart fresh-dont you mind me snuff
ling q little, becuz we're in power
ul trouble. You see one of the boys
las gone up the fume-"
"Gone where ?"
"Up the fume-throwed up the
PONCE, you know ?"
Thrown up the sponge ?"
"Yes-kcked the bucket" /