Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-12-14
BILLY'S BRIGHT IDEA.


Upon the Town Farm Cor Alms-house
FARM Of an interior town Of the State Of
Maine was youth named Billy laight
Billy's father had been an educated man,
and an excellent mechanic, but rum had
been his bane, and his excessively ntcm
peraie hahis had visited their ienaliy upon
bis children. Billy, ut the alc Of rineitcn,
had become an uye'grown, good nn'urcd
fool, and had been takeu in clarge b. the
town fathers, and installed II tenant Of the
aims house. In time il came to pass that
Capt. Jerry Fletcher assumed tn supern-
tendency OF the Town Farm, and the
paupers were glad for Capt. Jerry was
Jolly, just, anu humane man. Billy Haght
especially, was jnbilaut. His fdhcr aud
the Captain had been close frienis In other
years, and lac regarded the CaptMa with
teal affection.
F. A few months of Captain Pitchers
rrie wrought change for the b,tt,r IN
Billy. He had b clme quiet and respecta
bic, and was induced to do much work
upon the farm.
Old Purson Strong preached in the Cen.
tire Village, and occasionally he called ut
the Alms-house and held prayers with the
inmates. Billy liaighl, from some cause
or other, conc lvtd strong liking for the
parsOn, and not only manifested pleasure
when he came, but listened atttnlivey
while he cxhorted and prayed. O.e day
Billy expressed Il desire TO hear Nj. r0ng
preach n his is church, and the parspu
urge d Capt Fletcher 10 b Ing him. tie
would run the risk. At III s.. Capt, Fletcher
demurred, but the combin,d persuasions
Of both Billy and the parson at length
prevailed and gu pleasant Sabbath In
autumn Billy WAS suffered to accompany
The Captain to church.
The meeting house was Of the old style
ii gIeat square, barn-likc structure. with
elevated pulpit, and broad. high gallery.
running around upon three sides. Billy
sat in the gallery, and during all the ser
vices he was us quiet and orderly as could
be. On the way home he askel Captain
Jerry If it was proper to sleep in church
while the minister was preaching. The
Captain told him no.
but" said Billy, al saw Deacon
Smith and Uncle Sol. Gates and OLD Cod
ger Martin asleep. / think if | was the
minister I'd keep ZEN awake"
How would YOU do II, Bilyl"
20, Iye got an idea
81 hope it's bright one r.
"You bet"
Had the captain been wise he might
have investigated Blly's bright idea iur-
ther; but something occurred to turn the
current of conversation, and he thought
no more of it-at least not vt that time.
When the next sabbsth came, as Billy
had behaved 30 well on the previous Occa.
sion, he was suffered 10 90 to church
again. On this occasion Billy perched
/ himself upon front seat Of the gallery,
overlooking the congregation below. The
services commenced, and went smoothly
on until the sermon was well undtr way.
By aud by Deacon Smith began to nod.
Billy saw the irreverent movement, and
putting his hand into his well filed pocket
he drew forth large sized butternut, and
SHE'D IL with unerring aim, hitting the
nodding deacon In the centre of his bald
pate, aud causing him to leap with alarm,
and also causing quite cOmmOlion in his
immediate vicinity.
1 Uncle So. Gates was also noddlng. and
upon his impiously sWayrg head Billy
let fly "a saconl nut. a lhird, shot Will
wondcrlulprecision startled old COdger
Martin from comfortable nap.
By this time the parson had discovered
the cause of the disturbance. and just as
Billy was about to throw Il fourth nut he
called TO him aulhoritatively to desist.
SEQ ahead, parson,' said Billy, witt
patronizing assurance. Just YOU at end
to your preaching, a,d FA Rep tie Of
sinners dicakc -
II may De needless to add thIt the s0lcm
nifty OF the service was broken for the res
, Of the afternoon, a., also, that Bl
Haight was not toker to Church again
, hut II is to he hoped that the execution q
Bily's bright idea may not have bee
, without some salutary result 10 the Fleel
ers of the Centre Village congregation.
. ". Y. Ledler.