Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-12-11
BILLY,S BRIGHT IDEA.

Upon the Town larnl, or almS-nOuSe
farm, of an interior town of the State
IF Msiue, was q youth named Billy
Haight. Billy's father has been an
educated man, aud an excellent me
ehanie, but rum had been his bane,
aud his excessively incorporate hab-
It's had visited their penalty upon his
children. Billy. at the age of nine
teen, had become an OvergrOwn, good
natured fool, and had been taken in
charge by the town fathers. aud in
tailed a tenant of the aims house. In
time il came u pass That Capt. Jerry
Fletcherassumed the superinteudeney
IF the town farm, and the paupeIs
were glad : for Capt Jerry Was u jOi
ly, Just and humane man. Billy
haight, especially. was jubilant. HIS
father and the captain J ad been Close
frienus in other Years. and he regard
ell the captain with real affection.
A few mouths OF Captain Fletcher's
rule wrought a change for the better
in Billy. He had become quiet and
respectful, and was induced to do
much work ON the farm.
Old pars0D Strung preached in the
village, and occasionally he called at
the aims ouse aud held prayers with
the inmates. Buy HAiaht conceived
a strong liking for the parsOn. and not
only manifested pleasure when he
rame, but listened at'entively while
ne exhOrted and prayed. One day
Billy expressed a desire to hear MIR.
SIrOng preach ia his big church. aud
the parsOn urged captain Fletcher To-
bring him. He would run the risk
At first captain Fletcher demurred,
but the combined persuasiOnS of bOth
Billy and the parsOn at length pre-
vail d; aud on a very pleasant sab
oath in autumn Billy was suffered 10
accompany the captain 10 church
The meeting house was of tile old
style-a great, square, barn like struc-
ture, with elevated pulpit. and broad,
high gallery, running around upon,
three sides. Billy sat i'm the gallery,
and during all the services he was as
| quiet aud orderly as cnuld be-. On
the way home h. asked captain Jerry
If it was proper to sleep in church
while the minister was preaching.
The captain told him no.
'Well,n said Billy. Il Jaw deacon
| Smith, aud uncle Sol. Gates ana old
Codger Martin asleep. l think If J
wa the minister I'D keep'em awake
"Huw would you do il, Billy ?"
20, I've got an idea"
al hope it's a bright One."
"YOu Det."
Had the captain heen wise he might
have investigated Billy's bright idea
| further, but something occurred "a
turn the current of conversation, and
| he Thought no more of it-at least al
that time.
When the next Sabbath came, as
Billy had behaved So remarkably well
OIL the previous occasion, he was al
lowed to go to church again On this
occasion Billy perched himself upon q
front seat OF the gallery overlooking
the congregation below. The services
commenced and went smoothly ON
until the ermO was well under way.
BY and by deacon Smith began TO nod
Billy saw the irreverent movement,
aud putting his hand into his we'll
filed pocket he drew forth q large
sized %butternut, and SHE'D il with I'M
errinl aim. hitting the holding dea
con in the enter of lis bald pate and
causing him to leap with alarm, and
also causing a eOmmOtiOn in his IN
mediate vicinity.
Uncle Sol. Gates was also nOddiDg,
aud upon his inIpiously swaytug head
Billy let hy a second nut. A third,
shot with wonderful precision startled
old COdger Martin from a comfortable
nap
BY this time the parsOn had diseOv-
eied the cause of the disturbance. and
lust as Billy was going to throw q
fourth nut be called TO him authOrita-
lively To de- iSt-
$50 ahead, p~arsOn," said Billy.
with patrOniZing assurance, Just
you attend To your preaching, and
IN keep the old sinners d1OdEr ,"
IL may be needless to add that the
sOlemnity of the ser7ice vas broken
for the rest of the afternoon, a., also,
that Billy Haight was not taken to
church again; but il is to be hoped
that the execution of Billy's bright
idea may not have been withouts some
salutary result To the sleepeTs of the
village congregation.