Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-08-01

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his horns and hold him till | came over
that was the way we man
aged Dick but eff he come sudden up
behind fellow, he'd give him butt
in the small Of his back that would
make him run on all tours one while
| he was great rogue Dick was. Wal,
that summer I remember they had old
| Deacon Titkins for tithing man, and l
tell you he give it to the boys lively.
Thar warn't no slespin' nor no playin',
for the deacon had eyes like gimlet,
and he was quick as cat, and the
youngsters he'd TO look out for them
selves. 1t did really seem as If the
deacon was like them four beasts In the
Revelations that was tull o eyes be-
hind and before, for which ever way
he was standin if you gave only wink
he was down on you and hit you a tap
with lis stick. | know once Lem Su
doc list wrote two words in the psalm
book and passed to Kesiah Larkin, and
the deacon gave him such tap that
Lem grew red as beet and vowed he'd
be up with him some day for that.
Well, Lord Massey, folks that is so
clipper and high steppin has to have
their come downs, and the deacon he
had to hev his.
g That are Sunday l remember it
now jest as well as if twas yesterday.
The parson he give us his greet sermon,
reconcilin' DEGREES and free agency
everybody said that are sermon was a
masterpiece. He preached it up to
Cambridge at commencement, BUTT so
happened it was one O them bilin' hot
days that come in August, when
you can fairly hear the buckle
berries sizzling and cookin' on
the bushes, aud the locust keeps
a gratin like red hot suw Wal, such
times, DEGREES or no DEGREES, the best
on us will get sleepy. The old meetin'
house stood right down at the foot of
hill that KEEP off all the wind, and the
sun blazed away Mt them greet west
winders, and there was pretty sleepy
times there. Well, the deacon he flew
round a spell, and woke up the chill
dren and tapped the boys on the head,
and kept everything straight as he
could till the sermon was most through,
when he rally got most tuckered out,
the door right opposite the minister
and fairly got to sleep himself, just as
the minister got up to make the last
prayer.
oval, Parson Morrel had way
o prayin' with his eyes open. Folks
it want the best way, but it was Par
son Morel's way anyhow, and SO he
was prayin' he couldn't help seem that
Deacon Titkius was a noddin' and a
hobbin' out toward the place where old
Dick was feedin with the sheep, front
O the meetin'-house door.
Lem and me was sittin' where we
could look out and we Jest sees old
Dick stop feedin' and look at the dea-
con. The Deacon had little round
head as smooth as an apple, with nice
powdered wig on it, and sot their
maxim hobs and bows, and Dick begun
to think it was suthin sort o pussonal |
Lem and me was sittin' jest whore we
could look out and see the hull picter,
and Lem was fit to split.
Good, now, says he, that crit
ter'll pay the deacon off lively, pretty
soon.
"The deacon bobbed his head a |
spell, and old Dick he shook his horns /.
and stamped at him sort o. threatenin' |
Finally the deacon he gave a great |
bow and brought his head right down |
at him, and old Dick he set out full |
tilt and came down on him ker chunk, |
and knocked him head over heels into
the broad aisle, and his wig flew one
j To- Il
plunge at it as it flew, and carried 1t
off on his horns.
oval, you may believe that broke
up the meetin' for one while, for Par
son Morrel laughed out, and the gals
and boys they stomped and roared, and
the old deacon he got mp and began
rubbing his shins-'cause he didn't see
the Joke ont
- You don't orter laugh, says he,
it's no laughing matter-lt's solemn
thing, says he Il might have been
sent into 'tarnity by that darned crit
tur, says he. Then they all roared
and haw-hawed, the more to see the
deacon dancin' round with his little
shiny head so smooth Il fly would trip
mp ont. Il believe, my soul, you'd
laugh to see me III my grave, says he.
oval, the truth ont was, twas jist
one Of them Dustin up times that ma
tur has, when there amt notl in for it
but to give in; twas jest like the ice
breakln' mp IN the Charles river-it all
comes mt once aud no whoa tot. Sun
day or no Sunday, sin or no sin, the
most ON EN- laughed till they cried,
and corldn't help it.
"But the deacon he went home
feelIn' pretty sore about it. Lem SUI
doc he picked up his wig and handed
it to him. Says he, old Dick was
playing tithing man, want he, deacon
Teach You to make allowance for other
folks that get sleepy.