Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-09-20

There was q grand time over Buck Fam
shaw. when he died. lie was 4 representa-
tive citizen. lie had killed his man -
not in bis own quarrel, it is truc. but in the
defense OF q stranger beet by numbers. lie
had kept sumpiuous saloon. lie had been
the proprietor Of a da-hing hellmcct, whom
he could have discarded without the formal
ity Of q divorce. lie had held high posi-
ton in tie fire department, and had been a
very Warwick in politics. When he died
there was great l3mCutation throughout the
town, but especially ia the vast bottom stra-
tum ofsociety.
On the inquest ID was shown that Buck
Fanshaw, ia the dolirium OF q wasting ty-
phoid fever. had taken arsenic, shot himself
through tho body. cut his throat and jumped
out of tour story window and broken hi5
neck and after due dcliberltion the jury,
sad and teariul. but with intelligence IN
blinded by is sJrr0w. brought in verdict
OF death by the visitation of God. What
could the world do without iurics?
Prodiei5us TrcIarators were made for the
funeral. An thc vehicles in the town were
hired. and al the saloons were put in mourn
ing, all thc municipal and irc company flags
were hung at hali-uas-, and all the tiremcn
ordered to muster in uniform, and BRING
their machinea duly drapcd in black.
Regretful resolutions were passed and Va
rious committee were appointed, among 9TH
crs, committee Of one was appointed to
call ON a minsier-a fragile, spiritual new
dedgling from an eastern theological semina-
". and as Yet uuacquaintcd with the worst
ol the mines The committee man, " Scot
ty'' Briggs, made his visit.
Being admitted to lis presence, be sat
down before the clergyman, placed his fire
hat on an unfinished manuscript sermon un-
der the minister's nose, took from 1t red
silk handkerchief, wipod his brow and heav-
cd a sigh Of dismal imprCssiyeness explana-
tory of his business lie ehoked and even
she'd tears. but with an effort ho mastered his
voice. and said, in lugubgi5us tones
Are You the duck that runs the gospel
mill next door?
Am tbo-ra-lan ne, believe / do not
understand p
With another sigh and half sob Sc5.ty
rgioincd -
Why. YOU see, We are in bit Of trouble,
and the boys thought maybe you'd give Us Q
lift. If we'd tackle you, that is ii I've got
the rights of it and you arc the head clerk OF
the doxology works next door
am the shepherd in charge Of tbc flock
whose fold is noztd door
The which p
The spiritual adviser If the h,tle COM
pany Of believers whose sanctuary adjoins
these premises.
Sc5lty scratched his his head, reelected a
moment and then said
You rather hold oyeg le, pagd. I reckon
can't call that hand. Ante and Iass the
buck
How bcS yo0r pardon. h-t dld
understand You to say!
We'll. you We rather got the bulge On me.
Or maybe we've both gou the bulge, some
how. You don't smoke NE and ! don Z
smoke YOU. You see, one Of the boys has
PASSED in bis checks, and we want TO give
him a Good serd-cf. and so the thing l m OF
now is to rout out somebody to jerk out
little ohin-music for rs, and waltz hin
through handsome.
Nv friend, | seem to grow more an'
more howildered. Your observations ar
wholly yincomurehensible to me. Cannot yo'
simplify them some way? At first | though
rerhars ! understood You, but now grope
Would it not expedite matters II you res
tricted yourself 70 categorical statements O
TACT uniucumbercd with olstrueting acoumu
lation of metaphor and aliegory? !?
Another pause and more reflection. The
ScottY slid:
IN have 10 pazs, judge.
How p
You've raised me out, PAID
still fail to catch your moaning.
Why. that last lead of y0uIn is too man
for me-that's the idea. | can neither trum
nor follow suit
The clergyman sank back in his chair pei
ulcxed. Seotty leaned his head on his hand
and gave himself up to reflection. Present
" his face came up sorrowiul but conf
dent.
I've got it now, SOS you can sayyY, sal
he. What We want is gospel-sharp. See
\ what :!
GOspel-sharp parson-
OH why did you not say Sd before?
am Clergyman parson.
Now You talk You sec my blind, an
straddle it Ike a man. Put it there J {,
tending a brawny paw, which closed oy
the ministers snail hand and gave it
shake indicative Of frateTnal sympathy al
ferveut gratifcation
Now we're all right, pard. Let's sta
AANHA- t'Nl bA All-lil Iil EnuiAllE a iANtA
because we're in power of trouble. HC
sec one Of the boys have gone up the Hume
Gone where p
Up the Aume- throw up the spong
you know
Thrown up the sponge?'
Yes-kieked the bucket
Ah-has departed to that mysterisr
country from whose bourne no traveller r
turns
Return? Wen, | reckon not. Wh
pard, he's dead
Yes, understand
90, you do? Well. | thought maybe VI
might be getting tangled once more. Ye
You see, he's dead again
Again Why, has he ever been dead b
fore?
Dead before2 No. Doyou reckon m
has got as many lives as a cat? But y
bet, he's awful dead now, poor old boy, al
wish I'd never seen him this day. dol
Know no better friend than Buck Fansha
knowd bin by the back; and when