The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-06-20


was speedily summoned, ard when he ar
rived the situation was explained. The
trustees had now reported that the preach
er had alleged that Jim could not harm
him. Sykes was now almost frantic with
rage He first enquired the mans size,
and was informed that he was q moderate
sized man, and apparently soft. He now
called the house to order and settled his
programme for the meeting, which was to
let the fellow preach without molestation,
and that as soon as he had left the school
house he would be on hand and give him
a sound t1ogging. He appointed dozen
Of his boon companions to form Gordon
around him, while he whipped the preach
er, and invited all hands to come and see
the fun.
On the appointed day, long before the
hour Of meeting, q large crowd had collect
ed at the school house. Big jim and his
doughty comrades were there, and the most
of the ladies belonging to the town were
present. A committee of the better citi-
zens had been appointed to confer with Mr..
Smith and warn him ofhis danger. At the
appointed hour our hero made his appear
ance. He was alone, having left his horse
at the tavern he walked in the direction of
the school house. When he came in sight
of the building he was met by the deputa-
ton before spoken of, who explained the sit
uation to him, and tried to persuade him to
leave and not attempt to preach. But the
young Virginian politely told them in his
blandest manner that he was not afraid,
and that he would go on and preach. He
accordingly went to the crowded house,
and bowling and smiling he saluted the
crowd in the most polite manner, after
which he entered the house. He now
kneeled, and after q short, silent ejacula-
ton, he arose and sung hymn, in which
he was joined by several of the ladies pres
emf, after which he offered up an earnest
prayer. Then taking his text from a small
Bible which lie carried with him, he COM
menced his sermon, and for two hours he
kept his audience spell-bound with his
powerful, burning eloquence. His hearers
appeared to be magnetized, and many that
went to scott were now weeping bitterly.
His sermon made deep impression on his
wild hearers. At the conclusion of his SER
mon he thanked them for their kind atten-
ton, and announced that he would preach
to them again in two weeks from that day.
During his sermon Mr.. Smith did not al
lude to the threatening posture of affairs
by which he was menaced, but spoke as
calmly as if everything was in its right
place. During the service, Big jim and
his bullics had seated themselves under
large elm tree, about so yards from the
school house, and ON the road that Mr..
Smith would have to take as he returned,
and awaited his arrival.
Jim's order of battle was merely to knock
young Smith down and then give him a
severe whipping with hickory rods. He
had provided half a dozen young hickories
for the purpose, which he gave to one of
his contederates to take care of. Hc call
ed this fellow his stakeholder. The con-
gregation were now moving away from the
the house, many of them weeping bitterly at
their forlorn condition. The preacher start
ed to return, many of the bystanders trying
to persuade him to slip out of the back
way and avoid the DULLES. But he told
them he was going back by the road he
came. He thanked them for thier kind
ness, and told them to fear nothing, as the
"battle was not always to the strong"
Our little hero walked quietly and alone
down the path where the belligerent giant
awaited him. Jim had stripped off his
coat, rolled up sleaycs, and was waving his
brawny sinewy arms, and striking his maui
like fists together. He had gotten his mad
to terrible heat, and was almost bursting
with rage: As the preacher approached
he made for him and told him, with q ter
rible oath, that he was going to whip him,
and that he would let him see that no
ID preacher should preach in Grog-
town with impunity. Our Rev. friend
smiled at the follows threats, and coolly
told him to let him pass, and that ifhe at
tempted to stop him he would most likely
knock him down. Jim now howled with
rage, and making running spring he aim
ed Il terrible blow at our preachers head,
but his huge arm flew above his head by q
skillful parry of young Smiths. and at the
same instant the villain received q stun
ming blow from Smith between the eyes,
that sent him sprawling on the ground.
While jim was down the preacher stood
perfectly passive, and awaited for him to
arise. jim, after little time, again arose
to his feet, and with awful bowls and ours
es again made for the quiet preacher. He
now struck wildly right and left, shower
ing his blows like Roderick Dhu, when he
fought James Fitz james; but his skillful
Uis els parted every blow with scientific
skill, and Jim could not touch him. Smith
in short time struck Sykes under the ear,
and again his huge giant frame lay stretch
ed prone upon the ground. 1t was now
that Jim's stakeholder attempted to strike
the calm little preacher. He slipped up
behind him, but as he drew back his arm
for the onslaught, the eagle eye the young
man caught his intention, when he sprang
around, and as the fellow struck at him he
easily parted the blow, and knocked the
fellow down with q blow that fattened his
nose into the shape Of an apes. AS soon
as the villain could he arose and took to
his heels, calling to his companions to run
for their lives, as that fellow was not a man
but the devil himself With this they all
left at double quick, leaving Big Jim lying
on the ground, and at the mercy of the
young Virginian. Jim recovered slowly
from the effects OF his last blow. lie had
now assumed a sitting posture; his eyes
and face were swollen and blackened, and
the blood was running freely from his nose.
The preacher still stood his ground.
prayer, Big Jim clapped his hands and
shouted Hallelujah to God in Heaven. He
was q changed man. He told Mr.. Smith
that he must go home with him and sup
with nm, winch he did.
Mrs. Sykes was overjoyed at the happy
change in her husband, and James Sykes
thanked the preacher over and again for
whipping him into Religion, and told him
that he would ever after find him his friend
which promise he faithfully kept.
There was no more trouble about preach
ing at Grogtown. Mr.. Smith continued to
preach there for two years, at the end of
which time he had established q LARGE class