Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-02-15
4 Midnight Meeting.

mon little hard on me, though con.
TESS that there was reason for it. Mine
were not exactly his ways, you see;
for mine were more the ways of pleas
antness and his the paths Of peace.
But could 1 help it that was not
born a parson, like Solomon? EUery-
body isn't born parsOn. Indeed, l
don't find as II rule it runs much in
families; and even if it did, you
couldn't~expect two such parsons as
Solomon could be born and reared in
the same bosom of one homestead.
A long time ago, when we were boys
together in tight blue jackets, with
gilt buttons, and deep frilled collars, l
used tn try with all my might and
main to initiate Solomon, and when
we were exhibited in society | always
echoed verbatum every remark heard
him make, so that might share his
fame. But that was as l said. long
ago, and gradually such close follow
ing in Solomon's steps grew tedious,
so chose wider way. Twas warned
great deal against the wider way,
but somehow l loupged easily into it
when found how difficult it was to
be always as good as Solomon.
After any particularly jovial even
ingat the squire's, or at Joe Flemings
at Biagly (the squire bred the best
fighting cocks in the country except
JOe's, and Joe's whisky was the prim-
est that ever escaped duty, you may
guess that my heart didn't bound with
joy at the sight of Solomon's long
figure and long face; still on ordinary
occasions Solomon and / were good
friends, and / looked forward to the
day when he should convert me to his
own ways, and we should read the
book of sermons aloud by turns
through our old age. But then I
knew there was plenty of time for
that
Well, we had marked the fight of
the season and / had backed Joe's
bird heavily. The little affair was to
come off on Sunday afternoon, and for
all the week before we were so excit-
ed Joe and I and our chums, and the
squire and his chums) that we spent
every evening together, discussing
our birds and our bets; not to mention
the dispatching of dood deal of the
squire's home-brewed, and of my old
port, and of Joe's Scotch. You see We
you do now, and so spent more time
over these lighter duties. We didn't
talk very much either, one of Solo
mons sermons divided among us
would have lasted us all for week;
but we smoked-well, pretty steadily.
The Sunday came at last, and in the
morning sat in my corner at Solo
mons pew, paying the greatest atten-
ton to him: for wouldn't for the
world he should know where was 60
ing in the afternoon, or that l had the
slightest interest either in the JOS
bird or the squirrels. What was my
horror then when Solomon, right in
the middle of the discourse Il always
knew it was the middle when he be-
gan to say 'lastly'), alluded darkly to
'besetting sin of the age as a sport
at which Satan could laugh. And
he,i concluded Solomon. and felt his
eyes upon me, 'chuckles with glee to
see men degrade themselves
1 broke out into damp heat. Could
anyone have turned traitor and told
Solomon l kept my eyes down
upon the carpet, and tried to make a
resolution that this should be my last
e0ck-fght; but somehow the resolu-
ton jumbled itself up with specula-
tions as to how the squire would feel
tonight when he was beaten, and how
should feel when Ipocketed my Gl00
winnings.
Il should certainly buy that colt Of
JOS; and now think Of it, may as
we'll get Solomon new umbrella. /
dare say he didn't mean anything
about eOck-fghting after all. He al
ways had whims for attacking our
sports, and of course that innocent di-
version must take its turn, like bowl
and billiards.
I had forgiven Solomon by the time
he had dotted his gown and joined me
in the churchyard and / only said,
amiably, you were rather hard upon
us all to-day as usual, SOL .
WAS I?' he cushioned In his slow
way. Hard or soft it does but little
good, jacob
/ turned the conversation gingerly.
| could not easily prove his words to
be untrue, and it wouldn't be polite If
did-so didn't.
Goodbye, Sol,' / said with great
relief, when we reached the parsonage
gate.
shall / see you at the service this
EVENING" was Solomon's most unfor-
fortunate inquiry, as he slowly re-
moved his umbrella to his left hand
preparatory to giving me his right.
Il hope so, but L cannot say | am
quite sure I answered in that way
for the purpose of breaking it to him
as gently as / could. knew Solomon
felt this sort of thing as sharply as
felt razor scratch in shaving, so j.
put it put it that woy, that | hoped so,
but could not say that was quite
sure.
u .I,n snrry roI, orc not sure IacOh