Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-03-16
lDigby's Reform Club.

HOW PARsoN MKkKLY WAS "sHUT UP"
There was a quartette Of free and jovial spir-
It's in Burville, and John Digby was the ac-
knowledged leader thereof.
Peter Spade and Tom Lowry and Sam Pepper
were his associates. They four were young
men, free heared and generous, with great ca
pacity for enjoyment.
On q certain Monday evening they were as
sembled in the small parlor of Luston's tavern,
for the purpose Of having good time, ss they
were wont TO assemble often. The season
was inter, aud the beverage they were IT,
dulging in was a compound of rum, sugar milk
and eggs, familiarly known among the Initiated
as "TOm and Jerry.n
At an early stage ofthe wassail, before sense
had been submerged, Peter Slade suggested
that he had complaint to make againt one Of
the dignitaries of tho town, and thereupon he
opened his vials Of denunciation upon Parson
Meekly, the old clergyman of che place.
"As near as | eau int OUT" he said, "the
paison just about the same as called US by
name, and held us up as set Of graceless
| scamps"
"Not quite so bad as that, 2" said John Dig
| by. He did certainly allGde ~ us very plainly;
but the worst he brought against us was that
we were prostituting noble powers aud oppor-
tunities to base and sinful purposes. Rather
fiattering thought, especially the mobile pow
! ers.'
'Flatterine with a vengeance growled Tom
| I.owden. What business Is it of hisS'
Aye chimed Sam Pepper, -wnnt uusIuuss IL
| il OF hisY And then look al the huilab abaloo
they're making over his foreign mission busi-
ness. 1t was in connection with this that Par
sou Meekly attacked us. They'd better look al
home. think we have suffering enough un-
der our very noses that had better be looked
| out first"
"That's So" cried Slade. say that char
iiy begins at home. What do you say TO it,
john"
John Digby had listened artentiyely, and
durIng the conversat oil he had turned his glass
bottom upward upon the table,
"Tliere may be truth in what you say" hi
slowly aud thoughtfuly replied; but people who
live In glass houses shouldn't throw stones
We may object to furnishing our money fol
the foreign missions upon the plea that charity
begins at home, and all that; but the qusetioI
may come-what have we done for this charl
ty at homer What have we done toward allie
waiting the distresses of the poor Of our town
&, Aud If we haven't done anything In that dlres
tion-if we don't open our hands In charity
at all-what right have We to say IN what d
+ rection Others shall aim their good works.
Blank were the looks that greeted tn
speech. The trio of listeners were take
aback. They hadn't expected this from the
leader.
'Now look here boys" continued john Di
/ by, pushing his inverted glass away to the col
ter Of the table, and leaving 1t there, III dor
like this oyerhauling that Parson Meekly CAV
Is us, any better than you do, and propose
y shut him up"
IS eli yah" shouted Sam Pepper. That's IL
I'd talk. Pm with you.
n IN "Are you sure you have got the couraR
n Sam?"
X Yes, sir!'
y. Count me in said Tom.
- tAnd me- added Peter, 'Let'a shut the O
Gil hot Va tl,sa,
1s, "Well," answered Digby, slowly, Il la
q planned that we Will take the wind out of p,
,,s son Meeklys sails by establishing o refol
club of our own, and starting missionary
he ciety on the same basis"
fes fes "Ehp"
or. "I.ook ye, boys, people beside the parson
la talking about us, aud we II shut the IN all up
ere a lump-Id like TO astonish 'em. I'd like
ga hit back in the most effective way. I'D like
j. make 'em take the back track here in Blu
- vile, In their own business"
His hearers were interested and lister
eagerly.
What is it9 Tell us ho it's to to be done
e they asked.
" "Have you got the courage TO do it?"
''Wel follow you," said Peter Slsde.
"Honor bright'"
urs "Yes.n
"Then listen"
es, "Hold on" cried Sam Pepper. 'Let's fill
before you commence"
"Not with old Lushon's Tom aud Jerr
i returned Jack. "We shall want the cost OF
on- for another purpose. Tmu your glasses
at tom upward for the present. There, that
TO. go. Now listen. We are In the habit of mi
-. at the tavern three evenings in the week;
. our expenses for liquor aud cigars are at Il
- Two dollars an evening, aren't they?,'
This was admitted with nod.
.And in addition to this l spend a dc
more each week for beer and tobacco on
"a own hook. How is IL with you?"
Tie Others acknowledged that dolla
week was little enough.
land "'rhus," resumed John Digby, s3s have
Uk- | doUas week as the result OF our comDl
| and individual expenditure for rum land
Af' bacco. |, fot one, think l could manage
MT. live though the lest of the winter with
from any more of 1t; and for the sake Of the eyE
,y>r nlent would be willing TO put my shal,
,Es, that ten dollars week to a charitable Ii
bovs Here it is in the beginning Of December,
the winter has opened hard There are
e,Um cn%' families not far away We can bless with
K. sympathy and Our help. We might orga
row a benevolent society, upon our own hoo
..,. Do you begin to understand"
dlats They understood him perfectly; and sine
would lead, they wers ready TO follow.
fact they rather liked the idea.
There was charm of novelty and origl
Pa. ty about 1t that captivated them. II "
be fun to purchase flour and meat, tea an
sy.i gar, and fuel, and go round and assist the