The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1874-01-20
"PARSON DAN,"
THE LAST WRESTLE OF THE OLD
PARDS
A Story CT New Tor.- and the
Gold Mines in 'f9.
WRITTEN FOX THE NEW YoYK cLIPrER.

serts that the supsrlative degree Of
happiness is achieved only through
rum and religion. The result Of So.
cial spree and a christian conversion
are, however, as a general thing, wide
ly dissimilar. Connoisseurs in good
liquor maintain that at the present
date modern Bourbon contains about
four square drunks to the quart; and
though getting tight and the gathering
stray lamb into the fold may for 4
short time cause a similar feeling in
those who are interested, the after
claps are as unlike as chalk and
cheece.
Brother Daniel Sloshgrip, H. S. B..
on the Chickasaw Circuit, the lower
Mississippi, and all around them dig
gins there and thereabouts," as he de
lineated his missionary endeavors, was
as quaint a specimen of humanity as
ever entered the field Of religion; but
he ever preached against rum and
cards with vim, and on more than
one occasion he allowed from the pull
pit that he was "ready to tackle them
snares and pitfalls Of sin with one
eye shut and his right arm tied behind
him.
"And was gambolier and. wine
bibber." continued Brother Dan'l,"
while discussing the subject, "hanker-
ing arter strange wimmin, and always
on hand to buckle into q plugmuss or
free fight, till l felt l was playing
perzacktly the game to get euchred on
in the long run. So l shook of them
evil way S my brethring and sistering,
and fetched hunk at last; and here /
an, bound for glory"
Daniel Sloshgrip, II. S. B., though
addicted to Southwestern dialect, was
New York born, and his earliest i'm
pressions and education were derived
from the streets Of the great cosmo-
politan metropolis. lie frankly ac-
kNowledytd that up to the period ol
his conversion his heart was as riley
with wickedneSs as Choctaw Bend du-
ring a Spring tide--in fact "as full OF
the devil as a woo3chuck is of meat" "
"But," he was wont to say, 81 was a
poor, forlorn critter AT best, jis like a
man holding nary par and buckin
ag'in a straight flush, where them
kind O kerds always rake down the
pile"
Daniel Sloshgrip, Il. 8. S., in his
youthful dars had proved his prowess
in many a street fight, and at that Pc
riod it was a dangerous proceeding Tor
any one to advance the theory that
his engine was lazy. He had also &C
quired hcnorS in the fStic arena, hav-
ing knocked the wind out Of the Mack
erville Pet in the unparalleled time Of
three minutes and quarter, besides
receiving forfeit from the Hobolen
Slasher, a pugiist Of merit, but who
evidently dreaded the powerful left
handlers of the invincible fre-laddie.
"Ah," Daniel would remark, "them
were days Of vanity and the pride OF
life; but managed to squirm round
till give the cid Adam a squar hip
lock, which sent all my sins to grass;
and lere stand a level Christian, flat
foot and firm, and ready to die for the
cause-lor | can fight as sharp for
teruth as used 10 once for ther old
machine, when the shysters double
banked me, and l slashed round with
4 crank or spanner."
With all his quaint ways and rather
equivocal language, Daniel Sloshgrip
was decided success in the calling he
had adopted from conviction; and
there is an old proverb that, after
the manner o. reformed rakes ma
king the best husbands" regular
hard case; if he feels genuine repen.
tance for his past misdeeds, often cul-
inmates into quiet and sober citizen.
In his slouched hat, Kentucky jean
coat, cut QMaker-f fashion. and pepper
and-sait trousers, coupled with 4
standing-collar which kept his ears in
constant jeopardy, none Of his former
comrades could have recognized the
rollicking fire laddie whose mandates
OF make her jump lively boys" and
stand of them hose or I'll lam
you Fl ON the word go!' were reminiS.
enceS of many a fierce contiagration
where lie had taken a conspicuous
part prior to his sitting out for the
modern El Dorado, California. At
his worst, however, none could accuse
him Of dishonest action, and his
bravery on scvera! occasions had won
him favorab NOTICES from the public