Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-05-29
the oyster-pie, saying, in a witherme

manner:
I "Oyster!"
"Lortl bless your soul! No, broth er
I chicken, by all means, replied the Rev
Mr.. Ives, fevently. s'Sister Fit1robin
sons chicken pie is too famous TO-
/, "Peleg, dearest, brother Ives SAT-
he would take chicken-pie," interrupt
, ed Mrs. f., seeing Fitzrobinson wa
, about to load the reverend gentleman
plate with oyster-pie. Fitzscbiaso1
paid not the slightest attention to hel
pretending not to hear. He was play
ing desperate game. The Rev. MI
, OilXjOhn, taking in the situation, cam
to the front. AS he was sitting nea
. FitzrobinsOn, he shouted out on q ligl
key, at the host:
"Brothcr Ives said cllicken-pie!n
Oh, the look that FitzrObinsOn CAV,
the man! I'm sure it would have with
cred bronze statue Of the indOmita
ble Jackson. He was driven to tn,
wall, however, and doggedly partet
with the last piece but one. Now fol
the last chance. 1t was evident thai
the deaf dodge was a failure. What
should he try for a forlorn hope? Alas
what2 No one can never know tho
vicious resolves he made in his heart
as he contemplated that last piece O
chicken-pic. 1t is not enough that
they should pcOn him to the church
for life, but now they must needs take
the last loaf in the house, so to speak
in tho name CT the Lord. He'd SET
who was master in that house. He
inwarlly swore he would stand it nc
longer. He was thoroughly reused. He
fairly Missed Il: the Rev. Mr.. Ferguson,
who was rcciting to Mrs. BlUwnsmith
:, thrilling tale Of his experience, which
bc%ah:
~ remember, some twenty years
ago." c:c.
IF don't think you'll take chicken
pie, too, l hope | may he d.
"Pcleg," warned Mrs. +.
"Mr. FitzrObinson!" groaned Mrs.
Brownsmith in the same breath.
"Yes l do, and | don't care who
knows it-nO, I tlon't."
FitzrobinsOn stood in threatening
attitude, with uplifted carving knife,
us though about tc brain the Rev. Mr..
Ferguson. "Say it" he thundered ut
the gentleman, as though the saying
IF it was to be the signal for the fray.
CONSERVATION sat upon the Methodist
brow. Silence rel S:led for time. The
spirit Of chickcn-pie was striving with
the Rev. Mr.. Ferguson. At last it
COINED the mastery. He cried i'll a
loud voice, "Amcnv
FitzrObinson understood this to he a
confirmation of his suspicion that the
reverend gentleman would take chick
cn-pie, and he understood Alright. Up
to this time, Fitzrobinson had been
brave, but now he broke down COM
pletely. lie slooned out the last piece
of his favorite Wand, and Withdrew in
silence. He went out and borrowed
ten dollars from Beldcn across the way,
and hurried down Ninth street. About
six o'clock in the evening he might
have been seen confidentially impart-
ing his plans for the conquest OF his
own household to a tobacco sign Oh
Seventh Street. Later, he appeared
ut the church, where ne had been the
object of many earnest prayers that
night. Imagine, then, the joy Of the
congregation when he made his way
to the altar, weeping like child.
"Our prayers have been answered!'
shouted DR.. Ives, arlently, ooh,
brother, how lovingly we welcome thee
to our midst!" sobbed brother Fergu
son, tearfully. Brother Little rubbed
his hands, and seemed too full for ut
terance. Brother Langley advanced
to embrace the cOntrite FitzrObihson,
who received him with open arms, and
fell upon his breast-no, "pitched is
the better word. 1t had required all
Of FitzrObinson's strength to maintain
a perpendicular, but now that he found
q support, he gave way altogether.
FitzrObinson is no light weight, and
brother Langley had his hands full to
manage him. His legs were as limpy
as a twenty-five cent dolls. His head
fell over brother Langley's shoulder,
and reached half way down his back,
for FltzrObinSOn is tall and brother
Langley isn't.
"Chickcn-pie, hic! every one of 'em,'
FitzrobinsOn muttered, "'s what's mat
ter"
Brother Martin came to brother
Langley's relief, and Fitzrobinson
wound them both in his fond embrace.
81 like to see these rousing convic-
tions," said DR.. Ives. "He's wrestling
with the spirit; help him brethren
help him!"
Some sister struck up "R0ck of
Ages.n This aroused FitzrObinson a
little, and he chimed in with stray
lines bits of the chorus OF My
Sw6ev camilla May With a gigantic
effort brother Langsley freed himself
from FitzrObinsOm's embrace and Whis-
pered something in DR.. Ives ear. Then
with the help of brother Gatchell and
two stout trustees, they walked him
slowly down the aisle and out into the
vestibule, where q trusty policeman
received him. FitzrObinsOn went out
humming,
s.In a-hic bed Of roses.
Sweet as-hic - as breath of poses-hic!"
And, as he fell upon the policemans
neck,
'Hic !-as breath of po-of p-ot-hic J"
Until his voice died away on the crisp
night air, and he woke up next morn
ing in the statiOn-house.