Peninsular news and advertiser. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1872-1904, 1876-05-26


work, to tempt parson Morrel to laugh
at prayer time.
''Ye see there was old Dick, Ike's bell
wether, was the figten 'est old critter that
ever you see. Why Dick would butt at
his own shadder and everybody said it
was shame the old critter should be
left to run loose, cause le ran at the
children and scared the women half out
of their wits. Wal, l used to live out in
that parash in them days and Lem Su-
doc and used to go out sparkin' Sun
day nights to see the Larkin gals-and
we had to go right cross the lot where
Dick was-so we used TO go and stand at
the fence and call, and dick would see
us and put down hishead and run at us
full chisel, and come bunt agin the fence
and then I'd ketch him by the horns and
hold him while Lem run and got over
-the fence t,other.ss Of the lot, and
then I'd let go and Lem would holler and
shake stick at him and away he would
go full butt at Lem and Lem would
ketch his horns and hold him till 1 came
over-that was the way we managed
Dick-but eff he come sudden up behind
feller, he'd give him butt in the small
of the back that wonld make him run on
all fours one while-he was great
rogue Dick was. Wal, that summer 1
remember they had old Deacon Titkens
for tithingman, and tell you he give it
to the boys lively. There warn't no
sleepin nor no playin', for the deacon
had eyes like a gimblet, and he was quick
as a cat, and the youngsters had to look
out for themselves. IL did seem that the
deacon was like them four beasts in the
Revelations that was full o. eyes, behind
and before, for whichever way he was
standin', if you gave only wink he was
down on you, and hi5 you tap with his
stick. know once Lem Sudoc jist wrote
two words in the psalm-book and passed
it to Keziah Larken, and the deacon
gave him snch tap that Lem grew as
red as a beet, and vowed he'd he up with
him some day for that.
"Well, lordy mas "a, folks that is so
clipper and high stepin' have to have
their come-do WINS, and the deacon had
to have his"
''That are Sunday, remember it now
jest as well as if 'tyas yesterday. The
parson he give up Ills great sermon, rec
oncilin' DEGREES ami free agency-every-
body said that are sermon was mas
terpiece. He preached it up to Cam
bridge at commencement, but it so hap
pened it was one of those bilin' hot days
that come in August, when you can fair
ly hear the huckleberries sizzlin and
e.sssls;n'fs f,igl bushes. nnd the locust
keeps a gratin' like a red-hot saw. Wal,
such times, DEGREES or no decrees, the
best on us will get sleepy. The old meet
in'-house stood right down at the foot of
a hill that KEEP off all the wind, and the
sun blazed away at them great west win
ders, and there was pretty sleepy time
there. Wal, the deacon he flew around
a spell, and woke up the children and
tapped the boys on the head, and KEEP
everything straight as he could till the
sermon was most through, when he rail
ly got most tuckered out, and he took
chair and he sot down in the door right
opposite the minister and fairly got
asleep himself, jestas the minister got
up to make the last prayer.
"Wal, parson Morrel had a way o.
prayin' with his eyes open. Folks said
it wasn't the best way but it was Par
son Morrel's way anyhow, and so as he
was prayin' hecouldn't help seein' that
that Deacon Titkins was a noddin' and
a bobbin' out toward the place where old
Dick was feedin' with the sheep, front o.
the meetin' '-house door.
Lem and me was sittin' where we
could look out, and we jest see old Dick
stop feedin' and look at the deacon.
The deacon had little round head as
smooth as an apple, with nice powder
ed wig on it, and he sot there maxim
bobs and bows, and Dick begun to think
it was suthin' sort o. pussonal. Lem and
me were sittin' jest where we could see
Illo Muolo plCbul anu l4Su Ndo hO w
split.
GOOD, now," sayshe, shat critter'll
pay the deacon off lively pretty soon."
The deacon bObbed his head a spell,
and old Dick he shook his horns and
stomped at him sort o. threatenin'. FL
nally the deacon he gave great bow and
brought his head right down at him, and
old Dick he sought out full tilt and come
down on him ker chunk ,and knocked him
head over heels into the broad aisle, and
his wig flew one way and he t'other, and
Dick made lunge at it as it flew, and
carried it off on his horns.
"Wal, you may believe that broke up
the meetin' for one while, for Parson
Morrel laughed out, and all the boys and
gals they stomped and roared, and the
old deacon he got up and began rubbin'
his shins-'cause he didn't see the joke
ont.
"'You don't orter laugh says he, It's
no laughing matter-it's a solemn thing
says he, L might have been sent into
'tarnity by that darned critter, says he.
Then they all roared and haw-hawed the
more to see the deacon dancin' round
with his little shiny head, so smooth a
fly would trip ont. Il believe my soul,
you'd laugh to see in my grave!'