The Tipton advertiser., 1877-04-19

annoying, said rather more than he
had intended to say. There are ma
lures which, while containing noble
qualities, are most awkward exposi-
tors of themselves, and that Baguss
was one of this sort. Such people are
given to action which Is open to criti-
eism on every side; yet in spite Of
their awkwardnesses they find In
their weakness the source OF what
ever strength they discover themselves
to be possessed OF. Father Bagus was
one of this special division of humani-
ty; but-perhaps for his own good
he was unconscious of his strength
and painfully observant of his weak
ness. Yet he continued as follows:
Look here TappIemine, l came
over here on purpose to find out IL
could do anything to help you get in
to better habits. You don't amount
amount to row of pins as things are
now, and ! don't like it; it's throwed
up to me, because Pm your neighbor,
and there's folks that stick to it tia
Tn to blame. / don't see how, but
If there's any cross iayin' around that
fits my shoulders, s'pose / ought to
pick 1t up and pack it along. Now
why IN creation don't you give up
drinkin' an go to church, and make
crop, an do other things like decent
folks doe You're bigger'n am. an
stouter, an your farms as good as
mine if you'd only work it. Now
why you don't yo it, don't see."
Don't, Ell? snarled Tapplemine,
dropping his axe, and leaning against
the house with folded hands. "welI
cause amt got any plow, nor any
harrow, nor but one hoss, nor rails
enough to keep out cattle, nor seed
corn or wheat, nor money to buy it
with, nor anything to live on until
the crops made, nor anything to pre-
vent the crop when it's made from be-
ing grabbed by whoever owe money
to; that's why don't make a crop.
An | don't go to church cause amt
got any clothes excep' these 'uns I've
got on, an my wifes as bad off as +
be. An | don't givs up drinking
cause drinkin makes me feel good AN
the only folks know that care any
thing for me drink too. You fellers
that only drink on the Sly"
~ never touched drop in all my
life.' roared Father Baguss.
That's right" said Tappelmine;
stick to it; there's some that's some
that'll believe the yarn. Bat what
was goin' to say was, folks that drink
OH the sly know it's comfortin' an |
don't see what they 20 a-pokin' up
fellers that does it fair and square
for"
Father Baguss gloaned, and some
intluence-the old man in later days
laid it upon the arch-enemy of souls
to him the foolishness of
having gone into so great an opera
ton without first counting the cost;
hadn't the great Founder of the old
mans religious faith enjoined a coun-
ting of the cost of any enterprise be-
fore entering upon it? Father Baguss
wished that chapter of Holy Writ
might have met his eye that morning
lt family altar; but it had not, and.
worse yet, Tappelmine was becoming
wide awake and excited. II was not
what the drunkard had said about
drinking or church-going that troub-
led this would-be reformer; Tappel-
mines outline Of his material condi-
ton was what annoyed Father Baguss
for, in spite of an occasional attempt
to mentally allay his fears by falling
back upon prayer, the incentive with
which he had called upon Tappel-
mine had taken strong hold OF his
and persisted in making
It's influence felt. Plows and prayers,
harrows and hopes, seed-corn and the
seed sown by the wayside mixed
themselves inextricably in his mind,
is parallels often do " hen men dream
,r when they are confronted by AN
beyond the control of their
,wn intellects. The old man prayed
and earnestly for relief, and
ais prayer was answered in manner
lot entirely according to his liking,
or he felt moved to say.
"TN lend you seed, if you'll go to
work and put it right. in, and I'll
end you plow and team to break up
he ground With mean, I'll hire
EN- to you, an agree TO buy your
'rop ut rulin' price, and pay you the
Inference in cash"
"That sounds somethin' like" re-
marked Tappelmine, thrusting his
,ands into his trowsers' pockets, and
making other preparations for other
Preparations for business talk: 'but
What am to live on along till har-
'est? 'Tain't even winter yet"
Father Baguss groaned, and asked,
What was you a-goin' to live on if
hadn't offered seed and tools, Tap
The Lord knows" answered the
levecr-do-well, with unimpeachable
'erasity.
Then said the old farmer. II
,uess he knows what you'll do in
other ease. You can work. reck-
N. Ihain't got much to do, but you
an do 1t, at whatever prices is goin',
m that'll help you get work of other
olks; nobody can say ever get stuck
m the men hire. So they're gener.
lily glad enough to hire 'em them
elves.n
Tappelmine did not seem overjoyed
t his prospects, but he had the grace
O say that they were better than he
lad expected. Father Bagus went
lome feeling but little more comfort
bile than when he had started on his
vell-intended mission. Tappelmine
into his own cabin, wonder
ng how much Of the promised seed
orn and wheat he could smuggle into
own and trade for whsskey; but he
vas rather surprised to have his wife,
short, thin, sallow, uninterestin9-