The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-06-06

in my time I've seen ministers that the
most awakenin' kind in the pulpit was
the liveliest when they was out ont.
There is time to laugh, Scriptur says,
though some folks never seem to re-
member that are"
"But, Sam, how come you to say it
was Ike Rabbits faultp What was it
about the Sheep"
'sOh wal, yis-I'm comm to that are.
1t was all about them sheep expect
they was the instrument the devil sot to
work to tempt parson to laugh in prayer
time.
aye see there was old Dick, Ike's
bellwether, fightin'st old critter that
ever yer see. Why, Dick would butt at
his own shadder, and every body said it
was a shame the old critter should be
left to run loose, cause he run at the
children, and scared the women half
out O. their wits. Wal, I used to live
out in that parish in them days, and
Lem Sudoc and used to 60 out spark
in Sunday nights to see the Larkin gals !;
and we had 60 right cross the lot where
DlCh WdO ~ We uSCu w ~ ANU oOdHo
at the fence and call, and Dick would
see us, and put down his head, 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 side the lot,
and then I'd let go and Lem would
ketch his horns and hold him till came
over-that was the way we managed
Dick-but eff he come suddenly up be
hind fellow, he'd give him butt in
the small of his back that would make
him run on all tours one while-he was
great rogue, Dick was. Wal, that
summer remember they had old Dea-
con Titkins for tithing- man, and I tell
you he give it to the boys lively. There
want no sleepin' nor no playin', for
the Deacon had eyes like a gimlet, and
he was quick as cat, and the young
sters he'd to look out for themselves. 1t
did really seem as if the Deacon was
like them four beasts in Revelations
that was full of eyes behind and before,
for whichever way he was standin' if
you only gave wink he was down on
you and hit you tap with his stick. l
know once Lem Sudoc just wrote two
words in the psalm-book and passed to
Kesiah Larkin, aid the Deacon gave
him such tap that Lem grew red as q
beet and vowed he'd be up with him
some day for that.
Wal, Lordy massey, folks that is so
clipper and high-steppin' has to have
their come downs, and the Deacon he
had to hev his.
"That are Sunday remember it now
jest as wal as if twas yesterday. The
parson he give us his greet sermon, re-
concilin' DEGREES and free agency-every
body said that are sermon was a master
piece. He preached it up to Cambridge
at commencement, but it so happened
that it was o. them bilin' hot days that
come in August, when you can fairly
hear the blackberries sizzling and
cookin' ON the bushes, and the locusts
keeps gratin like red-hot saw. Wal,
such times, DEGREES or no DEGREES,
the best on us will get
sleepy. The old meetin' -house stood
right down at the foot of hill that
kept off all the wind, and the sun blazed
away at them great west winders, and
there was pretty sleepy times there.
Wal, the Deacon he flew round a spell,
and woke up the children and tapped
the boys on the head, and KEEP every
thing as straight as he could till the
sermon was most through, when he
rally got most tuckered out, and he
took chair and he sot down in the
door, right opposite the minister, and
fairly got asleep himself, just as the
minister got up to make the last prayer.
"Wal," said Sam Lawson, " after
all it was more Ike Rabbits fault than
twas any body's. You see, Ike he was
alters for gettin' what he could out o.
town, and he would feed his sheep on
the meetin house green. Somehow or
other 1ke's fences alters contrived to
give out, come Sunday, and up would
come his sheep, and Ike was too Plus to
drive 'em back Sunday, and so there
they was. He was talked to enough
about it, cause, We see, to have sheep
and lambs a-ba-a-in' and blating' all
prayer and sermon time, wan't the
thing. Member that old meetin house
up to the north end, down under Blue
berry Hill, the land sort o. sloped down,
so as body he'd to come into the meet
in'-house steppin' down instead o. up.
wal, Parson Morrel had 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' he couldn't help SEEM that
Deacon Titkin's was noddin' and a
bobbin' out toward the place where old
Dick was feedin' with the sheep, front o.
the meetin'-house door.
elem and me was sittin' where we
could look out and we jest sees old Dick
stop feedin' and look at the Deacon.
The Deacon had little round head as