Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-06-14
PoRr TOWNSEND, W. IT,.

EprroR NEws : / went TO church last
Sunday. Rev. Mr.. Lowland occupied
the pulpit, and the audience numbered
exactly elevsn-seven women and four
men. None Of the men wore coats. a
Young fellow who is employed during
the week as case-kseper for a faro game
acted as deacon. The butt Of his re-
volver protrudins from his back
breechss pocket gave him a decidedly
religious appearance and added greatly
to the looks Of his general makeup.
The preacher wore red.topped boots
with his brooches inside. and he walked
into the Bible with the air OF . prize
fighter. A pink cotton shirt Without q
collar. Ulster ovsrcoat and q pair OF blue
o~veralls completed his wardrobe. He
sang one verso Of . hymn and then an.
uounced that the services OF the morn
ing would DO conducted as a prayer
meeting. A certain amount OF money
had to be raised to ray current sx.
ponses, including the minister's salary,
and he had determined to wrestle with
the Lord and II possible get enough out
of ths unusually large audience then
present to pay up. The acting deacon
locked the door and passed round his
hat. Result, 81 .75. He charged six
bits for his percentage and handed 81 to
the preacher.
THAT'S not enough" said the IN
fortunate dispenser Of Gods word.
:. We must tackle 'em again. l know i
could raise the money by giving q socia-
able with dancing and r%aftiss, but l am
not willing to resort to such schemes"
The preacher now came down to his
work in fine style. and asked the Lord
to move the hearts Of those present, that
they might give up literally for the sup
port of His humble servant. The
pious man alluded in feeling terms to
the fact Of his having spent all these
long months ''cappin' the boys In Tor
heaven" and now he suggested that 1t
was asking nothing more than q fair
deal to have the fire Of the Holy Spirit
melt the hearts and open the purses Of
those present. He felt sure that the
grace Of God was as good as four aces in
a game Of draw. yet he was made sad
each day by seeing his fellow citizens
~evincing unmistakable evidence OF pre-
isrring to back the cards. when 1t came
to a question Of coin. -.
When this eloquent appeal was finished
the case-keeper went around with the
hat again. A ons-eyed logger was the
only person to contribute. II was q
quarter. and was quietly pocketsd by the
acting deacon.
Just a. the man OF prayer was settling
himself for another tussle with Jehovah,
a tough.looking one-eared specimen Of
humanity got up from one OF the back
seats and said
"See here, old boss /; don't yer think
this here racket has dropped? We're
all tired O. yer prayin' and shoutin'.
Now, I'll Jess rassel yer for twenty dol
lars, and whichever gifts away with the
soar gives it TO the church."
That's q fair proposition. said the
case-keeper, splitting q mouthful OF to-
bscco Juice in the baptismal font.
GOOD 'nough," shouted the rest OF
the congregation.
The ladies clapped their hands in APP
probation.
The follower Of tho Lowly One hest
tated for a moment. 81 would rather
put ON the gloves with my beloved broth.
err" said he, ''but IL anybody will loan
me sixteen dollars, I'm blessed II / don't
20 him q rattle"
At this there was some delay, but at
last a merchant by the name OF Snow
put mp the required change and the men
stripped for action. Two rows OF seats
were removed. q ring was formed and
everything put in readiness.
The case.keeper appointed himself
referee and called time. Both men
came to the scratch smiling and conf
dent. They shook hands and then
Qripped. The reverend gentleman forced
his antagonist against the seats and for
q moment appeared to have the advant.
age, but Mcintyre, he Of the single ear,
gave him the Cornish grip and sent him
whirling across the aisle. Both men had
Lost their holds and the referee decided
that il was no round. II now was APP
parent to experts that the men were very
evenly matched and odds offered n Nc.
Intyre were readily taken.
Both men now seemed determined to
win. After coming together again there
was q short struggle and the servant OF
God lay supinsly upon the floor. de
limped badly as he was carried to his
corner BY his second. The ladies were
greatly excited and cursed Mac roundly
for using their dear pastor in so rude a
manner. Again the men came to the
scratch. Mac tripped against the side
OF a pew and fell, the minister on top.
Foul was claimed but not allowed by the
referee. Loud cheers by the ladies.
The last round now commenced. 1
took q two-to.one bet on the preacher.
The men squared up beautifully. Mac
made q trip which was easily avoided by
the Amounted one At length they
closed in o lock. Both mon strained
their muscles to the utmost, and they
swayed back and forth like giant trees
in a tempest. 1t was a grand display OF
strength. To secure greater advantage
Mac moved his ~disengsged foot and in
cautiously placed 1t upon an open hymn
book. The leaves slipped. and both
men went down. the devout man on top.
Uncomfortable applause by the ladies.
Foul was again claimed by Mack,s
second, but the referee couldn't see It
that way. He awarded the match and
the money to the Rev. Mr.. Lowland.
Both men were considerably bruised and
we're entirely out Of wind. The victor
invited all hands. including the ladies'.
GU, to take q drink. alter which the con-
gregation returned to the church, whore
the doxology was sung and the bene-
diction pronounced. The c~ase.keeper
pronounced the Sundays amusement .
perfect success.
Original Keystone.
At q recent meeting Of the stockholders