Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-01-08

: "That's good. Thought you''
} like duck. Them's what tn
} children Of Israel fed ON whel
, they went down into Turkey-ii
! 1 recollect rightly"
Sanscript reconnoitered from
the corner of his left eye for th'
effect of his first theological shot
You see he was not quite sure
, he had hit the bulls eye. Blu
the young man smiled and nod
ded, which added confidence t.
the hosts assurance.
"dad we not better transact {
little business before dinner, Mr.
Sanscript?"
"Oh! alb! certainly to be sure
How stupid in me, now, / never
thought about it that you have
prayers first. Shall / call in
Mrs. Sanscript? or can you and
/ do it alone? The old woman
can hardly leave off her cooking.
and if she should get tangled up
in that long prayer of her'n, ey-
erything would burn into a
icracklin'!'
"Excuse me- stammered the
young man, as he flushed and
took on wild, dazed sort of
look--"excuse me, sir, but /
never said a prayer in my life.
"Whatl Never said-Ohl
You're joking"
"Upon my word, I've not,
much as l am ashamed to own
it."
Sanscnpt stroked his chin,
tried hard to collect his scatter
ed thoughts, and mentally OBJ
[seryed:
"Welll here's a-of a preach
erl Never prayed Wonder
what church he belongs to?"
81 thought maybe you'd like
to subscribe" mildly continued
the young man.
"Subscribe! Oh, yesl to be
sure! Why certainlyP' Then to
himself: "The mercenary villain!
He strikes me for a five before
the dust settles" Then aloud;
"This is for the heather, | sup
pose?"
"Beg pardon!"
"To send some one into Hot
tentot to save souls that are
hopelessly lost?''
81 don't exactly catch your
meaning"
"For the missionary fund, l
SUPPOSE
(which missionary fund.-"
'How should l know? Any
of 'em, I guess you ought to
know"
perhaps. But will you sub
scribe?"
why, certainly How much
is it?"
0Seven dollars''
Sanscript went down into his
pocket, produced the money and
passed it over us he quoted,
BLESSED is he that giyeth to the
poor, for he shall have his re-
ward"
"Thank you, Smiled the young
man, ramming the bills down in
to his pocket. "When shall |
deliver the book2"
"What book?" It was San
scripts turn now to be puzzled
"Why, The Meandering Mu-
letters; or, the Mystery of the
murdered Man, in three vol
umes."
A light seemed to be breaking
in on Sanscript's Mortified mind.
He glasped the poker and hoarse-
ly whispered:
sYoung man! who are you?
What are you?"
The visitor took the precaution
to arise and slide toward the
door before he answered Che was
no doubt benefited by the expo
rience Of a busy life): '1'm n
gent for this book under my arm
the"
"And your not a preacherP'
"No, STRIP
DWELL, sir, duln my buttonsw
There was a rush, a scurry Of
feet, the opening of the door, a
dull thud, as if leather and flesh
had come into violent collision,
and two men went tumbling
down the front steps to the pave
ment. Sanscript wasn't one Of
them.
The book agents exit was SO
violent and sudden that a man
coming up the steps at that mo-
Iment hadn't time to get out OF
the way. Both went rattling
and rolling down together. The
new visitor picked up his stove
pipe busted his breeches with
his hands, and looked wondering
after the book agent, who was
limping away down the street
as fast as exhausted nature could
carry him. Finally visitor No.2
cautiously ascended the steps,
Iducking and dodging as if ex-
pecting some internal machine
to be sprung upon him at every