, 1880-09-03
" Poker Bills " Sermon.

Poker Bill, having procured bail
since his last sermon, preached in Lead.
vile tbs first SUNDAY after martial law
was Proclaimed 0n ascending the
platform he unbucklcd his revolver and
laid it on the table with the remark
tlat he kinder thaws concealed weap-
ons warn't the right outfit for a gospel
preacher
His text was from Matthew Xxx, to
/ II. said: partners, this text rites
about a man that owned vineyards. As
most OF YOU are econEarssnt.with straight
red licker and shafts, will read mines
md prospect notes, instead of wine.
yards. ...... .........
Thar war sartln man, who was
householder, who went out early one
morning to get men to Work on his
claims. ....H ..' g.r. r.fF
And he seed tenderfeet and he made
bargain with them to work on pros
pect fur 81 day.
Bnd he went out again and seed 8
miners standing by the, Tontine saloon,
an he said: 'Ain't you afraid Of mar
tia layl Hint you read Order No. 6 7
Go to the Buckeye shaft and work
week and | will give you that which is
squar." 30 '
And they went. '''''-''--
Partners, l will Jest say har that L
kinder don't swaller that ar last line
but it's Scriptur. rHN"a a'' tii
Nevertheless, And he went again at
6 o'clock and did the same ......s
and he went again at IL o'clock, an
he seed 9 miners and tenderfoot loaf
ing, and he sed: 'Why don't yer work ?
Sarg't Grant will come along and hist
yer in the calabosse .r..w
And they sed: 'We want to work,
but are leetle Altered Of the Miners
Union ~ aa# "aa ...H. a.'t
And he sed: yer go yer guns, amt
yerl What are We Altered, of ? Go to
the Buckeye shaft, and what is squar
will give yer.
'' And they went.
Now, when pay day came, things got
mixed. He wanted to pay the miners
in the Buckeye So. a day; but, partners,
they wouldn't have it, and allowed as
how one miner war worth two tender.
feet, and as he paid tenderfeet S4 day,
miners we're worth IS day. Pa
Here "Doc Riley rose and said
"Bill, / left my gun at home, because l
knowed how hard it was for yer to get
bail last time, and | don't want to dis.
cuss, but want to ask question"
3" eco ahead" said Bill. A...'-'
"War thet ere mine owner" con-
tinued Doc, ga tenderfoot or practical
man p .....4 ....
"Hy by by p shouted score of
voices.
Now see hyar, pards," said the
preacher, "you kinder got me. But it
war my certain opinion that he was o
practical miner, and had been around
the camp saving, saving, all he could,
called mean, because he wouldn't jine
the boys in 'freeze out; working fort24
day in wet shafts and drinking cheap
red ticker ontil he was afeered his
breath would pizen the man at the wind
lass, 1 don't suppose he ever played a
game cf keerds, except seven up-which
puts me in mind how got skinned az
that, game on the Arkinsaw. i hope
none Of this congregation But I've
got eff the trail. Mister, Ito an Eastern
many whar was TT ''
Eastern man-You were speaking
about paying the laborers of the vine
yards.3l uts 1eerL lar. ID. 9lea5
Beg yer pardon" said Doc. Riley,
F" Bill war speaking about lodes; wine
yards wdrn't in the question. I asked
him if that ar mine-owner war a tender
foot or practical man.ohI and him
don't agree. No practical miner would
put tenderfoot on prospect. He'd
be a burned fool to pay him 81 q day.
That ar is played" "' t'''' '''
'i'" "see hyar, Doc" said Poker Bill,
"another break like that and thar will
be trouble in this Tabernacle, J. want
no discussion. You all know / had
h-ll of time raising bail, and further,
I want this congregation to understand
L can calaboose the whole burned lot
under Order No. 6, and" q, yn.id
Here the preacher was interrupted by
the sharp crack of revolver, Trouble
followed. No words ; no furniture
broken. No noise except score or two
of sharp explosions. Luckily none Of
the wounds proved mortalo.g tgy,4