The Columbus journal., 1883-05-09
THE DEACON'S QUARREL.

u
"Ye see, Deacon Tanner was rea
pious, but his natur was dreadfully ar
bitrsry. He had naturally an ALFRED
disposition; high and mighty as though
he was a British lord, and when he gol
mad I tell We he was mad-no halfway
covenant to him.
"He knowed it himself, and he fiji
with it night and day, for he was honest
pious, and it done him good inwardly tc
hev a real settO with the Old Adam now
and then.
,"Eatur is natur, and the devil in him
bein' set to be made over into a saint
felt kind O material comfort in fight
in the devil outside of him. Leastways
that's the way he figured it. and was
forever a-prayln' an a-tellin' in meetin'
about the conflicts an victories an such
like
"For my part, l don't hold that b'lief.
/ think a mans got good an bad both
inside of him, without goin' abroad to
find fightin' l think we've got plenty
hardness towrastle with, and to use ur
all the grace we've got a subduin' of it.
but that amt here nor there. The dea,
con was an honest man, and he thought
different; but whatsoever he thought,
/ tell ye he done about the right
thing gener'ly.
well, Deacon Twist he was another
sort; took fire 9uicker'n n spruce bough
and didn't last no longer; blazed away
and in half an hour he'd be just like q
cosset lamb, and orful sorry he'd give
way.
.'But he KEEP givin' way an repentin'
some like Peter in the Bible. But he
was real good man-they was good as
gold, both on 'em
snow Deacon Tanner, he'd set up q
saw Elill down in Nepash Brook. and he
done sawin' for everybody round. Twas
new country then, and he had lots O.
business, SO he kinder made a rewl that
fust come was fust served, and kept the
names of them that was promised in the
list, right along as they came. chalked
up on q board in the mill.
Il had ought to hev said that he and
Deacon Twist was real ffiendly-both
being deacons of Chester meetin' always
a-going to funerals and prayer meetin' S
and school-uS meetin' together, till folks
kinder give a skit at 'em now and then.
and some called them David and Jona-
than.
.sWell, it came about one time that
Deacon twist wanted some logs sawed
to cover his new barn. His turn to hev
'em sawed come Thursday mornin' ,
and Deacon Tanner he was on hand real
early SOS to get all set to rights afore
work begun.
..Jest as he'd got the saw lied and
things cleared up, who should come a.
tuggin' and a-toilin' up the hill with q
load o logs, but Rod Garrett from
Goshen.
".Deacon,' ses he, I'm in a real fix.
The was dredful blow over t. our town
last evenin' some folks called it hurri-
cane-but anyway it hurried off the roof
o nv house. and flung it against that
mighty big rock in the lot behind, and
smashed it into kindlin' wood
Il hadn't board on the farm he
ses, .norI couldn't get one and Sary's
down with lung complaint, and. baby 5
got spell of throat all. IdOnO how to
wait till get that roof kivered ag'in.
A rain settin' in would jest kill 'em; and
l put to afore daylight, and I've drawed
these logs over, a-hopin' to get 'em
sawed afore anybody comes
."Well, Rodney" ses the deacon. kind
of slow, as though he was cOnsiderin', !,
I've promise Nathaniel Twist for to saw
his logs this mornin', and l like to keep
to nv word
IL don't believe but what he'd wait
for me ef he knowed.' said Rod. It's a
kind of extremity I'm in, as We might
say. I'm extreme anxious to get them
boards right off l feel to b'lieve that
Deacon Twist would let me dot eff he
was here. He's pious man and merci-
full man. l guess I'd resk it ef:I was
you,' Deacon Tanner
"'Well, Rodney ses the deacon, 1T
does seem to be a work of necessity. l
guess I'll try it.; you dump them logs
and We'll set her a-goin'.
$50 hen his hired man they got log
onto the slide. and Rod Garrett an his
brother who came with him they on
yoked the cattle an put 'em under a tree
TO cool off Then they stood around to
see the machine, and loyou! they hadn't
hauled off morn half a dozen boards
when they heered Deacon Twist a hawin'
and a-geein' to his big pair O. Devon
cattle on the turn o the hill.
Il dono as Deacon Tanner heered him,
an l dono but he did; any way he didn't
stop, he KEEP the old saw a-goin. an
when Deacon Twist drove up his load O.
logs there was the slide full an heap
more TO put on tot.
-. He was mad! He roared out quick
er'n you could say Jack Robson:
Whose be them logs? Hahn off,
tell ye! It's my turn to hev the saw,
an amt a-goin' u be turned off like
this. Hiram Tannerr
Jest then the saw stopped q minnit,
an Deacon Tanner heerd him.
This here is my mill an my saw,
Mr. Twist" says he. his eyes kinder
shinin' an his face gettin' pale, though
Twists was redder'n winter apple.
"'1 don't care a continental.if If 'tisr
ses Twist. You said you was a-goin to
saw for me this mornin', an there's S nv
name onto the list right afore We. an We
ha' Mt no right to lie an brass it out. II
you be deaconr
by this time the fellers that come up
along with Deacon Twist for to help him
load up, was gawpin' round. a-lookin'
and a-hearin'.
"And. as twas berry time, lot of
the Elwell tribe was near by in the bush
es, and hearin' a noise. they came, too
crows to a carkiss. they alwayswas.
Sons of Belial,' Deacon Tanner used to
call 'em. But they want; they was old
Jake Elwelrs sons. goddess fellows
enough, half-Injin. and they was a-grin-
MIN an a-chucklin' 70 see the row.
Well, Deacon Tanner he growed
whiter'n whittier.
".I carlate to do what / will with my
own. Mister Twist ses he, and dono
IS anybody made you 8 judge and dlvld-
ar over me. If you'd hear to reason
without flyin' off the handle.
1.-The amt no reason to hear TO:
roared Twist. It's plainer'n the nose
on your face; you promised to saw my
Iops this identikle mornin', an now your
mills full of another feller's, an il thar
,in't cheatin' and lyin' dono what us!
won't never bring no more logs oyour
n;1 whilst time endoors!