The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-03-29
THE DEACON'S QUARREL.


"Did you ever hear tell about Deacon
Tanners quarrel with Deacon Twist
Joshuayp
mo; dono as ever did"
aye see, Deacon Tanner was rea'
pious, but his natur was dreadfully ar.
bitrary. He had naturally an all-fired
disposition; high and mighty as though
he was British lord, and when he GOT
mad | tell ye he was mad-no halfway
covenant to him.
''He knowed it himself, and he fit
with it night and day, for he was honest
pious. and it done him good inwardly to
hev a real set-to with the Old Adam now
and then
''Natur 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. Leastwavs.
that's the way he figured it, and was
forever a-prayln' an a-tellin' in meetin'
about the conhic's an victories an such
like.
''For my part, / don't hold that b'lief
think a mans got good an bad both
inside of him, without goin' abroad to
lind fghtin'. l think we've got plenty
hardness to wrastle with, and to use IN
all the grace we've got 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 quicker n a spruce bough
and didn't last no longer; blazed away
jest birch-bark fashion all of a mint,
and in half an hour he'd be just like a
cosset lamb, and orful sorry he'd give
way.
"Buthe 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
"Now Deacon Tanner, he'd set up a
saw mill down in Nepash Brook, and he
donesawin' for everybody round. Twas
new country then, and he had lots O.
business, so he kinder made 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 board in the mill.
Il had ought to hev said that he and
Deacon Twist was real friendly-both
beng deacons of Chester meetin', ALWAYS
a-going to funerals and prayer meetin' s
and school-us meetin' s together, till folks
kinder give skit at 'em now and then.
and some called them David and Jona-
than.
"Well, it came about one time that
Deacon twist wanted some logs sawed
to coverhis new barn. His turn to hev
EN- 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 a
load O logs, but Rod Garrett from
Goshen.
Deacon ses he, Pm in a real fix.
The was dredful blow over t. our town
last evenin' some folks called it a hurri-
cane but anyway it hurried off the roof
O my house, and flung it against that
mighty big rock in the lot behind. and
smashed it into kindlin' wood
hadn't board on the farm he
ses, 'norI couldn't get one and Sary's
down with lung complaint and baby's
got spell of throat all. Idono how to
wait till | get that roof kivered ao'in,
A rain settin' in would jest kill 'em: and
lput to afore daylight, and I've drawed
'nese logs over, a-hopin' to get 'em
sawed aiore anybody comes
Well, Rodney" ses the deacon, kind
oI q, slow, as though he was considerin'
1 We promise Nathaniel Twist for to saw
MS logs this mornin', and I like to keen
to my word
. 1 don't believe but what he'd-wait
Tor me eff he knowed,' said Rod. It's a
Slnu OF extremity I'm in, as We might
: say I'm extreme anxious to get them
pOards ps right off. / feel to b'lieve that
Deacon Twist would let me dot eff he
s saS mere. He's pious man and merci-
iui man. l guess I'd resk it eff / was
you, Deacon Tanner
Well, Rodney ses the deacon, .it
uoes seem to be a work of necessity. ri
suess IL try it; you dump them logs
ana We'll set her a-goin'.
or. =, ms hireu man tneY got log |
Eneo pn. the slide, and Rod Garrett an his |
'' vso.her who came with him they on
soAeo y the cattle an put 'em under a tree |
- cooi oil Then they stood around to |
Sas,, see ,ne machine, and loyou! they hadn't |
.tulea on morn a half a dozen boards
onS @nsn mey heered Deacon Twist a-hawin'
esstl eat a-geein' to his big pair O. Devon
'a.lIe on the turn O. the hill.
.n, 9ono as Deacon Tanner heered him.
s,on - aono but he did; any way he didn't
sspp, ne KEEP the old saw a-roin an
logS S1 ~ Deacon Twist drove up his load O.
more to put on tot. P
sr,n ne ne was mad He roared out quick
= !. = you you could say Jack Robson:
whose be them logsP Hahn off.