The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-05-24
THE OLD BAPTIST.
How He and an Organ Grinder Inter
 rupted Camp Meeting.

with just enough Jeff of early spring to ireshen the air, and just enough Of the coming June to make it balmy. A full believer m the availability of May, the Rev. Mir. Mulkit,le urged several church congregations to form union, and es- ,ablish a camp meeting on the banks of a beautiful stream near the city. The proposition was eagerly seized. and soon, with tents and other sacred brio-a-bac only brought out when the faith goes through the rejuvenescent influences of outdoor exercise, the marks of religious castrametation showed that the good work was begun. The half breeds wanted instrumental music, but the stalwarts in their stiff and unyielding collars, de- declared that the young leaves should not be made to ,remble by the rumbling noises of brass pipes. The tariff reform CTS and pro,ectionists engaged in argu- ment concerning minor details, but after awhile all differences seemed 10 be smoo,hed out. Mir. Mulkit,le took the stand the first day, and with glowing ad
 monitions warned the people of the great wrath which for countless years has been slowly creeping along. His sermon ere a,ed a profound impression, and gave the congregation an excellent appetite for dinner. The next day Presbyterian gentleman held forth, and on the third day an old hard shell Baptist, who had not been included in the original pro- gramme, stepped forward and assumed control. Other preachers may have made progress, but the old Baptist, in his ex- elusive faith and high protective princi- pies stands to-day on the platform built hundreds oi years ago. He is the old whig of religion. and, as in days of yore, the leather hinges of the still-house door, soreak at his approach. He never be- comes intoxicated, for the amount of whisky necessary to bring about this re- suit has not been ascertained. He is uncompromising, yielding no, to the de- mands of an occasion, and when he reaches around, fumbles with the tails of his long jeans coat, brings out black chunk bottle and removes an old cob pipe from the mouth of the receptacle, he regards il as performance particu- larly his own. The executive committee objected to his recognition as one of the orators, but rather than cause ill-feeling. at last yielded. The old fellow at once began to speak of the pride of the Meth odists, the vanity of Presbyterians and the general unsodliness of all opposing fac tons. Occasionally he would stop and yell "~hoa," as his old gray horse ,ugged a, the swinging limb to which he was tied. When he took out his black chunk bottle tire other preachers hid their faces, and the old topers smacked their llps and seemed to be drawn nearer to the old fellow. After awhile Mir. Mulkit,le arose and declared ,hA. such a proceed ing would not be tolerated. The old Baptist wanted to know how Mir. Mui- kittie could help himself. Mir. Null kittle declared that if he could net help himself one way he could another. The old Bap,is: advised him to try the other first and turning shouted lustily a, his horse The animal was tantalxed by 2 His-fiy. Nc horss is responsible for his actions when nit-fy IS in the im- mediate neighborhood. MT. Muikittle advanced to the stand, reached up and told the old fellow to come down. The old fellow showed ou. the black bottle and NIT. Mulkittle thinking that he had been invited to drink said he did no, want any. The old Baptist replied tha, if he didn't he'd better keep away. Mir. Mulkitsle persisted, and the old fellow tapped him sn the crest with the black bottle. Just then the old gray horse broke loose. The Baptist would liked to have further consulted Mir. Mulki,,le. but his first duty was to his horse, and spainging from the stand, his coa, tails Tapped in the breeze. The honest preachers looked at each other in amaze ment. NIT. Mulkiule placed his right hand on the top of his head. It was no, the first time whisky had hurt his head. The old Baptist did not return, and the lips of the old topers qaivezed. Suddenly