Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1884-10-23
Went 10 Near Talmage.

The Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage delivered i
lecture in Little Rock several days ago, to
one of the largest audiences chat ever as
sembled i'm the State. Old Tom Blahorn,
who lives over in toe cutoff district and
who was in the city during the visit of Jshn
l.. sullivan, entered the opera house, eN-
pecting to see SEINE mighty fine knock
in" Before the lecturer arose, old Tom
remarked TO some gentleman who stood
near g.
"In be dingcd if ia like for him to hit
me"
There is no danger Of his striking YOU"
replied the gentleman.
No, you are mighty confed thar aint.
A thousand dollars is a heap o. money, an
I'd like to take that amount home with me,
but fifteen hundred wouldn't persuade me
70 stand up in front o. his mauls.
The Rev. Mr.. Kennedy arose and grace
fully introduced the lecturer. OltTom, af-
ter listening a moment, shook his head
and as Mr.. Talmage, with one Of his char
acteristic gestures, squared himself, twisted
himself. threw back his head, shook him
self, squatted, stood on his tiptoes, rocked
back on his heels, sawed the air and then,
straight from the shoulder, struck at the
audience, old Tom 'nudged' the gentleman.
and said -
By grip, that was thousand FOUNDER"
Hush"
"Waal, it just was \ steer couldn't
stand up ergin such JOLT
Hush, I tell you
"Ifyou want to bet anything, put up"
The gentleman moved away, and old Tom,
punching preacher who had come too late
to get a seat, said -
Bet he could down Sullivan, don't
you?'
81 don't know, whispered the preacher,
who knew nothing of sullivan.
I'd put up my little wad on him. He's
got the action, you see. Look at that, viii
You? 1t was a regular jig"
Hush, said the minister.
Wall, it just was.
The preacher moved awsy, and old Tom,
after listening awhile, and laughing hear;i-
~ at a joke which Mr.. Talmage had clipped
from q newspaper, and run in without cred
it, turned to a sedate-looking man and
said
"When's he going to take Oft his shirt:
want to see his muscle"
Don't know.
When does the knockin begin 2"
When some Christian defender of de-
cency KNOCKS yon down; and if you don't
shut up, I'll be the one to DO it."
You belong to the combination, l reck-
in. Wall, won't argy with you, but if l
had YOU out whar l could slash aroun
nachul, I'd make you take back them words
calclated to raise steam in the biler of any
voter Go on away; don't care
My friend" said some one, who saw
that old Tom did not understand the situa-
ton this is not prize fight. 1t is lee
ture by Mr.. Talmage, the great preacher"
Wall, Podner, you must excuse me, fur
thought this was a sort of prize fight.
amt got much edycation, but / can git as
much fun outen . sermon as the next man. q"
He became an attentive listener. Yes, %
said Mr. Talmage, please deliver me from
the long-ace Christian. l once knew an
old brother who had not laughed for ten
years. lie approached me one day, and in
his impressively sorrowful manner, Dor
rOwed twenty-five dollars, AID he was so
souowful and delicate in manner that he
never spoke Of the money"
Old Tom threw up his hat and exclaim-
ed 60
Thar, II that don't drive the'nail clar
up, I'm a sheep
Hush, or I'll put you out, said a Pc
liceman.
" No, you won't tof I'll 20 out. I've got
enough to last me till com gethern' time.
Come on, and lets take a drink"
The policeman looked slyly at the mayor,
and seeing that the lecturer was holding his
attention, accompanied old Tom 10 a neigh