The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-07
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
 hired myself to farmer, agreeing to work half the time for the privilege of going to school the other hal1 but it seemed that the crop was always en- dangered or that wood must be hauled, for don't think that during a years time I was allowed to enjoy two months of my dearly bought privilege. At last, ind ing that could interest no one in my cause, l decided to preach, anyway. The neighboring minister agreed to let me take his place for one day. This was my first thrill of genuine happiness. The fear of facing an audience could not mar the quiet joy felt, that is, until reached the church. Then, with sick ening sensation saw my uncle drive up with wagon-load of his family. More than year had passed since had seen him, but without any demonstrations of surprise or gladness, he began talking to me as though but a few hours had elapsed since we parted. Drawing me to one side, he said:
 "Have you got one of them bloody sermons you used to write with poke berries p
 "No, sir"
 "Glad to hear it. l brought an extra check-rein along and l thought that if ysu were going to deal in red, I'd tie the horses faster"
 "I should think, sir, that your persecu- tions of me would cease"
 "Oh, Pm not pestering you. Preach all you want to, boy. You can't hurt anybody"
 "Uncle, l have no ill.feeling toward you, but believe that you are a mean man. Here you are now, trying to throw obstacles in my way. If you don't want to hear me preach, you are at liberty to go away. No one, am sure, sent you an invitation"
 "How did l know that you were going to preach? Do you think that the whole country is excited? I've got right to go to church"
 Ifelt like knocking him down. could now see, more than ever before, that he was a man totally unacquainted with generous impulses.
 When l arose in the pulpit, my uncle, with half smile parting his tobacco stained lips, sat gazing at me. His wife, a woman whom had never liked turned up her long, keen nose, 1 fancied, and one of the youngsters, seeing me, ex- claimed:
 Ho, look at ole Luth p
 Instead of boxing his jaws, my uncle laughed. The old lady pinched the little rascal.
 "Quit that now," he whined.
 When began to talk, my throat be- came parched and my words were so hot that they almost burned my mouth. My ideas became confused, and losing con- trol of my hands, knocked pitcher of water of the pulpit. This would not have been SO bad, but in attempting to catch the pitcher, hurled it over the au- dienes, and, as the most aggravating of luck would have it, struck a well known old gentleman on the top of his bald head. The blow rang out win . sharp sound, and my uncle, who had not lost sight of single feature of the perform ance, leaned back and laughed, while my aunt stuffed yellow handkerchief in her mouth and grew red in the face. The old gentleman, whom had acci- dentally struck with the pitcher, had not seen me when 1 knocked the pitcher from the pulpit--as he had habit of closing his eyes and leaning his head forward during services-and with an exclamation which sounded rather harsh, he sprang to his feet. Some one who was sitting near him, l have since been told, whis- pered to him that l had thrown the pitcher to awake him.
 "You young scoundrelp' he saos,. d. !" What do you meanl"
 It vas an accident sir," replied.
 @Accident the thunderation What right have 7ou got to carry on in this wayf Is that the way to preach, sling tag pitchszs around the housel Want so save souls by breaking headsi1
 l assured him that it was n accident ::