Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-06-04
GRAYLING MICHIGAN. THURspAY JUNE 4 ls8s

hearto devoted to the work of regenerat
ing all mankind.
No doubts as to the lady's acqui
escence crossed his mind. Why should
they? Had she not always been first
and foremost among those who cried
with one accord: "Great is Rev. Mar.
cissus Picayune?"
AS to choosing between himself and
q sisterhoodl About this time the
ladies of Hillsburg, always on "hospit
able thoughts intent" conceived the
idea of having q grand picnic. Accord.
ingly arrangements were all made.
Many who had become somewhat
faint t-hearted in the race for the parson
with renewed hope prepared their
toilets for the occasion, resolving to dc
or die. Rev. Narcissus formed like
resolve, and so did Matilda Ann. Thus
are entangled the threads of the warp
of life.
Upon arriving at the picnic grounds
the parson found hinseH, as usual, the
center of attraction. Did he appear
/ fatigued, dozen fair hands proffered
him refreshment; did he attempt rally
of wit, delighted smiles and musical
laughter testified the appreciation of his
audience.
Yet, ungratefal man, he was not sat
isfied.
Matilda Ann, on this occasion, had
not joined the crowd OF worshipers.
She sat apart, conversing languidly but
sweetly with a strange young man.
Rev. Narcissus felt his hands clinch,
while regular John l.. Sullivan spirit
pervaded his being. Not even the din
ner, although, according to the custom
of preachers, he consumed O Ben s
mess thereof, restored his equanimity.
Matilda Ann and the stranger were still
hob-nobbing.
Escaping from his admirers, he start
ed for stroll. The natty little gentle
man was decidedly out of humor
Scarcely conscious of his surroundings,
time" however, How his anger cooled. Ser-
appreciation came to the rescue, and he
quite blamed himself for leaving his be-
loved to the tender mercies of the
stranger.
Filled with this idea he turned to re-
trace his steps, observing for the first
time, as he did so, a bull and his family
grazing near by. Now the parson had
hatred for bulls, papal or quadruped,
and at once manifested his dislike by
shaking his cane and vociferating
"shoo" at the height of his voice.
Attracted by the noise, the cattle
lifted their heads. The bull, after q
brief survey, trotted leisurely toward
the little parson, who, although some
what alarmed, manfully stood his
ground.
Thus they confronted each other.
Rev. Narcissus had great faith in the
power of the human eye, especially
his eye. He now knit his brows upon
tAa Apl j in fFaXR ealSglatsa ap tJ ta pBRaii pBBRi
did not mind it at all. On the contrary,
he "fixed" the parson with his glitter
ing eye" in style excessively uncom-
Portable to that gentleman, and began
to lash his tail, paw the ground, and
toss his horned head in an extremely
belligerent manner.
The parson thought of Daniel savad
| by faith from the lions, and strove to
feel secure; but the bull, continuing
| his hostile demonstrations, his courage
sank deep into his boots, while, to
make things even, his hair rose straight
up on his head.
Suddenly the bull, uttering loud
below, plunged toward HIM. Stand
ing not upon the order of his going,
the poor little parson went, and the
bull went after him.
Rev. Narcissus' legs were short, but
they fairly twinkled in the air, almost
converted into wings by his terror. All
the bulls of Bashan faded into insig-
nifcance in comparison with this one
distended eyes and wildly beating heart
he ran, seeking shelter and finding
none, when who should appear around
bead in the road but Matilda Ann!
The parson had no breath to shrek
warming At this moment, alas he
stumbled and fell, and-luckily for
him-rolled into the ditch beside the
road.
The bull passed him recklessly, at
tracted by the scarlet shawl in which
Matilda AIMS fair form was decked.
That aesthetic young lady, casting
her dignifed languor to the winds,
rushed screaming toward the fence, al
a pace which would have shamed Maud
s.. but barely succeeded in mounting
it, as the bull reached the spot. Thrust,
ing his horns in her back, the furious
animal tossed her like q feather in the
air.
Rev. Narcissus sank back in the ditch
from whence he was peeping, with 0
groan. All was over. Even now he
could hear the bull believing and paw
ing in the road. Doubtless his fair Ma
tilda Ann was being gored to death
and he dared not move lest he share hel
fate. In few moments all was still
Venturing to look again, he saw the bull
trotting off to reioin the herd. Crawling
from the ditch, he crept cautiously and
sadly toward the spot, expecting to find
only the Gfeless clay of his beloved
To his intense relief, faint voice
called "Narcissus," and Matilda AIMS
pale face appeared over the top Of the
fence.
Forgetting his fatigue, the parsor
leaped the barrier with bound, anC
throwing himself at her feet, he cried
"Oh, beloved Matilda Ann, by wha
miracle art thou saved2 Methough
saw thee impaled upon those horrit
horns. How hast thou escaped un
wounded?"
Matilda, much agitated, calculated
family, between her sobs: "The en-
ragged quadruped-inserted his terribl,
horns-in my raiment, and, as it gav'
way, he tossed me through the blu,
ether, and I fell, helpless mass, ol
the safe side of the fence"
"And fell into the ditch" said tn
norsoc faaI;noI, "Mv daaraat WI