The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-01-14
That Sausage.

A clergyman in a southern state was
on his way to preach : funeral ser
mon. AZ he was passing the. house Of
g widow lady, a member Of his u
sgregation, she ran out and stopped
him b saying, as they Just slaughtered
their hogs, she had put up q few pounds
fof sausage as q present, adding that,
ass she had put it in double paper,
pockets, she thought it would not soil
his clothes. He thanked her earnestly
for her kindness, and rode on, having
put the parcel in his pocket. 3,S,sss$S,
All the time hewas officiating at the
grave a large, half-starved hound kept
shutting around him, sometimes APP.
preaching alarnlngly near, attracted
by the scent of the fresh meat. AS the
deceased was a man Of some promi-
nence, there was a considerable crowd
collected, and great mourning and la
mentatlon4 came from tho family
group; 80 no one paid any attention
to the movements of the animal; but
all noticed with concern for lie was
beloved by his congregation-the great:
pallor OF the clergyman, and the beads
OF perspiration standing upon his
brow, and they began to whisper to-
each other that Mr.. H - must be i'll.
After the interment5 they all pro-
ceeded to the church, where the tuner
al sermon was to be preached. Just
before entering, Mr.. Fl. turned
round to ascertain the whereabouts
of his tormentor, when 10 there he was,
not far from him, but the crowd pre-.
vented him from approaching too
closely. just at this moment some
one gave the poor creature a cruel
kick; which sent him off bowling.
When the minister reached his pulpit
lone of those old fairs as
cended by q short, steep flight steps
he breathed more freely. He WAS
just about to- commence his duties
when the sexton, a. good old man,
came noiselessly up the steps with a
slip OF paper in his hand, which he
wished to give to the minister, but
was unno ticed by that gentleman,
though seen by all the congregation.
He gently twitched his coat to attract
his attention. IA thrill Of horror
passed over the unhappy preacher at
the dreadful thought that the dog had
entered unseen in the crowd, and was
now about to take forcib!e possession
OF the sausage before the whole as
sembly; so, hoping to drive him away,
he kicked back cautiously but vigor-
ously, and struck the old man in the
breast, who rolled down the steps.
Seeing the look ofsurprise and alarm
on the faces Of the audience, he STAN
mered out, with CRIMSON face: ~ must
explain TO you, my brethren, what
must seem my Incorporate conduct.
a friend came out to me as was pass
ing her house, witha small package of
sausage for me to carry home in my
pocket, but ever since dismounted
from my horse this old dog''-point-
ing behind to the PROSTATE sexton, but
without looking round ---"has been fol-
lowing me and at last came into the
pulpit and has been tugging at my
coat, determined to get the sausage
from my pocket
+ At this moment, the sexton, little
stunnedSand alittle hurt, arose from
the floor, and the minister at glance
took it all in, sta.ed wildly at him.
took q drink Of water, turned very
pale and sat down, overwhelmed with
consternation. Editors Drawer in
Harper's Magazine. s