Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-01-14
Tint SauSaCn.

A clergyman in asouthern state was
on his way to preach u funeral SER
mon. As he a passing the house OF
% widow lady, a member of his on.
gregation, she ran out and stopped
him, saying. as they just slaughtered
their hogs, shehad putupa few pounds
OF sausage as a present, adding that,
as she had put it in double paper
pockets, she thought it would not soil
his clothes. Hethanked her earnestly
for her kindness, and rode on, having
put the parcel in his pocket.
All the time he was officiating at the
grave a large, h~aif-starved hound kept
snuiing around him, sometimes APP
preaching alarmIngly near, attracted
10y the scent ofthe fresh meat. As the
deceased was a man OF some promi.
nence, there was a considerable crowd
collected, and great mourning and la
mentatlon came from the family
group; so no one paid any attention
to the movements OF the animal; but
all noticed with conccrn-for he was
beloved by hisconsregation-the great
pallor OF the clergyman, and the beads
OF perspiratlon standing upon his
brow, and they began to whisper to
each other that Mr.. IL Eiast be i'll.
After the intermrnt they all pro-
ceeded to the church, where the fuuer-
al sermon WAS to be preached. Just
before entering, Ais ". - turned
round to ascertain the whereabouts
OF his tormentor, when 10 there he G
not far from him, but the crowd pre-
vented him IRON approaching too
closely. just at this moment some
one gave the poor creature q cruel
kick; which sent him of bowling.
When the minister reached his pulpit
-one OF those old-fashioned afairs as
cended by a short, steep fight ofsteps
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 unnoticed by that gentleman,
though seen by all the congregation.
He gently twitched his coat to attract
his attention. A thrill of horror
passed we the unhappy preacher at
the dreadful thought that the doghad
entered unseen in the crowd, and was
now about to take forciblc possession
oil the sausage before the whole as
sembly; so, hoping TO drive Runaway,
he kicked back cautiously but vigor-
ously, and struck the old man in the
breast, who rolled down the steps.
Seeing thelook o~fsurprise and alarm
on the faces of the audience, he STAN
mored out, with CRIMSON face: IL must
explain TO you, my brethren, what
must seem my Incorporate conduct.
A friend came out to me as was pass
ing her house, with n small PACKAGE OF
sausage for me TO carry home in my
pocket, but even since | dismounted
from my horse this old dog"--point-
ing behind to the PROSTATE sexton, but
without lookinground-"has been fol.
lowing me and at last came into the
pulpit and has been tugging vt my
coat, determined to get the sausage
from my pocket"
AT this moment, the sexton, a little
stunned and a little hurt, arose from
the floor, and the minister at a glance
took it all in, stared wildly ut him,
took a drink of water, turned very
pale and sat down, overwhelmed with
consternation.-Editor's Drawer in
Harper's Magazine.