The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-10-30
1ait and 3umor.
Settled the Bill.

From the Arkansap Trdreler.'
A circuit rider, in a neighborhood with
which he was unacquainted, stopped man
in the road and asked:
"My friend, can you tell me of place
where a preacher can stay all night without
money and without price"
"Yas, in the woods"
"Of course, but can you tell me of some
house ?"
''Yas (pointiug), that one up on yam
hill"
"Will it cost me anything?"
"Not a cent"
"Who lives there p
'Nobody."
II don't want to stay in a vacant house.
Come, now, my good man, tell me OF a
place"
"Wall, will. Go about two miles down
this road, then turn to the left. The fust
house YOU strike will be old Sam Potter's.
He'll take you in
"But, will he charge anything
''Not a cent.
'Treat me well, of course?"
"Like er Jedge-give you the best in
the house.
"Will he feed my horse ?"
"He'll founder him, if you say so.
81 am thousand times obliged to
you"
aSay." the man called as the preacher
started off, she's sorter curis Teller, an
if YOU ask him how much he charges he'll
git mad. Jest act like you was at home,
an it'll be all right with him.
''Thank you, I'll do SC"
The preacher found old Potter to be a
tall, gaunt man, with a harsh voice and
grizzled beard. Just before bed time the
minister asked Mr.. Potter if he would join
him in prayer.
Mot jest yit," Potter replied. jest
git down an pray when yer feel like 1t
= Don't wait on me, fur I've got to feed the
hogs afore 1 go to bed"
After breakfast the next morning, when
the preachers horse had been saddled
the reverend gentleman turned to Potter
and said:
"When l leave a place l always fee
that 1 am forgetting something.
"Wall, amt yer?"
ssNo, | think not, the preacher replied
as he began to tumble in his saddle-bass
ssNo haven't forgotten anything"
"Tm putty certain that you have
You've forgot to pay me"
"What? l didn't know you charged
anything"
"Yer know it now"
s'But, my dear sir, | am poor preach
er."
"Never hearn you preach, but jedgin
by the way you talk, reckin you air ell
po' preacher"
Il mean that haven't any money"
"Not my fault"
"That's all very well but can't pay
YOU"
EsThen I'll have to take it outen YOU
hide"
s'Look here, my friend"
"Oh, Tn lookin'. Coin to keep m.
eyes on you"
II say that man told me that | coult
stay here without charge"
"Yas, but wasn't the man.
II really can't pay you.
"What, after eatin' as much as yot
have? Wy parson you can make table
look the delicatest an puniest Nv any maj
| ever seen. The very first pass you made
the hind leg of shoat disappeared, an
then YOU made motion at the last pound
NV butter We had, an it wasn't no Longer
for this here 'airth."
II admit l was hungry, but"
"Oh, you needn't admit it, fur | sool
diskivered that fack."
"This is surely a very awkward posi-
ton. 1 really do not know what to do y
"Settle up, is the only advice I've got tt
offer"
"But really cannot.
"Then some NV your hide must CONF
= or
II wish you had more soul"
"Yas, an | wish you had more money.
"You certainly would not commit al
act of violence merely for few dimes p
'sYas, b'lieve would.
@My friend | am on my way to feet
my flock, and"
II reckon you think mo erbout feedin
yourself. Wy that dish of cabbage turn
ed pale every time you looked at it. Iker
stand err good deal, but when vidult'
cyclone comes along it breaks me up"
II am occupying terribly awkward
position"
"Better squat, then"
off you'll let me off III send you the
money"
4iNo, I'm erfeered that after you begir
to feed your flock you won't think of {
sinner like me.
swell, declare, ! am in an awkward
position"
~ eyes, so I've hearn."
els there no way by which we can set
bis affair n
III yes pay up"
klt 1 tell you 1 have no money"
Is, SO I've hearn."
Ell, as you have driven me to the
suppose I must fight you"
Its my ticket Skin yourself"
breacher took off his ALPACA coat
: WsN and put it on bench, then,
"a. Dng up his shirt sleeves, he
J dss step this way, please.
a[r. Potter stepped that way and was
a Vtly knocked down. He got up just
Mo be knocked down again. The
he got up cautiously and tried
1.-The preacher but was knocked
bc4 his back.