The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-03-06

" w lIoitlS- anu tlOII lCII
It's foolish custom anyhow, and
won't gire.way to it.
And he did not. Uncle Theron wa:
a good man, but he was headstrong
and for the last two years things haC
not gone right with him, and he was
irritable. He had three daughters, but
no son. | called him uncle, though he
was no relative of mine. My fathers
farm adjoined his, and up to within a
year Uncle Theron had always treated
me as if had been his son until |
wanted to make Lydia Banks, the ED
est daughter, my wife, and then Uncle
Theron was up in arms.
"No! he said, at can't be done.
Lyddy's the beauty of the family, and
she's got to redeem its fortins. She's
got to marry rich.
This would have been a heavy blow
if Lydia had not declared that she
would marry nobody but me, even
though she waited for twenty or more
years. All this did not improve Uncle
Iheron's temper, and when his cousin,
also Theron Banks, made his appear
ance at Llttleheld, after an absence of
five years, and limited that Uncle
Theron had not paid any interest on
the mortgage the former held for five
years, the latter was worse than ever.
His bachelor cousin was rich-very
rich-and really did not care about the
$4,000 mortgage, but Uncle Theron
looked upon him as his creditor, and,
consequently, his enemy, and SO made
him one by insulting him and the rich
man, who knew only business, said the
mortgage had expired, and he must
have principal and interest or he would
foreClose.
| knew all this, but what could |
do? | could do nothing. | also knew,
or thought | knew, that all the family
were going to church except Lyddy,
who was to stay at home and cook the
dinner, SO as TO have it ready on the
return with several guests. | did not
know who, but | was invited by Aunt
1eppie and meant to 90, though |
kne" Uncle Theron looked distrust-
fully at me- But | had another move
Oh the board. 1t was my intention. as
soon as the party were off to church,
to JOIN l.yddy in the kitchen and help
cook the dinner by watching the pot
1t may be surmised, therefore. that
did not feel like thanksgiving when,
from a distance, saw the family de
part without its heal, and after waiting
half an hour for him to come out |
went home and watched Uncle Their
on's house from our piazza for another
hour.
Then knew that church was over,
for | saw Uncle rheron's wagon coming
down the road. 1t had two in beside
the family, one | recognized as the
clergyman OF the village church and the
other as Mr.. Banks, Uncle Theron S
cousin. The first | had been told, by
Aunt Heppie, when she invited me,
was to be guest, but the last she had
said nothing about, and | must confess
| was astounded to see him coming.
But | had not much time to wonder,
| for there came distraction in shape of
a scream from the direction of Uncle
Iherons house, that fairly rent the
| air.
only saw that the inmates OF the
wagon had heard it as well. and Mr.
Banks, who was driving, laid the lash
on the horses, when sprang for the
road. 1t was desperate race ofhorse
against man for two hundred yards, but
horse beat, under skillful driving, by
about fifty yards. saw before | was
half way that the scream did not come
from the house, but from an adjoining
field, where an especially vicious bull,
which Uncle Theron had frequently
been advised to get rid of, had him
down and was goring him dreadfully,
while his screams were agonizing.
Mr. Banks was ahead of me and
was striking the bull across the nose
with the handle of his heavy driving
whip, when | rushed in and caught the
animal by the horns. Then Mr. Banks
! diverted his attention to the beast S
tail, and not forgetting when he was a
country boy, twisted it with tine vigor
| OF twenty-five years agone 1t was a
desperate struggle, but man conquered,
and the bull went down with a below
that was echoed back from the wagon
with first class scream from allhands.
BY this time we were joined by the
clergyman, Aunt Heppie taking care of
the horses, and three stout men upon
| Mr.. Bulls head made him consider
that something had happened, and he
laid still. Uncle Theron rolled out of
the way and was told, as he got on his
feet, to flee When he reached the
road, the trio of bull holders agreed to
retreat on a given signal. Mr.. Bangs
counted ''One, Two, Three ~ and we
let 90 OF the would-be murderer and
ran. He did not follow, in fact, he did
not rise, and as long as he was in sight,
as we drove away, he laid still, ex.
hausted by the struggle, as we were.
Uncle Theron was not much hurt,
though it had been narrow escape.
Soap, water and a whisk broom nearly
| restored us, and Uncle Theron urasned