The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-02


Then Mr.. Smith took up the
thread of his discourse and argued
long and ably against the unjust de-
mands of Labor. Would that l had
space to give his address verbatim,
put, alas, l have not. Suffice it to
say that he fully maintained the de-
served reputation of the Smith fami-
ly for oratory, and old Hezekiah
Tomkyns was heard to remark, as
he hobbled out of the schoolhouse {:
"There amt no other fellow in
these here parts that kin elocute like
'Xerk' Smith" A charming tribute
Of age to genius.
The result of the conference was
that Burgville decided not to yield
to the Reverend T. Dewitt Jenkyns'
demand, but to import rival pas
tor from the neighboring hamlet of
Pugstown. Accordingly G. Jona-
than Gibbs add Xerxes Smith were
dispatched to secure the services of
the Reverend Henry Ward Drauller,
and to bring him to Burgville in
time for evening service.
Now, this plan might have worked
very well, had not the Reverend T.
Dewitt Jenkyns learned of his enc
mics projected move, and immedi-
ately made up his mind to thwart it.
He left his house late in the after
noon and strolled leisurely along
the road that led to Pugtown. Burg
vile was instantly on the qui vive.
What did he intend to do "Some
mischiefsurely." Burgville thought
so followed him although at a re-
spectful distance.
Presently the cart containing the
Reverend Henry Ward Drauller
and the committee was seen appro-
aching. T. Dewitt Jenkyns paus-
ed, and Mrs.Abijah Homespun step
ped up to him.
"Parson," she said, "what air you
going to do ? Ireckon you'd better
not interfere with that air Pugtown
parson."
Madam" hereplied calmly, "rest
assured that l shall in no way vio-
late the law. My measures will be
peaceable ones" And he stepped
to the middle of the road and signal
led the cart, now close at hand, to
stop. The Reverend Henry Ward
Drauller drew up, and his clerical
colleague straightwao took his posi-
ton beside the cart, and requested
him not to fill the position made va
cant by the strike. This the other
refused to agree to, whereupon the
striking dominic whipped out a
knife, cut the tugs, and let the hors c
go cantering down the road alone.
The sensations of Burgville, on
witnessing this bold move, can bet
ter be imagined than described.
"You promised to obey the law |"
yelled a dozen in unison.
Gentlemen" returned r. Dewitt
"the courts have decided that un-
coupling car is not unlawful"
In the excitement that followed,
the Burgville rector managed to
gain the seat beside the one from
Pugtown. What he then said to
no one ever knew, but it was suffi-
cient to do away with all chance of
having service that night. The Rev.
erend Henry Ward Drauller stood
up on the seat Of the cart and an
nounced:
Gentlemen, l have been prevailed
upon to join the strike. 1 will not
fill the vacant pulpit"
At this some urchin in the crowd
cried "You couldn't fill it; you're
too SMALL" but Mr.. Drauller did not
deign to notice this "ling" at his
statue.
Throughout the entire week the
citizens of Burgville endured all the
horrors of a strike. The Reverend
I. Dewitt Senkyns refused to offici-
ate at any services or to perform any
other of his clerical duties and be-
fore the following Sunday it was Of
ficially announced that all the cler-
gymen for miles around had formed
an alliance and decided to uphold
the strike at Burgville. Their first
move was to boycott the offending
village by announcing to their re-
spective parishioners that they must
have no dealings the Burgvillians.
Of course the parishioners resented
this interference with their rights
and refused to be dictated to, and
whereupon all the clergpmen struck,
and the devil held high carnival
throughout the entire county.
The laymen were mitily enraged,
and swore they would do without
salvation rather than yield. The
clergymen replied they could not do
without it, and would have to sue