Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1886-08-06
SETTLED THE BILL.
An Old FelIo who Learned to Admire
a Circuit Rider.


eMy friend, can you tell me of
place where preacher can stay al
night without money and withou
price?''
s'Yas, in the woods. -
"Of course but can you not tel
me of some house!''
''Yes, (pointing) that one up yai
hill"
"Will it cost me anything?'
''Not cent"
"Who lives there?'
Nobody"
II don't want to stay i'll a vacant
house. Come, now. my good man.
tell me of place.
"Wall. l will Go about two
miles down this road, then ;urn to
the left. The fust house you strike
will be old Sam rotter's. He'll
take yon in.
"But will ne charge anythingF"
s'Not cent
| 1reaC me well, OF COURSE!
/ "Like er jedge-give you the best
in the house"
"Will he feed my horse!"
'sHe'll founder him if you say so. .
Il am thousand times obliged
to you
"Say,'' the man called, as the
preacher started off, she's sorter
curis feller, an if you ask him how
much he charges he'll git mad. 1est
ack like you was at home, an it'll
all right with him."
"Thank you, I'll do So.
The preacher found old Potter to
be tall, gaunt man, with harsh
voice and grizzled beard. just be-
fore bed time the minister asked Mr..
Potter if he would join him in prayer.
"Not Gest yit,' Potter replied,
'Jest git down and pray when yer
feel like it. Don't wait On me, fur
I've got to feed the hogs before go
to bed.
After breakfast the next morning,
when the preachers horse had been
saddled, the reverend gentleman
turned to Potter, and srid:
"When l leave place l always
feel that am forgetting something"
"Wall, amt yer?''
''No, think not;'' the preacher
replied, as he began to tumble in
his saddle-bags. mo, ! haven't
forgotten anything
''Tm putty certain that you have.
You've forgot to pay me-
'sWhat! l didn't know you charg-
ed anything
eyer know it now.''
''But, my dear sir, L am a poor
preacher
''Never hearn you preach, but
jedgin' by the way you talk, reck-
in you air er po' preacher"
81 mean that haven't any mon
ey.'
sNot my fault.
That's all very well, but L can't
pay vou."
''Then I'll have to take 1t outen
your hide
"'Look here, my friend"
go, I'm lookin'. Coin to keep
my eyes on you."
"I say that a man told me that 1
could stay here without charge"
"Yas, but I want the man.
ST really can't pay You.'
"What, after eatin' as much as
you have? wy, parson, you can
make table look the deIicatest an
puniest NV any man ever seen.
The very first pass you made the
leg of shoat disappeared an then
you made motion at the last pound
NV butter we had, an 1t want no
longer for this here 'arth.''
81 admit that was hungry, but
30, you needn't admit it, fur
soon dIskivered that fack.''
'This is really very awkward pc
sition. 1 really do not know what
to do"
"Settte up, is the only advice I've
got to offer.''
''But really cannot.
"Then some NV your hide must
come off,
81 wish you had more SOUL"
esYas, an 1 wush you had more
money"
eYou certainly would not commi
an act OF violence merely for few
dimess'
.sYas, b'leve / would"
my friend, l am on my way t.
fsed my flock, and
<'I reckin you think mo- erbou
feedin, yourself. Wy that dish "
/ cabbage turned pale every time yor
looked at 1T. / ken stand er gooC
deal, but when vidults cyclon,
comes along it breaks me up
Il am occupying a terribly awk
ward position.
ssBetter squat, then"
eff you'll let me off I'll send yol
tine money"
.sNo, I'm erfeerd that after yo'
begin to feed your flock you won
think NV sinner like me.
q .