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

hau ralned great zeal during tne
previous week, and the effect had
been to bring out the foliage and
flowers, and make all look bright
and gay. Burgville was not yet
awake. The honest, hardy villagers
accustomed to early rising weekday
believed they were entitled to a little
rest on Sunday, and they took it.
But they were not slothful, and at
an hour rthat would have been deem
ed unreasonably early in cities
though late for them-signs of life
began to appear. Did you ever see
a village wake up on Sunday morn
ing No? Well, neither did I, SO
let that pass.
But Burgville did wake up this
Sunday, and Burgville had its break
fast and later Burgville went to
church. Little did this quiet ham
let reck the exciting scenes that were
in store for it this peaceful Sabbath; 4;
little did it think that ere nightfall a
struggle would be commenced with
in its sleepy domain that would de-
eide one of the greatest questions of
the age.
As | have before stated, Burgville,
all ignorant Of what was to come,
went to church. 1t wended its way
silently to its pews, and at half past
ten o'clock it was seated, patiently
awaiting the commencement of de-
votional exercises. Time flew by,
but the pastor appeared not. Quar-
ter to eleven, eleven o'clock, quarter
past eleven, and still the Reverend
T. Dewitt Senkyns had not. made
his appearance. Burgville looked
impatiently at its various watches,
and began to have misgivings. Per-
haps the pastor was i'll.
At half-past eleven Burgville could
wait in suspense no longer, so G.
Jonathan Gibbs, John Brown, and
Xerxes Smith were appointed
committee to wait upon the Rever-
end gentleman and learn the cause
of his detention.
Slowly they wended their way to
the parsons little brown frame house
at the end of the street, discussing
meanwhile the probable result of
their errand. The windows of the
parsons house were open the door
was open. Evidently the parson
was not dangerously i'll. Mr.. Xcr-
xes Smith ventured the suggestion
that perhaps the rector's book oforig-
inal sermons. purchased by him at
the cost of S1.50, had been lost, and
that he was thus incapacitated for
delivering his customary discourse
but Mr.. Smiths insinuation was
frowned upon by the other members
of the committee.
Arrived at their destination they
were surprised to see the parson
seated on his little side veranda
smoking corn-cob pipe, with his
feet elevated on the railing in front
of him. What could be the mean
ing of it?
"Sir," said Mr.. G. Jonathan Gibbs,
the spokesman, very respectfully,
1--WE were requested by the citizens
of Burgville to inquire of you why
you are absent from yourpulpit this
morning"
"Quitc right" said the Reverend
T. Dewitt Jenkyns approvingly.
"Quite right The citizens have Il
right to know. Gentlemen, l am on
a strike"
The committee were thunder
struck.
"Yes,n continued the Reverend
Jenkyns, as he took a Whit from his
pipe, 81 am on strike. Tell the
citizens that l consider my salary of
$500 per annum insufficient, and
that shall refuse to work until it is
raised. If necessary l shall resort
to the boycott, and refuse to marry
or baptize your sons and daughters" "
The committee returned to the
church and reported these words.
The excitement created by the an
nouncement was something tremen-
dous. Old Hezekiah Tompkyns said
he had seen nothing to equal it since
Deacon Stones wood-shed burned
down in ~. John Brown, Xerxes
Smith, Aunt Maria Stubbins and
Mrs. Abijah Homespun all tried to
speak at once, and the effect was in
describably bewildering.
That afternoon a mass-meeting
was held in the schoolhousc. Xer-
xes Smith was in the chair. and, in
calling the meeting to order, he
spoke as follows:
"Fellow-Ladies and gentlemen =
We have met this afternoon to de-
eide Il matter of great importance.
The question is this Shall we per-