The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-09
TWO PREACHERS.

old man, when he had settled well back in his
rocker-'it was along in fifty-three or four
when I oyerseed for old man Lee, and it was
norated around the settlement that there was
10 be man from theological seminary to
preach at old Friendship meeting house, and
it was lowed as how he was great scholar
and was great man at the college for long
time, and that he was just coming over to
Georgia for a rest, and would visit the Presby-
terrain settlements and preach and take up
small donations just to pay expenses and get
acquainted like. He came and preached, and
they passed around the hat, and he went home
with old man Lee at night
DIR. Tonic. as we called him, visited around
among the Friendship Westinghouse folks and
they all said that he was an uncommonly larnt
man, and so the Presbyterians over in Coweta
county heard OF him and sent him an invite to
visit their settlement and he decided to go,
and nothing would do old man Lee but that
must 90 with him and bring the mule back
that he was to ride.
81 saddled two Of the mules--one for him
and one for me-and we were to go over in the
fork OF Line creek and Flint river to stay all
night SO as to have an easy ride the next day.
"When the doctor como out to get on the
mule larn't at once that.he had never had
anything TO do with mules, and he spoke up
and said that he had never been on a horses
back in his life. I didn't say word, but
thinks / to myself: odd Kit will get some of
that starch outen you fore this trip Is ended
OF my names not Plunkett'
Exit was one OF these mules that could
whirl and kick a chaw OF tobacco outen your
month fore you could wink. l seed she
wasn't ergyne to stand no foolishness so
grabbed her by the bits and jerked her time
or two and cussed her a few lines, low-so low
that the doctor couldn't hear me.
exit stood till the doctor got up on the block
and went to throw his right leg over to mount
in the saddle, when she give a snort and q
jump and the doctor hit the ground as solid as
q rock.
I'D heard good deal erbout what the Pres
byterians called the doctors dignity and that
he was never known to relax, but I can tell
you that when the doctor found himself on the
ground ermong old Kits legs, he got up ard
he got up mighty quick, and there warn't no
scraping and bowling and. pulling off his hat in
the matter.
IT seed there was no use trying to get the
doctor on any more mules, SO hiIched up q
wagon and we started that
eve crossed over Flynt river into the fork
about an hour by sun and as the doctor was
kinder complaining we stopped at the first
house, which at that time was old Bagwell
Blakes. Old Blake was good liver, had
plenty, and liked company as we'll as any man
that ever lived He was glad to see us he
said. ana asked us to go in and make ourselves
at home while he attended to the stock.
pretty soon AFTER we'd took our seats by
the fire old Blake come in from the lot and he
lowed
"'The old 'owan and the children are shut
up In the loom-room and I'll let 'em know
you've all come, so as to get your names in the
pot--what's the strangers name, Plunkett?"
E" MIR. Blake let me introduce you DIR. Tom
ie,' said /, and the doctor arose and bowed
and scraped GROUND in his dignifed way when
old Blake grabbed his hand with hearty
shake and lowed:
"Well, DOCTOR I'm glad to see you, for the
old 'oman's been ailing for sometime and I've
been thinking OF physicing her, but it was SO
tarnal far to the doctors that we've put 1t off
till she's mighty nigh got on the lift"
THE doctor turned red in the face, and
cleared up his throat and scraped GROUND, but
before he could say a word old Blake was off
come in again with the old oman and nine
children right artcr him, and he lowed
oman, this is doctor, and I'll be
dadsh 7cd If you mustn't be 'zamined and
get eHCdgh medicine to last whole year, for
I'm tired'of hearing you grunt Ground
"Ihe doctor riZ from his chair and begin TO
bow and clear his throat TO say something,
but before he could get word out the nine
children made q rush for the door and in
stepped old Parson Smith, the Methodist Cir
cult rider.
"Parson Smith was different man from Dr.
Tonne. He knowed better how to get about
in the fork and it warn't MORN a mint till
he had his right shoe off and warming his foot
at the fire. AFTER he had warmed mint and
trimmed the nail on his right big toe he
settled back with the two smallest children in
his lap and the balance hanging around him
and then no lowed:
"Suffer little children to come unto me-
"Parson Smith was long and lank, wearing a
wooden peg for his left log and was at home
among the Methodist In the fork
''Dr. Tonic was short, straight and stiff and
was not at home anywhere-without it was
among the books Mt his seminary.
"rhe doctor sat there, and think he was
growing for he looked out the window and
said something about the beautiful trees that
stood in the front yard.
"Parson Smith lowed Yes
This seemed to cheer the doctor for he
went on 10 talking with lot of highfalutin
words and nobody said word till no mention
cd something about the ruins of Pompeii,
whom old Blake seemed to understand, and he
lowed:
"'I don't wonder at anything being ruined II
anybody named Pompy had q hand in it.
had Il niger named POmpy that was so mean
that had to sell him for half price, and was
mighty glad TO get that
"The doctor turned red and begin TO clear
his throat, but he couldn't say word and
things were quiet till supper-Cepting Parson
Smith and the children.
"a little after dark the house begin to fill
with youngsters. We all knowed it was
surprise party but the doctor and lie didn't
know what il was nor what il meant.
Tho young men went to pulling the beds
down and moving cut till they had everything
outen the room but tho chairs and they We're
placed around next to the wall and the young
folks formed ring I'm the middle Of the room
and went 70 playing snap OUT
"a great big gauky fellow snapped his fin
ger at Mary Harp and here they went, round
and round, one after the other, the same as a
race az the fair. till NIary's shoes begin 10 get
slick as she made a quick curve around by the
doctor her feet slid from under her
the same as IL she had er
bin on ice. She got tangled up
with the doctor as she went down ana they
both hit the floor together The young fellow
couldn't stop in time, and he stumbled over
the doctors legs and come down spralling across
the two, There was scTambling Talk about
the doctors dignity--he relaxed and got about
as poart MS a boy in yaller jackets nest.
Things were straighted ont arter while
and the doctor took his chair and went over
in the corner behind the parson. and the par
son slapped his hands under his wooden leg
and brought il up 10 charge bayonet sort OF
way and told the youngsters tocut your patch
in, but II you run agin this leg You'll get
snagged,' and they didn't.
"It rained so that night that there was no
getting ont Of the fork the next morning, so
nothing would do but what everybody must