Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-09-06
An Orthodox Man.
Arkansas Traveller.

An Orthodox Man.
Arkansas Traveller.
\ man wearing the evidences of a tire
some journey di,mounted from a iaded
horse at the door of cabin near the Ar
kansas line of the Indian Territory. and
speaking to an old fellow who advanced to
meet him, said
My friend, | am worn out and am hun
cry, Can you give me shelter and some
thing to eat2"
Il dunno 'zactly, but We mout as sich
things have been did before Whut's 20
name2"
Marcus White"
..Ah, hahl They call you Mark, l reck-
onl"
yes"
''Wall. my name is Matthew, and I've
got son named Luke and one named
John. All Nv Us tergethcr would make
sort of goSple team wouldn't we'"
''Yes, said Mr. White. smiling, But
the question now is, can find accomoda
tion here,"
Glitch yo' horse and come in, and Wen
see about it."
When White went into the house a
shrunken woman, mumbling over her knit
ting. made room for him by showing back
her chair without getting mp. and a jute
haired child, with a hunk of corn bread in
its hand scrambled under the bed.
"Set down, Mr.. Mark, said old Mat
thew "Tildy, addressing his wife) you
mout hussle around now and git this here
hongry man suthin' ter eat. You mout go
out thar and kill that old hen that's been
asserting fur two weeks on them pieces of
brickbats. Bile her long enough an | reck-
on we can chaw her.
The woman wiped her nose on her knit
ting and went out, and pretty soon there
arose the distressing cry of an old hen.
Mr. Mark, said old Matthew, You are
religious | hope"
"Yes, l try to be"
Glad ter hear it, fur nobody but reli-
gious folks can claim anything often me.
You believe that Aaron made a steer outen
gold, don't your
..YeS. a calf
Air you shore it was a ealfi'
Il am quite sure
wall, then, we won't argy. All |
want is ter settle the fact NV yo' belief, fur,
ez | tell you, am a religious man, dyed
in the wool and baptized in the feathers.
You believe that old 'Lisha made the he
bears eat up forty ch ildren, don't youl'
They were she bears
"Air you certain about that p'mt'''
Yes, l am positive"
Wall, it don't make no diffunce so long
as you believe it. Now, lemme see. It's
my habit, you understand, to investigate
these things. | wouldn't let an inferdel
stay in my house five minutes, if | knowed
it, fur nothin' in the world. You believe
that Moses split the sea, don't your
''Yes."
''Glad-glad to know that you air a
Christian gentleman. But hear my boys
Luke and John a-comin' They've been
over inter Bucksnort County ter settle
little diffkelty'
When the boys, two gaunt fellows came
into the room the old man said: Boys,
this is Mr. Mark Set down thar, an tell
me how the thing came ont. Did you find
old man Bender9'
''Yas suh," said one of the boys.
"Whut did You do with him''
Tied him ter tree"
Good Then what did you dor
IFTWe cut some hickories an whipped
him"
Good the old man exclaimed. ibid
he howl!'
'Bawled like er cow"
Good! How many did you hit himf'
Fifty"
Illustrate. Then WHAT
1--WE left him tied thar"
Illustrate, Mr. Mark" he added, speak
ing to the guest, ''tLIt oughter teach him
a lesson"
"What had he done to deserve such pun
ishmentl'
"Oh, he sued me Tor saddle borrid
from him Left him tied, eh! Fustrate!"
They continued to talk and the odor of
the boiling hen foated into the room.
gathering cloud which all day had been
making threats burst into a downpour of
rain.
Mr. Mark" said the host, Il wanter AK
you another question. We must have a
little iberality, you know, ez well ez be
lief Do you bTeve that Adam was made
outer dust9'
"Well, strictly speaking, do not"
What, don't believe that Adam was
made outer dust
ITO tell you the truth, | do not.
wall then, git outer this house right
smart; git right out
"My dear sir, this rainstorm-
"Git out (springing to his feet or III
hurt you. | don't want the hghtnin' ter
strike my house jest because I've got an
inferdel here Git out"
Wont you give me piece OF that
chicken, please!"
'.Not a speck. I amt gwine to give the
lightnin' the slightest excuse for business.
No inferdel harbored here. Gitl'
Mr. Marcus w hite rode into the storm.