Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-10-16

with as much zeal as the parson himself
showed.
"Hit air unly fair ter tell him what
we-uns air amin ter d." old ST Lar
kins said. The revel, that had begun in
a corn-shucking and ended in q
drunken dance, had been at Sis house,
and he had in consequence been tacitly
chosen leader of the defense.
NAV" they agreed, lit air unly fair
ter let the parson know, he hev been
op'n an fair with we-uns."
So Pete Larkins, Sis oldest son, armed
with rifle, rode over to the cabin un-
der the brow of the mountain to inform
the preacher that just SO soon as the
sermon should be over he was invited
to join the neighbors in an entertain
viii plum thicket back o. the meet'n'-
house,"
Pete noted carefully the effect of the
invitation. Ii he expected to see any
sign of fear or Of finching he was mis-
taken. The plucky little preacher
stood his ground as bravely as the
bravest. He looked up coolly in the
bloated face of the reckless mountain
eer astride Sis big gray mare.
''I'll be there, Pete" he said, "fast
or tuneril, I'll be tier. Tell the
brothrin."
s'Ten the brethren The words
had familiar sound somehow, very
pleasant sound. Pete rode off with a
strange new feeling about his heart for
the lonely little preacher living all
alone in the cabin under the shadow of
the mountain. He admired him thor
oughly.
HE air game" be told himself. but
it was not the 'gameness" that had
touched him, it was the message:
Tell the brethren"
"Soun's like it might a-come out o.
the Bible hitself," he said; and all the
way home Pete busted his mind in try
ing to place the parsons words.
"War it Paul ?' be asked himself, cor
war it Christ, ez said that word ?"
He could not decide, his Scripture
knowledge was SO meagre, but long be-
fore he reached home with the mes
sage, Pete had withdrawn from the
fight against Parson Lyle. ssHe air a
younger man nor me-" he said to him
self, cam a weaklier man an q better,
an [ air not amin to bender him
none."
The day before Christmas dawned
clear and cold. AS if to emphasize his
independence 81 Larkins had caused it
''norated round" that he was preparing
feast for Christmas Night, and all the
young folks in the Cove were expected
to be on hand and join in Christmas
dance.
This was the browning insult; and it
quite put to fight any lingering doubt
of the wisdom of his course that might
have found Judgment in the mind of
the little mountain preacher. He was
angry; and he added many a scathing
reprimand to the already long discourse
that he had prepared for Christmas.
The country for miles around mad
heard of the trouble at Bear Cove and
the promised sermon of reproof. The
people would be out in full force and
Parson Lyle declared he would give
them the full value fur Their trouble"
1t was noon when Parson Prater,
away over in Sunset Cove, rode up to
the door of his cabin, dism ounted, and
after saluting his wife and children, be-
gan to remove the saddle from old Bald.
He had been absent for several weeks,
"over ter Bledsoe holpin' Nv the
brothrin in meet'n'." He was tired
and glad to get home and said SO; he
asked at the same time for the news
of the neighborhood."
eye hewitt heerd o. the trouble ter
Bar Cove, reckon ?' his wife asked
just at the moment when the loosened
girth fell from the horses feet. Parson
Prater paused, the saddle half drawn
from the animals back.
BE Their trouble ter Bar Cove ?" he
asked.
1.-THE hull kentry air alive with it,
she told him. "Hit air all count o.
that Dretherdis' dancin' party We heerd
about. Hit air been a-brewin' nigh on
ter two months. an now the pot air
bout ter bile over. Parson Lyle aims
ter preach op'n sarmon ter-morrer FUR
Christmas gif', an they-uns' down
Their have laid out to strop him ter s.
blackjack tree an thrash him ter a
inch Nv his life when he air done
preachin'."
She paused; the old man had slipped
the saddle back to its place, and
buckled the girth again.
"Wher' be We goin' ter, Caleb ?" she
asked OF him.
about my Masters business" he
told her; and the weary old ambassador
for peace mounted his horse. and
turned his face toward the cabin IN Bear
Cove.
'sThat war suddint CALL" his wife
declared, as horse and rider disap-
peared down the long lane, and she
felt half vexed that she had postponed
the telling of the news of the disturb
ance until both man and beast had
taken few moments rest.
The sun was almost ready to drop be-
hind the mountain when old Bald
turned into the road leading to Parson
Lyles cabin. The owner was gathering
chips at the woodpile, but left his bas-
ket to meet his visitor.
''Ljght?" he said, half hoping he
would say no, for he guessed in part the
object of the visit.
Nav" said the old man, st 'low it
air not wuth while."
He glanced down at the young face,
Swallowed by care, and bearing the
marks Of toll and WEAKNESS. A good
face withal. bearing witness to the
strong heart it indexed.
"Ye be worried, brother" said the
older man.
tYaas, Man air born ter trouble ez
the sparks flies up'ard,'" was the an
sWer.
The old man leaned forward, and laid
his hand on the young preachers
shoulder.