River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-11-14

/ christmas DAY, three weeks on an
flllin' on a Wednesday,"
His determination was no secret; the
very text OF the wonderful sermon was
known to the Cove people. and ''the
opposition" prepared for the big
day" with as much zeal as the parson
himself showed.
Hit air unly ter tell him what We
uns air amin ter do" old ST Larlxins
said. The revel, that had begun in a
constructing and ended in "A drunken
dance. had been at Sis house. and he
had in consequence been tacitly chosen
leader OF the defense.
Nav" they agreed, ''it 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 a rifle. rode over to the
cabin under 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 IA an
entertainment by the old black jack
tree in the wiz plum thieket back o.
the meetu-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 into the
bloated face of the reckless mount
aineer astride Sis big gray mare.
I'm be Their, Pete" he said. last
or funeriI. I'll be- Their. Tell the
brOthrin."
Tell the brethren" The words had
a familiar sound somehow, very
pleasant sound. Pete rode off with a
strange. new feeling about his heart
for the lonely little preac i. r living all
alone in the cabin under the shadow
OF the mountain. He admired him
thoroughly.
He air game, . he 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 =
the Bible hitscf" he said; and all the
way home Pete busted his mind in try
ing 10 place the parsons words
War it Paul?n ne asked himself,
''or war IL Christ, e. said that words"
lie could not decide. his Scripture
knowledge was 50 meaget. but long
before he reached home with the mes
sage. Pete had Withdrawn from the
fight against Parson Lyle He air u
younger man nor me, he said to him
self. ian weaklier man an better,
an | air not amin TO bender him
none.
The day before Christmas dawned
clear aud cold. As if to emphasize his
independence 81 Larkins had caused it
TO be .'norated round that he was
preparing n feast for Christmas Night.
and all the young folks in the Cove
were expected 10 be on hand and
join IN a Christmas dance. This was
the crowuiag iu>u /; and il quite put 10
fight any linger Ig doubt of the wis
dom 81 his course that might have
found Judgment in the mind of the little
mountain preacher. He was angry;
and he added many a scathing repri-
inuud to the already long discourse
that he had prepared for Christmas.
The country for miles around had
heard of the trouble at Bear Cove and
the promised sermon OF reprOot The
people would be ont in full force, and
Parsou Lyle declared he would give
Il was noon whed old ParsOn Prater,
away over in Sunset Cove rode up to
the door of his cabin, dismOunted, and
after saluting his wife and children,
began to remove the saddle from old
Bald. He had been absent for several
weeks. "Over ter Bledsoe holpin' nv
the brothrin' in "A meetin'" He was
tired and glad to get home and said SO;
be asked at the same time for 1.-The
news OF the neighbOrhood.
'.Ye hevn heerd o the trouble over
ter Bar Cove. I reckin?" his wife asked
just at the moment when the loosened
girth fell about the horses feet Par
son Prater paused, the saddle half
drawn from the animals back.
BE Their trouble ter BAG Ccve?''
he asked
The hull kentry air alive with it. :"
she told MIN. hit air all count o.
that Mctherdis' dancin' party We heeard
about. Hit air been a-brewin' nigh on
ter two months an now the pot air
bout ter bile over. Pdrson Lyle aims
ter preach op'n sarmon ter-morrer
fur "a Christmas cir. an they-uns down
Their hey laid out ter strop him ter a
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 il place, aud
buc.,ied the cir h again.
'.Wher' be We goin' ter. Calob?" She
asked of him
About my Masters business" he
told her; and the weary old ambassa-
dor for peace mounted his horse, and
turned his face toward the cabin in
Bear Cove.
That war suddint call" his wife
declared. ~ horse and rider disap-
peared down the long lane. aud she
felt half-vexed that sire had not post
poned the telling Of the news of the
disturbance until both man and beast
had taken "a few moments rest.
The sun was almost ready TO drop
behind the mountain when old Bald
turned into the road leading to Parson
LyIe's cabin. The owner WAS gather
ing chips a the woodpile. but left his
basket aaj went 10 meet his visitor
Lights" he said, half hoping he
would say no. for he guessed in part
the object Of the visit.
Nav. said the old man. Il low it
air not uuth white.
He glanced down nj the Young face
-hudowcd by care and bearing the
MARKS Of toll aad veariuess \ good
face vithal. bearing witness TO the
strong heart it indeNed.
.'Ye be worried. brother" said the
Older mau-
.-Yaa~. Man air born tor trouble ez
the sparks flies up'ard,' was the
answer
The old man leaned forward. and
laid his hand upon the young preach
cr's shoulder
Brother. he said. 4 hcv been