Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-01-31
Mechannsown Frederick County, Maryland Thursday January g. l989

at it they went. Mr.. Mack told me il
was the awfulest fight he eyer saw
They fought from one end of the store
to the other, and finally out through g
back door into the yard, where they
had it, rough and tumble, for fifteen o,
twenty minutes.
oh! dear oh, dear Why didn't
Mr.. Mack part them ?
He did try. but couldn't. He SAID
he never saw men fight So.
'And-dear ME how did it end ??
Well, Mr.. Faxon rather got the bet
ter of Mr.. Giles-hcked him, as some
would say-but they both got 80 tired
that they were glad to quit and hurry
home
And we're they hurt7' she asked ten.
derby.
Pretty badly bruised. Mr.. Faxon'
eyes were both blackened and his nose
bleeding. and Mr.. Giles head and face
were awfully pounded, and piece of
his right ear bit off. Well, good.day
Mrs. Dickson. I must be going.
And Jim rode away chuckling at the
old lady's astonishment and credulity
oh, dear. lt's dreadful. !" sighed
Mrs. Dickson.
And she did not resume her work
for an hour.
When her son came in to supper, she
told him all about it and he was very
much shocked. A neighbor named
Thompson, called that evening and
they told him. Thompson told several
of his neighbors, next day, and they
each told several others, and they 9TH
era, and so on till it was thoroughly
noised abroad,
1t reached the ears of the minister
and with sad heart he called on Mr.
Faxon and begged him to be rsconciled
to Mr.. Giles. He was surprised. 1t
was the first he had heard Of any such
fight.
Then they both called on Mr.. Giles
1t was news to him. Then they all
three called on Mr.. Mack, the village
storekeeper, and he assured them the
story was unfounded, saying that it
must be merely joke.
"A very repreheusible joke, said the
minister
Very wicked Of any one TO start
sach a story, said Mr.. Faxon-'wasn'
it, Brother Giles?'
Very. Such an act should be
promptly rebukea.'
1t was resolved to trace the story
out. So it was followed from nei ghbol
Jones to neighbor Smith, from Smith
to Brown, from Brown to Robinson
from Robinson to Gray, from Gray tc
Green, from. Green to Thompson, from
Thompson to the Dicksons; thence tt
its great .source-JIm Steel.
The two injured men met the mis-
chievous young fellow In Mr.. Mack
store, on the very day that they hat
traced the ridiculous story to HIM, auc
they charged him with it.
He WAS somewhat alarmed, but full,
confessed, protesting that he had only
done it for fun-never thought any bod!
would believe twas sorry it hac
caused any talk and SO on.
1t was very wrong of you, Jim, sale
Mr.. Faxon. You have represented two
men as fighting who would be the las
in the world to strike fellow creature
let alone each other.
True" chimed in Mr.. Giles, 'yor
have, without shadow Of foundation
within the bounds of probability, plac
ed us in a wrong light, and thus lower
ed us for time IN The eyes OF th'
community, l am not revengeful, but
feel it to be my duty to see you deal
with according to law as warning tc
others.
Why really Mr.. Giles, said jim
Steel, who began heartily to regre
that be had ever breathed the untrue
story, 4 only did it thoughtlessly and
meant no harm.
1T was a falsehood, returned Mr.
Giles, 'and that sin, in any shape
should be sternly dealt with.
Jim was yisibly alarmed.
Well, Brother Giles said Mr.. Fax
on, let us forgive jim this time. Now
that the ridiculous story has been refut
3D. no harm is done. for my part All
willing to let the matter drcp.
But Tn not said Mr.. Giles, whc
although a very exemplary man, still
possessed lingering spark Of stubborn
ness, that only showed itself when fan
ned by opposition, I'm not, Brother
Faxon, not that I'm revengeful, but
think that it is leniency with crime thai