The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-05-17
want you to preach the sermon ol
my brother Ike again next Sunday.
Why, that wouldn't do at all.
Whv not

mighty nigh runnin' this here commu
nifty. | put five of the main logs il
that church you preached in last Sun
day, and unless you preach Ike's funer
al again next Sunday, wy, I'll take TIL
logs that b'long to me an split 'em vi
for firewood. Oh, don't you think tn,
folks will take your part. They know
me-know that it won't do to fool witt
me. What do you say?
On, rather than have any trouble
brother, will do as you suggest.
Will you make it as powerful as the
other one was1
will try, the preacher answered.
All right, but mind that you do try
The next Sunday the people WERE
somewhat surprised to hear another
sermon on the virtues and graces O
brother Ike, but no objections were
raised. Wlggs was again deeply af
tected, and again with overpowerlng
emotion he disappeared in the woods
Early the following Friday morning
the preacher was surprised to receive
another call from Wigs.
What can / do for you this time
brotherP the minister asked.
Nothin' only to preach the funeral
of my brother Ike next Sunday.
Absurd, exclaimed the preacher.
have set up the sermons twice and think
that have done my duty.
Look here, cap'n-call you cap'n be-
cause you air about to go inter war
my brother Ike has been lyin' thar for
ten or fifteen years with nary a funeral
sermon till the other day, while l"ts of
old fellers that never done no fur
the country have had more funerals
than they knowd whut to do with, so
think it's time fur Ike to have a chance.
Hear me7
l hear, but l do not hearken. The
fact that your brother has been
neglected is no fault of mine. There
are hundreds of men that have never
had funeral, but am l to be held re-
sponslble2
In regard to other folks, no; in re-
gard to Ike, yes.
All right. I'll wallow you awhile and
thep III go Overland anu take them log
out If the church. Wanter be wallered
don't want any trouble with you.
Then agree to preach about Ike o.
I'll give you the wust wallerin' a white
man ever seed.
Brother
Coin to preach that funeral? The
visitor began to take off his coat. A
distressed expression settled upon the
preachers face.
Brother, | do not wish to have any
trouble with you. l am man of peace
and gentleness.
But amt, Wigs replied. l am q
snorter from Bar Hollar ! | amt the
man that butted the bull often the
bridge, but | am the man that rid the
bay steer through the saft ooze of the
swamp of despair. Ef you don't wan.
ter git that coat dirty, wy, off with 1t
Brother, at the risk of displeasing the
people whom it is my duty to please,
will preach for you again next Sunday.
On the following Sunday the people
were still further surprised at the great
virtues of Brother Ike, but, being in
dulgent, made no complaint. Three
DAYS later Wigs rode up 10 the preach
er's house, and, seeing the minister in
the yard, dismounted.
Come out here mint. Wigs called.
What can you possibly want with me
now9 the preacher asked, as he climbed
over the fence.
| have come on mighty distressin'
business. You know that you preached
my brothers. funeral three timesP
Yes, and you can not possibly want
me to preach 1t again'
No; fur frum it. have jest found
out that Ike WANT nothin' but my halt
brother, and don't propose to do so
much fur a feler that ain no more kin
to me than that. So, brother, we'll
have to fix it.
But how can we? The funerals have
been preached.
know that, an that's why l have
come. want you to 60 to the church
next Sunday an take them sermons
back. l amt havin' no half brother
pufed. Thar amt none of the half
way business about me. Will you take
them sermons back next Sunday2
Such a thing would be ridiculous,
my friend. l cannot comply with your
wish.
Then I'll have to waller you.
l have accommodated you three
times and now beg you to 60 away.
l lowd that I'd have to waller you.
tell you that l am a man of peace
and gentleness.
t0wd that I'd have to waller you.
Well, come on then, you trfling
scoundel.
the preacher took off his coat and
hung it on the fence. Wigs looked
up and down the road. The preacher
rolled up his sleeves, and turning to-
ward his house, lifted his hands and
said: "Lord. Thou knowest that when
l killed old Llge Moore, and Sam
Tillotson, and Calvin Green, and Dock
Vance, that prayed that all such cups
might forever pass from me, but Thou
seest that | am compelled to defend
myself.
The preached turned about. Dust
was rising down the lane. Wigs had
taken to his heeIs.-Obae p. Read.