The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-05-17

''NNS >e'''N - - tDoi ~ w l)allt. w lSSS
is well-known character of the COM
munity-a man of untrembling nerve,
of srrong arms and an appetite that
had nerve, of strong arms and an appe
tite that had never been known to fail.
What can do for you? the preacher
asked, when the visitor had introduced
himself.
Jes' called to pay my respecks an
to tell you that ct you ever need my
saryeses jes' call on me.
Are you pr"acher2 the circuit rider
ask"d.
Oh, no.
Then. how can you ever be of any
service to me2 My work, as you know,
is with the Lord, and a man whose
work is not directly in the Lords work
cant do me any good.
Wall, all your work in this here COM
munity mout not be with the Lord.
You'll find some putty tough fellers
round here, and To- that they
mout want to pull an haul you about
one of these times an ef they do, wy
you Jest call on me an we'll make 'em
so hot that they could stand under q
peach tree and make it bloom in Janu-
airy. Understand?
Oh, yes, | understand, but don't give
yourself any uneasiness on my account.
All right, but that Is not all the busi-
ness I've got with you. l 'preciate the
position you hold as worker fur the
Lord, and l wanter ask favor OF you.
All right, brother.
l want you to preach the funeral
of my brother Ike. Best feller you
ever seen in your lite-dled about ten
or fifteen years age. Great, big feller,
whipped old Oscar Miles once, an Os
was a power in the land, ! tell you.
Now you preach his funeral an I'll
make it all right with you.
| will do II, brother. What was the
cause of his death2
Lack of Ticker.
What was he SO addicted to the use
of liquor that when it gave out and he
couldn't get any more he died1
Oh, no, he never was much of a
hand to drink.
Then how did he die on account of
the lack of lquorP
wy he was bit by rattlesnake an
as he didn't have no hcker he jest
nachually died
And you want me to preach his
funeral?
Yes an you ken git in some powful
work when you git down inter the lacks
of his lynn thai sufferin' fur ticker.
You ken felch the tears outen mi shv
III h ever eye i'll the house.
| see but description of his death,
no matter how vivid, will not be quite
enough. Tell me something OF his
life.
Wall, he was the powerfullest feller in
the country. Reckon he could lift
more at a handspIkc than any man
about here.
But what were his strongest points ?
Rasslin' brother, rasslln' with the
ketch as ketch Can rule.
But had he not some moral quality ?
Oh, yes, He didn't swear 'cept
when he couldn't help hisself.
Well, | will do the best | can. Will
next Sunday dor
Yes suits me all right. Thar'll be a
big crowd out, specially as this is your
fust 'pearance, an | wan: you TO paint
IKE as bright as rose.
Yes, said the preacher, scratching
his head. I'll do that. Your brother
was a-a-a popular man, was hep
Popular as a basket OF ginger cakes
at a county fair.
All right, brother. III be on hand
next Sunday.
The house was crowded on the fol
lowing Sunday. Wigs took seat
near the pulpit, and, taking out an i'm
mcnse handkcrchiei-it must have been
the half of a table Cloth--made himself
appear as a man of deep seated sorrow.
The new clrcuit-rider preached pow
erful sermon-he painted pathetic
picture of man, wallowlng on the
ground, wringing his hands and crying,
in an agonized voice: "Licker, oh |!
bring me ticker or | will perish
After services were over, Wigs shook
hands with the preacher, and then,
breaking down with the weight of his
emotion, wheeled about and disap-
peared IN the woods.
Ga the following Saturday Wigs
called on the preacher again. l have
come, SAID the visitor, when the minis
ter had shaken hands with him, to tell
you that not only me, but everybody, is
delighted with the brother Ike sermon.
am highly pleased to hear it.
Not at all. Say, I've got another
favor to ask.
What is it, brother?