Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-08-06

vi, TdOiief Gldn nave any GrOuDle,
brother, will do as you suggest"
"Will you make it as powerful as
ting .otler one was?"
u viii 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 of
Brother Ike, but no objections were
raised. Wiggs was again deeply af-
fected, and again with overpowering
emotion he disappeared in the woods,
Early the following Friday morn
ing the preacher was surprised to re-
ceive another call from Wiggs.
"What can I do for you this time,
brother??" the minister asked.
"Nothin' only to preach the funeral
of my brother Ike next Sunday
"Absurd," exclaimed the preacher.
II have set up the sermons twice and
think that l have done my duty"
Look here, cap'n-call you cap'n
because you air about to go inter a
Warmly brother Ike has been a lynn
thar for ten or fifteen years with
nary a funeral sermon till the other
day, while lots OF old tellers that
have never done nothin' fur the
country have had more funerals
than they knowed whut to do with,
SO think it's time fur Ike to have
a chance. Hear me?'
II hear, but do not hearken. The
fact that your brother has been neg
lected is no fault of mine. There
are hundreds OF men who have never
had a funeral, but am to be held
responsible"
''In regard to other folks, no; in
regard to Ike, yes
But [ refuse to preach his funeral
again."
"All right. I'll allow you a while
and then I'll go over and take tn EN-
logs out of the church. Wanter be
wallered?"
II don't want any trouble with
" Then agree to preach about Ike,
or I'll give you the wust wallerin' a
white man ever seed"
Brother" -
"Goin' to preach that funerat?"
The visitor began to take off his
coat. A distressed expression settled
on the preachers face.
Brother ] do not wish to have
any trouble with you. am a man
of peace and gentleness."
"But l amt" Wiggs replied. II
am a shorter from Bar Holler! l
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.
If you don't wanter get that coat
dirty, wy off with it,
"Brother, at the risk of displeasing
the people whom it is my duty to
please, l will make another venture.
| will preach for you again next Sun
day."
On the following Sunday the peo-
pie were still further surprised at the
great virtues of Brother Ike, but be-
ing indulgent made no complaint.
Three days later Wiggs rode up to
the preacher house, and seeing the
minister in the yard dismounted.
"Come out here a mint" Wiggs
called.
"What canyon possibly want with
me now" the preacher asked as he
climbed over the fence.
II have come on mighty distressin'
business. You know that you
preached my brothers funeral three
tfmes?''
eyes, and you cannot possibly
want me to preach it again?"
"No; fur from it. l have jest found
out that Ike want nuthin' but my
half brother, and l don't propose to
do so much for q TELLER that amt no
more kin to me than that. So,
brother, We'll have to fix it.
But how can we? The funerals
have been preached
ri know that, an that's why b
have come. Iwant you to go to
the church next Sunday an take
them sermons back, l amt havin'
no half brother, pulled. Thar amt
none of the half way business about
me. Will you take them sermons
back next Sunday"
"Such a thing would be ridiculous,
my friend. | cannot comply with
your wish"
"Then I'll have to waller YOU"
ri have Accommodated you three
times and now l beg you to go
away"
II lowed that I'D have to waller
you"
81 tell you that I am a man of
peace and gentleness.
"Lowed that I'd have to waller
you"
"Well, come on then you trihing
scoundrelP'
The preacher took off his coat and
hung it on the fence. Wiggs looked
up and down the road. The preach
er rolled up his sleeves, turning to-
ward his house, lifted his hands and