The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-05-27

the minister had shaken nanOS WIN
him, Ito tell you that not only me,
but everybody, is delighted with the
brother Ike sermon"
81 am highly pleased to hear it,"
"Not at ALL Say, I'vegot another
favor to ask"
"What is it, brotherW
''T want you to preach the sermon
OF my brother Itc again next Sun
day."
dWhy, that wouldn't do at ALL"
"Why not?"
because l preached it last Sun
day." :,
"Brother let me tell you that l
come mighty near runnin' this here
community. put five of the main
logs in that church you preached in
last Sunday, and unless you preach
Ike's funeral again next Sunday,
why I'll take the logs that belong TO
me an split 'em up for fire wood.
Oh, don't you think the folks will
take your part, They know me
know that it won't do to fool with
me. What do you say?"
"Oh, rather than haveany trouble,
brother, will do as you suggest"
"Will you make it as powerful as
the other one was?"
81 will try" thepreacher answered.
"All right, but mind that you do
try"
The next Sunday the people were
somewhat surprised to hear another
earmon on the virtues and graces of
Brother Ike, but no objections were
raised. Wiggs was again deeply at
] Eected, 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 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.
81 have set up the sermons twice and
think that have done my duty"
Look here, cap'n-call you cap'n
because you air about to go inter o
Warmly brother Ike has been lynn
thar for ten or fifteen years with
nary funeral sermon till the other
day, while lots OF old fellers 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
q chance. Hear me?"
II hear, butIdo 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 o funeral, but am | to be held
responsible"
SIN regard to other folks, no; in
regard to Ike, yes"
"But l 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
waleredW
II don't want any trouble with
you"
Then agree to preach about Ike,
or I'll give you the wust wallerin' a
white man ever seed."
Brother"-
"Goin' to preach that funeral?'
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. l am man
of peace and gentleness"
"But | amt" Wigs replied. II
am a shorter from Bar Holler!
amt the man that butted the bull
often the bridge, but l am the man
that rid the bay steer through the
saft ooze of the swamp of despair.
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.
l 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 Wigs rode up to
the preacher house, and seeing the
minister in the yard dismounted.
Come out here 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. / have Jest found
out that Ike want nuthin' but my
half brother, and l don't propose to
do so much for 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"
81 know that, an That's why l
have come. Iwant you to go to
the church next Sunday an take
them sermons back, | amt havin'
mo 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,