Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-06-19

MN. 80 as the old man walked away
Sam looked thoughtfnlly after him for a
minute and then turned away, too, and
went home without discussing the merits
Of the tale with any one
The news of the singular capture spread
like wild1re, however. Several persons
sought to interview Brer Tanner on the
subject. and t. all queries he gave an un-
swerving repetition Of his first statement
The strange occurrence was soon bruited
about FROM one end of the county TO the
other. The negroes In their ready super
stition accepted the story as miracle, ur-
doubtedly fulfilling the Scripture, "The
lion and the lamb shall lie down together"
and went straightway into frenzied prepa
rations for the judgment day.
Finally the story came to the ears OF Mr..
Addy, the newly inducted incumbent of
Upton circuit. He had no mind to accept
the theory Of a miracle Tipton's grade of
morality gave to his anxious heart no
promise that the millennium was likely to
reach his circuit at all, and certainly It
would not begin there. And he would
have been loath to see the Judgment day
dawn on Upton while Tapp's saloon was
In such repute.
Brer Tanner received peremptory summons
to appear at conference The old man
pursed up his lips in dismay. but donned
his best suit and set out The poor negroes
regarded him as q martyr on account of his
predicament.
The church was full. After some pre-
liminary remarks Rev. Doewell, the pre-
siding elder, rose and demanded that Brer
Tanner should either give some explana-
tion to reconcile the incongruities Of his
tale or submit 10 expulsion from the church
on charge of willful falsehood.
Everybody leaned forward rs Brer Tan
ner arose. The twinkle was again In his
eyes II see you all think been lyin," he
said simply, addressing the congregation,
but not looking once toward Rev. Mr.. Doe
we'll II have been livin In this here town,
man an boy, nigh onto IS year. Many is
the time my word has stood agin the very
almanick itself This is come down, to
be shorep'
He looked down at his feet 50 dejectedly
that the sympathy Of the people went out
to him. Then turning to the preachers he
said submissively: II stick to my spoken
word, parsons. That tarrypin | found in
the innard part of that there buck. 1t was
alive. toted 1t home, an l killed 1t, an
me an my ole 'oman, we ct 1t. Fact. shore
as you're bornv'
There was no challenging voice In the as
scmbly. Rev. Doewell looked ntently at
the old man. "Do you mean, u said di-
rectly and after he had studied tho effect Of
Brer Tanners speech on the crowd before
him, do you tell me you mean to hang to
that ridiculous story' DO you hope to make
me believe that deer was killed having a
live turtle In its stomach
II never said that" Brer Tanner inter
posed.
fictions as his mind ran through various
changes In seeking a cause for Brer Tan
ner's strange persistence In his story. He
began to suspect that the old man was
mildly insane, and his voice dropped from
impatience to pitifying remonstrance.
~ said" resumed Brer Tanner, whose
keen eyes had read all that lay behind the
preachers tones, IAN still say that took q
live turkle from the inside of u buck killed
in Boguefaliah swamp"
"Humph," groaned the nonplused elder.
"Howsumever," Brer Tanner went on, II
didn't say the buck was alive ut the time.
Fact Is, shot that buck, an the dog bein
hot on the trail Of another / skunt him an
dressed him In jiffy, an to keep him fresh,
as we'll as to carcumvent any stray var
mints as might banker for one Of them big
steaks sent your good lady, I tied rocks to
its shanks and let 1t down In Boguefaliah
crick. The other deer got away endurin Of
the time was doin all this so come back
to git my game. ! pulled him out, and
dog my cats IL there wasn't a ole tarrypin
arsettin up In thar on the ribs a-eatin his
fust mess Of venisoni He liked It. I'll be
bound"
Brer Tanners face broke up in laugh,
and a dim response fiickered over the
preachers as he cleared up his throat to
speak. "You are exonerated from the
charge" he said, "but would suggest that
you be more explicit hereafter"
Explicit. chr" was the incorrigible old
mans answer as he scratched his white
head abstractedly. well, now. didn't
see 'at the creetur' hurt the meat a bit"-
Philadelphia Times.