The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-20
THE NEW PARsON.-

Il
There had been q oockhg ht, and several
other fights, and big crowd there that
| day, and everybody was In high glee.
The New jericho delegation returned BY
our train, and rousher looking samples Of
rustic rowdydom II would have been diff
cult to find, even In that favored region.
Among them was strappins SIX footer,
Q very Hercules in proportions, with q
cock o. the walk sort Of swagger about
him, who took possession of two seats, do
posting his body on one and deadheading
his legs on the other. One check was
pulled out by an underlying quid, while
ever and anon, with q back action Jerk,
he would send near gill Of tobacco juice
over his shoulder, which those within
range had the privilege Of lodging or tax.
ing the consequences of o. they liked. Az
for his conversation, the curse of Ernul-
plus or the table talk Of Flanders mess.
room in Uncle Toby's time, In point Of
maledictory power, was weak In compari.
son.
At the next station young lady came
on board, beautiful as Venus and modest
as Diana. How SO rare flower came to
bloom In such wild was question to
puzzle over. But there was no time to
settle it, The lady was standing, and all
the seats were occupied. I was on the
point Of offering mine, when youthful
looking gentleman Of prepossessing man
ners and appearance stepped forward and
addressed the couchant Hercules:
ALLOW me-" he said politely, ITO turn
over the back of this seat"
"Heyp" the other grunted.
The request was repeated.
"See you burned flrstl" was the gruff
response.
"But, sir"- the gentleman began to ex.
postulate.
"Lookee here, you," clustered the bully.
Don't you offer to go for to rile mel
That's my advice, an gives it Free cause
I feel a intrust in you.
"But this lady is entitled to a seat, the
stranger persisted.
"Give her your own then, an stop your
chin music, or by hoky you will rile mel"
AS last resort the gentleman appealed
to the conductor, who CHANGED to be pass
ing. But the latter declined to interfere.
Such things must be left to courtesy. Be.
sides, it was not his place to take part in
the disputes Of passengers So saying, he
went his way, punching tickets and taking
no further heed.
bod blast you, you hev riled mel"
shouted the bully, springing to hts feet and
striding up to the young man, who didn't
seem quite sensible Of his danger. you've
gone an stuck your nose inter other peo-
PIES business, an I'm goin to pull it,
An attempt was made to suit the action
to the word, but before the metaphorically
offending member had been so much az
touched something-it moved so swiftly
couldn't be positive it was the gentle.
mans fist-took Hercules on the Jaw and
sent him sprawling to the other end of the
car. He didn't get up Immediately and
whom he did he seemed little bewildered
as to whether he had been knocked down
or the train had run off the track. He had
had enough, at all events, wherever it
came from, as was manifest from the sub
dued air with which he took his departure
for the smoking car, whittier his compan-
ions soon followed no doubt secretly
ohuckling at the result, as usually do the
chums Of whipped bully.
Pap Kilderkin, the proprietor Of tho
New Jericho Rest, was the most commune
cative OF hosts Before bedtime that night |
was thoroughly and accurately "up' in |
all tho gossip of the place and had its scan
dalous statistics at my fingers ends.
Among other things / learned that |
stated preaching" had hitherto been
among the wants Of the community, but
that supply" had been at length OBJ
tanned, and the new minister was expected
to enter on his duties on the morrow.
"And refreshin season he'll hey of it,"
said Pap.
''Why SOP" asked.
"Oh, Bill Grinkey an t'other chap Is goin
10 break him in termorrer, an Of you want
TO see fun I'd edwise you to go thar"
And did go-not ITO SEQ fun" but,
trust, from better motives. Pap went, too
by what prompted prefer not judging.
When we reached the church, the minis.
Ter had not yet made bis appearance,
ihough goodly number of hearers had
llready assembled. A few minutes later
delegation to the Blueruin
ockhght, headed by the vanquished bully,
auntered in and walked noisily down the
isle. .t,.r-
"That's Bill Grinkey," whispered Pap,
an them's t'other chaps.'
q Make way for the mourners p sang out
Bill, crowding with his companions into
ront seat where boisterous conversation
vas struck up mingled with an incessant
Of peanuts.
II kin tell you thar programme, " Pap
ontinued. "A pack o. crackers'll be
etched off doorin the fust hyme an pair
game chickens as couple O. them chaps
ot In thar pookets'll be sot flghtin as
Don as the tex's gin out, AFTER which gen.
raj Ned'll be in order"
sudden silence fell upon the congrega-
on. Not murmur was heard, and the
eanuts ceased to orackle. Looking up I
NV the new minister in tho pulpit, and
uess my surprise at recognizing him as
10 young man that had struck out SO
eftly from his shoulder the day beforel
With clear, manly voice he gave out
ymn, which was sung through without
Interruption. A prayer was offered amid
'ofound and decorous silence Another
ymn followed, and then a sermon, ear
est, plain, practical and without word of
mt in it. From the beginning to the
I'd of the exercises not an unseemly sound
as heard, save single incipient crow,
'omptly choked of, from one Of the in
sible chickens.
II say, Bill" overheard from one Of
t'other chaps" as they made their way
1t, that parsons trump. He breaches
downright good lick an fights fair"
1t was easy to see the new minister's
atus was settled. / have since heard that g
ii Grinkey became an exemplary mem I
r Of the church and the parson the happy
'sband of the lady as whose champion no
-. l.