The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-15
THE NEW PARSON.

THE NEW PARSON.
I twas on the road to Jericho At a place
called Blueruin We stopped 10 minutes.
There had been cockfight, and several
other fights, and a big crowd there that
day, and every body was in high glee.
The New Jericho delegation returned by
our train, and rougher looking samples of
rustic rowdydom it would have been diff
cult to find, even in that favored region.
Among them was a strapping six footer,
a very Hercules in proportions, with q
cock o. the walk sort of swagger about
him, who took possession of two seats, de-
posting his body on one and deadheading
his legs on the other. One cheek was
pulled out by an underlying quid, while
ever and anon, with 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 as they liked. As
for his conversation, the curse Of Ernu1-
plus or the table talk of a Flanders mess
room in Uncle Toby's time, in point of
maledictory power, was weak in compari-
son.
At the next station a young lady came
on board, beautiful as Venus and modest
as Diana. How so rare a flower came to
bloom in such a wild was a 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 a youthful
looking gentleman of prepossessing man
ners and appearance stepped forward and
addressed the couchant Hercules:
'Allow me- he said politely, f'to turn
over the back of this seat
'Heyf' the other grunted.
The request was repeated.
''See you burned frstl'' 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
feel a intrust in you"
''But this lady is entitled to seat" the
stranger persisted.
"Giye her your own, then, an stop your
chin music, or by hoky you will rile mer'
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.
''Dod blast you, you hev riled meP'
shouted the bully, springing to his feet and
striding up to the young man, who didn't
seem quite sensible of his danger. "You' We
gone an stuck your nose inter other peo-
pies business, an I'm goin to pull it.
A n attempt was made to suit the action
to the word, but before the netaphoricaIIy
offending member had been so much as
touched something-it moved so swiftly
couldn't be positive it was the gentle
mans hst-took Hercules on the jaw and
sent him sprawling to the other end of the
car. He didn't get up Immediately, and
when he did he seemed little bewildered
- Il. L
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
chuckling at the result as usually do the
chums of whipped bully.
Pap Kilderkin, the proprietor of the
New Jericho Rest, was the most communi-
cative of hosts. Before bedtime that night
I was thoroughly and accurately "up'' in
all the gossip of the place and had it's scan
dalous statistics at my fingers ends.
Among other things, I 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 OF the morrow.
"And a refreshin season he'll hev of it,
said Pap.
''Why sop asked.
''Oh, Bill Grinkey an t'other chap is goin
to break him in termorrer, an eff you want
to see fun I'd edWise you to go thar. I"
And did go-not ito see fun, ;" but,
trust, from better motives. Pap went, too
by what prompted 1 prefer not Judging.
When we reached the church, the minis
ter had not yet made his appearance,
though a goodly number of hearers had
already Assem- bled. A few minutes later
cockhght, headed by the vanquished bully,
sauntered in and walked noisily down the
aisle
''That's Bill Grinkey,'' whispered Pap,
'an them's t'other chaps"
MAKE way for the mourners!' sang out
Bill, crowding with his companions into
front seat, where a boisterous conversation
was struck up mingled with an incessant
cracking of peanuts.
81 kin tell you thar programme" Pap
continued. GA pack o. crackers'n be
fetched off doorin the fust lynne, an a pair
o. game chickens as a couple o. them chaps
got in thar pockets'n be sot hghtin as
soon as the tex's gin out, arter which gen.
raj Ned'1 be in order
sudden silence fell upon the congrega-
ton. Not a murmur was heard, and the
peanuts ceased to crackle. Looking up
saw the new minister in the pulpit, and
guess my surprise at recognizing him as
the young man that had struck out SO
deity from his shoulder the day before
With a clear, manly voice he gave out
hymn, which was sung through without
interruption. A prayer was offered amid
profound and decorous silence. Another
hymn followed, and then a sermon, ear
nest, plain, practical and without a word of
can't in it. From the beginning to the
end of the exercises not an unseemly sound
was heard, save a single incipient crow,
promptly choked off, from one of the in
visible chickens.
81 say, Bill, I overheard from one of
"t'other chaps as they made their way