The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-14
THE NEW PARSON.

! was on the road 10 Joricho. At place
called Blueruin we stopped 10 minutes.
There had been q cockilght, and several
other fights, and q big crowd there that
day, and everybody was In high glee.
The New Jericho delegation returned by
our train, and rougher looking samples of
rustic rowdydom 1t would have been diff
cult TO find, even in that favored region.
Among them was % strapping six footer,
very Hercules In proportions, with
cock o. the walk sort Of swagger about
him, who took possession Of two seats, de-
posting his body on one and dcadheading
his legs on the other. One check was
puffcd out by an underlying quid, while
ever and anon, with back action jerk,
no would send near gill of tobacco juice
over his shoulder which those within
range had tho privilege of dodging or tax
ing the consequences of as they liked. AS
for his conversation, the curse of Ernul-
phus or the table talk of Flanders mess
room in Unclo Toby's time, In point Of
maicdictory 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 a wild was u question to
puzzle over. But there was no time to
settle it. The lady was standing, and all
the seats were occupied. / was on tho
point of offering mine, when youthful
looking gentleman OF prepossessing man
ners and appearance stepped forward and
addressed the couchant Hercules:
'Allow mo, he said politely, "to turn
over the back Of this seat
Hey" the other grunted.
The request was repeated.
"See you burned frst" 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 me!
That's my advice, an gives it free, cause
feel a intrust in you"
"But this lady is entitled to seat" the
stranger persisted.
"Give her your own, then, an stop your
chin music, or by hoky you will rile mel"
AS a last resort the gentleman appealed
to tho conductor, who chanced 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, no
went his way, punching tickets and taking
no further heed.
"Dod blast you, you hev riled mev'
shouted the bully, springing to his 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-
ple's business, On 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 as
touched something-it moved SO swiftly
1 couldn't be positive 1t 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
when he did he seemed little bewildered
as to whether he had been knocked down
or the train had run of the track. He had
had enough, at all events, wherever 1t
came from, Ms 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 a whipped bully.
Pap Kilderkin, the proprietor Of the
New Jericho Rest, was the most communi-
cative of hosts. Before bedtime that night
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, 1 learned that
"stated preaching had hitherto been
among the wants of the community, but
that supply" had been at length OBJ
tained, and the new minister was expected
to enter on his duties on the morrow.
"And a refreshin season he'll hev of it,"
said Pap.
"Why sos' 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"
And l did go-not "to sec fun, but, l
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 his appearance,
though q goodly number of hearers had
already assembled. A few minutes later
yesterdays delegation to the Blueruin
cockfght, 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 mournersl" I" sang out
Bill, crowding with his companions into
front seat, where q boistcrous conversation
was struck up mingled with an incessant
cracking Of peanuts.
II kin tell you thar programme" Pap
continued. "A pack O. crackers'll be
fetched of doorin the fust hyme, an pain
O. game chickens rs couple o. them chaps
got in thar pockets'n be sot flghtin a.
soon as the tex's gin out, arter which gen
'ral Ned II be In order"
A sudden silence fell upon the congrega-
ton. Not n murmur was heard, and the
peanuts ceased to craokle. Looking up 1
saw the new minister in the pulpit, and
guess my surprise at recognizing him as
the young man that had struck out 80
deftly from his shoulder the day beforel
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 u sermon, ear
nest plain, practical and without word Of
can't in 1t. From the beginning TO the
end OF the exercises not an unseemly sound
was heard, save u single incipient crow,
promptly choked of, from one Of the In
visible chickens.
II say, Bill" overheard from one of