West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-09-18
The jericho POS|0fIiCe.
PAP PERKINS, POSTMASTER, TELLS
ABOUT DEACON BRADLY'S
HAIR CUT.

dings and camp meetings than any
other three men in the town COM
bined. He had hair that fell down
on his shoulders, and he had a
meek and humble countenance. Ii
was said that about once a year his
wife used the shears to clip the ends
of his locks, but that was only
rumor. There was no doubt about
the deacon's goodness Of heart. : 1t
had been tested on a hundred occa-
sions and found simon pure. He
had been known to pu, feather
bed in the hen house on a cold
night for use of the fowls and to
make special brand of ice water
for his pigs in hot weather. No
body could remember of his being
out of temper or having word to say
against anybody, and the good man
was jogging along toward his reward
when calamity happened.
A wedding and funeral were the
same thing to Deacon Brady. He
expected glass OF cider and fried
cake on either occasion, and he al
ways at the proper time OBJ
served that man dieth and fadeth
away and that our loss is his gain.
Hearing that Farmer Dan Skinner
was going to be married to Lucy
Randall on certain day, the deacon
drove seven miles to be present.
He was made welcome and kindly
entertained. In honor of the au-
spicious occasion peach brandy had
been literally mixed with the hard
cider, and Deacon Brady hung on
to good thing. He was more
loquacious than usual, and he tried
to tell a funny story, but his legs
were fairly steady when he started
for home. Halt the journey had
been completed when the good man
met wandering barber. The bar
Der pleaded misfortune and poverty
and offered to cut the deacon's hair
for 10 cents, and the offer was ac-
cepted. Deacon Brady sat down
under a roadside tree, and the bar
Der went to work. While the dea-
cen hummed the barber clipped,
and 1t was winning combination.
AT the end of half an hour there
was no longer any Deacon Brady
of Jericho. In his stead there was
fellow with his chin cooked up. a
sqnint to his left eye and hair cut
of such pugilIstic excellence that
John l.. Sullivan would have bowed
before it. The long locks had
hidden head as round as a cannon
ball, and when the hair had been
clipped close the head seemed ready
to duck right hand swing
"You're got head on you, you
have, old mani" said the barber as
he stood back and admired his
handiwork, and the deacon almost
winked at him as he climbed into
his buggy TO drive on. He hadn't
gone a mile before he met a load OF
hay. The farmer stuck for the
whole OF the TOAD and yelled out
that he'd have il or die, but when
he took notice Of that fighting cut
he appologized at once and drew
clear into the fence. Ten minutes
later hog driver was encountered.
He began TO rip and cuss about
folks frightening his hogs, bu; as
the deacon held up a warning finger
his words died away IN his throat.
He knew a scrapper when he saw
one, and he didn't ache Tor broken
jaw. When the deacon reached
home, his wife looked at him for a
full minute before she recognized
him. Then she olasped her hands
over her heart and vailed out:
ooh, Deacon Brady, what have
you vent and done to change you
soS You look just like the picture
of the Omaha KID saw in the
paper the other day"
The deacon explained that il was
nothing but hair cut, but that was
house of mourning and lamenta.
tons. Mrs. Brady sent for Deacon
Taylor 10 come over and see il any.
thing could be done. and the neigh
Dor came, took look at that bulle,
head and gently murmured:
IL don't think will say anything
to Brother Brady abuut il Hc
appears 70 be ready to bit out with
both hands If provoked
The news Of the hair cut few
over the town Of Jericho in an hour
and the excitement was greater thar
# the whole town bad beer
burned. The effects Of the brand,