Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-03-12


ly astride It; and in less than five
minutes after Marvin had entered
Morning Dew. bordering his sermon
for the morrow. he was riding out
Of 1t on a rail, in a coat of tar and
feathers, at a very unpleasant rate
Of speed, having as a travelling COM
panion a gentleman Of doubtful an
tecedants whom he had never met
before.
A mile down the road toward Sink
or-Swim the unhappy pair were dis
mounted unceremoniously, and left
with an order to git"
In sorry plight Marvin proceeded
to Mr.. Hendricks house and Knocked
at the door.
'T have met some of my parishion-
ers," he explained, when the old
minister appeared to let him in, land
they have presented me with a new
suit of clothes"
Mr.. Hendricks was dumtounded al
first, but when Marvin related the cir
cumstances he smiled grimly.
keep your grill" he exclaimed, at
last. "I know these folks. Don't try
to get feather Of that on. I'll give
you bundle of hay to sleep on; and in
the morning I'll go up there with YOU
and you'll preach at Morning Dew, ac-
cording to promise, in the coat they've
given you. They can't complain Of
that"
Marvin, who was not lacking IN res
olution, saw with approval the point
that was to be made. But he passed
anything but comfortable night.
After breakfast he accompanied Mr..
Hendricks on foot to Morning Dew.
The latter had announced the new min
lister and made the arrangements for
his sermon several days before. \
small platform had been made at the
rear end of the vacant saloon, and
two chairs and table placed omit.
Marvin had put on long waterproof
coat which, when buttoned to his chin,
effectually concealed the tar and
feathers. He entered the saloon with
Mr.. Hendricks, and they sat down on
the platform. A hand-beil was then
rung, and Immediately the place filled
with miners and other citizens. 1t was
q typical frontier crowd. Mr.. Hen
bricks, who was well known to them
all, began the services in the usual
manner and then introduced the new
minister.
81 take pleasure in presenting him
to YOU" he continued, because l know
that he is the right man TO come here.
Before beginning his discourse, how
ever" the old minister added, grimly,
che desires me to apologize for the coat
in which he is obliged to appear. While
coming into the place last evening he
fell in with some of the citizens here,
who took his clothes away from him
and dressed him in another suit which
he has not yet had time to take off.
But he would not allow thing Of that
kind to prevent him from keeping hiS
word to preach here, as l promised
you"
Thereupon Marvin took off his wa
terproof and advancing to the table
entered upon his sermon, which was
from the text: 81 come not to call the
righteous but sinners to repentance"
When he first arose there was pro-
digious sensation in the audience. The
miners exchanged strange glances with
each other Most of them had been
present on the previous evening. 1t
dawned on hem Immediately that they
had tarred and feathered their new
minister by mistakel
They had time to think it over during
the sermon; and when Marvin finished
the rough fellows hurriedly chose two
committees of five each to wait on him
not to talk, but to act The spokes-
man of the first committee invited him
to accompany them to a small smelter.
1t would appear that in Morning Dew
they had had experience in removing
coats of tar and feathers, as well as in
bestowing them.
The temperature in the smelter was
raised to about 200 degrees Fahren-
| melt. MdINlu was llltu III " NhbNA
I it, along with two of the committee,
who, at that high temperature, sue
ceeded in removing not only the
feathers, but most of the tar.
The second committee, meanwhile,
had not been idle. The six best suits OF
clothes in Morning Dew had been col
lected; and when Marvin emerged
from the hands of the first committee,
the second appeared and begged him
to select from the garments such as
best suited him.
Still third committee now made its
appearance and rendered him hearty
apology for the mistake" that had oc-
Cured.
Marvin labored at Morning Dew and
Sink-or-Swim for three years there
after-until, in the progress of the his
tory of mining in Montana, both cit
les" were abandoned and ceased to ex-
ist.-Youth's Companion.