Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-01-29

TT v iii once with Santa Claus
NTnI$ grin on his face.
l8 ii "'Zeb' gifts real liberal
@sss.asES:s.zs=s=R once in a while" remark
ed Uncle Bill, especially" he continu-
ed, when circumstances compel him
ter be-"
Il did not know that there was any
compulsion connected with the gift"
enquiringly said the editor, as he turn
ed in his chair and handed the old man
a cigar out of his Christmas box
which had been given him for we'd
din" notlce--with the remark, Have a
Christmas cigar"
Guess I'll smoke up" said Uncle Bill,
as he drew a match along the we'll
beaten path on his trousers. And as he
blew few puffs above him, he re-
marked, Guess these cigars was picked
out by woman"
THEY smoke all right" said the edi-
tor evaeively. and as he relighted the
one he had partly smoked he took some
coDy into the composing room and re-
turning, said: How about the horse
that 'Zeb' gave the minister"
ooh, the horse Is all right. He
wouldn't give the preacher a horse
without il was all right; but Zeb' cuts
across lots once in while an when he
does hen do most enything ter square
the corners Nv propriety that he miss
ed. He IL good man an purity fair
deacon, but eny NV us'll slip once in a
while or1ess we're sharp shod all the
tire an even then We'll wear smooth
once in a while, an that's the way with
Xeb' He gifts shod with religion Of
ten enough, but fur all that he'll sliD
once in a while spite nv all creation"
said Uncle Bill In a gossipy manner.
Eyes. yes, I know" impatiently ~
marked the editor
wall" continued Uncle Bill, "'Zeb'
went over ter a neighborin' town fur a
day or two, along fore Christmas an
it seems that he got ter playin' auction
pitch with some travelin' men in the
hotel He wore his long tailed coat
an when he wears that yer could guess
him hrr2o man, or preacher an not
miss II much either way, cause he sort
NV has strnNEs both ways, an 1t APP
pears that his coat give him away this
time. r seems that they was marlin
IN the game with chalk on the table an
'Zeb' got his sleeve on the marks, so
when he come home there they was
plain on the sleeve 1-3-4-6-3 He put
his clothes in the closet an the next
dav his wife brought out the coat an
said: 'Zeb' Bowen. you've been playin'
cards agin an he saws, What makes
YER talk so foolish like?' She says
Huh, Foolish like? Look at this coat
sleeve. You was playin' cards an got
set back Wall. there s one redeemin'
feature bout Zeb'. When he gifts
caught he will always own up an
pleads weakness an his wife, like the
good Christian that she Is, always for
gives him, hut Zeb' has ter tend prayer
lneetin' purity regular fur a while"
"Rut about the horse he gave the
minister" again suggested the editor,
who was anxious to get the story.
Yes. I'm comm ter that" said Uncle
Bill. Yer see the hired man told about
the card playin' an everybody at the
corners had heerd about it, so when
preyer meetin' night come a hull lot
nv the bows was there an among them
one Nv 'Cv' Prewett's boys. an he got
inter the same seat with Zeb'. 'Cy's'
how is quite a chap ter dicker in horses
an so is Teh. but he wasn't thinkin
bout horses that night-at least at the
beglnnin' NV the meetin'-he gifts very
earnest in enythlng that he does an
this night he was a flxin' up few Sins
that he had made by 'tendin' strictly
ter prayer meetin', but young Prewett
core near undOin' Nv him agin."
Eyes. but Uncle Bill" earnestly re-
marked. the editor. 81 am anxious TO
hear about the horse Zeb' gave to the
minister"
"I'm comm ter that" again reroor''-
ed Uncle Bill "'Zeb' got I'D in Tee'in'
an give them one NV his good talks an
wound IN by acknowledge that he was
weak an sinful-which everyone be-
lieved-an' when he got through TO-
con Lewis offered un nrayer, an T'Ns
pavin' particular attention ter Zen's'
peeds-vith 'Zeb' now an' then Shoutin'
Amen'-whcn Cy's' boy, who was
kuelin' beside him In the new wbiT0er-
ed ter him an said: Teb,' | got dan-
DIV horse ter trade IN he answered:
b Young nan. I'm not tradin' F'"ses
now. I'm tendin' ter religious majors.
Then vounF Prewett Whispered Nich'
/ That's all riqht 7 thought I'D tell yer
about Il % night not Gee yer agin
q fore see Seth Wiggers. He wants the
horse. but thought I'd see you fore |
! traded an cost then Deacon Lewis
said: Bless our brother who has erred,
an Zeb' sho"tod. Amen' An then he
WHISPERED tc- Co.'S hoy: rs II a good,
sound horse?' m he said: Best ono
I've had fur io~o while Then Zeb'
asked IN q Louder voice: Is his wind
good?' IN YOUR" Prowett said: Ret
tern Lewiss' An thon it was tire
fur '7eh' ter shout 'Aman' agin. go he
hollered q ont. ar then furcot that he
was in prayer reetin' an commenced
ter talkir' out loud about the horse.
an asked Cys boy: What kind NV a
! Tba Nov. Work. Tribune saws. A