Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-17

SUCH lnsunerable bores as Abner shout
so often accompany free dinner. II
had never felt drawn to the man. an,
1t irritnted him to think that just whel
his mental faculties needed rest Abne
always managed to introduce the yer,
topics which made It necessary 70
him to keep his wits about him
Take that Teller thar" Abner wen
on, referring to Baker. Hes about tn,
hardest customer in this county. an We
he's bein' managed right now. He's 60
wife an seven children an is a hol,
terror when he gifts drunk He used tC
be the biggest daredevil moonshiner fl
all these mountains, but Alan kept be
friendn' i'm fust one way an another
tell he up one day an axed Alan what
he could do fer I'm. Alan amt none o
yore shoutin' kind o. Christians. He
shakes a nimble toe at shindig wher
he wants an knows the ace from a
tenspot, but he gifts thar with every
claw in the air when some'n has to be
done. So when Pole axed i'm that
Alan jest said, as quiet as ef he was
AKIN i'm fer match to light cigar
Quit yore moonshinin', Pole That
was all he said. Pole looked i'm straight
In the eye fer a minute an then said:
Alan Bishop, YOU don't mean that!
"'Yes, I do, Pole said Alan. Quit!
Quit smack of.
You ak that ms favorT said Pole.
Eyes. as a favor said Alan. An
you are a-goin 10 do it too.
Then Pole begun to contend with
I'm. You are a-axin' that becnse you
think I'll be ketched up with he said,
but tell you the amt no man on the
face o the earth that could find nv
still now. You could stand in two feet
OF the door to 1t all day an not find 1t
II you looked fer it with a spyglass.
Kin make bug juice all the rest O. my
life an sell it without ben' ketched.'
want you to give it up, said Alan,
an Pole did. 1t was like pullin' an eve
tooth. but Pole yanked it out. Alan ia
workin' on i'm now to git i'm to quit
liquor, but that amt so easy. He could
walk crack with a gallon sloshin'
about in i'm. Now, as I started to say,
Alan mint got no cut an dried denomi-
nation an don't have to walk any par
tcular kind o foot log to do his work,
but It's a-goin' on jest the same. Now
l don't mean no reflection on yore way
o hitchin' wings ON folks, but do be-
heve you could preach yore sermons
sech as they are-in Pole Bakers yeers
till Gabriel bowed his lungs out, an
Fole d still be moonshinin. An some.
times | think that sech fellers as Alan
Bishop ort to be paid fer what they do
in betterin the world don't see why
you feliers ort always to be allowed to
rake in the Jack pot unless you'd ac-
,omplish moren outsiders that Jest turn
Their hands to the job at odd times"
Dole drew himself up straight and
glared at the offender.
Il think that is a rather personal re-
mark, Brother Daniel" he said coldlv.
We'll. maybe it u.s." returned Abner;
but didn't mean fer it to be. I've
neerd you praise up certain preachers
fer the good they was a-doin', an |
saw no BARN In mentionin Alan's
method. I reckon it's Jest a case a.
the shoe helm on another foot was
eoln to tell you how this misfortune
o Alf's had affected Pole. He's been
like crazy man ever since II han.
pened. It's been all Alan could do TO
keep i'm from goin' to Atlanta an
chokin' the life out O. Perkins. Pole
got so mad when he wouldn't let i'm
go that he went off cussin' I'm fer all
he was worth. wonder what sort
Of denomination man nd fit into
that II cusS his best friends black an
blue heca'Se they won't let i'm fight
fer EN-. Yes. he'll fight. an Of he
ever does jine the ranks above he'll
10 the work o ten men when thars
blood TO spill. | seed i'm in row
once durin' election when he was
eggin' fer a friend O. his'n. He
''ood right at the polls an wanted to
slug every man that voted ag'in i'm.
he knocked three mems teeth down
liner threats an bunged up two more
20 that they looked like they had on
false faces"
Here the preacher permitted himself
70 laugh. Being a fighting man him
self, his heart warmed toward man
VINO seemed TO be Lorn TO that sort Of
hing.
He looks like he could do a sight of
t. was his comment.
AT this juncture the subject of the
conversation came round the house.
carrying big piece of bacon wrapped
II a tow grain bag.
Say thar, Pole Abner called out to
he long lank fellow. I'VE are a-coin'
o have prcachn' at Rock Crest TO- !
morrow. You'd better have a shirt
washed an hung out to dry. They are
-beatln' the bushes fer yore sort"
Pole Baker paused and brushed back
lis long, thick hair from his heavy /
yebrowS }
I've been a-waitin' to see ef meetin' :,
yer q do you any good, Uncle Alb"
e laughed. They tell me the more
GU go the wuss you git to be. Neil
iimore said tother day Of you didn't :,
nit shootn' Off yore mouth they'd
i've you trial I'm meetin."
Abner laughed good naturedlv as he J
pat over the edge of the veranda floor |
0 the ground. I
THAT'S been talked | know, Pole" U
e said. but they don't mean it. They u
ii Know how to take my fun. But IL
on come on to meetin'. 1t will do you Il
God" Is
well, maybe l will" promised Pole. Il
n