The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-01-09

AAND once In a while" remark
ed Uncle Bill, especially" he continu-
ed, when circumstances compel him
ter be-"
81 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 a we'd
ding notice-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 a few puffs above him, he re-
marked. Guess these cigars was picked
out by a woman"
They smoke all right" said the edi-
tor evasively, and as he relighted the
one he had partly smoked he took some
copy 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 it was all right; but 'Zeb' cuts
across lots once in a while an when he
does he'll do most enything ter square
the corners Nv propriety that he miss
ed. He is a good man an a purity fair
deacon, but eny NV us'll slip once In a
while onless we're sharp shod all the
time, an even her we'll wear smooth
once in a while, an that's the way with
'Zeb.' He gifts shod with religion Of
ten enough, but fur all that he'll slip
once in a while spite NV all creation"
said Uncle Bill in a gossipy manner.
"Yes. yes, I know" impatiently ne
marked the editor.
WALL" continued Uncle Bill, "'Zeb'
went over ter a neighborin' town fur a
day or two, along fore Christmas an
II 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 a bunco man, or a preacher an not
miss it much either way, cause he sort
NV has streaks both ways, a n 1t ap-
pears that his coat give him away this
time. 1t seems that they was markin'
up 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 h next
day his wife brought out the coat an
said: 'Zeb' Bowen, you've been playin'
cards agin,' an he says, 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 W up an
pleads weakness an his wife, like the
good Christian that she is, always for
gives him, but 'Zeb' has ter tend prayer
meetin' purity regular fur a while"
n,-1 1h>,.k fha hNran hn 0aUA fhf
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 wher
preyer meetin' night come a hull LOT
Nv the boys was there an among then
one Nv 'Cy' Prewett's boys. an he got
inter the same seat with 'Zeb'. 'Cy's
boy is quite a chap ter dicker in horses
an SO is 'Zeb', but he wasn't thinkin
bout horses that night-at least at the
beginnin' Nv the meetin'-he gifts very
earnest in enything that he does an
this night he was a fxin' up a few slip:
that he had made by 'tendin' strictly
ter prayer meetin', but young Prewet
come heal undoin' NV him agin."
Eyes, but Uncle Bill" earnestly re
marked, the editor, 81 am anxious t.
hear about the horse .Zeb' gave to tn
minister"
T'm comm ter that" again remark
ed Uncle Bill. "'Zeb' got up in meetin
an, give them one Nv his good talks an
wound up by acknowledge that he wa
weak an sinful-which everyone be
Meved-an' when he got through Dea
con Lewis offered up a prayer, an wal
payin' particular attention ter 'Zebs
needs-with 'Zeb' o an then shoutin
Amen'-when 'Cy's' boy, who wa
knelin' beside him In the pew whisper
ed ter him an said: 'Zeb,' l got a dan
DIV horse ter trade an he answered
Young man, I'm not tradin' horse
now, I'm tendin' ter religious matters.
Then young Prewett whispered back
That's all right, l thought I'd tell ye
about It as I might not see yer aRil
fore / see Seth Wiggers. He wants tn
horse, but I thought I'd see you fore
traded, an Jest then Deacon Levi
said: Bless our brother who has erred,
an 'Zeb' shouted, 'Amen!' An then h
whispered ter 'Cy's boy: is 1t a good
sound horse?' an he said: Best on
I've had fur a long while Then 'Zet
asked in q louder voice: rs his win
good?' an young Prewett said: Bet
term Lewis's' An then 1t was tim
fur 'Zeb' ter shout 'Aman' agin. so h
hollered II out, an then furgot that b
wal in prayer meetin' an commence
ter talkin' out loud about the horse
nm, asked 'Cy'a' how: What kind Nv