The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-10-07
ice. holding his ground. "They

They do, too" insisted Maurice
They gotta"
who told youf"
Look at what my own papa told
me- cried Maurice. heated with argu
ment. Didn't he tell me your own
papa had to marry your ann or else
he'd ncver'd got 10 handle a cent Of her
money? CcrtunIy people gotta marry
Everybody. You don't know anybody
over twenty years old that isn't mar
ricd-eXcept maybe teachers"
Look at policemen" shouted Sam
t~riumphantly. You don't s'pose any.
body can make policemen get married.
| reckon, do your"
Wen. policemen maybe" Maurice
was forced to admit. policemen and
teachers don't, but everybody else
GOTTA"
Well, IN be a policeman" said Sam
Then / guess they won't come around
rcllin' me ! have to get married What
on goin' to be, Pcnrod?"
Chief police" said the laronic Pen
rot.
What your" Sam inquired Of quiet
';corgie Bassctt.
II am going to be- said George con
,riouSly, "A minister"
This announcement created n senSa
| ton 50 profound that it was followed
by silence, Herman was the first to
speak.
You mean preachuh?' he asked in
rredulously. You go preaChT'
Yes answered George, looking like
st. Cecilia at the organ.
Herman was impressed. You know
al at preachuh talk
I'm going to learn IT," said George
simply.
How loud kin You holler?" asked
tierylan doubtfully
He can't holler at ALL" renrod In
terposed with scorn. He hOllers like
a girl. He's the porest hollerer in
town."
Herman shook his head. Evidently
he thought Georges chance Of being
ordained very slender. Nevertheless a
final question put to the candidate by
the colOred expert seemed to admit one
ray OF hope.
How good kin you elm a poie?"
HE can't climb one at ALL" Penrod
answered for George. over at Sans
turning pole you ought to see him try
to-
preachers don't have to climb poles"
George said with dignity.
Good ones do" declared Herman.
'Bes' one ev' | hear, he elm up an
down same as a circus man One mem
big 'vivals outen whens we Twin on a
fahm. %preachuh elm big pole right in
II middle o. the church. what was to
hol' roof up. He elm way high up.
an holler: Coin to heavum, goin' to
heavum, goin' to heavum now. Halle
lujah. praise my Lawd""
Herman possessed that extraordinary
facility for vivid acting which Is the
great native gift OF his race, and he
unclaimed his listeners. They sat fas-
cinated and spellbound.
Herman. tell that again. said Pen
rod. breathlessly.
Lihi, uoibinS iodtu, uN'tlitt TIE
encor and repeated the Miltonic cpl
sode, expanding 1t somewhat. and
dwelling with a fine art upon those
portions Of the narrative which he per
ceived to be most exciting to his an.
dience.
The effect was immense and instant.
Penrod sprang to his feet.
George Bassett couldn't do that to
save his life" he declared. I'm goin'
to be Il preacher. I'd be all right for
one. wouldn't l.. Hermann
80 am L." Sam Williams echoed
can. I'd be bette'n Penrod. wouldn't
l, Hermann"
81 am, tool" Maurice shouted. II
got a stronger voice than anybody here.
and I'd like to know what
The three clamored together indistin-
guishably. each asserting his qualiica-
tons for the ministry according to
Herman's theory. which had been ac-
cepted by these sudden converts with.
out question.
Listen to me!'' Maurice beloved.
proving his claim to at least the voice
by drowning the others. Maybe |
can't climb a pole SO good. but who
can boiler louder'n this? Listen to
me-e-e!"
shut up!" cried Penrod. irritated.
Go to heaven: go to -!
"Oo-o-ohv" exclaimed George Bas-
sett. profoundly shocked.
Sam and Maurice. awed by Penrod's
daring, ceased from turmoil. staring
wide eyed.
You cursed and sworer' said Geor-
gle.
II did not!' cried Penrod hotly.
THAT isn't swearing"
You said. Go to a big HI" said
George.
Il did not! l SAID. Go to heaven
before l said a big II. That isn't
swearing, is 1t, Herman? It's almost
what the preacher said. Amt 1t, Her
man? 1t amt swearing now any more
not If you put go to heaven with 1t.
Is 1t. Herman? You can say it all you
want to. long as you say go to heaven
first. Can't you, Herman? Anybody
a say 1t II the preacher says 1t.