Year: 1864




whole Of New England. IN his younger
days the deacon had commanded company
Of State troops, which had done service dur
ing the last war with Great Britain, and tho
he had failed. in the technica. application OF
the term, ito smell gunpowder," yet he had
received the infusion Of warlke spirt. and
earned the title Of captain" which, on the
| principle of "once captain alwaysa cap.
! tain," stuck to hm, and mingled With tho
more peaceful cognomen OF deacon"
This warlike spirit the deacon could never
conquer, even though no had been frequently
rebuked by the good dominic for showing SO
much of the church militant in his daily
bearing; and he could find no greater do.
! light, whoa he could obtain an audience, than
in recalling the days OF his captaincy and
telling bloodless tales Of" when was out in
| 'i3 and IA"


| Among the deacon's fine stock was bull.
a splendid animal, which for strength, size,
and beauty, excited the envy and admiration
Of the whole country. So much was tho
deacon's bull praised, that very soon its own.
er began to believe that he possessed tho
most wonderful animal that ever existed, and
to boast accordingly. From morning to. night
nothing could be heard in the neighboI hood
| Of Litchteld but praises of the deacon's bull.
and estimations of its value. At last to such
pitch did this estimation reach, that tho
deacon not content with bearing the palm
from every cattle raiser in the country sought
like Alexander, fresh worlds to conquer, and
| offered his bull to the competition Of the en-.
tirc country. TO do this properly, deacon
Joseph issued handbill setting forth Il.
glowing lines .lic qualities OF his bull, its size.
age, weight and color, leading off with cl,a!.
lengo to any one possessing an animal Of likc
size and age, to vanquish the deacon's in
fair fight for one hundred dollars. Here it
was that the old warliko spirit peeped forth,
and the deacon instead Of offering 10 match
his bull for any Of those qualities that go to.
ward making good beef, protfered the chal.
lenge for its fighting quality.


| These handbills were scattered far and
wide by the aid OF peripatetic peddlcr, and
one of them found its way to the hands Of
noted breeder of stock in the western part
Of the State, who determined on accepting
the challenge on behalf OF fine young AMI
mai of his own, and making an attempt to
fob the dcacon's one hundred dollars. Ac-
cordingly he started with his bull for the den-
cons, but by some delays on the road he did
not reach his destination until late on Satur.
day afternoon. Upon stating his crrand ho
!
honest tpraisc bestowed upon the splendid
animal he had brought with him. 1t was too
late that evening for the trial, and the bull
was accordingly driven into the rich pasture
TO recruit after the journey, and his owner
made free to the deacon's home.


The next day being the Sabbath, tho fam
/ lily all set forth TO church, the deacon sur.
rendering his place in the family pew to the
stranger, and staying at home under the plea
Of not feeling well. After they were welt
/ gone, the deacon, to aid in dsmssing tho
thought of the two bulls, and OF the coming
! light on the morrow, got down the family
! bible and read chapter; but still the bulls
would mix themselves with the texts, and
wander away with his thoughts. At last tho
deacon could stand it no longer, and putting
on his hat out he went 10 take one look nj
| the fierce monster that was on the morrow
! TO carry the Iau,els from his bull and the
/ hundred dollars, or leave him the happy vic.
! tor.


I There he stood in the centre Of the field,
coal black, and, shaking his fierco shaggy
head in defiance. The deacon gazed ia ad.
miration, and the thought cropt into his brain
that to morrow was long time to wait, and
that as there was nobody to see, and 70 one
to tell tales, he might as well give the bulls
just one little turn Mt each other, that he might
be better able to judge, and that il the con-
test waXcd too warm he could drive of his
own animal without trouble. No sooner
| thought than done, aud the deacon steathily
let down the bars that led into tho field and
proceeded to drive his bull /; but the st, anger
bull in an instant saw the entrance open,and
without delay, rushed through and in quicker
time than it takes to tell it, tackled the dea-
cons bull


! The fight was terrible, and the deacon do.
lighted. For while lac forgot his Sabbath
breaking in the keen enjoyment of the fight,
and the belief that his bull would be the
victor, but at length the stranger began 10
have the best Of it, and the deacon fearing
the defeat Of his favorile, took hand in the
fight himself lie tore rail from the fence
and rushed at the black bull, punching him
in the rear, and striving TO drive him back
to bis pasture. The attack instead of attain.
ing its object only increased the animals
rage, until with one fierce lunge he laid his
antagonist on tho ground, pierced him thro'
the chest with one thrust Of his sharp horns,
and laid him dead in an instant. .....s


No sooner had he finished his work in front
than, like good soldier, he made for the en-.
envy in the rear; and the deacon made for
. hIle opclibs III tuc IcbEc Win lnp DouDWlnE
monster close at his heels.


Away they went deacon afrl bull, straight
for the house, the first putting and blowing
under his fearful speed, the last paving aud
believing in manner to strike terror into
iirmcr hearts than that Of tho deacon II
WAS terrible race; i; bat The deacon won il
by few yards, just samming the door Of
the house In the face Of the bull, and rush.
n ~ Ia h. u1c. Ia,
he heard with terror the blow Of the mon.
ster's head upon the door; a second thump
and down it went, admitting him TO the
hall


The door Of the pai!or stood open, and
upon the wall opposite was large mirror,
the pride of the deacons wife and daughter,
and the choice piece Of their household goods
The bull did not waste time, but seeing his


image in this glass, made one rush, scatter.
ing the glass in minute particles, and sha.G.
ing the house with the crash


BY this time the dea, on b?gan to recover
his wind and his presence Of mind and think
OF loaded gun hanging over the mantle in
the kitchen. Rendered desperate he clutched
the weapon and rGshed to the door of tho
patlor. The bull spied him instantly and
'nade rush his last--for almost running
the nuzalo of his gun into his head, the dca.
con fireda and n dead bull blocked up the hall.
deluging the floor with his blood just rs ths
family presented themselves at the door on
their return from church


The CONSERVATION Of all may be imagined
and the deacon had nothing for il but to make
clean breast and confess his Sabbath break
ing, pay the stranger for bis bull hand over
the hundred dollars, make beef Of the car
casses, and good resolutions abou, bull fsh,.
for the future.


1HE FIRST BoaBARDaENT or SrspTEg. Tho
report of the rebel Inspector General shows