Year: 1864

dy farmer, honest, conscientious. and
hospitable to fault, and with one lead
ing vanity, which was his ability to raise
the finest stock in the whole of New
England. In his younger days the dea-
con had commanded company of State
troops, which had done service during
| the last war with Great Britain, and
though he had tailed, in the technical
application Of the term, ''to smell gun
powder" yet he had received the infu-
sion Of warlike spirit, and earned the
title of captain which, on the princi-
pie of "once captain always captain"
stuck to him, and mingled with the more
peaceful cognomen of deacon


This warlike spirit the deacon could
never conquer, even though he had been
frequently rebuked by the good dominic
for showing so much of the church mill
tant in his daily bearing and he could
find no greater delight, when he could
obtain an audience, than in recalling the
days of his captaincy and telling blood
less tales of ''when | was out in 'l3 and
IA"


Among the deacon's ine stock was a
bull, splendid animal, which for
strength, size, and beauty, excited the
envy and admiration of the whole coun-
try. So much was the deacon's bull
praised, that very soon its owner began
to believe that he possessed the most
wonderful animal that ever existed, and
to boast accordingly. From morning to
night, nothing could be heard in the
neighborhood of Litchfeld but praises of
the deacon's bull, and estimations Of its
value. At last to such pitch did this
estimation reach, that the deacon not
content with bearing the palm from
every cattle raiser in the country, sought,
Ike Alexander, fresh worlds to conquer,
and offered his bull to the competition of
theentire country. To do this properly,
deacon Joseph issued handbil setting
forth iii glowing lines the qualities Of his
bull, its size, age, weight and color,
leading off with challenge to any one
possessing an animal of like size and age,
to bring it forward. and vanquish the
deacon's in fair fight for one hundred
dollars. Here it was that the old war
like spirit peeped forth, and the deacon
instead of offering to match his bull for
any of those qualities that 60 toward
making good beet, profered the challenge
for it's fighting quality.


These handbills were scattered far and
wide by the aid of peripatetic peddler,
and one of them found it's way to the
hands of noted breeder of stock in the
western part of the State, who deterttiin-
ed on accepting the challenge on behalf
Of fine young animal of his own, and
making an attempt to fob the deacon S
one hundred dollars. Accordingly he
started with his bull for the deacon's,
but by some delays ON the road he did
not reach his destination until late on
Saturday afternoon, Upon stating his
errand he was warmly welcomed by he
deacon and honest praise bestowed upon
the splendid animal he had brought with
him. It 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, the
family all set forth 70 church, the deacon
surrendering his place in the family pew
to the stranger, and staying at home
under the plea of not feeling well After
they were well gone, the deacon, to aid
in dismissing the thought of the two bulls,
and of the coming fight on the morrow,
got down the family bible and read a
chapter but still the bulls would mix
themselves with the texts, and wander
away with his thoughts At last the
deacon could stand it no longer, and
| putting on his hat, out he went to take
one look at the fierce monster that was
on the morrow to carry the laurels from
his bull and the hundred dollars, or
leave him the happy victor.


There he stood in the centre of the
field, coal black, and, shaking his fierce
shaggy head in defiance The deacon
gazed in admiration, and the thought
crept into his brain that tomorrow was
long time to wait, and that there was
nobody to see, and no one to tell tales
he might as well give the bulls just ont
little turn at each other, that he NIGH
be better able to Judge, and that if tn,
contest Waxed too warm he could drive of
his own animal without trouble. N,
sooner thought than done, and the dea
con stealthily let down the bars that LEI
into the field and proceeded to drive hi
bull; but the stranger bull in an instan
saw the entrance open, and without della,
rushed through, and in quicker tim
than it takes to tell it, tackled the dea
cons bull.


The fight was terrible, and the dea
con delighted. For a while he forgo
his Sahhath- braak kino IN fba lzoor on