Adventures of a Clergyman.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 221, 3 February 1874, Page 7

Adventures of a Clergyman.

* The Rev.- Mr Pinkney, of Slawson, bought » gjtirio rdrister from a Danbury dealer on Saturday; Mr Pinkney informs us that ho was not aW;Ii j e the fowl was of the game species ; he bought it because of its shapely appearance. AVe believe this statement, and are confident that the good people of Slawson will acquit him of all blame in the unfortunate affair of last Sunday morning, the particulars of which are as follows I At the time the trouble commenced Mr Pinkney was engaged in arranging his necktie preparatory to putting on his vest and coat. Happening to look out of the window he saw his new rooster and a rooster belonging to Widow Hathburn squaring off in the street to have a tight. Surprised and pained by this displav, he immediately started out to quell the disturbance, but was too late. When he got there half :a-dozen young ruffians with cigars in their mouths and evil in their eyes, had surrounded the birds, which were already in the affray. They would thrust their heads out at each other, and ruffle their necks, and then dance around arid strike out with their spurs, and jump back and thrust out their heads again. . And when the boys saw him they shouted out, “ Hurry up, baldy (Mr Pinkney was a little bald), or you’ll miss the fun.” Mr Pinkney was inexpressibly shocked. It was Sunday morning ; the homes of two of his deacons and several of his most prominent-ftrembers were in'sight, and here were these roosters carrying on like mad, and a parcel of wicked and profane boys standing around, shouting their approval and betting on the result. He made an effort to secure his fowl, but it eluded him. The perspiration streamed down his face, which burnt like tire, his knees trembled, and he felt, as he saw the neighbours gathering, that if the earth was to open and swallow him up he could not be sufflciently grateful. •Just as he attempted to catch his rooster, a rough-looking individual, with his pants in his boots and a cap with a drawn-down forepiece came up, and taking in the scene at a glance, sided with the other rooster. “ Fair play,” shouted the new 7 comer for the benefit of the crowd, and “ Don’t step on the birds, old codger,” for the particular benefit of Mr Pinkney, who, crazed beyond reason, was jumping about swinging his arms, and muttering incoherent things, to the great danger of stepping on the combatants. “ Good for old Pinkney’s rooster,” screamed the bovs in delight, as that fowl knocked a handful of feather from' his opponent’s neck. “ The parson knows how - to do it,” said a one-eyed hian gleefully. Mr Pinkney could have swooned. “ I’ll go you five dollars on the widder,” said the rough man, earnestly winking at the clergyman. “ Take him, Pinkney, take him, Pinkney,” chorused the crowd of ragamuffins.- “My friends,” protested the .unfortunate minister in,a voice of agony, “I ’cannot, I cannot —” “I’ll back you’ sir," said an enthusiastic man with a fish-pole. “I'll put up for you, and you can let me have it from .your own donation.” Tire clergyman groaned. “ Catch me the widder,” shouted the rough man to Mr Pinkney, indicating that lady’s bird by a motion of his finger. Mr Pinkney clutched it, dropping on his knees as he did so. At the same time the rough man, by a dexterous move, caught the clergyman’s bird and also dropped on his knees opposite. Just then Mr Pinkney looked np, and saw two of his deacons and several of the members, staring down upon the scene with an expression that brought the Woo l to his face, and with a groan of intense pain, the unhappy man dropped Mrs Hathburn’s fowl and darted into the house. .As soon as he recovered from his mishap, he sent in. his resignation,, but a critcal examination had been made in the meantime, and it transpired that as far as the worthy man Was concerned, there was not the least blame. The resignation was not accepted.— Danbury News . •