The Deacon of Dobbinsville | Page 2

fling his homespun coat in the air and crack the heels of his
red-topped boots together with an emphasis that would stop the mouth
of the most impudent gainsayer. They told how by this masterful
eloquence opposers were silenced, heretics were brought to orthodoxy,
and infidels were converted. Preacher Crookshank flourished
contemporaneously with John Barleycorn. To be frank, he and John
were bosom friends. In fact, it was reported that Crookshank was never
at his best in preaching except when he had an infilling of the "spirit"
of the Barleycorn type. He had a certain long-tailed coat, said to have
been given to him by a fellow member of the Legislature. This coat had
large pockets in the tail wherein was carried a bottle of whiskey. This
was a source of much inspiration to Crookshank throughout his long
and eventful career.
But I must leave off any further description of this notable. Those who
are further interested I refer to the blue-grass cemetery just back of
Mount Olivet church, where a tombstone is to be found bearing this
inscription: "Rev. John Crookshank--Statesman, Preacher, Orator. Died
June 6, 1867."
As before stated, Mount Olivet church flourished. She was nestled
among the picturesque Ozark Hills, about midway between Ridgetown
and Dobbinsville. Everybody in the community, almost, who had any
religious inclination, and some who had none, belonged to Mount
Olivet. She boasted in being the largest church in all Randolph
County--the churches at Ridgetown and Dobbinsville not excepted.
When I say that Mount Olivet church flourished, I do not mean that she
flourished in spiritual things. Indeed, her candle of vital religion had
well-nigh flickered out. Scarcely a member could be found who would
testify to a real experience of salvation from sin. There were three
things for which the members of this particular church were remarkable,
namely, they were great sticklers for the faith of their church, they were
all holiness-fighters, they all used tobacco in some form.

CHAPTER II
Deacon Gramps sat on his plow-handles. The sultry August day was
drawing to a close. The sun was just ready to roll its bright red disk
behind the western horizon. The Deacon seemed to be in a deep
meditation. He cast a glance at his beautiful farm as it stretched itself
out for a mile toward the river on the one side and nestled snugly
against the foot of the limestone hill on the other side. The large white
farmhouse with green trimming cozily planted on a blue-grass knoll
across the brook seemed to bid him be at rest. The large red barn just
back of the house stood out in sharp contrast against the green-foliaged
mountain. The gold-colored balls on the lightning rods glistened in the
farewell rays of the receding sun. Mount Olivet Church reared her
white walls modestly from the brow of the blue-grass knoll a quarter of
a mile eastward. Deacon Gramps was, at the close of this peaceful
summer day, indulging in a mental congratulation of himself on being
so favorably situated in life. Everybody recognized Farmer Gramps as
being the wealthiest man in all Spruce Township. He owned the finest
and fattest horses that were driven to Mount Olivet Church. His cattle
roamed the forests for miles around, and his hogs cracked acorns on
every hillside.
Apart from his worldly wealth he was the most distinguished member
of Mount Olivet church. For years he had been deacon in said church,
and was president of the official board. In fact, he was as truly a part of
the Church as was the pulpit on the platform or the bell in the steeple.
No meeting was complete without him. He was an indispensable part of
the service. He always sat in the same pew, and none coming into the
Church previously to Deacon Gramps ever dared sit in his pew any
more than they dared to monopolize the preacher's chair in the pulpit.
He always enjoyed the double pleasure of chewing his tobacco and
hearing the sermon simultaneously, and this necessitated his occupying
a pew near the window, as you may well suppose. This window was
known to roguish boys as "Deacon Window" and not even the bravest
of these boys dared peep through this window during services as was
their custom in the case of the other windows.

Perhaps it is needless to say that the uninterrupted presence of Gramps
had a profound influence upon the service. No preacher dared to fail to
recognize his dignity. As well as being an officer in the church he was
the heaviest contributor to its collections. He had a very curious habit
of twitching his right ear when the preacher said something that did not
just set well with him, and it naturally followed that every pastor who
ever served Mount