Gave What They Wished
During war time a parson wished to rouse his congregation to more enthusiastic patriotism, so, when addressing them one day, he cried: “Ha! Already I see the enemy coming, see him enter your village, burn your homes, take away your wives and daughters! Yes, they are coming, they are near; do you see the flags waving? Do you hear the beating of the drums?” at the same time drumming on the pulpit with both fists. Immediately the schoolmaster behind the pulpit imitated the blowing of a bugle. The parson turning around, whispered: “Schoolmaster, what are you doing?”
“I am helping you, sir,” he replied. “I know our farmers. Infantry alone won’t do; you want cavalry too.”