camp meeting and the old timer

years ago when I was a aspiring young cowpuncher working at the t and c cattle co in Maricopa, I idolized a cranky, profane, whiskey drinkin , roper and race horse trainer. he came from a pioneer cattle family but was considered a black sheep. but he was the best all around horseman and cowboy I had met at that time.  I didn't realize that there was more than one way to accomplish chores in my chosen proffesion until many years later. he was also one of the best pranksters I have ever met. granted the pranks were cruel and some times dangerous but to a youngster they were in good fun.  one nite we were settled in the local watering hole. it was a hot nite and the front doors were open to let the air in. there was only a couple of us there. down the side street across the main drag  came the sounds of a banjo. the old timer asked trigger( the bar tender) what was goin on. trigger explained that there was a negro revival going on down the street at a tar paper shack that served as a church for those folks. as the nite wore on the banjo got louder and the singing turned into prayers that were being shouted. slamming his drink to the bar the old timer swears to put a end to the noise. out the back door of the bar he goes and returnes with a mangey tom cat. we went out side to his el camino where he produces a horse shoe rasp, a gunny sack and a bottle of clear liquid. he instructs me to hold the cat bottom side up. he then takes the rasp a couple licks across the cats fanny, right under the tail. just enough to draw little beads of cat blood. he then sprinkles the clear liqid on the rat cats ass and we stuff the cat into the gunny sack.n our way to the tar paper shack he continues to shake the sack up and down. the tom cat is making some ungodly noises when the old timer cracks the door of the shack and turns mr. tom cat loose.  I never knew a preacher could cuss that way!! that cat had the shack rockin and rollin back and forth when the door flies open and a dozen of the good lords faithful stampede down the street. the old timer and I left town and did our drinken in casa grande for a month or so.