Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-10-04

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How ELDER CARTWRIGHT BAPT1sED
THE FERRyMAN.-A new work with the
title of the "American Pulpit" tells the
following anecdote concerning an eccen-
trio old Methodist minister in Illinois,
well known as Peter Cartwright, who
no; only preached the gospel, but lectured
qui'e often on political matters, and spoke
h,s mind heeIy upon men aud measures.
1t resulted of course, that the POLITICIANS
became very angry at the minister, and
had much to say "about ministers not
dabbling IN politics, sticking to their
caliing,' &C., &c. 1t happened that on
one occasion he rode to a terry across
the Illinois river, where the country was
more thickIy populated, and met little
knot Of people who were discussing poll
tics. The ferryman, a stout fellow, was
holding forth in excited terms a bout
old renee eeade-prefixed good many ex
pIetivcs to his name, which we omit
one Peter Cartwright-swearing that if
he ever came that way, he would drown
bim in tie river.
Cartwright, unrecognixed BY any one
said:
stranger, I want you to put me
across"
You'll wait till I'm ready" said the
ferryman. So when he had finished his
speech, he added. "Now will put you
over"
Cartwright rode his horse into the boat
and the ferryman began to pole it across
Cartwright felt it his duty to make him
self known, aud assert his principles,
but he wanted to be sure of lis play.
So, when he reached the middle OF the
stream, lie threw the horses Lrid le oyer
stake If the boat, and tod tue ferry.
man to throw down his pole.
"Wha, for :" cried the ferryman:
"Wel, you have just now been using
my name improper; you said if ! eyer
came this way you would drown me in
the river. Now you have got chance
;; t. do ii"
is your name Peter Cartwright" said
the ferryman.
MY name is Peter Cartwright" said
the preacher.
Down drops the pole, and at it 60 the
preacher aud ferryman: They grapplt
for minute, but Cartwright is re'narka-
bly, agile, as we'll as athletic, and in a
trice. he had the terryman, with one hand
by the nap OF the neck and the seat O
the trowsers, and whirling him over the
side of the boat plunges him under the
tide-his astonisLsd companions looked
on from shore-fair play being secured
by the distance. Twice and thrice tht
preacher souses the poor ferryman under
saying. as he did SO. - .t>s.
IL baptise thee (k'splash) in the nam'
of the devil, (k'splasb) whose child thou
art" (ksplasl', y then lifting him up, drip
ping with the water, and gasp'ng TO
breath, Cartwright asks him. f..
"Do you ever pray e bali.
i "Pray " said the ferryman, mo-
| "Then it's time you did," SAID tn
preacher. - Say, Our Father which ar
IN Heaven" .7l.. ~. sa
Damned if l do" said the ferryman
i; K'splash, under. the water again.
"Wi;l you pray now said the preach
er." .-.q.=t .. r.
eI'll do anything gasped the ferry
man." ....-.....--r .ge..s.. .4 r.,
"Say, Our Father who art in Heaven
said .he preacher, the ferryman foIlowe
him through the Lords Prayer.
/ sNow let me up, said the farryman.
IS '.Not yet, said the preacher: 'Yo
must make NE three promises first th'
. you will repeat that prayer every MO
: ming and night as long as you live
/ secondly that you will hear every Meth
Y dist preacher that comes within Il,
5 miles Of this ferry; and thirdly, th'
5 you will put every Methodist preach
over this ferry free Of expense. Do ye
IS promise :" ........,
Q / promise said the ferryman, and r
d sumed his pole. A.
d Cartwright went on bis way, an~sn
!. man soon became aconvert. ,.
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