The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-01-22

pErkR CARTWRIGHT rAaEs suRyw

Within the bounds Of this district there
lived local preacher, who was - small, very
easy. good natured, pleasant man he was
believed TO be also very piCus man, and n
good and useful preacher. Ills wife was di.
rectly the reverse of almost everything that
was good, saving it was believed She was viz
tuoas. She was high tempered, over-bear-
/ ing, quarrelsomc, and violent oppos.r of
religion. She would not fix her husbands
clothes TO 20 out TO preach, and was unwil-
/ ling he should ask blessing at table. or
/ pray in the family. And when he would at
tempt to pray she wonld not conform, but
tear around and make all the noise and dis
+ turbance In her power. She would turn the
chairs over while he was reading. singing.
or praying, and il she could not stop him
any other way, she would catch n cat and
throw IL into his face while he was kneelipg
and trying To pray. Poor, little mani sure
/ ~ he was tormented almost to desperation.
! lie had invited several preachers home with
/ him to talk To her, and see if they could no,
moderate her, but all to no purpose she
would curse them TO their face, and rage
] like demon. lie had insisted on nv going
home with him several times, but frankly
confess | was afraid to trust myself. nit.
led him from my very heart, ami SO did esery
body else that WAS acquainted with his situa.
ton. But at length yielded to his impor-
tunities, and went home with him one eve
ming, intending to stay all night. After we
arrived, saw In minute that she was mad.
and the devil was in her as large as an ALI
gator, and fixed my purpose aud determin-
/ ed on my course. After supper, he said To
her very kindly. ssComc, wife, stop YOUR liz
tie affairs, and lei us have prayer.' That
IN oment she boiled over, and said, 81 will
have none OF your prayin' about me- |
spoke 10 her mildly, and expostulated with
her, and tried TO reason; but no, the further
went the more wratnful she became, and
cursed me most bitterly. | then put on u
stern countenance and said to her, .sMadam,
/ II you were a wife of mine, | would break
/ you of your bad ways, or | would break your
+ neck
/ "The devil you would,'' said she. oYes.
you are pretty Christian, amt you?v And
1 then such voliey Of curses as she poured
on me was almost beyond human endurance.
! "Be still, said | 1--WE must and will have
prayer" But she declared she would not.
"Nos," said to her, ''if YOU do not be
sill and behave yourself, I'll put YOU out Of
DOORS" At this she cinched her fist, and
swore she was one-halt alligator, and the
other half swapping turtle, and that il would
take better man than | was to put her out
+ AZ WAS small cabin We were in, and we were
net far from tue door, which was then stand
.ng open. ! caught her by the arm, and
swinging her around in circle, brought her
/ rlght up to the door and showed her out
She jumped up, tore her hair, foamed; and
such swearing as she uttered was seldom
equailed and never surpassed.
The door, or shutter OF The door, was
xpr strhn ttx ,l.,t h.. 4
dams; shut il tight and AIRED ii. and went
to prayer, and prayed us best could, but
had no language al my command to ex-
press my feelings at the same time was
determined 10 conquer, or die in the ATTEMPT.
While she was raging and foaming in The
yard and around the cabin, started n spir-
isual song, and sung loud 10 drown her Voice
as much ~ possible The FIVE cr ~ if,,le
children ran and sqatted about, aud crawled
under the beds. Poor things, they we're
scared almost 10 death.
saig on, aud she roared anl Numbered
outside TIL she became perfectly exhausted,
and painted for breath. At length, when she
had spent her force, she became calm and
sui, and then knocked nj the door, saying,
"Mr. Cartwright. please lea me in.''
viii you behave Yourself if let you
in Z" said /.
- yes, will" said she. and throwing
myself ON my guard, and perfectly self pos /
sessed, lopened the door, took her by the I
hand, led her in, and seated her near the FIRE. I
She had roared aud foained till she was ia a /
hgn Persp'ration, and looked pale Us death.
Alter she took her seat, she said
80, what fool am 1 -
Yes, said ], "about one of the biggest
Tools ever saw III INV life. And nov. !" said