Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-02

oui tiChu quctly plOCccucu W tdhe OuG re-
volver and Bowie knife, and place them up
on small table by the side of his Bible He
looked carefully al the caps upon one, and
withdrew the other from its steel ease
The Colonel, fascinated by the magnetism of
look and manner, for short time forgot his
purpose of driving the preacher from the pull
pit and the town. But when he had obtained
sufficient time to recover himself, his huge
form was upreared, he pushed from his seat
out into the aisle, and as he moved people
involuntarily drew back on each side as if
they stood In the presence of an uncaged de-
mon. When he reached the aisle his stride
was long and hasty. He drew his Bowie
knife-hiS favorite weapon-as he went, and
brandished it on high. The very devil SEEM
to flash from his eye, and his manner was that
| of the lion stretched to the utmost tension of
muscle and nerve, and ready to spring upon
| his prey
Onward he came, until he stopped within
six feet of the preacher, who had drawn his
tall form up to its height. He appeared far
taller than he had ever before. His breast,
throat and eye dilated into twice their former
! size.
The bully was conscious of this fact, and
seemed to pay an involuntary tribute of admi-
ration to him whom he had sworn to dis
grace.
John" began the minister, in a slow,
clear, steady tone, 81 come to preach the
Gospel of Peace, and to speak in the name
and by the authority of my Master and,
while | am man of peace, | proclaim my
purpose to be to preach here to-day aud no
mortal man shall prevent me
The ringing, metallic tones of that voice re-
| called the fading memories of other years.
The bully seemed astonished, confused star
tied from his parpcse. But it would not do
for him to falter-he, the leader of the most
notorious gang of gamblers north of Fcks-
burg his reputation would be gone forever if
he quailed before preacher and, moreover,
his occupation would be broken up, it he did
not drive him from Napoleon, as he had all
others. If his yet dim recollectious proved
true, and this was the man he had known
twenty years before, his eloquent teachings
would revolutionize the habits and practices
of the place.
Again he started forward The revolver
was slowly raised from the table whereon it
lay, until it was on range with his head
Deathlike stiffness reigned throughout the
apartment. Men saw and felt that if COM
bat began between these men, one or the 9th.
er must die Still, with that pistol raised by
an arm over which no tremor ran, and direct
ed by an eye that burned in its socket with
determination, men sat still iu their seats, fas-
tened by strange sort of charm. The sharp
short click of the trigger was heard the fin
ger was upon it, it might be fred at any mo-
ment,-yet no one sought to escape.
Thes stood those two giant forms, looking
at each other steadily, unninchingly, for full
five minutes, and each minute seemed an age.
at last the gambler could stand it no longer.
He exclaimed
{" Are you John Taylor, who commanded a
company at Horse Shoe Bend when We drove
the rascally Greeks into the river Z"
"I am" was the calm reply.
The head of the gambler fell slowly down
upon his breast the thoughts of other and
better days seemed to have fallen upon him.
One moment was given to reverie,-the next
he wheeled upon his heel and strobe slowly
and heavily down the passage. He was crest
fallen-conquered. He would not disturb
further an ancient comrade-in-arms-one
whom he knew never shrunk from the face of
man,
The preacher watched the receeding form
until it had Iassed the threshold and van
ishcd out of sight. His foe had disappear
ed, overcome by his former feeling of compan-
ionshp in part, but mainly by the cool calm
courage of the minister.
The words, Let us pray" came reverent-
ly from his lips. The excitement of the past
moments found a vent in this appeal to the
Throne of Grace. | have heard Ma1it, Stock
ton, Bascom, and host of other eloquent di-
vines, men who had achieved the very high
est reputation for their fervid, stirring words,
but never, TO this hour have | heard such
prayer as fell from the lips of that plain, un-
pretending frontier missionary. 1t was short
but when it closed there was not dry eye in
that whole assembly The rude hunter, the
rough boatman the hardened gambler and
the educated planter were alike Effected
They each and all bowed down to the majesty
of truth falling from lips which Heaven had
endowed with most extraordinary powers.
During the whole service not Soul stirred
from his seat, not the least disorder was OBJ
servable, and when the opportunity was given
for penitents to come forward the whole con-
gregation seemed to move en- massc toward the
alter. The work of reformation went glor-
ously Oh until the town seemed to be, and in
deed was, revolutioned.
The influence of the Colonel was gone ; bis
avocation, as he had anticipated, also depar-
ted He himself, ere Taylor left the place,
became convert, sold out his property, NOV
ed out upon plantation he owned, and be-
camo model husband, aud neighbor and cit
izen.
The influence of this reformation is felt in
that remote Mississippi town even in this
hour. ~.
-s-------
II
Bg Quite joke happened to one OF the
Doctor craft some time ago. He ordered
some very powerful medicine for sick boy,
and the father not liking the appearance of
4 fornnd IL down the cats throat Nhen