Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-05-24

On the Western frontiers of our country,
in advance of society and of social refine
ment, there have been, and are to-day, a
class of preachers, rough and untaught.
and yet devoted to their wOrk-true evan
gelists Of the backwoodsmen. Among them
are some of the most fearless apostles in
the world. In Texas especially, where in
some localities there are communities of
fierce, lawless spirits, these pioneer preach
ers necessarily encounter not only perils
from wild beasts, perils from disease and
exposure, but perils from brutal men, more
dangerous than either. Their courage is of
the Texan type, and although it may Occa-
sionally show itself in a manner not exact
" in harmony with the spirit of their
calling, yet one is inclined to look some
what charitably upon faults that are the
result of education and exhibit themselves
in defence of the truth. These preachers
often have less of the gentleness of John
than of Peters fiery impulses.
Capt. Marcy. in his Army Life on the
Border" gives an incident or two in the
life of one of these devoted Christian men,
VINO, however, possessed rather more cul-
tivation than most of his class, and was for
time chaplain of military post at which
the captain was stationed.
He was a man of unexceptiOnable moral
character, but at the same time possessed
an irascible temperament, which required
all the exercise of his power of selfdlsci-
pline to keep in subsection. One day he
| learned that a certain deacon of his church
had slandered him. Under the impulse of
his indignation he seized cowhide and
started for the offenders house TO give him
a sound flogging. Luckily for the deacon,
| the preacher CHANGED to think, before he
got to the end of his journey, that his con.
duct was hardly in keeping with his pro
| fession, and concluded to seek less violent
mode of redress.
Late one night-on the Red river circuit
he once found himself in a thinly-settled
country, near the house of desperate and
| gambler, who was noted for his hatred of
religion and of Christian professors. There
were dark stories told about this man. 1t
was believed that he had murdered travel
ers who had put up at his house, although
no proof could be presented against him.
The preacher knew these facts and would
| have preferred a less ungodly landlord
but as he was in his Masters service,
and cleared neither man nor devil" he
did not hesitate to enter the desperado's
house.
As he halted his horse at the door, he
heard the gambler say to his wife, with an
oath.
"There comes that old parson. / sup
pose he wants to stay over night, but if he
thinks I'm a-goin to put up with his pray.
ing and psalm singing, he's mistaken. III
make him pay his bill in different coin
from that"
Such a greeting from such a man would
have caused most travellers to pass on and
get as far as possible Fl ON the gamblers
reach. But the preacher quietly got of
his horse, went into the house and told the
surly ruffiian that he meant to spend the
night there!
"Better wait and see whether you're
; wanted fust," growled the gambler.
The preacher coOlly took off his coat
and said, -
1--we come to stay !"
Supper was put on the table. They al
sat down. The gambler took his knife ani
fork and was about to eat The preacher
raised his hands as in the act of invoking
q blessing, and at the same time looked
| steadily and sternly at the rufiian. Cowed