Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-05-23
SubduinS a Desperate.

more than kill them. - aa !at9.
| SubduinG a Desperate.
| On the Western frontiers of our country,
in advance 81 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, butperils from brutal men, more
dangerous than either. Their courage is of
| the Texan type, and although it may occa-
siOnally show itself in manner not exact
| ly 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 Glass; and was for
time chaplain of military post at which
the captain was stationed. 7t1H9
He was man of unexceptionable moral
character, but at the same time possessed
an irascible temperament, which required
all the exercise of his power of e1f-dIsci-
pline to keep in subsection. One day he
learned that certain deacon of his church
had slandered him.. Under the impulse of
his indignation he seized a cowhide and
started for the offenders house to give him
sound fogging. 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 less upgodly landlord;
but as he was in his Masters service,
and feared neither man nor devil" he
did not hesitate to enter the desperado's
house. ~7 .'. r..
As he halted his horse at the door, he
heard the gambler say to his wife, with an
oath. .........
"There comes that old parson. I sup
pose he wants to stay over night, but if he
thinks Pm a-goin to put up with his pray
ing and psalm singing, he's mistaken. I'll
make him pay his bill in different coin
from that !" ... -.fto-. -o
Such a greeting from such man would
have caused most travellers to pass on and
get asofar as possible Fl ON the gamblers
reach, But the preacher quietly got off !
his horse, went into the house and told the |
surly ruffiian that he meant to spend the |
night there - e., s.s.-.
"Better wait and see whether you're |
wanted fust," growled the gambler.
The preacher coOlly took off his coat, |
and said
GIVE come to stag !"
Supper was put on the table They all |
sat down. The gambler took his knife and |
fork and was about to eat. The preacher
raised his hands as in the act of invoking
a blessing, and at the same time looked |
steadily and sternly at the rufiian. Cowed
by the cool courage of the man, the des-
perado dropped his knife and fork and NUT
tered in sullen tone,-
I "Let en- slide DarS0n!" III as 49,
The preacher asked grace. But-the gam
bier was so ill at his ease, and so much an
nOyed at the missionarys dictatorial con-
duct, that he hardly spoke word to him
all the evening. r,f- r-.~.-...s..t Z toef l.
AS the hour for going to bed drew near,
the preacher made up his mind to have
customary evening family worship. He
took a Bible from his pocket and motioned
the ruffian to bring him small table.
Half subdued by his stern and serious man.
ner, the gambler seized the table and,
slammed it down in front of his guest, and
then began to whistle the tune " the Ar
kansas Traveler!" % @
The preacher vouchsafed no comment,
but pointed very decidedly and significant
" to his Bible. The gambler stopped.
In an angry tone, and with an oath, he
SWELL, parson, bile ahead :" sra.5 ri
The night passed quietly. The fearless
clergyman slept calmly, and in the
conducted religious services
igain without opposition from bis ruffian )
landlord.
As he was about to leave he asked
he gambler how much there was to pay
orrhls supper, breakfast, and nights lodg-
ng.
".Not cent, parson," said the despera-
10, "not cent; go along about your t
but don't come psalm-singing {
lround my house any more, for l won't !
tand it."
|