The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-04-06
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How ssAunt Mariha'' Pray ed Him
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How "Aunt Martha" Pray ed Him
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You've met her if yo've lived long in
Detroit. A wilhered up old woman
bow-backed, gray haired. having a cane
in one hand and basket of notions in
the other. All who know her know her
as Aunt Martha,o aud she's travelled up
and down and been at the depot so often
that her death would be the occasion of
general remark. atse'ipi s4 Va
The old woman fouId anew saloon ON
Franklin street the other days, place
lust opened by Bob Smith, whose red
face and blood-shot ewes have been more
than once set il, q frame of prison bars.
Auat Marth6 Sert ia, hoping. 10 make .
small sale. Bob was wiping his glasses,
and half dozen men sat around the
stove holding glasses or smoking cigars
Git out!' growled Bob, as the old
woman entered. She did not hear him,
and, leaning over the counler,she asked !:
"Would you have. paper of pins-a
cake of soap-a comb, or something ?"
"Git out, you old beggar" shouted
Bob, raising his arm as il he would
strike her. lase. .sa.;st;s
I'm no beggar, and don't you dare
to strike meF replied Aunt Martha,
without moving a inch.
"Why,what's to hinder me from wiring
ing your old neck If want to {" lnqulr-
ed Bob.
"Ihe LORD, Sir she answered. -
"Ho! no! ho" laughed Bob. There,
take that! 81 m. >. .ntftt
And he deluged her with musings
The filthy liquid struck her IN the lace
and ran down over her faded BLACK
shawl and oft washed calico dress, bu'
she did not move. LOOKING at MIN
across the counter, she whispered 6 q
r".You need praying for and Pmr go
ling to do it now, ard here'
"No you don't" he shouted, as she
moved toward a chair; "get out OF here
or I'll smash your head With this bot
tle!' aaaal edi - Hoislg4e4 4s) PTS
She never minded him, and he raised
the bottle for throw, when sailor
rough, dissipated, buthaying some man
hood left--leaped up and cried out:zis
% .sBob Smith, ,ifsyeu throw that bottle
| at her, I'll staye in5 your sbulwarks in {
tminutemarg 81 81 bas YsaO 9sbnt
In4sYou will, eh !iiwhoeped, Bob, as ht
tdanced out. 81 ad3 7ol essts aht al assu
= sYes, he will,'' cried the trest, rising
up. z 10 ssaat siefforsi iiIaals roUT9
They were too many forsBob, = aud b,
had to stand there while Aun. Marths
knelt at chair and prayed for him. g
She was still praying when he dashed
out to kick her, lint Foxy iBill'g gwht
came out of State Prison only montl
ago, grabbed him by the throat, forced
him into chair, and Kissed: ll
--aBa Smith, il ye harm a hair OF tha
old woman's head, III make a funera
here 1sgalsal saw 80
Aunt Martha knelt again, folded he
hands and said: sT
"Ihese young men were chlloren no
long ago, and they had praying mother
and God-fearing fathers. They are walk
ing in wicked paths, and their heart
know no good. Ipray that their eye
may be opened to their wickedness, AM
that their feet may be turnediin,o rethe
and better paths:">
J. "She's rightr' called out 2 steamboa
man, as the old woman paused. .a-s; y,,i,
"Shoot me, if she hain't!" cried an
other. p'@
"Go ahead mother!' shouted a third
''Tll be -- if she does!h yelled th
linfuriated Bob, and he reached her ant
gave her a heavy kick before any on