Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-03-20
HOW .AUNT MARTHA.
PRAYED HIM OUT.
A Touching Scene i'm u De-
trOit saloon --- Which May
Have Happened and May
NOt,buIt lisa Good Story Amy
[ From Tie Detroit Free Press. /

FROM the Detroit Free Press.
You've met her if you've lived
long in Detroit. A withered up
old woman, backed, gray
haired, having cane in one hand
and carrying a basket of notions in
the other. All who know her
know ner as "Aunt Martha" and
she's travelled up and down and
been at the depot so often that her
death would be the occasion or
general remark.
The old woman found new sa-
loon on Franklin street the other
day-a place just opened by wick
ed Bob Smith, whose red face and
bloodshot eyes have more than
once been set in q frame of prison
bars. Aunt Martha went in, hop
ing to make small sale. Bob was
wiping his glasses, and half a doZ-
en- men sat around the stove hold
ing glasses or smoking cigars.
"Get out!o growled Bob as the
old woman entered. She did not
hear him, and leaning over the
counter she asked:
"Would we have paper of pins,
a cake Of soap, a comb, or some
thing?
"Git out, you old beggar |"
shouted Bob, raising his arm as If
he would strike.
"pm no beggar, and don't you
dare to strike me !" replied "Aunt
Martha,o never moving an inch.
"Why, what's to keep me from
wringing your old neck if I want
to?' inquired Bob.
"The Lord, sir ~ she answered.
''Ho! no! ho!" laughed Bob.
"There, take that !"
And he deluged her with rims
ings. The filthy liquid struck her
in the face and ran down over her
faded black shawl and often-wash-
ed calico dress, but she did not
move. Looking at him across the
counter she whispered:
"You need praying for, and Pm
going to do it now and 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 bottle !"
She never minded him, and he
raised the bottle for a throw, when
a sailor-rough, dissipated, but
having some manhood left, leaped
up and cried out:
"Bob Smith, if you throw that
bottle at her I'll stave in your bull
warks i'm a precious minute!'
"You will, eh ?" whooped Bob,
as he waltZed out.
"Yas, he will !" cried the rest, all
rising up.
They were too many for Bob,
and he had to stand there while
"Aunt Martha" knelt to chair
and prayed for him.
She was still praying when he
dashed out to kick her, but Foxy
Bill" who came out of States pris-
on only a month ago, grabbed him
by the throat, forced him into a
chair, and Kissed:
"Bob Smith, if we harm q hair
of that old woman's head I'll make
a funeral here ~
"Aunt Martha" knelt again,
folded her hands and said:
"These young men were child
rem not long ago, and they had
praying mothers and God-fearing
fathers. They are walking in
wicked paths, and their hearts
know no good. ] pray that their
eyes may be opened to their wick
edness, and that their feet may be
turned into other better paths J"
"She's rightun called out asteam-
boatman as the old woman paused.
''Sheot me If she hain't" cried
another.
"Go ahead, mother! !" shouted
a third.
"I'll be - if she does ~
shouted the infursted Bob, and he
reached her and gave her heavy
kick before any one could inter-
fere.
She screamed with pain as she
rose up, and then there came ter
rible silence. Bob stood with his
arm raised to strike.
"Aunt Martha" leaned on the
chair, tears rolling down her
wrinkled cheeks, and the half a
dozen men were spell-bound with
indignation. Foxy Bill" broke
the silence by saying:
''Step out doors, mother, and
look out for splinters!'
She obeyed, and Bob Smith was
choked and pounded until his
senses left him, and everything
that could be handled was thrown
out of doors. They worked swiftly,
fearing the police, and in five
minutes the saloon was a wreck,
and its proprietor, still uncOnsci-
Gus, was laying behinu the coun-
ter. Their work finished, the men
disatlnlared like shadows. and