The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-05-22
FIRST PRAYER ATHANNEY'S
Frank IeslieS.

FIRST PRAYER THANNEY'S
Frank LeslieS.
Hanney's Diggiugs certainly needed II
missionary, if any place ever did, but, as
one of the bows once remarked during
a great lack OF water, lit had to keep on
n ncedin'." Jealous men came up be
steamer via the Isthmus and seemed to
consume with their fiery haste to get on
board the vessel for China and Japan
and carry the glad tidings to the heather.
Self-sacrifcing souls gave up homo and
friends, and hurried across, overland, to
brave the Pacific and bury themselves
among the Australian savages. But.
though they all passed almost in sight OF
Hanney's, none of them paused to give
any attention TO the souls who had flock
ed there Men came out from Frisco
and the Ess. to labor with the Chinese
miners. who were the only peaceable and
well-be-haved people in the mines; but
the faced, good natured, hard
swearing, generous, heavy-drInkinS, en-
thu,iastic, murderous Anglo.SaXons they
let severity alone. Perhaps they thought
that hearts in which the good seed had
been sown, but failed TO come up into
fruit, were barren soil; perhaps they
thought it preferable to be killed and
eaten by cannibals than to be tumbled
into guech by a revolver shot while
the shootist strolled camly off in company
with his approving conscience, never
thinking to ascertain whether his bullet
had completed the business,or whether
wounded man might not have TO fight
death and coyotes together.
At any rate, the missionaries let Han
news alone. Ifany one with an unquen-
enable desire to carry the Word where
il is utterly unknown, u digestion with
out fear, and full-proof article of COM
mon sense these last two requisites are
absolute should be looking for an elegi-
BILE location. Hanney's is just the place for
him. and he need give himself no trouble
for fear some one will step in before him.
Ifhe has several dozen OF similarly con-
stituted friends they can all find
similar locations by betakiug themselves
TO any mining camp in the West.
As Hanney's had no preacher 1t
will be readily imagined it had no
church. With the first crowd who loca-
ted there came an insolvent rum
seller from the east. He called himself
Pcntecost, which was as near his right
name as is usual with miners, and the
bows dubbed his shop "Pentecost Chapel
at once. The same, somehow, reached
the East for within few months there
reached the post-otiice at Hanneys doc
ument address to preacher IN charge of
Pentecost Chapel The postmaster
went up and down the brook in high
spirits, and told the boys, who instantly
dropped shovel and pan, formed line, and
escorted the post master and document
to the Chapel Pentecost Acknowledged
the Joke, and stood treat for the crowd,
after which he solemnly tore the wrapper,
aud disclosed a report of certain mis-
sionary society. Modestly expressing hi,
qualification at the honor, and his un
Worthiness of it, he moved that old
Thompson. who had the loudest voice
in the crowd, should read the report
aloud, he Pentecost, volunteering to fur
uish Thompson all necessary spintuous
aid during the continuance of his task.
Thompson promptly signitied his acqul-
cscence, cleared his throat with glass Of
amber-colored liquid, and commenced,
the boys meanwhile listeninging atten-
lively, and commenting critically,
Too much cuSsed heavenly twang,"
observed one, disapprovingly, as one let
ter largely composed of scriptural eX-
tracts was read.
why the deuce did't he shoot indig-
nantlv demanded another, as Il tale of cs-
cape from heather pursuers was read.
shut up wimmen in Il burned dark
rooml Well, I'll be durnedl soliloqniZed
a vellow-haired Missourian, as Thompson
rcan account of Zenana.
"Reckon they'd set an internal sight
higher by wimmen eff they wuZ in the
diggins six months-hey, fellows
You bet~ emphaticolly responded a
majority ofthose present.
Before the boys came very FESTIVE,
Thompson finished the pamphlet, iHclud
ing few lines on the cover, which stat
ed that the Society was greatly in need Of
funds. and that contributions might be-
sent to the Soclety's financial agent in
Boston Thompson gracefully concluded
hi, service BY passing the hat, with the
f,lI,wing net result: Two rcvolvers. one
pistol, three knives, one
watch. two rings both homemade, val
liable. and fearfully ugly, pocket ink
stand. n silver tobacco-boX and forty or
fifty ounces of dust and nuggets. Boston
Bill who was VIGOROUSLY aDSent-mind-
ed, dropped in a pocket comb, but, ON
being stcrnly called 10 order 10y old
Thompson. cured himself most huentiy.
and redeemed his disgraceful contrlhu-
ton with gold double-eagle. 81 he
W ehtoot, who was the most uu!ucEy
man IN camp, had been 50 wrought up
on by the tale of one missionary who had
lost ms all many times in succession,
Sympsthet,cally contribute his only show
Ell, Tor which net he was enthusiastically
cursed and literally treated at the bar
while the shovel was promptly sold ut
auction to the highest bidder, who pre-
scented 1t, with staggering slap between
the shoulders, 10 It's original owner.
The remaining non-legal tenders we're
then converted into gold-dust, and the
whole dispatched by express with grim
from Pentecost, to the society's treasurer
Mt ROstOn As the society uss nND+r,lr,I