The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-04-01
How Aunt Martha" Prayed Him Out.


hand and carrying basket of notions in
the other. All who know her know her
as Aunt Martha, and she's travelled up
and down and been at the depot so often
that her death would be the occasion of
general remark.
The old woman found new saloon on
Franklin street the other day-a place just
opened by wicked Bob Smith, whose red
face and bloodshot eyes have more than
once been set in a fame of prison bars
"Aunt Martha went in, hoping to make
a small sale, Bob was wipipg his glasses,
and half a dozen men sat around the stove
holding glasses or smoking cigars.
''Git ont y growled Bob as the old wo-
man entered. She did not hear him, and,
leaning over the counter, she asked:
''Would ye have paper of pins-a cake
of soap-a comb, or something?'
"Git out, you old beggar p shouted
Bob, raising his arm as if he would strike
I'm no beggar, and don't you dare to
strike me !" replied ''Aunt Martha, never
moving an inch.
"Why, what is to keep me from wiring
ing your old neck, if [ want to ~ inquired
Bob.
'.The Lord sir = she answered.
"Ho no no r laughed Bob. "There,
take that"
And he deluged her with rinsings. The
filthy liquid struck her in the face and ran
down over her faded black shawl and oft
washed calico dress, but she did not move.
Looking at him across the counter she
whispered
You need praying for, and I'm going
to do it now and here
"No you don't he shouted as she moved
toward chair; get out of here or I'll
smash your head with this bottle =!
She never minded him, and he raised
the bottle for throw when a sailor
rough, dissipated, but having some man
hood left-leaped up and cried out
Bob Smith, if you throw that bottle at
her I'll stave in your bulwarks in pre-
ciouS minute =
"You Will, ell !" whoopcd Bob as he
danced out"
"Yes, he will p cried the rest, rising up
They were too many for Bob, and he had
to stand there while Aunt Martha knelt at
chair and prayed for him.
She was still praying when he dashed
out to hick her, but Foxy Bill who came
out of State Prison only month ago, grab,
bed him by the throat, forced him into {
chair, and hissed:
Bob Smith, if ye harm hair of that
old woman's head Ill make a funeral here
"Aunt Martha" knelt again, folded hen
hands, and said:
''Thcse young men were children not
long ago, and they had praying mother:
and God fearing fathers. They are walk
ing in wicked paths, and their hearts know
no good. pray that their eyes may be
opened to their wickedness, and that theil
feet may be turned into other and better
paths =
Shes right y called out a steamboa
man as the old woman passed.
"Shoot me if she haint p cried another
$50 ahead, mother ~ shouted a third
"Ill be-if she does p yelled the in
furiated Bob, and he reached her and gave
her heavy knock before any one could in
terfere.
She screamed with pain as she rose up
and then there came terrible silence
Bob stood with arm raised to strike.
"Aunt Martha" leaned on the chair
tears rolling down her wrinkled checks, anC
the half dozen men were spell bound witt
indignation. Foxy Bill broke the silence
by saying:
"Step out doors, mother, and look ou
for splinters -
She obeyed, and Bob Smith was chokeC
and pounded until his senses left him, anC
everything which could be handled was
thrown out of doors. They worked swift
ly, fearing the police, and in five minutes
the saloon was wreck, and its proprietor
still unconscious, was lying behing the coun
ter. Their work finished, the men disap
peared like shadows, and "Aunt Martha
hobbled away, whispering:
II prayed too nard, but it was in me tc
pray. "-DerYoit Free Press.