Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-05-18
For the Heather.

| The other day, when the wind whistlet
sad-toned jigs around the battery, a littl,
old man entered saloon in that yicinit,
and asked the bar.keeper if he could leav,
some tracts there. -. tsa
4 whole carload, if you want to,
was the prompt reply, and the little ole
man placed package on a beer-table, ane
softly said; rrzas ry. ~
cause of the heather. We should all con
tribute small share of our worldly
wealth to shed the Gospel light across thu
seas"
A pair OF boxing gloves were softly re
posing on table, and the little old Elar
| felt of them and went on:
!" 1t makes me sad TO see such sinful
| things lying around when the cost of one
glove might save adoZen souls in Africa. >
Three or four of the boys had dropped
IN, and the saloon keeper winked at them
and replied:
Do you want to earn five dollars fol
| the heathen?,
''Verily, do"
PUT on the gloves with me and knock
me down, and IN ante up cash enough
TO convert whole regiment of African
sinners y
"The cause is noble, the inducemenl
great" unused the little old man, as he
toyed with the gloves. .E
The boys encouraged him TO go in, de.
string to see him knocked wrong end up,
and he finally got out of his overcoat,
with the explanation: a"|
" 1t can't be a sin TO box for the cause
of the heather. a.sa. .H
The saloonist meant to lift him over one
Of the tables at the first blow, but the blow
was warded off very handsomely, and the
little old man sighed
"Ah - um! The heather walk in
wickedness, and they have souls to be
savedp' ~ ..a
f'Look out, nowp' cried the saloonist,
as he got in left-hander.
8" Verify, | will, and | will give thee
one in return-for the heather"
He struck a staggering blow, and the
saloonist didn't feel quite so enthusiastic
on the start. He took the defensive, and
he soon had all the work he could do.
"That's another for the ignorant minds
on the far Off shore!" sighed the little old
man as he knocked the saloonist against
the wall. a#
There wasn't any science'' about him,
but he struck TO kill, and his arms were
flying around like the spokes of a wagon
wheel. rsf.a
Don't crowd fellar," called out the
saloonist, as he was being driven back,
and he got mad and put in his hardest
| ticks. lie meant TO smash the little old
mans nose as fat as u window-glass; but
! he could not do 1t. He got in two OF
three fair hits, and was beginning to re.
gain his courage. when the aged stranger
sorrowfully remarked:
my friend, the heather call, and |
cannot tarry much longer. Take this one,
and it may broaden your views on the
heather question. Receive this one in the
spirit rendered, and you may be sure the
five dollars shall be a beacon-light as tar
as it will GO"
He delivered two sledge. hammer blows
right and left, and the saloonist got the
latter on the ear as he do1ged the first. He
went over in beautiful style, and rs he
| slowly regained his feet he felt in his vest
pocket for the wager.
/" If you'll come around here tonight
and do that again I'll double the money!
he growlcd, as he paid the wager.
MY road points toward Bosting," soft
ly replied the old man, and / cannot
tarry. Let us part friendly, for only
boxed thee for the heathen's sake. gave
to thee, thou hast given TO the heath
en-, and now, FAREWELL "--San Franctsc1
I1U