The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-10-05
Mark Twain's Latest.

re 7. Clemens in November Atlantic ]
One trip the captain had a clergy
man on board, but did not know lie
was a clergyman, since the passen-
cer list did not betray the fact. lie
fook a great liking to this Rev. Mr..
Peters. and talked with him a great
deal; told him yarns, gave hm tooth,
some scraps of personal history, and
wove glittering streak OF profanity
through his garrplous fabric that was
refreshing toa Spirit weary OF the
tnll neutrality .ofundecorated speech
one day the captain said:
Peters, do you ever read the
Billie 2
"Well-yes.'
u Judge it amt often by the way
Won SAY it. Now you tackle 1t III
dead earnest once, and you'll find
i'm nay. Don't you get discouraged,
but hang right ON. First, you won't
understand it; but by and by things
will begin to clear up, and then you
wonltln't lay it down TO eat.
Yes, have heard that said.
1 .Aui it's SO, too. There amt u
hook that begins to equal it. Ii lays
over ,cm all, Peters There's some
}. preity tough things in it--there AIN
amy getting around uhat-but you
stick To them and think them out,
and when you once get on the inside
everything's plain us day.
The miracles. too, captain
sYes. sir, the miracles, too. Every
one of them. Now, there's that
business with the prophets OF bai'
like enough that stumped you.
well, | don't know, but
sOwn up; now; it stumped YOU
Well. | don't wonder. You hadnt
any experience in ravelling suci
things ont. and naturally it was too
many for YOU. Wonld you like Il
have me explain that thing to you
and show you how to get at TN
meat Of these matters Y
Tndeed, would captain, II yo'
don't mind.
!, Then the captain proceeded a
follows: 'rll do it with pleasure
First, YOU see, read and read, an
: thought and thought, till got 7
understand what sort OF people the
a were i'm old Bible times, and the
after that it was all clear and easy
= Now. this was the way | put 1t ul
J. concerning Isaac and the prophet
!. of Baal. There were some might
:, :; sharp men amongst the puoiic chai
!: acters of that old ancient day, an
s Isaac was one of them. Isaac ha
= his failings-blenty of them, too,
Il, a amt for me to apologize for lsaa'
ns he PLAYED it on the prophets OF Baa
o and like enough he was Justlhaoi'
- considering the odds that wei
against him. No, all say is, 'twan
any miracle, and that III snow 20
Z, SO So you can see it yourself. =.
well, times had been g.ettlr
rourher and rougher for prophets
that is. prophets of Isaac's demon
nation. There were $50 prophets
ed Baal in the community, and only OF
he Presbyterian; that is, if Isaac was
We Presbyterian, which reckon ne wa
but it don't say. Naturally, q
prophets of Baal took all the trad
Isaac was pretty low spirited.
to reckon, but he was a good deal of
man, and no doubt he went apr
r,l phesying around, letting ON 10
w. doing a land Office business, D
ny 'twasn't amy use; he couldn't run a.
nd opposition to amount to anythin
we Nv and by things got desperate WI
him. he sets to work and thinks
- all out, and then what does ne a.
se- why, he begins to throw out hi
:, that the other parties are TINS a
- that and the t'other-nothing We
eii definite, may be, but Just KIND
IN undermining their regulations II
w. quiet way. This made talk, Of cou UT
and finally got to the King. l
of King asked Isaac what he meant
his talk. Says Isaac, Oh, noun
particular, only can they pray 90
fire from heaven on an altar
srh;s IL the captains own mistake.