Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-04-04
Captain Hurricane Jones.

One trip the captain had a clergyman on
board. but did not know he was a clergy
man. since the passenger list did not betray
the fact He took great liking to this
Rev. Mr.. Peters, and talked To him n great
deal told him yarns, gave him some tooth
some scraps OF inimitable personal history
aud wove glittering streak of profanity
through his garrulous fabric that was re-
freshing 10 a spirit weary OF the dull neu-
tralities of undecorated speech. One day
the captain said, Peters, do you ever read
the Bible:'
We'll, yes.
II Judge II amt often, by the way you
say it. Now, YOU tackle II In dead earnest
once. aud you'll find it'll pay. Don't you
get discouraged. but hang right on. First
YOU won't understand Il; but BY and by
things will begin TO clear up. and then you
wouldn't lay IL down to eat
Yes have heard that said
And it's so. too. There amt a book
that begins to compare with 1t. 1t LAYS
over 'em all, Peters. There's some pretty
tough things in it.-there alnt any getting
around that.-but YOU stick TO them and
think them out, and when once you get on
the inside everything's plain as day
The miracles too, captaint'
Yes, sir the miracles too Every one
OF them. Now. there's that business with
the prophets Of Baal; like enough that
stumped you2'
We'll. don't know but
"Own up. now: IL stumped you. Well
don't wonder. You hadn't had any exper-
i.nce in ravelling such things out, and nat
uralv 1t was too many for you. Would
you ike to have me explain that thing To
you. and show YOU how TO get at the meat
OF these matrers?"
Indeed, | would. captain, II you don't
mind
Then tn" captain proceeded as follows
"l'll do It with pleasure. First. you see.
read aud read. and thought and thought,
TIL got to understand what sort Of people
they were in the old Bible times. and then
aner that II was all clear and easy. Now.
this was the way put il up concerning
Isaac this was the captain's own mistake
and the prophets OF Baal There was some
mi yhty sharp men amongst the public
characters OF that old ancient day, aud
Isaac was one OF them. Isaac lad hi, fall
ingS plenty OF them. too; il aln't for me
10 apologize for Isaac; ne played 1t on the
prophets OF Baal, and like enough he was
justidable. considering the odds that was
against him. No, all say is. 'twan't any
miracle, and that I'll show you SOS t YOU
can see IL Yourself
We'll times had been getting roughcr
and rougher for prophets.-tha is, pro-
phets OF Isaac's denomination. There were
four hundred and fifty prophets OF Baal in
the community, and only one presbyterian
that IL, II Isaac was presbyterian, which
reckon he was. but II don't say. Natur-
ally. the prophets of Baa took all the
trade Isaac was pretty low-spirited |
reckon, bat he was good deal Of a man
and no doubt he went propheSying
around letting on to be doing a lsnd.ofilc
business, but twan't any use ; he couldn't
run any opposition to amount TO anything
by and BY things got desperate with him;
he sets his head to work and thinks II all
out. aud then what does he do: Why. he
begins to throw out hints that the other
parties are this and that and t'othcr-noth
ing very definite. may be. but just kind of
undermining their reputation in quiet
way. This made talk Of course. and finally
got TO the king The King asked Isaac
what he meant by his talk. Says Isaac.
"Oh nothing particular; only. can they
pray down fire from heaven on an altar?
IL amt much, may be, your majesty, only
can they do IL? That's the idea SO the
king was a good deal disturbed, and he
went to the prophets of Baal, and they said.
pretty airy. that II he had an altar ready.
they were ready; and they intimated he
better get il insured. too.
so next morning all the children oi Is
rael and their parents aud the other people
gathered together. Well, here was thar
great crowd OF prophets Of Baal packed to.
gether on ;one side. and Isaac walking up
and down all alone on the other. putting
up his job. When time was called. Isaac
let on 10 be comfortable and Indifferent;
told the other team TO take the first In.
nings. So they went at it. the whole four
hundred and fiity, PRAYING around the al
tar, very hopeful, and doing their level
best. They prayed an hour.-rwo hours
three hours.-and 50 on, rlumb till noon
IL wasn't any use ; they hadn't took trick
OF course they felt kind 4 ashamed before
all those people, and well they might
Now. what would a magnsnimou> man do ?
Keep still wouldn't he: or course. What
did Isaac do? He gravclled the prophets OF
Baal every way ne could think of Says
he. You don't speak up loud, OF may be
your Gods taking walk; you want to
holler. yon know.'-or words to that effect;
| don't recollect the exact language. Mind.
don't apologize for Isasc; he had his
faults.
We'll. the prophets of Baal prayed along
the best they knew how all the afternoon.
and never raised a spark. At last. about
sundown. they were all tuckered out, and
they owned up aud quit
what does Isaac do. now? He steps up
to some friends OF his. there. Pour -four
barrels of water on the atari Everybody
was astonished for the other side had
prayed at II dry. you know, and got white
washed. They poured il on. Says he.
'Heaye on four more barrels Then be
says. 'Heave on four more Twelve bar
rels, you see. altogether. The water ran
all over the altar, aud all down the sides.
and Allied up a trench around it that would
hold couple of hOgsheads. .-'measure.' It
says; reckon IL means about 4 hogshesd. |
Some of the people were going to put on
their things and go. tor they allowed he |
was crazy They didn't know Isaac Isaac
knet down and began to pray; he s'rung
along, and strung along. about the heathen |
in distant lands. and about the sister
churches, and about the state andthe coun-
trv at large, and about those that's in au-
thority In the government and all the usual
programme, you know. till everybody had
got tired and gone to thinking about some
rI,ing else. and then, all of 4 sudden, when
iohody WAS noticing. he outs with "a match
and takes It on the under side Of his leg.
and p6l up the whole thiLg blazes like a |
house afirel Twelve barrels Of waterf Pc !