The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-13
iSank's babies.

| was detained over Sunday in Barns
bury, and on Sunday morning resolved to
80 to church.. The first church came to.
small frame structure with a wooden
stccplc, had the doors and windows tightly
shut, but there was man sitting on the
front steps whiting stick, and | said to
him:
"Arc you connected with this church 2"
Yes" he said, "I'm the sexton"
''What is il closed for2"
''Wcll, mostly on account of Banks
babies"
"Babics2"
"Sit down, and I'll tell you about it.
You know Banks, he come to this town to
live few weeks ago apcrfect stranger, and
he rented pew in this church. 1t seems
that Banks had three little bits Of babies,
trlplets, not morc'n two months old, and
then, besides these, he had twins about a
year old. SO nobody knew about the ba-
blcs, but Banks wanted the little darlings
baptized, and he allowed to Mrs. Banks that
to rush the whole five babies into church
on one Sunday might excite remark, you
understand. So he settled IL that he'd have
ON christcncd gradually, so to speak Ac-
cordlngly tho next Sunday he fetched little
viz ~ thS iptClo, hll I'LL "CnL OIL
well enough. On the followin' Sunday he
came promcnadin' up the aisle with
George Washington, another triplet, and
DR.. Binns, our preacher, he fixed him up
all right. People thought It wus queer
but when Oh the next Sunday mornin'
Banks and his wife come into church with
another baby, William Henry, crying like
Il Pawncc war-whoop, some of the folks
couldn't help snickcrin'.
"Ilowsomdcver nobody complained, and
all might have been we'll if Banks hadn't
come along the Sunday after with Elijah
liunsiker Banks, one Of the twins. Every
body laughed, and Mr.. and Mrs. Banks
they were furious-mad as anything, YOU
know; aud when Elijah Hunsikcr Banks
hauled OIL accidcntly with his hand and hit
DR.. Blnns, who was holding him during the
ceremony, wack in tho face, and the doc
tor dropped him in tho water, the congrc
CATION just fairly roarcd with laughter.
Mrs. Banks turned rcd as fire and looked as
II she would like TO murder somebody.
We'll, you know, we all thought this was
tho last, and public feeling kinder simmcrcd
down on toward the end of the week, when
who should como booming up tho aslc on
Sunday morning but Mr.. and Mrs Banks,
with Tecumsch Aristotle Banks, the remain
ing twin! Well, you ought to 'vo heard the
congregation laugh mover seen nothin'
Ike it in all my experience. Even DR..
Blnns had to smile. And tho Bankses, they
were perfect wild with rage. Anyhow,
they baptized Tccumsch; and after meetin'
some OF the elders got to jokin' about it.
Onc, they'd have to apply to tho town su
pervls0rs Tor an extension of tho water
works; another allowed that arrangements
ought to bc made to divert Hucklcbcrry
the church; announcer made solnc KIND bt d
joke about business being good because so
many banks were in town another said that
Banks would need about twelve pcws whom
his family grew up. Somebody must have
told Banks about it, for what does he do to
revenge himsclf2 lie sends down to Cla-
rlon county TO his two sisters to como and
bring their children so they had couple
OF babies apiece, and as soon as they arrived
Banks he begins to bring them to church
gradually, like the Others. Yon never seen
such meetings as them The church was
jammcd full, and people just roarin.
And when Banks came in on Sunday with
the fourth and last of his sisters babies,
the trustees thought It was time to
Interfere. Getting to bo a farce, you
know! SO Deacon Smith he stepped up
and said somcthin' or other to Banks, and
Bunks, quickcr'n wink, laid down the
baby and banged the Deacon with his fist.
And so, | dunno how it it was, but in
minute there was Banks and Deacon Smith,
and Deacon Hubbard, and Banks sisters
baby, and me, all a rolling and bumpin'
over the floor, httin' and kickin' and
woopin' In manner that was ridiculous to
behold.
And when we all come to, and got
Strengthened out, Banks picked up tho bat
tered baby of his sister and quiet, and the
trustees held an informal mcctin and
agreed to close the church for month SOS
to kinder freeze Banks out, and now we've
shut up; but reckon is is no use, for
hear Banks has got his back up and gonc
over and joined the Baptists. " 30 said
good day to the sexton and went in search
of another sanctuary.