The Magnolia gazette., 1880-09-24
By FRAUD.


ser how desirouso Of swearing distinc-
ton, eonli hope to rival. Old Jeremiah,
although named for one Of the most dis
tnguished prophets, made no effort To-
wArd reform. He would not allow a
rs,eaeher to come to his honse, SO great
vas his aversion TO the gospel. One
night when tine wind blew cold, and
when the sleet beat against the window
g.sns vish the sharp rattle so brightly
tending to produce thankful emotions to
tA2Se Who are within warm room, snd
. sxAspsrsting 10 the traveller, a man
ragpaf On the door OF Jereniah's 5
bV1se.
Come in, exclaimed the old man, as
he rut sside plate Of popcorn. The
door opened, and young man carrying
pair q saddle-bags entered. Jeremiah
Immediately began a series Of atten-
tons. He gave the stranger seat in
the corner near the churn, while his wife
and daughters flew around IN thathurry-
furry only known to women preparing
supper for the "poor traveller" After
supper. when the stranger had been in
vitei to smoke, and when Abe, Jere-
miah's son, had been sent 10 "sholter
the strangers horse, the old man, eying
the stranger, asked:
What trade do you foller?"
!" / am engaged in the Lords mer-
ehandiae. j, my kind Christian friend,
am meek and lowly circuit rider"
Then git outen my house, sir, 7 ex-
claimed Jeremiah. "Git right out, or
III apply a par Of cow-hide boots to
that part Of your physical arrangements
that rests in the cheer A circuit rider |!
Why, ding your soul, | swapped horses
with circuit rider, when was boy,
and got cheated SO bad that my father
thrashed me. Git out Of here, mosey."
"Tm sorry. my Christian friend"
"Git out. Abe, git this feller's hoss.
Move on"
When the preacher had gone, the old
man stood for an hour, swearing and
smoking.
Father, said Abe, "I'll bet my bay
illy again the sorrel nag that you'll be a
circuit rider in six months"
Go to bed, you young varmint, or
I'll whale you.'
You'd better take the bet, pap.
Here's yer chance to win the Ally"
" All right; I'll take the bet. Go to
bed.
I All next day the old man swore about
the preachers impudence, and in gem
egal ierns expressed regret that he
aid aas use a stick to him. Next
night, while the old man was feeding
tiaa cattle u the barn, a voice SO strange
thai ii zaade the old mans blood creep
nsoaasa rather than exclaimed:
+" Jeremiah Winfrey r.
Who's that X answered the old man.
Jeremiah Winfrey."
Wen.
Ride the circuit Of the gospel"
"Pll show you what it is to fool with
me, hotly exclaimed the old man, and
he climbed all around in the barn look
ing for the offender.
He could find no one, and when he
went to the house he reused Abe out Of
bed and told of his strange experience
Next day, when the old man was row
ing boards in the woods, voice over his
head exclaimed:
Jeremiah Winfreyp
Where are you?" said the old man,
dropping his froe and gazing up.
Jeremiah Winfrey y
Well ?"-still gazing.
"Ride the circuit of the gospel"
"Oh, Lord y exclaimed Jeremiah.
dropping on his knees. "Oh, forgive
me my sins, but keep me from riding a
circuit r.
The old man went home and exper-
fenced some trouble in trying to con-
Vince his wife and Abe of the fact that
something supernatural had spoken tC
him. The old lady sighed, and said
that she was afraid that Jeremiah was
not in his right mind. Thus matters
went on for months. Nearly every
night the voice at the barn would call
the old man, and every time he went tc
the board tree the same solemn admoni.
ton would come from above. Unable
to longer endure such mental torture,
the old man, who had by this time pro.
fessed religion, made application to the
conference, and was accepted. On the
morning when he first started out as g
circuit rider, he presented Abe with the
sorrel nag. He soon instituted revival,
and was SO successful that he received 8
complimentary letter from religious