The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-09
BROTHER HIGGINS.

ihirty-ive years ago and entered upon a work of reformation, the weather was not a; all suited 10 the work. built a log church on a mound, and had just abou, completed the structure when a man came along and said:
 -' Hello, cap'n; got a house on the knob, see.'
 ". Yes, we have decided to worship the Lord at this place, and we wouldn't mind having you as member of the congre- ga,ion.'
 "' That ain't exactly in my line, oap'n, for my business lays nightly roliin', bu, what wanted to say to you is, that knob belongs to me, and must have it.
 What can you do with it:' asked, : It is unsui,ed for cultivation
 "' want to dig in il. have rus, learned that the Indians buried lot of stuff in there and want to dig il out Sorry you built there, for like to help the cause along, but mus, have tha, Indian trumpery. There's plenty of time for gospel work. for you know the wrath 10 come is mighty slow. Don't like 10 urge the matter. but if that building ain, down by tomorrow night, I'll have to set fire 10 it. l lsive you this warning so you can save the timber.
 =. saw at once that the fellow was a rough customer. and as did no, wan, my logs to be burned, decided 10 take them down. Securing the services of two negroes, worked faithfully all night and along towards day had the satisfaction of seeing the las, los moved from the condemned mound. Next day a member of my congregation came 10 me and said:
 - Brother I.ansbi,k, you are h-l of fellow
 "' Why l asked Tn surprise.
 =. Wha, made yoa tear down that church.:
 =. l explained. and he continued: I must say you are the easies; felier scared l ever saw. Ina, land belongs to ne. and the man ;ha, made you take down the church IS rival preacher. He doesn; want yon to build church there, for he wants the whole thing hls own way. We'll go over ,o-morrow ana rebuild the church.
 When we went the next day, we found ,ha, some one had SC, ire to the logs. Bro,her WigSins, the gentleman who ac- oompanied ne, was very angry. lus, wait he said, and wei. ca,ch the scoun- drel'
 How asked.
 "Well go 10 his church while he's preaehin'.
 II don; like 10 do ;ha;. and don, believe I'll 90.
 "'Nes. you will 90, blamed fl you shan'i. an femme tell you. unless a mans go, sand. he can, preach the gospe! 10 these people.
 "'You must excuse me, Brother Hig- gins. l prefer to have nothing to do with so unpleasan, performance as am convinced would attend osr visit.
 Blamed If you shall crawl outen |, tha, way. cap'n" he said. You are goin with me. and if you try 10 hang back. I'll slap three kinds of sospe, aT. bundle of hymn books ou;en you. Hear. me"
 :" heard him. saw ,ha; resistance would be useless, and n,eekly con sented.
 -'Go horne with me said Brother Higgins. He's soin' to preach tonight. -Af:er supper we'll call on him
 After supper, Brother Higgins. asked, 'Wha, sor;er weepin have you so,:'
 " None l replied.
 None he shouted. .Wel,. YOU re the blamedes, fool ever saw. Git ,ha, shotgun begged and implored l told him that would pay for the logs, but he was deaf to compromise. and buckling brace of pistols around him. he ordered me to follow. Silently we ,<en, through deep ravine, frig ghieaing birds from their roosts. We crossed hill. and plunged into the darkness of a valley. \ ligh, fiickered high up on a hill, and Brother Higgins pointing, said :: That's whar the skunk breaches said nothing. but followed. The church was mean log affair. and ere we reached i,. could see through ,he gaping aper,u,es. the congregation and the minister. | iyembled when we reached the door. The preacher. the vey man who had de- eeived me, stood up and howed fu.iously. and the congregation swayed to.,he mo- ton of his powerful arrss.
 "'He'll come down m stir up the mourners pretty soon, an then we'll give