The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-01-20
CONVERTED THE OLD MAN.
4Yes, was the cause of my fathers

tCSr WAS h4kC O4oS~ VI -taAy haeASs conversion" remarked an Arkansaw judge. .When 1 was young fellow, l was rather sacreligious. About the first piece of a,roeity remember was putting tar on the circuit riders saddle. One day 1t occurred 10 me that il would be good idea to disguise myself and preach to the negroes. immediately after con- ceising the idea, began to study for the ministry. l secured an old volume of fiery sermons and studied it diligently. The negro church was situated a short distance from my fathers farm, and l went to the regular pastor and told that l had received letter from noted col ored preacher, stating that he was com ing to the neighborhood to preach. The pastor was delighted, especially as gave him the name of noted negro preacher, and the announcement which he made at the next meeting was received with en- ;husiasm.
 "l secured a negro wig and whiskers, and blackng myself up went to the church. A large and somewhat impa- tient congregation had assembled. l,ook my place in the pulpit after shaking hands with the pastor, the deacons al d several sisters. explained my tardiness, spoke few words of compliment to the assemblage, took my text and began. l had repeated the sermon so many times to myself that had lost the full idea oi is strength of excitement. had pro- ceeded more than half way over the road of my discourse, worn smooth by SD much travel, when the shouting spirit broke out. Several women fell over in A trance and the men cried with loud voices. Ny father, an old man not noted for piety but for great kindness ot heart, entered the church and took hls place among the dusky enthusiasts He paid strict atten- tion and could see that my words were having great effect on him. descended from the pulpit, approached the old man, and while the negroes were bowling around me, spoke directly to him. His eyes became moist and tears began to run down my face. had reached the end of my sermon, but jumped back to the middle of the aw(ul h4rrangue and rAt,led away. The old man sank upon his knees and exclaimed l ...nh orI ..L., have been. have drunk whisky and played cards within the sound of the gos- pei. Do not send me to hell, oh, be- seech Thee. Give me one more chance
 - You have son John 1 said. referr- ing 10 myself who is wicked
 oh yes, Lord he supplica,cd, have the dds, son-exouse me. Lord-ln the world
 "' Bear with him, said l." "hc will come around all right
 No, d-d fl he-eNcusc me. Lord ~ill for 1 have tried him hundreds ef times. Oh. Lord. do what you please with John. bu, so far as am con erned. keep me out of he'll
 My shining friend said. kneclng beside hum, you must save your son, Ii possible. Have you anything, any an imal-a horse for instance. ,ha, he ~ants:'
 "'Yes, oh. Lord. he wants everything I've got. He wants my black horse.
 Give it 10 him.
 "'l can't wouldn't take two hun dred dollars for him.
 Then. your soul Is in danger. for so long IS you cling to the goods and chat tcls of this earth. your soul IS sailing to- ward hell
 "'D-d n-excusc mel allow a nig- ser 10 talk to me this way. he exclaimed. aitemptin. to arise. gently pushed him back, telling him. il was true that was negro. humble and losiy. but that was doing my Mas ,er's wo;k ard could spare no man. Give the horse 10 Inc young man and l wlll pray for you. Do no, ride into torment, on horse. you arc getting old and ac- cording 10 the laws of nature you cannot, live much longer.
 The devil can't he moaned Tin not bu, tifty-siN and have known men to live a hundred years
 But they were good, replied. and their days, i, was intended. should be long upon the land. Give the boy the horse and have no doub, but tha, you will live to be ninety years old and finally escape the terrible jaws of he'll
 "'l'll do it. he exclaimed. John shall have the horse
 -'Give me written pied ge,' said. pro- ducingspeneil and paper. He did so. and began to pray for him. Old gentleman