The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-28
A Change Of Heart.


period he had successfully withstoos
the wave Of revival which swept as
nually through the rural diriricts o
Massachusetts. 10 the delight Of thos,
who dealt. sarreptitiously. In more ar
dent stimulants. and 10 the disgust of
the steady-Roing farmers. who grum
bled when their wives and daughter
neglected home duties TO take part il
the exhilirating rustic pastime OF soul
saving.
When, therefore. It was announce,
In Beanvllle that Lish Duzenberry Ia
at last took pious" the news sprea,
with startling rapidity, carrying won
der to the incredulous, joy to the right
eous. and CONSERVATION TO the unrt
pentant booL companions who ha
been for so many years ms associate
In Sunday fishing expeditions down tn
Larrabee creek, and In games of =,
back" eucher in Peleg Perkins bat
room.
The news Of this conversion cat
primarily from Lish himself. and
tins wise:
1t was at the regular Friday evening
prayer meeting in the basement of the
Congregational church. Every head
was bowed, and Deacon Elderkin had
just begun one of his peculiarly shreW d
aud nasal prayers. when the door open
and Lish Duzenberry, who had never
been known to set foot in the place be-
fore. walked quietly to AN unoccupird
seat, sat down, and, without seeming
to heed the rapt gaze Of those who
squlrmed in their seats in order to get
u look at him. bowed his head rever-
entity on his hands with the manifest
intention of taking part in the services.
Deacon Elderkin who had not dared
to disturb hls attitude Of prayer, learn
cd by the whispers about him who tbe
newcomer was. and determined to get
even with him" for a certain "hoss-
trade" an winch Lish had recently worst
ed him. exposing him TO the rdicule Of
the community. SO, paying no atten-
ton TO the new arrival, he continued
his supplcation.
I'VE ask thy blessin', O Lord, on all
who are assembled here tonight. n We
pray also fur all hem as us n hey been
scoffers, a-ridiculin' NV Thy word, n a
holdln' on 1t up to scorn. N if they
be emmy one on us here AS hes been "A
leetle sharp in hoss-trade. o Lord We
ask that Thy blessin' may be with him
the same as on us as hes ben squar'.'
A suppressed litter ran through the
room. and all eyes were turned to the
new arrival, who CRASHED his teeth aud
glared at the supplicant between the
fingers of his broad palm. The Dea-
cons sly dig had been understood 10y
every one, and great was the eXpecta-
ton as To how "Lish' would retallate.
Scarcely had the amen sounded when
he arose, and in the whining accents
! which seemed To him suited to the time
and place, addressed the meeting and
announced that he had experienced a
change of heart, and was desirons OF
living a new life. In conclusion he
offered a devout prayer, of whieIl
the following fragment caused tha
worthy deacon to writhe in his seaf.
while his colleagues chuckled and
grinned with uEdisguised amusement; /;
IN, o Lord we beg n beseeeh OF
Thee not to withdraw the light of Thy
baounty from any of us-especially
them as has been unfor'nit by food or
ire Let not the brand of unjust sus-
picion rest on any as hes their barns
burnt daown arter bein insured, n
may Thy wonderous grace inspire em
so they kin fix it with the companies"
That night every man, woman aud
child in Beanville knew of Lish Duren-
bery's conversion, and chuckled aud
guffawed over the story of his repair
tee
Long after the other members of the
family had retired, the old rustic. re-
lieved now of his burden Of Iifty-three
years of sin, sat. Illuminating, by the
kitchen fire. A soft tap on the win
dow awoke him from his revere.
"Who be ve?" he called, as he advanc-
ed cautiously toward the window.
ats me-Jake Higgins-lemme in
"What's this my wimmin-folks tells
me abaout yer gettin religion up-meet-
in ter-nighty" gasped Jake. assssenG rs
he had been admitted. Il, ~ e
"Wa-al, reckon they aint q far
aout; but come IN Jake, n warm yeV
His guest seated himself by th6 Hte'
and Lish. talking the while, shuftrd
about the room IN his stocking-feel Tals1
produced two glasses and the old de1pI-
john of applejack which the pair iz7s.'s
so well. s1ef
"Want her het up" he asked, as -
held the steamiug nozzle of the tea-kee-.
tie over his friends glass.
81 -. n