Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-11-14


They Took him in and Prayed for Him.
About six weeks ago, a small man
rs years old, close cut, light colored
hair, decayed front teeth, fore-6nger
on left hand stiff, with an ugly scar on
it. put in his appearance at Mr.. w. r.
Morrison's on the Nashville road. 7
miles from town, poorly clad, feeble in
strength, and shivering with chill.
He asked to be taken in and lodged.
He gave his name as William Wren,
which was correct and very poetical
name. Said he was timer by trade
from Florida, was sick, out of clothes,
away from friends and no money to
buy medicine or even pay nights
lodging, on his way home. This sor-
rowful story of God forsaken looking
creature, aroused the tenderest sympa-
thies of these good Christian people.
They took him in, gave him hot coffee,
warm pancakes, butter and broiled
chicken, brought the best jar of pre-
serves, made IL fire and thawed him
out. Mrs. Morrison brought out her
husbands best suit of Sunday cloths
and put on him, gave HIM hot dog
fennel tea, quinine, asafetidia, snake
root bitters and mullen baths daily to
cure his chills. There was nothing
left undone in providing for William
Wren's comfort and good health. Mrs.
Morrison gave him the best room and
best feather bed on the place, with
snow white sheets, soft blankets and
the best crazy quilt. He was furnished
with the rocking chair, foot-stool and
Mr.. Morrison's dressing gown and a
member of the family always present
to attend to his every want. This way
things went for six weeks. Williams
health improved and he waxed stron-
ger and began to talk about home in
the land of flowers and loved ones
there. The family rejoiced for his re-
recovery, but deeply panied to give
him up. They had become so absorb
ed in his welfare, that he had become
one of them and the idea of parting
with William was horrowfying. But
the time came last Monday morning
when William finally decided that he
must break loose from these enduring
ties, and leave. First he said, he
would have to go to town and get him.
self suit of clothes. So he shelled
off Mr.. Morrison's good clothes, and
donned his old rags shirt and pants
with one gallows, which Mrs. Morri-
son had mended and washed clean.
William started and the family follow
ed him to the gate weeping as if their
hearts would break, Mrs. Morrison told
William between sobs all believed with
tears of anguish, how often, and how
earnest she had prayed for him, and
how her prayers would continue to
follow him. Mr.. Morrison was so over
come with emotions that he could not
utter word. If William had any
feeling at all, he must have felt that
then and there was the time for him
to die, for there was no prospect of
ever getting another such good OPP
portunity. But he didn't die, he came
strait to town as he said he would.
About three hours after William had
gone, Mrs. Morrison had occasion to
go to her money drawer for a little
change, and found it all gone except
few nickels and dimes with holes in
them which William considerably left
for the family to remember him. He |
got ten dollar bill, four gold dollars,
and the balance in silver, thirty dollars
in all. We are reliably informed that
William Wren was raised near Pleas
ant Flew in Cheatham county, and |
was probably never away from home
before, and he has not been heard from |
since leaving here Monday. We have
this much to say in conclusion, if |
these good people, Mr.. Morrison, wife |
and family, don't get to heaven after
such deeds, then there is no use in any
body else trying.