The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-18
Printed By Special Arrangement rith the Autkor.
RGV. RAINRORD GUM
AND THE ARAB CHIEF,
A Tale of Georgia Pioneer Life.
BY RICHARD MALCOLM JOHNSTON.
copyrighted 1ss5-An Rights Reserved.l
Antl.or Of the Dukeshoro,gh Tales, Et


the income from which was supplemented, to a
varying but always moderate degree by the pay
that he received from the two country churches
to which he rendered stated monthly service.
Admitting himself to be of quite limited educa-
ton ard other advantages favorable to an emit
nent public career he contended that nobody
could have been taken by greater surprise than
himself when the call came to him to preach the
gospel call, however, that had been heard too
distinctly to admit of hesitation to heed it. His
success had been beyond any expectation. He
was man of good presence, tall and erect, of
excellent common sense, of sincere piety, and
had acquired in time stock of words that he
could employ with some effect.
Mr.. Gums forte as preacher was not consid
cred, even by those who admired him most, to
lie in the eloquent elaboration of doctrinal points,
although he would not forbear, when he believed
it necessary or proper, to wrangie with the
knottest; and he would generally emerge from
the scufle in plight that seemed reasonably
satisfactory to the brethren. He might have
been it was probable, a speaker of considerable
JUNCTION but for a popularity Of his pathos.
which, when at it's highest, had to be excited to
it by ire, instead of sympathy and compassion.
II amt no great hand at cryin', bruthern," he
would say, "'ithout L git mad. 1 don't often
git mad. and that's when start on acryin' spell;
because cryin', ev'y sence I knowed myself,
makes me mad"
Yet more than one revival had attended his
ministry, in which several men far superior to
him in culture had been brought into the church.
His modesty approximating humility, his indus
try and his stanch integrity. in spite of his
homely phrase, obtained for him the respect of
men of every degree. A devoted family man
was he, yet people used to suspect that among
oil his children, about half dozen in number,
he was rather fondest of his daughter Lily Ann,
Who at the period told of in this sketch, was
about nineteen years DID, tall, air-haired,
peachy checked, CHEEKY, Industrious, affection
ate, pious, and admitted to be the very best
singer Of religious songs among all in both her
fathers congregations. In the last revival that
had taken place in the church nearest their
home Lily Ann Gums voice in the various sing
ings was argued by many, especially among the
younger men, to have been very nearly, if not
quito, as effectua as her fathers preaching in the
in-gatherng More than one or two, or, for all
know, three, in that class. had tried their hands
to induce her to change her name, but she had
always answered about thus
mot get. I'm not ready, quite yet, for such
as that, Mr.. Blank"
Mr. Gum had been in the ministry about a
dozen or years when he received a call from
the church at Raysville, a village of a popua
tion numbering about 300, situated in an adjoin-
ing county, beyond the Oconee river. about ten
cAoan xvoc
almost as unexpected to him as the original for
there were several wealthy and some consider
ably cultivated persons residing therein or in
the near neighborhood. Few of this Glass; how
ever, were members Of any church. especially
that which had sent an invitation to Mr.. Gum,
though they, as was the case with all classes,
habitually attended the monthly Sunday meet
ings.
On this invitation, notwithstanding the cor
dialty, and he might say the liberality with
which it had been extended. Mr. Gum had to pom
der before accepting, and advise with some of the
brethren, and with his family, especially Lily
Ann; and will candidly state why. Raysvile
had long been noted as an uncommonly wicked
town. They fought chickens there; there they
raced horses; there they played cards, all with
1mpunlty, even the IdSl WHICH was LOfolUuen Dv
the laws but which the Solicitor general never
could get at, because so many of the grand jury
habitually practced it themselves The fact was
shat matters had become so discouraging to this
officer, and even to the presiding judge, that for
their consolation they would occasionally
take a moderate hand themselves in
these games But that which had inn
parted to the town its greatest notorety
was the existence of secret band of young men
and boys, styling themselves Arabs, who, often
at night, after the rest of the people were in
bed, went about the streets singing songs, beat
ing tin pans. removing wheels from vehicles and
gates from front yards, building fences across
the street with rails taken from contiguous calf
pastures, and making such and similar pranks
specially marked in the case Of any who were
unusually pronounced in their words of condem-
nation. The resignation of the late pastor of the
church was suspected to be due to the fact that
shortly heretofore, his horse, while standing in
brother Mulen's stable. had had his tail shaved
Not only so, but he had received an ANONYMOUS
letter intimating that not only his horse, but
himself, would fare worse if he were not more
guarded in what he had to say in his Sunday
sermons about the behavior of certain persons in
the Westinghouse and elsewhere.
Another matter Mr. Gum pondered over and
counseled with his friends and his family.
This was how plain countryman like him,
with his country ways and country clothes, was
to get along before town congregation. Yet
it was urged in the counselings he held that calls
of that kind, the same as the first he received to
the ministry, como from Heaven Then the sti-
pend flor the brethren at Raysville thought it
almost certain that among themselves. with
contributions from outsiders, they could count
I'D sixty or seventy dollars) not a thing to
be despised by a man with family of the size
of his. So he concluded to obey this new, unex-
pected call His country congregation, gratified
at the Raysville Endorsement of their estimate of
their pastor went so far as to raise, extra their