Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-23

When the preacher had gone to bed, Mr.
Billingsly having secured the apple tree
sprout, called his daughter.
"Father, please don't whip me. 1 won't
do it any more"
"Do what?"
"Do anything. I'll be good, declare
will. won't 60 fishing any more unless
you tell me to CO."
"What made you put that rock under
the saddle and turn the horse loose, hah ?"
II don't know, but if you won't whip me,
will never do it any more"
II heard you talk that way before. Come
here to me"'
Just as he raised the switch, the preacher
calling from the head of the stairs, said:
"Oh Brother Billingsly!"
eyes,"
"Step here minute, please"
The old man went up. The preacher said I:
"You must really excuse me for going to
bed without having held prayers. [ am
very young in the cause, you know, and
really forgot it. Is it too late"
'No; we might pray little"
The preacher put on his clothes, came
down stairs and summoned the family.
Mean Hettie joined the circle of devotion.
When the services were over, the preacher,
the old man and the old lady engaged in a
long conversation. The prayer had aroused
them and they talked until late hour.
In the meantime the girl slipped away and
went to bed.
The next day was Sunday. Mr.. Wilkins
had an appointment to preach in little
church situated short distance from Bill
lingsly farm.
"When the time arrived, Wilkins asked
the girl if he might accompany her. She
laughed uproaringy.
You are the first person that ever wanted
to 90 with me anywhere" she said.
''It does not, however, give you cause to
refuse"
"Oh, Pm not going to refuse. The girls
and hate nearly all of them-think it is
awful smart to catch new preacher"
81 hope that this alone does not influence
you to accompany me-"
"No."
,"You have noble motive"
eyes, want to see how foolish it will
make father look"
"You ought not talk that way"
"Why don't you like to hear the truth?'
ooh, yes, but no one should entertain
such truths. They are pernicious. A truth
can be quite as bad as q lie."
"Well, have another reason"
II am glad to hear it,"
1T is a better reason than the other one"
"What is it?"
81 want to see how curious it will make
mother look"
"Miss Billingsly, you are provoking"
$50 are you. They are ready. Come
on"
Mr.. Billingsly and his wife were sur
prised to see the preacher walking with
their daughter, for having listened to neigh
bors who are never complimentary, they
thought that Hettie was the worst child in
the world.
The young preacher was success. AT
first he was embarrassed, but receiving,
from the kindly faces around him, an inspi-
ration of confidence, he threw off all re-
straint and thrilled the congregation.
Chow did you like my sermon ?" he ask
ed of Hettie as they were walking along the
road.
"It did first rate for beginner"
The preacher was disappointed. OF all
the people in the house, he desired most to
impress the girl. Perceiving his dlsap-
pointment, and suffering a slight sting of
remorse, she added:
ut was the best sermon l ever heard.
The heather was touched"
Helooked earnestly at her. She laughed
so loud that Billingsly and his wife, who
were walking some distance in advance,
looked back at her.
"You do not call yourself heather, do
you?"
eyes"
"You have no cause to call yourself
heather. Are not your parents good Chris
tians?"
eyes, but am heathen. Wonder what
would become of me if 1 were to die. On,
1 know. would be buried"
"Miss Billingsly, you should not talk So"
"Do you know why am so bad?"
81 do not know that you are so bad"
81 am though"
"Then, why are you"'
because, ever since l can remember,
everybody has told me how bad am. l
must have been repulsive child, for l can
not remember that visitor to our house
ever took me up and carressed me. Moth
ing could make me bitter, so just became
bad. / have made many attempts to be-
have myself, but the first thing l knew,
something would come up to turn me back.
know that am almost Woman-but we
have talked enough about it. I have al
ready talked more freely to you than | have
ever talked to anyone else."
wilkins boarded with Billingsly. The
preacher tried in vain to engage the girl in
another serious conversation. She did not
avoid him, but when he attempted to draw
from. her a serious expression, she would
make perplexing replies.
A great revival was organized at the little
church. Hette would not walk with the
preacher, and, in fact, she would not have
attended the meeting had not her father
compelled her to do so. One evening, just
before church time, the old gentleman called
JJott;o H. .ooo;,,o,1 ,,o o,,.,,,r, rNbo old