The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-24
ONLY ONE TIME.
CHAPTER 1.


 ample of wrath in consequence of non- compliance has ever been visited upon the sect, for no people are more willing to take upon themselves the respensi- bilities of the gospel They do not be- lieve that any special training is neces- sary, For," they say in apt illustration, did not Peter drop his fishing nets when called upon and>follow the Lord He was an ignorant man, as the world understands the term, but the Lord gave him that wisdom that colleges cannot harvest-that many great men do not understand. The Lord could have chosen, for his special work, an educated man, man of in fuence, but to show the people, according to the scriptures, that the ignorance of the world do verify con- found the wise, he chose a simple minded man whom the people knew had never been to school"
 Near Point Return, in Arkansaw, there is large number of Old Baptists. They are agricultural people, believing not over much in trades and professions, and though they tolerate the public school system, yet they frown with severity upon colleges. From the fields have come forth several noted preachers, whose natural ability, together with long study of the bible, have enabled them to utter startling words ofwisdom. Among those people is man known throughout the country as the "One time preacher" This is the way he gained the distinction {: Steve Searcy, name of the "one timer," was tall, gaunt, "cotton- -haired fellow. He could split four hundred rails in a day, which naturally gave him high standing among the people. Until he had attained his thirtieth year, no one had ever heard him venture to express aa opinion concerning the great questions of life. He attended church regularly, but took no active part in the proceedings. One day he came from the woods, threw dewn his maui and exclaimed:
 "I have been calledl"
 "Called for what, Steve ?" his mother asked.
 "Called to preach"
 The old lady shouted, and the old man, who was out in the lot breaking a steer, hearing his wife's voice, who having often declared that Steve's being called would make her cry with loud voice, liberated the animal and sent up yell that caused distant fer.yman to reply, He, hoo, wee, be over in a minute P
 "When did she come?" asked the old man upon entering the house.
 lest now while was sP!iss;n' rails. Know that black oak that stood at the forks O the path? We'll, l cut her down, logged off the butt-cut an went to work. druv' in a wedge, an it flew out druv' in another an out it come. turned the log over an tried another wedge, but it jumped out. Then heard something say, Preach the gospel.' looked up in tree. Couldn't see nothin'. Thinkin' that mout have mistook the noise O a wood-pecker for voice, took up another wedge an druv' it into the log. Out it popped. While standin', lookin' at the tough thing, something as red as Fblood run outen the place whar it had been chopped, an oozin' all round, i. formed letters, an read these here words: Steve Searcy preach the gos- pei"
 "Thank the Lawd l" exclaimed the old lady.
 "Amen 1" vociferated the old man.
 "Still want satisfied" continued Steve. Kuowed it was mighty curious, but l don't want to be brash about the thing. We'll, took up another wedge an druv' it in. Out she popped. an fiyin' up in the air, she hummed roun' an roun', sayin' these heah words {: Preach the gospel preach the gospel.'"
 "Thank the Lawd r exclaimed the old lady:
 Amen r vociferated the old man.
 "ThiA" continued S:eve, vas mighty nigh enough to settle it with most anybody, but allus vas particuler. We'll, l took ap the wedge again, an' jest as 1 raised the maui, heard voice sayin', Steve, preach the gospel want no longer in hesitatin' mood"
 @Thank the Lawd 1" exclaimed the old lady: ,,
 "Then, getherin' up my tools-didnt want to leave lem thar, for ysu know them Sampson boys will steal anything they can git thar hands on-I struck q trot an here am.s
 sThank the Lawdl p
 Amen ["
 STo-nirhtn said Steve GITl A.ve i.