The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-03

would assist him in holding his religion She was SO considerate and affectionate that in his new found happiness he soor forgot the trouble arising from forme, marriages. When not on the road, hs and his wife went to church regularly and the warmly solicitous preacher whC had asked so many fruitless blessing over Bills bowed head, thanked the Lore that his prayer had at last been answered
 One day, while hitching his team, Bill' i favorite mule, reached over and bit handful of hair from the top of hi masters head. Bill threw down a pair o names and swore in loud voice.
 "What's the matter, William p asked his wife, coming to the door.
 "I am killed !' he replied, rubbing tn, top oi his head.
 +Oh, I reckon not, dear"
 "Yes l am. That d-d onery mul, has bit of the top of my head. Neve saw the like in my life. Soon as tho wimmen conclude to let a man keep hi. 'Ggion, the blamed mules come along an snap the life outen him."
 William, Pm sorry you've lost youl religion"
 "Yes, so am l, but losin' my head is whut's hurtin' jest at the present time If wa'n't in debt I'd kill that blamed mula."
 Bill did not long remain away from the mourners' bench. There was DO revival in progress at the time, but when the warmly solicitous preacher was made ac- quainted with the circumstances under which Bills religion was lost, meeting was at once called. The freight hauler's face was radiant when he arose from the bench, and grasping the preachers hand he said;
 "Oh, brother, suthin' tells me tha, I've got it fur all time to come. Never no moro will lose it, fur with the help Of my wife it'll stay with me allus."
 In the meantime work on the railroad had begun. From day to day, Bill watched the grading. The destruction of house in which he had been reared could not have exercised upon him a more saddening influence.
 The road was completed. "I am goin' ovex to make my last trip as freight hauler," said Bill one day. "The fus, train will come over to-morrer, an you know airtex that it won't be no use for me to hitch up the mules only to do what httlo haulin' thar'll be in the neighborr hood Well, I've got my 'ligion all right, an reckon that's something more than them railroad men ken say"
 As he neared his home with the las, load of freight to be hauled by wagon, Bill stopped his team, and stood up in his wagon to look at the first train that came over. The engine shrieked. The mules ran away. So fearful was their flight that the engineer stopped the train. On went the team. Now the wagon wheels grind against a rock wall now they spin over a preeipice-now, team and all arc gone crashing to the destruction awaiting them below. The mules were killed. Bill was almost lifeless when they took him up and put him on board the train. After reaching home he re- gained consciousness, hut every one could see that his time had come. The warmly solicitous parson entered. Bills eyes frightened.
 "l've still got my 1igion, parson."
 "Thank God," replied the old man.
 ]" didn't cuss while they was 1u1nin' away, an l never said nothin' when seed the train a comin'. No danger of losin' it now, parson ?"
 No, Bill"
 Long time stickin', but she's stuck"
 No one replied. It was useless. Bill was dead.