The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-05
PRA'R MURDER.
Why Parson Renfroe Passed Away to
 the Everlasting Shades.

Parson Renfroe was stricken down with fever. After season of great suffering he began to improve, but his recovery was SO slow that he decided to call upon the church; accordingly, the other day, Flatnose Bob arose in church and said ::
 Brudren, it am my pleasure an my duty ter say dat PArson Renfroe 'xires de united pra'rs O de church. We all knows him ter be CT fine preacher an CT monstrous good man, darefo' l hopes dat yer will all do yer bes' fur him."
 Just as the members were kneeling down, Rabbittoot Silas arose and said :
 Hole on, bruders an sisters" Every one looked up in surprise. Silas con- tinued: Yer all knows dat neber wuz de man ter kick outen de traces fur nuthin', an morn dat yer all knows dat 1 has allus been ibul ter CT mighty big fault. Wall. ez yer all knows dis, it will now be 'propriate fur me ter make CT few ermarks. Parson Renfroe is CT begger. Some time ergo he come roun' heah an said dat his chillun didn' hab no shoes Wall, we got 'em some shoes. Den putty soon he come roun' an say dat he needed par U boots. Wall, we got him par O boots. De naixt week he come pokin' roun' wid CT pittyfal tale dat he didn' hab DO -four in dc house, an now, bruders an sisters, arter we'se done all whut we has done, dat man has de imperdence ter sem roun' heah an ak fur de pra'rs O de church. thinks dat we hab done eruuf fur dat man. He puts me in mine O one O desc nigger Dimmercrats dat no matter whut yer does fur him he still wants yer ter sign CT pertition fur him ter git CT office. We ain't got no pra'rs ter waste. We'se needin' rain, an we'd better pray fur hit"
 Silas sat down with an air of satisfac. ton and surveyed the congregation. Old Bob arose and said:
 |" doan' think dat de bEuder's pint is we'll tuck, an'i it peers ter me dat he's sorter prejudiced, nohow. It's any er- pinion dat we oughter hep CT pus son when he's down flat O his back"
 "Ef he's down Aat O his back" Silas exclaimed, "let him turn ober."
 "He kain't turn ober, sah. He aint able"
 "Den let him hire some passon ter turn him ober wid CT han spike"
 "Bruder Silas, yer oaghtenter talk dat way"
 "Wall, now, femme teh yer bout dat I owns two O de cornder logs Q dis house an' I'se got CT right ter talk patty much ez pleases."
 "Not in de Lawd's house, Silas."
 "Whar's de Lawd's house ?"
 "Dis un; dis house yessef's in at de present cur notion, sah."
 Who put up de house2"
 "Yessef he'p'd ter do it but it wur wid de Lawd's will. Ef de Lawd had wanted yer ter hep put it up He woulder let ole Satan slip up an knock yer OG de cornder"
 "Wall, now all dis ain't got na'hin' ter do wid prayin' fur da, man, an now femme tell yer: Ez soon CT yer gins ter pray fur him 'glns ter tar down dis house No. won't do dat, but l tell yer ~hut will do: I'll 'ginter pray fur dat man ter die"
 "Yer ous ushter be CT shamed O yes se'f, Siias."
 !" I kain' hep it. Oats whut I'm gwipe ter do."
 Bob and the congregation prayed fes- venty for the recovery of the parson. Silas prayed that the parson might die.
 The sext day old Renfroe died. When it became known throughout the neigh- borhood tha, Slas had prayed fer the preachers death, considerable feeling was manifested; and, after a~hi ile, the excitement became 90 intense that old Silas was arrested and arraigned before a justice of the peace.
 @Yer honor" said Silas, "I wants ter know whut's 1 heah far"
 Yer1l fine out soon ernuff, sah. I'll teach yer how ter tamper wid de Lawd."
 "Ain't been CT doin' nuthin' O de sort, jedge."
 "Neber mine % much O yer jzw. Fetch in de witnesses, MraC Constable"