The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-18

words. Before let up I'm goin to make you
beg Godamighty's pardon, an eff you don't do it
lthout. I'm goin to git down o you an choke
you tell you do"
''You got the advantage of me, sir"
Il know has, an I'm goin' to keepit Come
sir. / got time to tarry long Out with it!
You sorry for your impudence to Godamighty in
His own house? No mealy mouthin' bout it.
Out it'll it. Sorry or not sorry, which,"
The PROSTATE man looked up, and he after
wards declared that if he had ever seen the Bad
Man, it was on that occasion, in the weeping
eyes that were bent upon upon him.
Il m sorry Mr.. Gum"
''All right so far, sir; but tell me- now, is it
godly sorrow, or is it you're sorry because
you're knocked fiat or your back, and amt quite
shore you amt goin to be beat into sausage
meatN
'I-II-I-reckon, Mr.. Gum, it's-it's-a-
some O. both"
I'm thankful you got on that much gainin'
ground. Know the Lords praar, SirP
"Of couse do, Mr.. Gum"
Say it,"
Rogers hesitated.
Say it, l tell YOU
Wont you give man time to think it up?'
81 thoug ht you knowed it. Said you did"
81 do, Mr.. Gum, but its been so long since"
Blaze away, and go as far as you ken"
Now lay me down to sleep
Stop it, sir" cried the preacher with almost a
shrek. Call that the Lords pra'arl My good
ness of gracious of merciful heavens! Look at
me- Tom Rogers. l heerd O you some time
back You'n your gang betwix you driv Brar
Pitcher away from the pastorshp in this church,
an shaved his horses tail off," =
81 didn't, sir. Gum, God knows didn't"
Very we'll, maybe you didn't; but You know
who done it, and you know you could of pre-
vented it. But let that 60. You amt goin' to
shave my horse ner let him be shaved. got no
anxiety on that pint O. the case. But now you
look at me- Look straight at me. amt goin
hear that you've broke up them Arabs as you
call yourselves, or done your level best a tryin,
and afterwards you'll try to behave yourself
when your in the hands O God
Then drying his eyes he continued with soften
ing voice. pity, pity, pity You've got money,
Mr.. Rogers and they tell me you're liberal with
it. Sister Aikens say you put down very liberal
to new weatherboardin and repaintin this here
meetin' house. an you gives free to poor people
If they don't cross you. wonder you picked me
out, that's poor man hisself that never done
you harm, never would of wished to do
you any harm, and jes try to hurt my feelins
when I'm tryln' in mighty poor way. 1 &C
knowledge that, to preach the blessed Gospel
Has you got any parentsW
1t was now time for the Arab chief to shed a
tear.
My father died when was child, Mr.
Gum, my mother not long before l moved
here"
WAS they Christian people!'
My mother was, sir. very prayerful one
well, it's to my hopes and my opinions that
her pra'ars amt to allays to go ithout ans'er.
Now git up and go bout your business. l hope
the Lordn forgive you. l do"
The vanquished man rose from the floor sat
down upon the front bench, and, covering his
face with his hands sobbed aloud. Mr. Gum
had already turned and got as far as the
door, when, hearing the lamentation, he walked
back, sat down by the weeper's side and taking
one of his hands from his face, held it within his
own. And then they had talk together lasting
mi "A al bod o)r
grown uneasy about him, and specially SO when
going out Of her house and looking toward the
church at the end of the street, she saw the two
coming along side by side. Just before reaching
come some distance beyond his own boarding
house, turned back and repaired to it,
"'Pon my word, Brother Gum, INyero that on
easy about you, an special when l see that Tom
Rogers along O. you, that well didn't know
what to do. What did the creetur have to say?"
ION, we'll, Sister Akens. we had little chat
an l convinced him, think, that were higher
right than he were. We quit friends. But
cause, they amt denyin' of it, broke down
to-day, an I'm man that in ginel tries to pay
up, as the sayin' is and III thank you TO tell the
brotherin, and to let word be sent around that
shall preach, God willin' in the church tomor-
row night, at candle light"
He fingered only to eat his dinner, answering
his hostess suggestion that she should send for
some of the brethren, that it would be near
night when he reached home and he must have
a good rest after the days experience. The
brethren, surprised but gratifed by this mark Of
persistence and fidelity in their new pastor
gladly sent the nOticeto all in the village
Sometime before sunset on the following day
Mr. Gum returned to the same hospitable man
sion but this time in his gig and accompanied
by his daughter, Lily Ann.
Il brought her long Sister Aikens, because
wanted her to see the people that her pa is to go
in and out before, and-and then Lily AIMS a
right good singer O hymns, an somehow when |
can hear her voice in the sngin' it courages me
up, an SO | told her ma if she could spare her
for this evenln and tomorrow to let her come
long 18th me. She amt goin' to give you much
trouble, and she's willin' to help you bout any
thing you want"
why, bless the child's heart! trouble! Sher
I'm proud you brung her, Brer Gum"
The house was nearly full again; for the break
down of the preacher the day before had created
considerable interest in him. Rogers had not
been seen on the street the whole day until late
in the afternoon, when he had interviews sngy
with quite number of his class all of whom af
forwards attended the night service. During
the singing of the first hymn a voice, new and
of marvellous sweetness was heard, and many
preacher, taking for his text the parable of the
Prodigal Son, spoke with fuency
and JUNCTION that had not been be-
lieved t. to belong to him, and when he he
ALL he announced that while the next hymn was
being sung he should descend to the space in
front of the pulpit, where he would be glad to
take the hand of anyone who might thus express
a desire for interest in his prayers and those Of
the brethren and sisters. AS he descended he
said
Twill the brotherin and sisters please sing,
Come humble sinner in whose breast?
The first distich was scarcely sung when, from
the very last bench, Rogers rose, walked rapidly
along the aisle, gave his hand. and, weeping
aloud, laid his head on the preachers shoulder
Murmurs rose into cries, into shouts
when in a few moments the Arabs
by ones. by twos, by threes, then
horse racers, the card players came rushing up
Indeed-but how could l describe that scene and
the great revival that followed Sister Atkins,
laughing and crying the while used to say:
amOnp multitudaS of other things.