Evening star., 1886-07-17
~ yer was plum tuckered out with runnin. I'd

/
"A done hit fer emmy body"
Don't 1 know that bettern youuns, Bet"
can't bear the sight O. me. but I'm agoin' to
| snow yer that 1 amt ungrateful Ter what
you uns done fer me-"
| He passed his hand over his eyes, "Bet,
| done somethin for you uDs that for yer sake 1 N
| now agoin ter undo. Next Sunday Is meetin'
| day at Cool Spring an I'm agoin ter make
| public Acknowledgements q my temptations, an
| the doins o Satan in my heart I've keered
| for you uns mighty nigh to the ruination o. my
| hopes for a better world. But ii God Almighty
kin fergive me, then youuns kin tn. Bet Good
| eyenin'.'
He turned to 60 She sprang up, scattering
her quilt pieces right and lett.
| '.Bill"' she gasped, but he strobe hastily out
OF the room, mounted his horse and rode away.
| The last song had been sung and the cOngre-
| gatiOn at Cool Spring church were about to rise
To receive the benedictiOn when Bill Sanders
stood up, and clearing his throat looked around
| on the people. AS he met the curious expectant
eyes fixed upon him, he seemed to wayer, to
| 'Jes speak out Brother Sanders" said the
pastor encouragingly, and the kindly voice of
the Old man gave him fresh strength.
| "Brothern an sistr'n, hit becomes my duty
| ter tell you'uns o. the temptations I've been
Iallin' under this year an ter ak yer forgive
| ness an yer prayers. I've been u wanderin' fer
| from the right way. l done turrible thing
ter brother Tom Fannin, took away his good
| o evil among yer. For the sake o one who hit
| aint becomin in me ter name here, an who
amt ter blame any moren a innocent child,
| lowed myself ter hate him, ter wanter cast dis
favor pom him."
| He paused, and pinfall might have been
| heard In that church, SO intensely quiet, SO
GREATNESS were the excited people. He looked
| at Tom Fannin leaning forward eagerly on his
seat, then his eyes rested tor moment on Bet
Crows dropping face, and he could almost feel
the quick f1utter of the pulse in her round soft
throat. His eyes sank to the floor, he drew
long breath.
"Brothrn, this is er public acknowledgment,
an the solemn, bipdin' TRUTH put that money
In Tom Fannin's pocket with my own hands"
lie SAID no more, but sat down and hid his
face in his hands, and a stir and murmur
seemed to sweep over the church like a wave.
Inc agitation, excitement seemed about to
break dignified Christian bounds, when Mr..
Jesse Crow rose and sOlemnly said:
Brother IL, we'uns have all hern the public
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS o. Brother Sanders wrong
doin. He has tole hit thout bein axed an u
his own free will an inclernation. In dealin'
with this erin brother We uns mus bear in
min thar air allus extinguishin' circumstances
surrounding ever deed done by weak mortal
cfeeter, an a confession o guilt is er long way
To ards complete repentance"
Well that public confession was the climax
OF that year of events in the Cool Spring settle
nleht ii except the wedding at MIR. Jessie
crows ter in the season, when mouse and yard
oSerfOwed with guests, and ali united in giving
kindly hand and "a hearty word to the bride
groom. Bill Sanders Was not present. He had
gone out west to seek now nome, and let us
hope no I'll that III he was in time as happy Tom
fannln and his wle, once the beue OF Cool
Spring settlelnent-Bet Crow.
Congressman Aliens War Story.
From the Congressional Record.
MIR. Allen, of Mississippi, thought he should
apologize for discussing pension matters, as he
had been confederate private. 1t was said
that confederates ought to have thought of this
matter OIL pensions twenty-five years ago. He
acknowledged that at the beginning of the war
ne haa not given the matter that due consider
atlon to which it had probably been entitled.
Laughter He had been quite a young boy
then; but along about the third year vi the
war ne began to think seriously OF it, and so
much had he been impressed with the TACT that
the course he was pursuing would bankrupt
the United States in pensioning the widows of
The soldiers he was killing that finally gun in
hand, he retreated across five or SIX states with
the enemy in his front, rather than sIay a
Mham, Wnoie army; lLaughter.l Ine contest had
hhaiiy come 10 the point wnere he saw that he
would have to slay a whole army or give up
ano he lad down his gun like man aud Went
nome. He wanted to call attention to a little
incident which had occurred when he was on
MS way home. He had gone into the war at
the age of fourteen and had remained four
years, and he was pretty we'll tired OF fighting.
1nere was another boy with him as he was
going home who mad not been in the war 50 long,
and VINO wanted him to go across a river in Ala
bana and fight with Kirby smith He mad
had about enough fighting and did not wish
70 go, ana they We're arguing about the matter,
when they saw an old gentleman across a field
waiting Tor them at fence. When they reached
iih ne was very much Interested 10 know
ABOUT the surrender and ''abOut our institu-
tion" Il told him." continued Mr.. Allen.
THAT our institution gone. Laughter
he asked me what was going to do. 1 told
you are right. You 20 home and go to pIOW-
ing: My experience Is that when you light
ahd get beaten you ought to go to something
else. ihen he began to philosophize, and ne
saio Boys, this has been mighty bad war.
We nave lost good many OF our best men.
We nave a great many One-legged aud one
armed soldiers in our midst who can scarcely
earn living and great many widows and
orphans. Society has been terribly denoral-
lZeu anu our homes have been desolated and
devastated. Boys, this has been terrible war;
but We can stand all this. The only thing ter
rlbie Is that some Tools who have not made
iiucn reputation out OF the war will be want
ing to throw this thing up to for the next
70 years Loud laugnterl l make appli-
catioh OF this incident, but it does look like
words OF prophetic wisdom" Laughterl