The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-12
CAD'S CONVERSION.

During the season of spring fights and summer horse racing there is, and naturally too, some little backsliding, but the autumn revival brings the wayward sheep back into the fold. Piety is such a mark in the Blythe Cove neighborhood that Borrowing an expression from the farmers) to be without this "crop outen the right ear an swallowfork in the left" places one upon knob of conspicuous view; indeed, there was only one man in the Cove who had not, in emotional resig- nation, bowed his head and declared, "Peter, if thou goest fishing, I will go with thee. I will be content to string thy fish, yea, to place tough and squirming grubworm upon thy hook. Verify will go with thee and with thy aid become fisher of men," This man of determined unregeneration was old Cad Parker. He was a convivial old giant, as strong as Jedn Vd5edn, as kind hearted as Colonel Ne,ocom6, but in many respects as devilish as Mickey Free. He held the peculiar belief that a preacher, endowed with the great strength of the gospel, should be able to whip, in fair contest of fist and skill, any sinner, and de- clared that not until he was subdued by preacher would he turn from the feshpots of unredemption. His wife and daughter prayed for him, his pious son importuned him with tear ful fervor, and his neighbors earnestly besought him, but he turned from them with this inhuman- like remark:
 "Wait till some uv yo' preachers ken whup me an then Pll jine you. Wait till some teller shows me that he has been called an then Pm his man. These yare little jack-snappers that have been CT whoopin' an beatin' the bresh in this yare community ain't been called to preach, an I don't keer erbout jinin' hans with no sick weak lin's. When ther Lawd wants me He will send some feller strong ernuff ter show me that my time is up."
 So much interest was felt in old Cad that the matter was laid before the district conference and, after much discussion, it was decided that Parson Singer, powerfully built man with fists almost as large as a pair of saddle bags, should take the Blythe Cove circuit. MT. Singer, upon arriving in the Cove, received many coDgratula- tions, for his powerful build inspired the neighbors with hope. His first sermon was delivered one beautiful morning in the midst of the fodder pulling season. It was time when the mind of man turns and with sweet reverence contemplates the ripening of natures offerings. The young quail, with dew on his crest, flew over the fields, and the iron- weed, with yellow ing leaf, nodded its rusting plume of purple; a time when the vicious cut worm lay dead beside the plant that had hardened into fierce defiance.
 MT. Singer delivered stirring ser mon and then called upon old Cad to come to the mourners' bench. Cad arose and replied:
 "Ef you ken take me thar, Pm yo' man."
 The preacher came forward and placed his broad hands on Cad's gar- ments. Then the proceedings put on the fiuttering garments of great inter- est. Cad gave Mir. Singer quick fiirt. Singer squared himself. After while some one placed a wet hand kerchief on Singers head, and . devout old sister declared that it was wrong to maui . man in such 6 violent way. Cad, during these tender exercises, sat on 8 log near the church, compla- gently smoking cob pipe.
 MT. Singer went away, and, during some time-with the exception of tears and the persuasion of friends- no further effort was made to regen- n