Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-09-20
Old Tidy.

UldSIucLlJ, III 'ibpiCoatoiy humans
addressed to obdurate steers, turn
revercntiy, after fodder pulling time,
10 Mt. Zion, Ebineezer. New Hope and
Round Pound, to hear the enthusiastic
pleadings of the circuit rider and the
begging injunctions OF the strollng
evangelist Roberts Cove. in East
Tennessee. is a neighborhood typical
of this peculiar religious condition.
Last autumn. when the katydid SILVER
ed on the damp oak leaf and the rae
coon cracked the shell of the pnchiug
"crawiish." there suddenly appeared
at Ebneezer Westinghouse a young
man of most remarkable presence. He
was handsome. tall. graceful, and with
hair as bright and waving as the locks
of the vision that come to Clarence in
his awful dream. He said that his
name was John May berry. He had
come to preach the gospel in simple.
childlike way and hoped that his
hearers. for the good of their souls.
would pay respectful heed to his
words. A materlal st would have call
ed him u fanatic, but as there were no
materialists in that neighborhood, he
soon became known as devout Chris.
tian and powerful worker in the har-
vest field of faith. He read hallowed
books written by men who lived when
the ungodly sword and tho godly pen
were at war against each other. and
in his fervor his language bore pow
or which his rude hearers had mover
felt before.
One night, after stormy time at the
mourners' bench, and while women
whose spirits were distressed still stood
sobb;ng about the altar. Mayberry APP
proched a we'll known member of the
church. and said:
"Who is that peculiar old woman.
that wrinkled and strange eyed dwarf
who sits so near the pulpit every
night?"
1--WE call her old Tidy" Brother
Hendricks replied. ''She has been a.
Iivin' in this here neighborhood mighty
nigh over sense | kin ricoleck. She's
a mighty strange old woman, but l
never heard no harm NV her"
She may be good woman, the
preacher rejoined. but she casts a
chill over me every time | look at her.
Good bye, Brother Hendricks Think
of me tonight when you get down on
your knees"
The preacher sought his temporary
homo lie lived about lie from the
church, in an old log cabin with ono
room Many of the people had offered
him home, but, declining, he declar-
cd that he wanted to be alone at night.
So that. undsturbed. he could pursue
his studies and pray for inspiration.
The hour was late. Tho preacher
had taken down n '.Fox's Book of Mar
tyrs' and was looking ut its trillng
illustrations, when knock at the door
startled him.
Come in," he called.
Old Tidy stepped in to the room,
and, quickly closing the door, stood
with her back against it. She nodded
her head and smled-a snaggle-tooth
grn-and said:
"How air yer. Brother MayberryP"
81 am very well, thank you"
Powerful glad ter know chat folks
air WELL"
Thank you; but what business can
You have with me at this time of
night?'
Mighty 'portant bizness. Brother
MayberrS, mighty 'portant :"
"Does it concern your soul?'
Not oz much ez it do yourn.
Brother Mayberry; not nigh so much
ez it do tourn."
81 don't understand Your the evan
gelist exclaimed.
But I'll SEQ that yon do. Brother
Mayberry | reckon you've noticed
me at church. hain't you?'
yes"
wall. whit you reckon | went thar
fur?"
TO hear the gospel, i suppose"
Not much. Brother Mayberry; not
much. lwent thar ter see YOU"
ITO see me! Why on earth. madam.
do you care to SEQ me?"
Would rulher see you on earth,
Brother Mayberry. than anywhar else.
went ter see you, Brother May berry.
because love you.
''Merciful heavensr' exclaimed the
evangelist throwing up his hands in a
gesture OF horror
Yes, Brother Mayberry love you
and want you to be my husband"
oh God forbidr' the disguised
preacher groaned.
Yes. Brother May berry. but the
Lawd hain't forbid. Let me tell You
one thing: when old Tidy sets her head.
wy suthin' is goin' ter happen. Does
folks cross old Tidy? Yes. sometimes.
Did old Patterson cross old Tidy?
Yes. Patterson crossed po'. old, HARM
less Tidy. Whut did Tidy dop She
grabbed Patterson's boy an bill him
under the water till he was Grounded.
Did Martin cross old Tidy? Yes, Mar
tin crossed old Tidy; What did Tidy
doP She met old Martin in the woods
an killed him an folks thought he
killed hisse'f Now, air you, in the
bloom o yo' youth and beauty. goin'
to cross po', old harmless It'd, p
The cold dew OF horror gathered in
beads on tie preacher 5 brow. Mad
am" said he. Il cannot marry you.
Your request IS preposterous; your
presence Is appalling. Go away"
Not until lead my husband with
me. Brother Ma berry"
GO, ] tell you, or l will throw you
out of The house"
Throw po'. old. harmless Tidy out
Of the house? Ha, ha! Brother May