The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-03-23


We caught up with the man and was intro
duced to Lark Moss. l remembered the name O
ne was one OF the men who engaged In the horse
race which Jack Gap had across the field 60
see.
(which way are you riding, Lark" Henry
asked.
"Wall, did intend TO go to Mt Zion, a. 1
understand they are whooping mp things there
pretty lively, but reckon I'll turn of mp here and
call on teller that want TO see on business and
by the way, here lie my road now"
lie turned of, and Henry, looking after him,
remarked: ale is one Of the most peculiar fellows
In the country, and / want you to know him. not
that you are likely to learn anything from him,
| but that he may amuse you. lie Ia prankish fell
low, and would stay out In the rain all night that
ne might play Joke on somebody at morning
Yonder s Mt Zion"
We were nearing an old meeting house. built on
gently rising knoll Hundreds of horses were
tied to the swinging branches of the trees, and
numerous wagons had been driven into the shade
The swelling notes of q melancholy hymn mingled
with the loud neighing of the horses, and occa-
sionally the hoarse braying of . mule echoed
through the woods We tied our horses and
stood under the trees near the house. A crowd
OF men and boys some of them fairly well dressed,
were standing and lounging about. Some of them
were squatted on the ground and others lay on
shawls Whenever q man arrived with q woman
he conducted her TO the door and then took his
place under the trees. The men were talking about
horses, and particularly noticed one fellow who
went about examining horses mouths. Sometimes
he would grab up the skin on q colts shoulder or
lift up fily's forefoot.
"Who's that a-co min'?" one man, gazing down
the road, would ask
"Don't know" some fellow would reply, "looks
like Josh Atkinson's hoss."
"Must "a swopped lately, then"
"No, not sense last spring"
"Yas, that's Josh. Putty good boss, too"
"Don't know. Most too stiff in the shoulders"
Henry drew me to one side. "They don't 60 In
the church during the day., said he "but at night,
when mourners called up, they crowd In. The
day sermon Is preparatory to the great effort made
at night. Let US remain and see how Gap comes
out"
After the long sermon was finished, Henry and
went to dinner with an old fellow who pressingly
invited us, and, at "early candle lighting" 70
turned to the church. An old man, whose voice
arose into broken shouts, preached O short
sermon, and when he had concluded, an ex-
horter got up to supplement the stirring appeal
Mourners began TO kneel at the bench, and 1t was
not long until saw Gap writing under his
heavy conviction. Some of the mourners, almost
blasphemous in their violent importantly, cried
out: "Come down, sweet speret-come down right
now. Lord, l want you this mint" "Amen"
shouted an old man who stood clApping his hands
and singing. The exhorter continued his appeal.
1--WE want to know" he said in wavering tone,
show many there in this congregation to- night
that the Lords side. All that want to 60 to
heaven hold up their hands (Numerous hands
were held up) Thank God, there are many Oh,
this must be q night of rebuke to old Satan.
| brother in the corner-"Amen.~ This may be q
night long to be remembered in the golden city"
(Sister In the corner-"Lord grant its"
By this time Gap had become violent His
means were distressing, and his demands for imme-
diate relief were piteous. 81 want 1t right now !"
| he cried, and one man who stood near me, placed
1 his hand on Q brothers shoulder and said:
i "He looks like he mout come through ter night"
i The next moment Gap sprang to his feet and
uttered startling shout. An exhorter seized him
in his arms. Other mourners, thus encouraged,
"came through" and for more than two hours the
woods rang with cries of exultation.
AS Henry and were riding toward home, Gap
overlook us. He was happy in the singing of
hallalniah song.