The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28
ABREACH FAITH
By EJALMAR EJoRTH BOYEsEN.
Copyright. All rights reserved
CHAPTERI

S0eenSFuds fHrm- The sitting room was
crowded with people, and all around the
open windows eager listeners were stand
ing, straining their ears to catch the
words that fell from the preacher's lips
A current Of foul, moist air, charged
wi6h the odor OF human exhalations
poured out into the hallway where men
and women stood packed together like
herring in a barrel Outsids Ia the farm
yard some small boys, now and then for,
getting the solenlntty Of the occasion, fell
TO punching and teasing each other, and
were sterniy nebuzed by their elders as
soon as their alterations became audible
Half dozen Young girla in calico gowns
and colored kerchiefs on their heads made
feint of listening 10 the fervid discourse
Of which a phrase now and then reached
them, but watched furtively the unregen-
crate behavior Of the boys, and sniokered
whenever one got the better of the other.
''Oh, We generation of vipers," shouted
the preacher in a terrific voice Of warning
and menace, no shall teach you to flee
from the wrath 10 Gomez"
The boys, suppOsing the admonition was
addressed 10 them, grew quite alarmed,
and seating themselves on log in front of
the wood shed, in various awkward atti-
tuoes, glarod at each other with half
cowed and shame faced bravado. But they
presently forgot their scare, and then COM
menced anew the same punching and pinch
ing and challenging brag which led to
fresh QuRrrels.
81 know where there is a skunk, " said
Thorsten Sleyten, a tow headed, freckled
and chunky lad Of ID.
81 saw drunk man yesterday" observed
Gunnar Matson, promptly accepting the
challenge.
He was a tall, handsome youth of IA,
whose coat sleeves and trousers were much
too short for him.
"My father has cousin who is in Jail I"
ret0rted Thorsten, determined not to be
beaten.
But my father killed man in Norway"
cried Gunnar triumphanJly.
That's d lie in your throat"
cit is DO such thing"
In a flash they had both tumbled down
from the log, grappled, and, swaying to
and fro, fought like tigers. The other
boys, wholly oblvious Of the prayer meet
ing, yelled with delight and shouted en-
pouragement to the combatants, while the
girls on the steps faced about quickly and
strove no more TO disguise their interest.
Even the devout people about the windows
began 10 grayitate slowly toward the scene
Of the conflict, and a vogue sense of the
disturbance Communicated itself within
the sitting room, where the penitents be-
gan to look back over their shoulders and
ceased 30 follow tie discourse.
Tnis flGttering attention spurred the
boys to do their best. They pulled each
sUher's hair and ears, planted blow upon
blow IN each others foreheads, tried to
~ OIL re 81
al the lodges recognized in the art Of self
dafCee But they were pretty evenly
Elltaed, Thorstea making up in Drawn
what he lacked in size. They were vet in
the midst Ct tho fierce struggle, and both
heroically determined not to give up when
suddenly a tall, matronly woman WAS seen
pushing her way through the crowd.
Without undignifCd excitement, but with
a stern set face which was much more aw-
tul, she swooDed down upon the unsus-
pecting Gunuar, grabbed him by the collar
of his coat, shook him as II be had been a
bag of straw and carried him off in dis
grace. He strOve in half hearted way to
exhibit a llarity which he was far from
feeling, and the forced erin of mocking
jollity which he turned toward the diSaD-
pointed spectators was rather pathetic
Ehan cheerful. 1t did not occur to
him to make any resistance, however. He
allowed himself TO be dragged meekly as a
lamb through the crowd in the hall into
the stulTy sitting room, where the foul air
soon soOered his coubative neal
Nov" whispered his mother, giving
him a little admonitory shake, "listen to
the word of God and repent Of your wick
edness"
The boy tried hard to listen and still
harder TO repent, bat strive as he might
his Thought would revert TO the fight. He
regretted bitterly that il had been inter
rupted before he had triumphed over his
enemy. lie saw plainly now where be had
neglected an opportunity to trip Thorsten
up, and he wished he could have had the
chance over again.
The pauson ia the meanwhile was thun-
dersng away, threatening his parishioners
with eternal damnatiou il they departed
from the pure Lutheran faith or sent
their children to the goddess American
schools. He was a young man Of some
what sQudtty figure, inclined 10 stoutneSs,
with far flushed face and short stubby
hands, covered on the backs with coarse
brown hair. Els head, too, had dense
growth OF the same adornment parted on
the left side, but few tufts Of rebellious
hair stood straight up on the crown and at
the parting. though be had shaved in the
morning the brown beard root was more
than visible on his chin. His nose and
mouth, too, had a touch Of coarseneSs. and /
us whole appearance made the imuression
man in whom the old Adam was
ing, though probably kept in proper
discipline
NO doctrine has plunged more souls |
sr,@, h.,11 hr.e 81 l.
FASHIONED disoourse-'than that seductive
saying. invented by the devil himself, that
every man Is saved by his own faith-that /
is, that any faith, whether false or true.
has the power 20 save. Why then have We /
cal led ministers Of the true fAith-the pure |
and undilutsd Lutheran faith-to instruct |
You here In your Babylontc exile II Meth |
odiSt or Baptist OF Unitarian doctrines /
perhaps might do just as well2 ] declare |
unto you, brethren in the Lord. you are a .
little faithful band OF the elect in the 1
mids Of this Land Of Egyptian darkness,
and unless you hold together stand by |
each other and the pure Lutheran faith.
and hold aloof from all intercourse with
the pesUlforOus sectcries who infeSt the ne
gion round about US, We viii impern your
souls salvation Ee can no longer plead
ignorance, for ! have forewarned you in
the name " the Lord And beware lest,
though you yourselves remain faithful,
your children go astray. Siren voices OF
temptation bes'iege their hearts from all
sides- Bsnlemher, you will be called to
account for them on the last day. The
prospect of wealth political Office and in
fuence and high seat IN the synsSogues
may lHre them away from the simple faith
and simple virtues Of their fathers. But