The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-11-21
UNCLE BILLY WAYMIRE.
TRUE HISTORY OF HIS REMARK.
ABLE CONVERSION.
He Was for Years One Of the Wickedest Hen in
Indf ma, But the Preacher Final
Oatwitted Him-Oil Better
Than Vinegar.

Than Vinegar.
Uncle Billy Waymire was a we'll
known character all over the Night
Owl settlement, loo lily in central
Indiana. which took its name from the
district school Of that section, an edu-
cational institution which had for
years and years been known as the
Night Owl Seminary. Right across
the road from this stood the might
Owl Meetin' House." a sort Of union
tabernacle, where new lights. baptists,
united brethren and methodists held
services on alternating Sundays, and
in the winter time ''jined hands, in q
series of union revival services for the
purpose of gathering in the sinners
from the whole countryside.
Old Abe Moggerty was the Metho-
dist preacher at the Night Owl church.
and despite the fact that he was
uncouth of manner, rough and UNI
lettered. he welded powerful inhu-
ence over the people of the community.
Old Abe was what you could truly call
Il working minister. writes Ed R.
Pritchard in the Arkansaw Traveller.
He owned good farm and a half
interest in a thrashing machine; and
during the cropping season, from early
spring until late fall, he did harder
work, and more of it, than any other
man in the county. But when winter
came on, bringing as it does to the
farmer season Of comparative rest
and comfort then Brother Moggerty,
to use his own expression, went to
work for the Lord" He had q halt
dozen different places in his own and
adjoining counties where he held
meetings during the winter season,
but as he himself lived in the Night
Owl settlement his zeal and interest
were. naturally, stronger for this his
home charge. The old fellow had got
together "a right smart sprinklin" of
members here, among them some of
the best families for miles around.
There was, however, one man whom
he never could get to zine meetin"
and that was Uncle Billy Waymire,
who was about as tough and unregen-
crate an old sinner as ever stood out
side church door and tried to work
up boss trade while the preacher on
the inside was doing his best to get
up a little enthusiasm among the
faithful members of his flock.
Uncle Billy had long been a special
mark for old Abe's eloquence, both in
and out OF the pulpit. In fact he had
frequently boosted to some of his
brethren. on commencing a series Of
revival meetings. that he intended to
capture Uncle Billy before spring.
These boasts generally reached the
ears of the old fellow, whereupon he
would ''cuss' like pirate and swear
that he'd show old Moggerty whether
he could lead him around by the nose
or not"
This state of affairs had existed for
several years, and of course furnished
no end of gossip and chat among the
country people. Indeed, among the
worldly minded portion of the commu-
nifty, and especially the younger and
wilder ones, the announcement that
old Abe would shortly begin to hold
"big meetin" at the Night Owl church
was hailed with great glee, for they
we'll knew there was sure to be lively
time of it, while bets were freely
offered and taken on the chances of
old Abe getting Billy into the church,
with the odds generally against the
preacher. But one winter old Abe
started in to win; he had been baffled
long enough. The time had come
when he mad to show that the Lord
was on his side or else, as he put it,
Ito quit preachin' altogether" And
this is how he went aboutit. Happen
irg to meet Uncle Billy in the road
one day the following conversation
ensued:
''Good mornin'. Brother Waymire,
how are you? I'm mighty glad to see
you; how's all the folks?''
wall, only middlin' generally,
though I'm feelin' purity peert m yself;
how are you a STAN it?''
Fresh an vigorous, brother Way
mire, fresh an vigorous, I've been a
workin' like everything fer myself all
summer, an now that winter has sot
in I'm ergoin' to put in my best ticks
fer the Lord We begin a big meetin'
at the Night Owl next Sunday"
'.Yas, 80 I heerd. 'Spose you'll be
a-givin' it to us sinners purity hot ergin,