Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-22

the parson, "I'll preach here twice q
week an pray the same. Eff you don't
IKE 1t, don't come. This ver's busi-
ness, and business is business. AMI
invited. Smokin' allowed, but III
lick the fust man as laughs in meetin'.
amt er seekin' no fuss. I'm or
peaceable man, but business is bust
ness I'm yer ter save souls, an they
must be order in meetin'. AuIwant
ls square deal"
He had come in on horseback. and
without taking his feet from the stir
rups he pronounced the benediction.
nodded pleasantly to the crowd and
galloped off in the direction from which
he had come.
1t was done absolutely before a man
IN the crowd could realize it. The
idea-preaching in Four Hole City!
Benediction! Prayer!
The strangest part of it all was that
the parson had compelled an unmis-
taxable feeling of respect. He had
left them impressed with the idea that
ne was superior somebody, amply
able to take care of himself, and not
'oo sanctified to fight.
Three days later he came again.
This time they were ready for him.
Slippery Sam Digger was the spokes-
man for the crowd.
"This yer town." said Sam, ssis Four
Hole City. We are the gang as lives
yer, in Four Hole City. We don't
want no preachin' an -
we won't have none of i'll"
The parson was thoughtful for
few seconds, weighing the matter de-
liberately, and then quietly announced
that there would be meeting, and that
If Sam didn't like it he'd have TO
move.
Then they hitched. 1t didn't last
long. Sam was carried off on one of
the benches, and the parson took his
position at the outdoor pulpit as
quietly as if nothing had happened.
GOWN ter the racket" said the
parson, "they won't be nothin' this
evenin' but the benediction. Hereafter
they won't be no racket, an reg'lar
services will be held"
Then he pronounced the benediction
upon as orderly and appreciative a
congregation as ever faced preacher.
Then he rode off leisurely, just as he
did before, without ever once looking
behind him.
After that, as the parson had pre-
dicted, there was no disturbance at
the meetings. The parson soon be-
came an established and very import
ant institution. He knew that coun-
try like a book, and every mine in it,
and his advice was reliable. His in
Guence had on more than one occasion
prevented bloodshed. In many ways
the parson made himself popular and
a power for good. Somehow or other
they had learned that his name was
Josh, but even this information was
rarely made use of, and he was simply
"the parson."
Four Hole City was slowly but surely
undergoing change.
IL was becoming civilized.
The first step was taken. The par
son had led them.
One afternoon n year or so after the
parson appeared first in Four Hole
City, eighteen or twenty men, covered
with dust and riding jaded horses, rode
into town with prisoner. That pris-
oner was the parson.
"Mistakel Mistake! Mistake!" said
the citizens.
No, it wasn't mistake. That was
Red Murphy, murderer and horse
thief.
"ProofI" demanded the citizens.
Plenty of proof. The horse he was
lied to was one he had stolen.
The citizens were obliged to believe
it. The parson said nothing in answer
to questions. and seemed as indifferent
of danger as the horse he was riding.
His legs were unstrapped and he
was taken from the horse. The rope
was put around his neck, and thrown
over limb.
"Wanter pray?" he was asked.
He looked doubtful for a moment.
"Unbind my hands," said he.
"There're enough of you -- - 10
rat me. Let me pray with my hands
bose"
In consideration of the good he had
lone the request was granted, though
there was some objection. His own
unconcern was another consideration
in granting the request. He seemed
resigned to his fate, they noticed. IL
couldn't do any harm.
The parson raised his hands, his face
turned upward.
al have done some good" he SAID
slowly. ..'an some bad. L have stole
some horses. but L never took the last
'un from a po' man. l have killed
some men, but / done it far. All L
want, o Lord, is a squar' deal In thls'
kin lick eny two in this crowd-eny
three. They know it
The parson stopped suddenly, knife
in his hands.
In another instant the rope around