The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-24
MORE OLD CHESTNUTS
FRESHLY ROASTED IoK rHE TINES.
The Wheeler FamIly-How He Prayed for
Their Conversion - No" sphere o.
Usefulness for Rattiesuakcs.

ing Of what had been busy and usetul lie.
determined 10 retire from the active minis.
try OF his Church 10 his paterual acres DO
East Tennessee. Here on a small but for
tile farm. cultivated By his loving. loya
slaves. he fondly hoped in the sweet cain
OF q Christian. phiosOphic retirement
far from the madding crowds ignobig
STRIFE free from oil carhIng cares,
cheerod aud comtorted by the sweet COM
paniouship OF tho friend ~ his youth anu
wife # his bosom who divided his sorrows
and doubled bis Joys, surely be might vel
hope for the full measure OF happiness
which Heaven accOrd5 20 mOrtals.
They sometimes sighed tor children and
grandchildren 20 play about their knees. yet
the deprivation seemed but 20 unite them
more closely, and 80 they walked hand 10
hand down tho vale Of time thoughtful
on the silent shore IL that vast ocean they
must sail 80 soon. and put good WORKS ~
board. and waited the wind that must surely
wait them into worlds unknown
But alas. for these good Old people that Their
dream OK happiness should prove delusion.
And they. too must echo that pathetic cry
which. ringing down the immemorial ages
cOneth sooner or later % every one, All Is
vanity and vsxation Of spirit. They were
surrounded by miserably degraded noun
tain population mooushlners, drunkards
and thieves. They broke down the old
mau's fences turned their halt-staryed stock
into MS meadows and grain fields. rode his
horses at night, stole his pigs, lambs and
poultry. beat and buildozed his faithful but
tmid negroes aud made life = burden 20 the
good old couple Foremost IN all acts 0t
annoyance and depreciation were his nearest
nBiRhbOrs, the Wheeler family, as be called
them.
Az APPEAL FOR PROTECTION
again and again Mr. Morgan appealed for
protection to the laws OF the land. But be
slaves were not legal witnesses And tho
trespassers either escaped justice Jy fleeing
into tho inaccessible depths OF the Cumbef.
land mountains. or cleared each other by
concerted perjury. The poor old man. thus
worried and bediyilled. tried 10 vain 90 sci.
his place And finally. gOaded almost &c
madness, he warned bic worst foes, me
Wheeiers, never to set foot on his place.
set man-traps loaded his old shotgun. and
yanly tried 10 guard and protect his prop
erty by DAY and night. But 81 his Efforts
were worse than useless. and only provoked
the rRscals 10 greater aggressiOns.
One day no was sitting IN his armchair
reading his Testament, his amiable vile
seated by bis side knitting. Just then
Sam Wheeler, tall frockled. white-hared,
pop-eyed snaggled- toothed boy Of sixteen,
barefooted, clad IN a dirty osnabure shirt,
and his tow-linen pantalOOus held up by
one yarn suspender, rushed GREATNESS into
the room and cried
Oh Mr.. Morgan, Mr. Morgan. big old
rattlesnake hes bit brother Jim. Hos
aoryin n agronin n sweeld powerful he
begs you 10 come an pray fur INN. jim
SAYS as how he alut tittea % die n nanny
lows he's bout right.n NANNY she begs YOU.
Mr.. Morgan. for the love OF jesus ia come
Ft.- - 4srfF
The old man reaching out for his heavy
hickory cane. said sternly
Git right out you thevn' so0undreL
Didn't ! order that not One OF the Wheeler
family should ever set foot on my place
/ wish big old rattiesnake had bit every
one OF you.
Please. Mp. Morgan, come Nanny begs
YOU In these IDENTICAL languages On cum fur
the luz nv Jesus n pray fur her dyin boy.
Tell Your nanny, you thievin' dog.
won't come step, an you clear out OK here.
quick.
Laying her hand gently upon his arm, the
good wife said Husband. II that poor
heather begs you by the love OF Jesus, don't
that love oonstrain you 20 go and pray for
the dying sinnerI Husband, what would
After venting the remains Of his ius
wrath upon the trembling Sam, ho arose.
took the hat his wife handed him, aud
walked acrose the field 70 the log cabin z
the Wheelers. Pushing open the door or
tho shade rum" with his cane, from which
came the shrieks and Rroans OF poor jim.
he entered
GROOMING by THK bedside.
The old bag. his mother. with disheyelled
gray hair, was weeping and grooming by the
bedside. The strong athlete wrthlag IN
agony, Us much mental as physical for tho
pains OF he'll had got upon him, with strong
cries and tears begged Mr. Morgan 10 pray
for him. The old woman again M person
appealed by the love OF Jesus.
The old msn said James Wheeler. my
prayers and your own viii DO no good IN
less you repent, confess and with full pur-
pose OF heart forsake your sins and all your
meanness.
Tie do Il. Mr. Morgan. Tie do 10: snly
pray fur me. fur Tine mighty close 20 hel
right now.
Now, James Wheeler. tell the truth. the
whole truth and nothing but tho truth. 80
help you God Who pulled down my fence
and turned the stock IN uy fields:
Me n daddy st fust. but afterwards
nanny a 'tother boys n sister sall-they
all helped.
Who stole my pigs, lambs and turkeys,
All the femly tuck han. but me n Sis
ter Sail got the turkeys.
Who swore 20 lies about all these thin
Every one on en- es were old enun tn 10
tuck fur witnesses. Oh hlr. Morgan, lie
never do 30 no more. Fray fur me. lme
in such misery ia my body n So s1o!ded
pne fered plo bust
james, you repent. confess and promise
10 sin no more. Now. lot Us pray. and 10y
ing down his hat aud cane and reyerently
kneeling by the bed, be prayed thus:
FERvnSr PRAYER.
20 Lord. we thank thee for every good
thing thou dost give rs and FOR every evil
thing thou dos't permit 10 come upon Us.
for we belioye that ali things work together
Tor gool % thom that love and serve thee.
Especially on this occasion, w thank thoe
that thou has seen ft to provide snake. q
big snake, an old snake and rhttlesuake
for tho purpose OF biting Jsmes
Wheeler that thus be might
be- led 20 repent. confess and ;orsako tis
sins II be Is honest and sincere ia this
good Lord, spare his life snd restore him g
health. bat II he Is decoiying OF himself,
and thee. then Lord ~ pray thee % iake
him away speedily, lest peredyenture, hs
add iniquity T. iniquity, and heap ~ ersta
upon wrath. And now Lord. As thou he5tau
power, we humbly pray thee q provide
snake a big snake. an I'D snake ana
rattlesnake for the old uan. aud ile
olt woman and 'iB. and-a modefato-s.Laa
snake Tor Sister Sail And as thine lri4 %
not shortened that IL cannot 8aFo. provide.
We be-.eca thee o great power ~ 5pakre.
for the wh s Wheeler family that thrs.tlay
too. may be b 0ugh. u repentance. comics
sion and new lie. And T. thy holy Qtue
DO The praise now aud ever more. Amen.
J. H0E4oE L4OI.