The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-11-25
ANGELS.

=
Why, sure; but let's liquor again, n I'll
reminisce.
Eyer see, twas afore Angels got to be
sech a big camp as twas later on, but it
was rich camp n a mighty wicked
one. There were lots NV chaps there
who'd jest as soon die in their boots as
eat, n every other house was dance.
house or saloon or gambling hell.
Pretty Pete n his pardner, Five Ace
Bob, was reckoned the wickedest mer
in the state, n old Bill Jones, what
kept the Golden West hotel, had ma
tional reputation for cussin.
1.-THE idea of a parson striking the
camp never was thought NV, but one
day was playing bank into Pete's
game, when Five Ace came runnin il
n SEE; Boys, I'll be -, but there's an
ornery cuss of a parson jest rid up tc
Jones. He's got a pardner with him.
n he lows he's goin to convert the
camp The - he Isl SEE Pete. I'll
finish the deal n go down and see about
that
$50 we all walked down to Jones'
n thar, sure huff, in the bar, talking
with Old Bill, wuz the parson, black coat
N white tie N all. He was a big, squar
shouldered chap, with a black beard
N keen eyes that looked right through
yer. His pardner was only a boy of
twenty or so, with yeller curly h'ar, pink
N white gals face n big blue eyes.
We all walked in, n Pete he stands to
the bar II shouts fer all hands ter drink,
N to our surprise the parson n the kid
both stepped up n called for red Ticker
II drank it.
"After the drink was finished the
parson sez: Gents, as yer see, I'm a
minister of the Gospel; but l see no
harm in a man drinking ez long ez he
amt no drunkard. l drank just now
because | want you to see that l am not
ashamed to do before yer face what I'd
do behind yer back Right yer are,
parson,' says Pete; put it thar n they
shook hands, n then Pete he up and
called off the hull gang-Five Ace n
Lucky Barnes n Dirty Smith n one II
all the rest NV 'em. The parson shook
hands with all NV us, n said he was
going to have a meetin in Shifty SAILS
gest room in camp, n asst us all to come
N we sed wo would.
when we got outside Pete SEE, Boys,
you mind me, that devil dodger'l cap
ture the camp n he did. That night
we all went along down to Shifty's n
found the parson n the kid on the
platform where the fiddlers ust to sit
N every man in camp wuz i'll the au-
dience. Tbo parson spoke first Hesed:
Gents, want to tell yer first off l don't
want any NV yer dust. I've got enuff
fer myself n my young friend, n there
won't be no rakeoff in this yer meetin
house, N I'm not here to preach against
any mans way o. making Twin. will
preach ag'in' drunkenness, n l shall
speak privately with the gamblers; but
/ want to keep you men in mind NV yer
homes n yer mother n yer wives n
yer sweethearts, n get yer to lead
cleaner lives, SOS when yer meet 'em
lg'in yer'n not hev to be 'shamed.'
n then he sed we'd hev song, n the
he started in n played
concertina N sang Yes, We Will
Gather at the River; n there wuzn't
one of us that it didn't remind NV how
our mothers ust to dress us up Sundays
n send us to Sunday school, n stand
at the door to watch us down street N
call us back to asst if we were sure we
had our clean pocket handkerchur, n l
tell yer, mister, thar wuzn't a man with
dry eyes in the crowd when he'd finished.
That young Teller had a vice like a
angel. Pete he sed it wuz tenner vice,
but Five Ace offered to bet him a hun
bred to fifty it wuz more like fifteener
or a twenty. Pete told Five Ace he wuz
q - old fool n didn't know what he
vuz talkin about.
"Well, things run along for about a
week, n one day Pete come to me and
sez: Look here, Ralters, this yer camp
amt no jay camp, n we've got to hev
church fer the parson. He's a Jim dandy,
and won't ask for nothing. He'd jest
go on prayin and preachin n
tryin to save a couple of whisky soaked
souls like yourn N Bill Jones', which
amt with powder to blow 'em to -,
n you'd let him go doin it in that old
shack of Sails N never make a move.
Now I'm goin to rustic round n dig up
dust enuff from the boys, and We'll jest
build him a meetin house as'll be a
credit to the camp n in a few days the
boys he'd a good log meetin house built,
dOored n benches in it n everythin.
1.-The par5on was tickled most to
death. Next they built him house, n
he n his pardner moved into it. Then
Pete said the gals must go; sed it wuz a
dead, rank, snide game to work on the
parson ter hev to go down street n be |
guyed by them hussies On they did guy
him awful sometimes, too); so the gals |
hey went. Then Pete sed the church |
ned to be properly organized; he'd to |
lev deacons n church wardens n sex
ons n things; so old Bill Jones n Ala
,am wuz llade deacons, n Pete n |
live Ace was church wardens.
I'm a month every last man in camp |
vuz worryin bout his future state. Old |
Bill Jones came into meetin one night |
With his face n hands washed n an old |
,lack suit on, N sot down on the anx-
Gus bench N asst to be prayed fer. |
The parson knelt down n put his arm |
round him, u how he did pray. Be |
ore he got through Lucky Barnes, Ala |
Jam N me wuz ON the bench too, n |
Pete showed his Chinaman up the aisle |
~ the collar n sot him down 1ongside |
; me. Pete said he was high toned !
christian gentleman himself, he'd been |
,orn n raised Christian n was a senior
hurch warden to boot, n that he'd |
make a Christian of All Foo or spoil
Ihinaman.
"Waal, stranger, things run along !
ice N smooth fer couple NV months er
o till Chris'mu comes nigh. The boys
led been a-keepin mighty straight; there
vasn' a man in camp that drunked
lore'n wuz hullsome fer him; there
Didn't bin a shootin scrap fer weeks.
'ete sed things wuz gittin so ALFRED
ham n peaceful that he wouldn't be at
y surprised to git up sum fine day n
nd All Foo with wings n feathers on
is legs like Bramah hen. Nary a man
acked gun, n when a gent 'ud forgit
drop c-lss word he'd beg parding.
he parson was thick with all the boys.
Ie writ letters for us, advised US about
Il our biznus, N knew all about every
ody's affairs. Lots NV 'em gave him
heir dust sack to keep fer 'em, n he
moved where every man he'd his
ached.
'sAlong Jest afore Christmas cum Pete
allied q meetin nv the deacons n charch
A. -