Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-26
ANGELS.


Angels, stranger | thought Nv course
sssrybosy'd hserd that yarn. Tell yerf
Why, sure; but let's liquor again. n III
seminisce.
Yer see. twas afors Angels got 10 be
ssh a big camp as twas later On, but it
was rich camp n mighty wicked
cae. There we're lots w chaps there
who'd Jest IS socn die IN their boots as
eat, n every other house was q dance
house or = saloon or gambling hell
Pretty Pete n his pardner. Five Acs
Bob, was reehoned the wickedest men
N the stats. n old Bill Jones, what
kept the Golden West hotel, had q ma
tional reputation for cussln-
-The idea Of . parsoa striking the
camp never was thought nv, but one
day I Vas playing bank into Pete's
game. when Five Ace came runnin IN
n $50: Boys, III be -, but there's an
ornery cuss Of a parson Jest rid up TO
Jores. He's got = pardner with him,
n he lows he's goin 10 convert the
X
fnish tho deal a go down and see about
that
80 We all walked down TO Jones,
a thar, sure huff, in the bar, talking
with Old Bill, wuz the parson, black coat
n white the n ali. He was bag, squar'
shoslldered chap, with black beard
n ksen eyes that looked right through
yer His pardner was only a boy Of
twenty or 80, with yeller curly lar, pink
n white gals face n big blue eyes.
We ali walked in. n Pete he stands To
the bar n shouts fer al hands ter drink,
n 10 our surprise the parson n the kid
both stepped up n called for red icker
n drank 1t.
after the drink was finished the
parson seq: Gents, as yer see. I'm .
minister Of the Gospel; but l see no
harm in a man drinking ez long ex he
amt no drunkard. drank just now
because want you To SEQ that am not
ashamed TO do before yer face what I'd
do behind yer back Right yer are,
parson, says Pete; pat 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 n
all the rest nv EN-. The parson shook
hands with all NV Us. n said he was
going 10 have meetin in Shifty Sails
dancehouse that night, ez twas the big
gcse room In camp, n asst % all to come
n We sed we would.
when We got outside Pete seq, Boys,
you mind me, that devil dodger'u cap
ture the camp n he did. That night
We all went along down to Shifty's n
found tho parson n the kid on the
platform where the fiddlers INST to sit,
n every man In camp wuz IN the au-
disrce. The parson spoke first. Hesed:
Gents. want to tell yer first OF don't
want any nv yer dust. I've got enuff
fer myself n my young friend, n there
won't be no rakeof In this yer meetin
house. n I'm not here to preach against
any mans way O making Twin. wiz
preach agin' drunkenness, n shall
speak privately with the gamblers; but
want 70 keep you men In mind nv yer
homes n yer mother n yer wives n
yer swesthearts, n get yer to lead
cleaner lives. SOS when yer meet EN-
sgin yer'u not hev to b 'shamed.'
n then he sod we'd hev q song. n the
youngster he started in n played
coucertina n sang Yes, We Will
Gather at the River: n there wuzn't
one II us that it didn't remind NV how
our mothers ust TO dress us mp Sundays
n send us 90 Sunday school, n stand
ct tho door TO watch rs down street n
call us hack 70 ast IL We were sure we
had our clean pocket hsndkerchur, n
tell yer. mister. thar wuznt man with
dry eyes in the crowd when he'd finished.
That young TELLER had a vice like a
angel. Pete he sed II wuz tenner vice,
bat Five Ace offered to bet him a hun
drcd to fifty il wuz more like q fifteener
or a twentv. Pete told Five Ace hs wuz
A. old foot n didn't know what he
wuz tslkin about.
well. things run along for about o
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 a
church fer the psrsor. He's Jim dandy,
and won't ask for nothing. He'd jest
nstchsliy 90 on prayin and preschin n
tryin 10 sssvs . couple OF whisky soaked
souls Ike youru n Bill Jones'. which
amt wush powder 10 blow en- to -,
n you'd let him 20 dom IL in that old
shack of SAILS n never make a move.
Nov TN yoin 30 rustic round "A dig MP
dust emf from the boys. and wei Jest
build him rneetin house ash be 9
cresiis 60 the camp n In few days tho
boys he'd a good leg meetin house bailt,
foared "a benches in 10 n evsrythin.
The parscn was tickled most 10
dessh. Next they built him house. n
he n bis partner moved into il. Then
Pete said the gals must 20: sed IL WING n
desd. rank, s1sde game 90 work ON the
parsun ter bev 10 90 down street n be
guyei By their hussies On they did guy
him swfui Sometimes. tool; - the gals
they went Then Pete sed the church
he'd to be properly organised: bed 70
hev dracors n church warslens n sex
tons n things. 50 cid Bill Jones n Ala
ham wux made dezoons, n Pete n
Five Ace was church wsrisns.
In mout,. every LAST man in camp
wus wcrryn bout hh future state. Old
Hn Jsn<s rsn,s into mestin enc night
With his face n hands WISHED n an old
black suit On. n sot levin On the anx-
icus beneh n ass 90 BE- prayed fer.
The larson kne's down n put his arm
around him. n how be did pray. Be-
fore he xu< shrcugh Lucky Barnes. Ala
bnm n ne wrz on the bench 900, n
PIE >oc~~i his Chinsrnsn up The aisle
BY the collar n scs hiin down 1cnssisie
D me- Pets said ke vss high toned