Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-13
HE WAS IN TROUBLE.

ne DIDN'T Object to RePenting OF Past Sins,
But
From the Chicago Tribune.
The other day man who was passing through
the Possum Ridge country came across ON old,
gray-haired native who was sitting on . log at q
lonely, wooded point IN the road. The native
was plainly in dist ress, for he sat with his head
bowed upon his hands. and his whole air was
one Of the deepest de lection. The stranger
was interested and even touched by the old
mans appearance, and brought bis horse to q
halt at once while he accosted the old fellow.
"Uncle, good morning to you"
"Mornin' to you, stranger" the native replied,
lifting his head little.
"Uncle," the stranger continued, sit appears
to me that you are in trouble"
''Reckon them 'pearances hain't deceiyin' Of
You none, mister"
Then you are in trouble, my friend?'
stuck fast"
Indeed! How is that?"
"Wal, you see, Their wuz a preacher Teller
come up here to hold meetin's, an he preached
q whole passed. O. garments, an they wuz all
bout them two places folks 60 to when they
die, you know"
Eyes, l understands
"Wal, he sorter blazed ont a road to both o.
them places SOS we could see Jest how we he'd
to travel to git thar, an when tuck an sized
like wuz travelin' the downhill path"
"Yes"
"'Wal, thinks I, that won't do so I aimed
to head round, but want sartain how to do
that, SO went to the preacher an axed him,
lowin' he could fetch me to the right way
=. And he told you to repent and live Chris
tian life
.'Yas, he did. Said I must confess my sins
an own up wuz sorry fer EN-, an all that"
We'll, that is not hard to do"
mo, it hain't, but it pears lack that hain't
all thar is to bit. From whut l could gether
from the preachers words it seems that bein'
sorry fer your sins 'hain't enough. Pears lack
a Teller has to quit sinnin' squar off,"
"Oh, yes, he must quit SHINING"
That's the way figured hit out, an that 8
jest whar 1 stuck. I don't mind nothin' bout
ownin' up to my sins an repentin' Of
EN-. but when it comes to giyin' em up an
not sinnin' no more hit pears lack hits BARN
down on body monty blamed hard, an 1
don't jes' see how kin do it an live"
"Oh, you would have no trouble on that
score, my friend. You have never committed
any great sin, Tam sure, and if you were to
give up all your evil ways you would lose
nothing in a worldly point of view''
oval, in the fust place, 1 low you're monty
nigh correct, but, in the next place, I'm afeerd
you're way of. I reckon I hain't sinned
much, shore enough. Pears lack from what
the preacher says my wust sin is steelin' sheep"
''But did you steal sheep?'
oval, reckon you mout say I did. Course
I don't want to jes' come out fiat footed an
say did, stranger, but I'm willin' to own up
that I've eat heap O. mutton thatwa MT rightly
mine an I've killed good many sheep that
other folks had better right to-
'Well, well I'm very sorry to hear that, my
dear sir. Still if you repent of your ways, the
Lord will forgive you"
''Yas, that's what the preacher said. But as
wus sayin' while ago, repentin' hain't goin'
to do no good, pears lack. 'less'n Teller quits
of an lives different. That's jes' whar got
stuck in the mire, an no way look 1 can't see
no way out. I'd like to jine in with the preacher
an all them folks an go long with 'em to glory,
but it's awful hard to think bout settlin' down
to eatin' old bacon an corn bread when the
woods is full Of good fat mutton. I've worried
over hit good bit, stranger, cause want to
go to glory when 1 die, but I'm blamed if 1
hain't Altered l hain't goin' to make it. Them
sheep, reckon, is goin' to stand in my way"