Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08
READY FOR THE PROMISED LAND.

The Men Folk were Willing, hut Their
Wives Were Not to BE Persuaded.
From the Memphis Appeal-Avalanche.
1t was in a cove on the Cumberland noun
tains that sat on the doorstep OF noun
taineer's cabin in the twilight Of summers
evening and listened to the following:
''Yo' see, stranger" said tho mountaineer's
wife as she drew long Whit from her corn
cob pipe aud gave one Of the dogs kick with
her bare foot, "a Norman elder he cum up
yere to lead we'uns to the promised land. 1t
war way out west somewhar, but he I'M had
been sent by the Lawd to lead US through the
wilderness. Reckon yo've met up with them
Mormons?"
"Yes"
"Got long tongues. Good on the CAB. Git
everybody stirred up in no time. People all
around we're got stirred up to 90 to the prom
ised land He all promised every man four
or five wives, and the wimmin folks was to
sit and sing the praises Of the Lawd from
mawnin' till night. First I knowed my ole
man was hankerin' to go. Then he I'm and got
Bill Raynor and Sam Bebee and Jim Taylor
a-itchen fur to dwell in the tents of the Lawd.
as he I'm called 'em.
Lucy says nv ole man as he sot right yere
one night, the Lawd is dun a-callin' of me to
20, and veil sell them nevis.
...Sam, Is the Lawd a-callin' OF me, too?'
"'Reckon not. Yo' is too ole to be called
elias the Lawd dun called Mrs. Bebee or
Mrs Taylor?'
"'Reckon not They is too ole and humbly
to be called to the promised land
"'And how about Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Hen
derson and Mrs. Bartlett?'
"'Too ole and humbly. Lawd don't want
EN- out thar
Stranger" said the woman, as she uttered
chuckle OF satisfaction, Il reckon yo' dun see
the rabbit in the holler Logo"
According to the elder the Lord only wanted
your husbands, eh?"
"Yo's hit it. They all was packin' up to 20
when sunthin happened. The elder was stop
pin up yere at Tom Whites. Toms wife was
one of the ole and humbly ones the Lawd didn't
want. Thar was fo'teen Of us. They all met
yere bout 10 o'clock. See that bresh over
thar?''
"Yes"
mighty fine place to cut switches. had
fifty cut and ready. We uns marched up to
Toms and took the elder outer bed and tied
him up in the back yard with the clothesline.
Power full scarf, he un was, while Tom away.
Did yo ever see messenger from the promised
land git a-switchin'?"
"No"
''They uns heard him boiler fur mile and
half but thought it was mewes brayin. We
used up thirty switches He dun lated and
cried and hollered and cussed. He called on
the Lawd. He promised US TO husbands apiece
in the promised land. We marched him down
tn the forks, turned him to the left and every
body Civ him cut He un never did cum
back fur his clothes. Reckon he uns still on
the canter."
''And what did the men-your husbands
say?"
''He-he-he! My ole Sam sits right down
yere next day and smokes and smokes and
smokes Bimeby he un says:
o." Lucy, dun found out about that call.
wau ha ND in NJ oil 70
the promised land, but was mstook. 1t was
Sam Bebee s-callin' Of both Of US to cum over
and eat green con and coon meat fur dinner.
Git on yer bonnet Lacy
"'I'ze too ole and humbly. Sam
"'No, yer hsin't, Lucy-no. yer hain't
was jest a-lookin' and s-fggerin'. Yo' hain't a
day over foty. and yo's the best lookin' woman
on all this yere Cumberland qualification Of
hills and hollers. Cum on Lucy"
"And SOP" queried after long pause.
That's jest all" she replied as she reached
for some more tobacco, Jest oil, except that
when my Sam gifts leetle high headed Jest
say, Promised land to him and he wits right
down like cabbage leaf in the sum-