Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-10-18

Jones. "Got to show me Bible on any
line before I'll believe it. D"
"Well, he said somewheres in Cor
inthians it said, 'Haviu therefore these
promises, dearly beloved, let US cleanse
ourselves from all flthiness of the flesh
and spirit. He say if chawin tobacco
wasn't flthiness of the flesh, he'd like
to know what it was. He say hog
wouldn't chaw tobacco. He say he
had a special call to preach on that
line"
well, ne needn't be noratin' it
around none in these parts!" exclaimed
Brother Jones, in a high and scornful
voice. "W'y, what's tobacco made
for, I say? Jest to set on stump and
look at? Jest to plant and plOw and
worm? No, gentlemen; things has
their uses. l asst you all, gentlemen,
if it want made for to chaw?" He
extended his right arm in an inclusive
gesture. II reckon Brother Hooker
smith amt the only man that has lead
ms. Ireckon there's others that s got
some potion of the Spirit y
Brother Rolly moved uneasily, and
slowly pushed his broad straw hat off
of his forehead. "What else did he
say on that line, Charlie p he asked,
after few minutes reflection.
He said there was jest lots of folks
that was plumb ready for the blessin
all but that, and look like they found
tobacco harder to give up than all the
rest, and KEEP rackin' around with
their mouth full of tobacco, lookin for
the blessin, and wonderin' why they
didn't git it.
THAT may be the same thing your
souls hangin back on, Brother Rolly,
said Brother Melton, a tall, fne-look-
ing young man, with clear, direct eyes,
who was leaning against one of the
posts. Everybody has their draw
backs. Sometimes it IS one thing, some
times another. The devils sure to
nose around and find out the partic-
lar spot where he can git his holt on
a man. With me it was my gold col
lar-buttom. The devil mighty near
got me on that I'd heard sight of
preachin on the gold line, but look
like I couldn't see the harm in that
there little old collar-b button that my
father d wore before me. | KEEP
a-strivin' for the blessin and prayln
fit to kill. | taken off my necktle, for
of co'se I knowed that was superfoo-
Gus adornment. But then it seemed
like had more use of that collar
ton. Well, gentlemen, it got so, when
I'd be up at the mourners' bench or
prayin' anywheres, that collar-button
it'd burn right into my neck, and after
while it never quit burnin at all. |
was jest in misery, and done give up
hopes of gettin' the blessin'. Kep' re-
sistin' for all | was worth, till one day
when I was dressin' | got the strength
to snatch it off, and throw it out Of
the window. Well, sir, | hadn't no
more done it before l got the blessin
all thoo my soul, and commenced to
shout. Rulaney she come a-runnln
from the kitchen, and she said she
never seen nobody have more glorious
experience than me that mornin less n
it was the time she throwed her new
spring hat into the fire"
at was swearin with me, mourn
fully remarked Brother Gideon Blev-
ins, his lantern jaws swapping to after
each sentence. 81 was born a-cussin'.
Ny pa he cussed before me. | could
mt be out-cussed, Somehow got re-
Igion. Commenced seekin' the bless
in. Look that I'd never git it. Was
always helt back. Then I'd get mad,
and turn in and cuss the devil for all
I was worth. One day was wormln
tobacco, and set down on log to med
itate. commenced to think about
the devil holdin me back, and how he
helt Adam and Eve back in the first
place, and Jonah, and them, and first
thing I knowed l was cussin him like
blue streak. Pretty soou | heard a
rustlin in the bushes behind that log,
and every cuss-word I'd say, somethin
would say over again. Well, l knowed
the devil and me was in pretty close
quarters then, so turned in to cuss
him black and blue. Well, sir, the
more I talked, the more he talked, till
after awhile he was sayin' about ten
words to me one, and l couldnt hear
what 1 cas sayin'. l set and listened