The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-04-25

exceptin the naked, unwashed truth.
But at any rates, the lie was passed
with big d, and that brought on the
fight. They come out about even in
the rucus, and then both of them agreed
to spit on the slate and Spite out, and
remember the past no more forever.
"weigbed In the Balance"
I couldn't say for certain that old
man Jeems w. Staggers has ever been
weighed in the balance. but he is
natural-born "politicianer," as my
Aunt Nancy is SO wont to say, and he
can be found wantin every two years as
reglar as the time rolls around. He is
now out as a candidate tax collector,
and wantin of the job 80 bad till he can
taste it.
That brings to mind when Tom Billy
Travis went OF on a preachin cam
paign with old Parson Honeycut. Tom
Billy was right fresh in the cause and
young in the harness, so to say, and
the old parson put the young brother
through for all he was worth. Now it
would seem like Ton. Billy he had fixed
up a powerful deep and stirrin sermont,
and preached from the text: Thou
art weighed in the balance and found
wanting"
They lit out and took circuit way
down through the wire grass country,
from settlement to settlement and
from church to church, and everywhere
they went Tom Billy preached the
same sermont from the same text.
By and by one day they got back to
where they started from, and nothin
would do but they must give out an
other appointment in passin." 1t was
all right with Tom Billy, but he told
Parson Honeycut that he would have
to do the preachin.
"Never in creation, brother" says the
old parson. 81 am old and weary OF
the storms and trials of this wicked
world, whilst you are young and strong
and power In the battle-like unto
Saul amongst the Philistines. Unjust
rest and you must preach"
But parson," says Tom Billy, 81 amt
got but that one sermont, and l
preached it here when we started out.
How can I preach, and what must /
do?"
weigh him agin, Tom Billy. weigh
him agin,' says the parson.
And Tom Billy he Lit in and weighed
him again.
What They Raised In Arkansas.
Hit was way back there in the sixties,
right recently after the war, and /
had went out west to see If could
find a better place than Rocky Greek
to grow mp with the country. which, of
course, 1 never found it.
We had crossed the Mississippi bot
toms, and was ridini through the coun,
try across the state of Arkansas. We
had rid in a good swingin fox trot near
ly all day without layin eyes on more
than dozen clearins. Way along late
in the evenin we come up to a settle
ment, where the women and children
peeped out of every door and window
and crack and crevice in the cabin,
whilst the old man set on a stake-and-
ridered fence out in front. He wore one
gallus. which had pulled his breeches
up till they looked like they was cut for
high water. His face had the general
appearments of one TINT mought eat
a heap of dirt without putin any salt
in it to speak OF, and his crop of whis-
kers had been thinned out to some
where's from Is to 20 long gray feel
ers on his chin.
"A right pleasant country you live
in, mister" says 1, when first rid up.
Reckon it is, il man don't give a
durn what he says" he come back At
me.
"What all do you raise in this coun-
try?" says on the next round.
SWELL, stranger, I have been Twin
here nigh on to 20 years." says he, with
a sad and PARKWAY look in his eyes,
"and so fur as can see we don't raise
nuthin in particlar but chillen, chills
and hell"
1 told him we could beat that at
Rocky Creek and not half try. And
then we rid on and left him alone In
his troubles.
It Is Gods House.
A lightnin rod peddler come through
the settlement last week and got right
in after the good people over at Bark
Log to let him rod the new church
which they put up lastsummer. Every
body was willin. and everybody Clipped
in a little to help raise necessary funds
everybody exceptin Elder Newton.
But the elder said no, he wouldn't give
continental red cent for any SIGH
foolishness. And when the elder plants
himself on that little word no." he
is somewhat like the black horse you
have read about-he is right thar"
when we pitched in last summer to
build the new church went down into
my tanks and come forth with SIS
for the good work." says the elder in
givin out his side of the case. I'VE built
for the Lord and concentrated it to His
service. 1t is Gods house, brethren.
and now if He wants to turn in and
tear it down with lightnin all the rods
in creation can't stop Him, and so fur
as I'm concerned He can blaze away
il He wants to-"
T.