The Van Buren press., 1896-10-10

which they grazed on, the sort OF mate.
rials they was made out of, and It STOOD
to reason with me that Andy was IN that
game to stay. Jest SO long as they had
three sermonts a day and dinner on the
grounds, and plenty of swoppin stock
hitched around the horse rack, Jest SO
long man by the name of Lucas was
right there.
THAT was on Sunday eyenin you un-
derstand, and it was after supper time
the next night when old Parson
Gaynor rid by to tell me the news con
cernin the meetin. That good old man
was so happy, Rufus, till for little
more and he would of shouted right
there in the big road. They d1dn I
have any new members as yet, he went
on to tell me, but from general APP
1earmeuts they had high hopes of
mighty outpouring before long. Andy
Lueas-a full-blood grandson of old HI
lam Lueas.-had went up TO the mourn
ers' bench three times that day and
was now bowed down under his great
load of guilt and fears and sorrow. Ana
with that the old parson rid on towards
home singin and rejoicin.
"Naturally. of course, it was none OF
my business, Rufus, as my name Is
writ on the books of another church,
and | didn't want to let my mouth 60
off too quick and hurt that good
old mans feelins. But | could see the
rale facts in the case as plain as plank
- ,,atr,4aH a nd II all |
could do TO keep from teliin the Parson
that if Andy Lucas was the only hope
for new recruits they mought as well
to take out and quit. But belt back
and Andy he helt on. The meetin
didn't wind up till the next Thursday
and when it broke and they closed the
church books onet more the name of
Andy Lucas was not written there.
candy then rid by and spent one
night at our house. After that he lit
out for old Macedonia church over there
in the hill country, where the Free VIII
Baptist had a big meetin goin on at
that time. [ went over there myself on
Sunday, and. Jest as l lowed, Andy he
was there with every foot up and coat
tails a Ayin, and next to the preachers
he was the mainest man in the Ineetin
The next followin Tuesday eyenin Old
Sister Hasse1tine-which you under
stand she is the onlyst member of that
church from our side of the ereek-she
rid by to tell me what felonioas good
time they were havin with their meetin
over at Macedonia.
"'And who would of thought it, Ben
Chris ?'-says the old lady as she
elapped her hands and brung long
breath-'Andy Lucas. a full blood grand
son of old Hiram Lucas-whieh they
tell me he died drunk and n eussin-
has mellowed down powerful in durin
of our meetin. The young man, from
all | can hear, is chip often the old
block, but nobody would think it to
see him SO meek and so humtle-bowed
down so low in spirits-and kneelin
around the menrners bench so reglar
and so constant No cross, no crown,
Ben Chris, and bless the Lord that wild
and hayward young man will soon be
bearing the cross in hopes of wearin the
crown
"And by this time that good old SO Il
warmed up and waXed so happy till
blamed if she didn't break out with tho
holy laugh right then and there. At
| the same time | was achin and itchin all
over to tell her that so long as they
had three sermonts a day and dinner
| on the grounds that hayward and
wicked grandson of old Hiram Lucas
would lead the procession to the mourn
ers bench, and if they didn't watch him
when the meetin closed he would hold
four aces or a straight flush, whilst the
| good people of Macedonia wouldn't
have nothin better than two pair, il
that. But she was so joyful like and
happy till 1 didn't have the heart to
throw cold water on her hopes.
$50 things rocked on two or three
days longer, and when we got the news
that the big meetin over at Macedonia
was closed we likewise also learnt that
the hayward feet of Andy Lucas still
wandered down the broad and easy
road which leads to death and ruination.
about supper time that night Andy
he rid up in swingin fox trot and
turned his horse in the lot. After sup
per he went ON to tell me what ire
mendius big time he had been havin
over at Macedonia. But from the gen
eral run of his conversation | soon
found out what was the mainest think
with Andy. He had snapped horses
with the brethren four times, got back
the same horse started with, and had
SIS hid away in his tanks. not to speak
OF the three sermonts a day and dinner
on the grounds"