The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1897-01-15
lGhe1emurrat- Star
AN OLD PREACHER

came into town and was heard to re-
late the following anccdutc:
The old man was of medium stat
urc bent and shriyclcd 10y age, but
wore upon his Carcworn face an cX-
preston Of infinite mcckncSs. A suit
Of wcl.wOrn black clothes enclosed
his figure and Slouch hat. much the
worse for wear, completed his apparel.
At first sight one would form the
opinion that there was something
good about the man. and he was cn
dpwCd with common sense beyond
the ordinary.
Late one afternoon he came into /
town and cnquircd for the leading
members OF certain church and was
directed to the place he desired to /
reach
After supper he was seated before |
the bright fire, reveling in a cloud OF
tobacco smoke and cuuycrsing with |
the different members Ut the family |
who had been So kind as to give him
lodging for tile night OF course he
was asked many questions, and finally
in very frank manner he sand
"Wen reckon you all wish 10 know
something about me and as you have
been kind enough to house me and
give me sonnet hing to eat, I'll Jest tell
you"
IL am from Alabama and can re-
member when the Indians used to
swarm about over thar like niggcrs at
a camp mcctin'; ! voted for Geo. s.
Houston when he rescued the State
from the carpet baggcrS and that is
the last time have taken any part in
politics and the pesky yotin' business
until | voted for Bryan
Sitting down in his chair once more.
he took long draw from his cob
pipe and continued: AN another
thing, it may seem Sortcr funny, but
I'm servant OF the Lord I've been
laborcr in his vineyard nigh unto
forty years; they tell me have bap-
= tlzed purity nigh two Thousand pcO.
pie and started them on the way Il
glory am one OF these new IAN
gIed, stove pipe, spike tocd preachers
Why, friends. | have walked thirty
miles many a day to preach tha'
hlsht, ana you know that would XII
one OF these coIIcge-feIIorS.
WIN another attack on the plp'
MS expression become sad ana IN
sorrOW'uI tone he continues; 20, /
could see Nancy Tonight | hay
not seen her for purity unto ten ycal
ana tie Old soul would be so glad t
see me, If can see her once NOR
III give up my cross and make pcac
WIN the LORD, Some OF the crow
looked up In amazemcnt, wonderin
why the old man had been away fro'
nome SO long. Questions in regaI
10 inns brought painful look on II
oId man lace ana ne turned on IN
win tle ora greasy banddna wipe
away tear.
Well friend recon my lot III
been about as hard as the next on
! know You are worrying yourSelv
about why Eve been away from hon
for so long and as the tale aiut 10,
one, rll Jest tell him"
The old man grew saddcr still a,
wiped another tear from his eye !
pressed his hand to his head as
making an effort to calm himself Il
taking another pull at the pipe
gan his story.
Nancy and ne was married j,
fifty years ago this December;
were happy, didn't have much hut
loved one another, not like this pes
love you see now adays when money
the main thing. | tell you fricr
thar amt no such love now as We Ii
in them days when the Young fol
would go down to the spring to cor
and 90 to camp mcctlns TO be wi
one another. No sir, that sort Of lt
has played out. But aid't tellin'
my tale: we had the purtiest sort OF
little gal named Mary. She was
high strung little one, and we ga
her all the schoolin' we could a
made her right likely chan: she or
up and was the perfect pictur'
sweetness and purity, Of course
loved her for she was the only one
had and was powerful precious"
Sadder and sadder yet grew the
man when in husky voice he rcsun
his narrative.