Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-04
a BURGLAR CONVERTED.
An Absolutely True Story Which Has
Become q Family Tradition.

Become Family Tradition.
This is a true burglar story. It was
! told, in the first place, by the mother
of the family herself; it is now told
by her daughter, and it will probably
be told in years to come by genera
tons still unborn. AS the veracity OF
everyone concerned in it-incIuding
that of the burglar himself, in his re-
generate condition-is quite unim'
peachable, the facts can be vouched for
1t was the mother of the family tC
whom the adventure occurred. She was
a woman of deyout character, believing
above all things in the efficacy Of prayer
and at the same time in deeds as wei
as prayer. So it CHANGED that one OF
her nightly duties, as good house
keeper, was to look under her bed be
fore retiring. She looked, Of course, fol
the devastating burglar.
One night she found him.
Under her bed was the shadowy out
line of the figure of man. There could
be no mistake about it. She had found
her burglar at last. The next problem
was WndU TO 90 with Hill.
The story, as it is related, does not
state If there was no one in the house
to whom she might have gone for
help but it implies that the mother
of the family was obliged to rely upon
her own resources and supernatural aid
alone.
In a hurried review OF the situation
she came to the conclusion that the lat
ter was her only resource; that alone
she was helpless. So she quickly re-
solved to do in every way as she would
have done if the long-looked-for bur
olar had not been found.
She locked her door-she always did
that-undressed and made her prep
arations for bed as she was in the habit
Of doing on ordinary and uneventfui
occasions Then she bnelt by her bed
side to perform her nightly devotions.
Long and fervently she prayed-pray-
ing for the members of her family,
her friends, and for the direction of her
daily life. Then she offered a special
petition for the unfortunate men led
from the paths of honesty and recti-
tude, for those who had no respect for
the rights and possessions of others
she was praying for the burglar. HAY
ing done this, she arose and laid her
self peacefully down upon the bed, as
was her wont.
That was the cue for the burglar
Crawling from under the bed, he stood
l. l. b Il no
'Madam,' he said, Il came here with
the intention of robbing you, and of
numbering you if necessary. Your cries
for help would of been Of no avail, for
| have two accomplices outside. But
have heard your prayer, and am going
to leave YOU unmolested." And he did.
That was the end Of the first part of
the burglar story. Truth being stranger
than fiction, there was a second part,
and the mother Of the family saw her
burglar again.
1t was at camp meeting, some time
after the first part of the story had
been brought to so happy conclusion.
The mother of the family was listening
with a devout and grateful interest to
the testimony being given, when man
arose and told his eXperience-the his
tory of his conyersion-and he told the
burglar story, and the effect of the
prayer from the burglars standpoint.
Il was that man." he said, with en-
phasis, as he concluded his remarks.
''And [ can vouch for the truth of the
story" said the mother of the family,
rising, while her face shone with the
Light of great spiritual rejoicing, flor
I was that woman.''-N. Y. Times.