The Van Buren press., 1897-07-31
a lively Prnyin mitch.


INC doubts, RUFF, but what you have
tended spellin matches and shootin
matches and weddin matches, but now
did you ever hear tell of sich thing as
a prayin match? Well, that is what the
people over there have now come to,
and the great question is which side
will win out ON the last rattle of the
box
You reeollect how Gum creek runs
down through the hills, Rufe, splittin
the settlement about half and half OIL
one side and the other. Now, from the
mainesC leadin facts in the case it seems
as if the people on yonder side of the
creek got seriously afflicted with q
smart spell last year and sowed their
oats in the fall, whilst them on this
side didn't SOW till the regular time
here since Christmas. So, consequent
TALLY the people on the other side cut
their oats in May. whilst them on this
side are now chin-deep in that most
hellaeious hot and unpleasant job, with
their oat fields wavin ripe and yellow
into the harvest, as it were.
For six long weeks they have been
sufferin from dry drought, with cool
nights and hot days on both sides of
the creek. In the main time the corn
crop is now bunchin for the silk and tas-
sci, and the thirsty earth is calm for
rain water. In durin the past few days
- 4 N
distance considerable, whilst the gen
eral appearments showed forth signs of
fallin weather The people on this side
of the creek wanted the weather man to
postpone for a few days so they mought
git their oat crop cut and put up dry,
whilst them on the other side wanted
the rain on their corn-wanted it rale
bad, and wanted it right now.
80 there they are, Rufe. Last Satur-
day morning bright and soon old Par
son Radford rid through the settlement
on yonder side of the creek and norated
it around that there would be prayer
meetin for rain at lis house that night,
and saunt the word for everybody to
come. Inside of two hours the news
had spread to this side of the creek,
where, you understand, the people
didn't want no rain right away imme-
diately. And there it was.
"You see, Rufe, over there in the
hill country when it does rain, it is more
than probable to rain upon the just as
well as the unjust-but more in partic-
ularly the unjust, from the fact they
have got a whalin big majority every
time the convention comes to order.
And when it rains on one side of the
creek it rains on both sides of the creek
at the same time. In their churches
and religious notions, and in all man
ner of earthly devilmept, the creek is
the border line which divides the settle
ment half and half. But they can't fuss
and fall out and split up and quit pra-
in together in regards to the weather,
and that is what has brung on them
lively prayin matches.
Now, when the news of what old
Parson Radford was drivin at leaked
out sufficient, Cal Sturgiss-which as
you know he is deacon in the church on
this side of the creek-he didn't do
blame thing but saddle his mule and go
forth through the settlement on his
side, givin it out as urgent and promis-
Gus as he could that there would be a
prayer meetin at his house that night
10 pray for dry drought to hold on till
the people could save their oats. In 9TH
err words, Rufe, Parson Radford had
offered a resolution to suspend business
and adjourn for refreshments, and now
Cal Sturgiss made motion to lay the
resolution under the table.