The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-10-13
A BURGLAR CONVERTED,
lDR4NATIC INCIDENT AT A CAMP
MEETING.
An Absolutely True Story of the Power
of PRAYER Which Has Become
n Family Tradition.


Family Tradition.
This is a true burglar story. 1t 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 generations still unborn.
As the veracity of every one concerned in
it-including that of the burglar himself,
in his regenerate condltiOn-iS quite I'M
improbable, the facts can be vOuC he'd foT.
1t was the mother of the family to
whom the adventure occurred. She was
woman of deYOut character, believing
above all things in the efficacy of prayer,
and at the same time in deeds as we'll as
prayer. SO it Glanced that one of her
nightly duties, as a good housekeeper
was to look under her bed before
retiring. She looked, of course, for the
devastating burglar.
Que night she found him.
Under her bed was the shadOwy out
line of the figure of a man. There could
be no mistake about it. She had found
her burglar at last. The next prob
lem was what to do with him.
The story, as related, does not state If
there was any one in the house to whom
she might have gone for help, but it im-
plies 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 resolved
to do in every way as she would have
done if the -loOked-for burglar had
hot been found.
She locked her door-ske always did
that-undressed, and made her prepare
tons for bed as she was in tie habit of
doing on ordinary and uneventful occa-
slons. Then she knelt by her bedside to
perform her nightly devotions. Long and
fervently she prayed-praying tor the
members OF her family, her friends and
for the directions Of her daily life. Then
she offered a special petition for the I'M
fortunate men led from the paths of hon.
est7 and rectitude, for those who had no
respect for the rights and possessions of
others-she was praying for the burglar.
Having done this, she arose and LAID her
self peacefully down upon the bed as was
her wont.
That was the cue for burglar. Crawl
ing from under the bed, he stood beside
it and addressed the occupant:
"Madam, " he said 81 came here With
The intention ofrobbing you, and of muir
dering you if necessary. Your cries
for help would have been OF no avail, for
l have two acComplices outside. But |
have heard your prayer. and l am going
to leave you unmolested. "ADd 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 af-
ter the first part Of the story had been
brought to 50 happy a conclusion. The
mother of the family was listening with
a devOut and grateful interest to the tes-
timony being given, when man arose
and told his eXperience-the history of
his cOnversion-and he told the burglar
story and the effect of the prayer from
the burglars standpoint. II was that
man. he said with enph asis, as he con-
cluded 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 a great spiritual rejoicing, "for
| was that woman New \ ork Times.