The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-06
4 BURGLAR CONVERTED.
An Absolutely True Story which
Has Become a Family Tradition.

From the New York Times.
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 condition-is quite unim-
peachable, the facts can be vouched for.
It was the mother of the family to
whom the adventure occurred. She was
a woman of devout 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 a good housekeeper, was
to look under her bed before retiring. She
looked, of course, for the devastating bur
glar.
One night she found him.
Under her bed was the shadowy outline
of the figure of a man. There could be
no mistake about it, She had found her
burglar at last. The next problem was
what to do with him.
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 i'm
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 latter
was her only resource; that alone she was
helpless. So she quickly resolved to do
in every way as she would have done il
the long-looked-for burglar had not been
found.
She locked her door - she always did
that-undressed, and made her prepare
tons for bed as she was in the habit of
doing on ordinary and uneventful occa-
SONS. Then she knelt by her bedside to
perform her nightly devotions. Long and
fervently she prayed-praying for the
members of her family, her friends and
for the direction of her daily life. Then
she offered a special petition for the I'M
fortunate men led from the paths of hon
esty 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
1t and addressed the occupant:
Madam" he said, Il came here with
the intention Of robbing you, and of muir
dcring you If necessary. Your cries for
help would have been OF no avail, for I
have two accomplices outside But
have heard your prayer aud ! am going
to leave you unmoIested" And he did.
That was the end Of the first part Of the
burglar story. Truth being stranger
than fiction, there was 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 so happy conclusion. The
mother of the family was listening with a
devout and grateful interest to the testi-
mony being given, when man arose and
told his eXperience-the history Of his
conversion-and he told the burglar story
ann the effect of the prayer from the
burglars standpoint. Il was that man"
he said. with emphasis, as he concluded
his remarks.
and I can vouch for the truth Of the
story" said the mother of the family ris-
ing while her face shone with the light Of
a great spiritual rejoicing, for was that
woman"