The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-05-08

term and gigglin and gain that ever
went on at one time in this world, 1t
was right over there en- P:tsalagy ridge
that Sunday mornin.
Tarectly the preacher sung oat and
said, with a loud voice:
Let the congregation come to or
der. BE seated and behave yourselves.
It's nobody but that rattlen, harum-
scarum Rufe Sanders and Susy Ann
Stringer."
Then there was a spell Of screamin
amongst the women folks, and when old
Misses Stringer found out that it was no
body but me and her own dear Susy Ann,
she throwed up her hands and keeled
over and went off in IL dead faint. So
instid of breakn up the performance
the preacher only made it worse and
still more of it. Things went on at that
lick till Misses Stringer come to, and
then the leaders of the flock come to
the conclusion that it mought be best to
take out for twelve and feed. But the
people couldn't eat any dinner to speak
of for looliin at me and Miss Susy Ann
and the fineries we had on us. After
dinner the elders blowed the horn and
the preachers tried to go on with the
meetin. But it was all piuperfect vanity
and veXation. The proceedins wouldn't
proceed worth hardly. A few Of the
amen corner members went back to the
big arbor, but the mainest part OF the
crowd was busy followin around after
me and Miss Susy Ann like a passle of
school boys at a Punch and Judy show.
Late that evenin the preachers and
the deacons and the elders got together
and helt little private Capitalization.
Then they sent a committee to see ii I
want willin to take Miss Susy Ann and
go on home. and let the meetin proceed
Now Uncle Eph Simpltins was there
accordin to our private understandin,
and he had already laughed and
laughed till | raley don't think there
was button left on his breeches. He
saw what was goin on, and calm me of
TO one side, he went on to say:
Don't you do it, Rufe. This is a free
country, and If you and Miss Susy Ann
want to wear good clothes, it is no.
body's business. Bunk Weatherford
and Miss Rosebud couldn't stand the
shine you all put on. They lit out from
here and left the grounds before dinner.
1t will never do for you to run up the
white feather now. Never retreat I'M
der fire, my boy-neyer retreat under
fire."
| So made the committee own up that
me and Miss Susy Ann hadn't done a
blessed thing but went to the meetin
with our own clothes on, behavin our
selves as best we could, and then give
it out that we would holt OUT ground
end remain over and see the show out.
Well, didn't think aboutdoin anything
| that was wrong and wicked, and |
knowed that Miss Susy Ann didn't mean
it that way, but bless gracious the next
news we got seem like we had busted
the camp meetin higher than a kite.
That night the preacher prayed to the
good Lord to "have mercy upon that
wild and hayward Rufe Sanders and the
giddy young thing with him." And
then the meetin adjourned for good and
all.
Uncle Eph lowed to me afterwards
that he wouldn't take three hundred
dollars for the sights he saw and the
fun he had that day.
"You can keep your horse, bride and
saddle, and also your new clothes,
Rufe," says he. 81 have lost that durn
waverly note anyhow, and l will give
you hundred years TO settle in"
Uncle Eph Simpltins he died and was
gathered up to his fathers in the usual
run of time, and somehow me and Miss
Susy Ann never did git married. But
by gatlias, we weaned Bunk Weather
ford and Miss Rosebud Castleberry, and
we weaned 'em good.
RUFUS SANDERS.