The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-13
MOTHERS BURGLAR.
A TRUE STORY WHICH HAS BE-
COME A FAMILY TRADITION.

How Good Woman Proved to Her Salts
faction the Efficacy of Prayer--The Burg
lar Himself Was Converted and Nfnnfully
Corroboratcd Her Narrative.
This is 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 unimpeachable,
the facts can be vouched for.
Ii was the mother of the family to
whom the adventure occurred She
was woman of devout character. be-
Loving above all things in the efficacy
CT prayer, and at the same time in
deeds as well as prayer. So it CHANGED
that one of her nightly duties, as
good housekeeper. was to look under
her bed before retiring. She looked,
of course, for the devastating burglar.
One night she found him.
Under her bed was the shadow out
line 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 1t implies that the mother of the
family was obliged to rely upon her
own resources and supernatural aid
alone
In Il 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 burg
lar had not been found
She locked her door-she always did
that-undressed. and made her prepa-
rations for bed as she was in the habit
Of doing on ordinary and uneventful
occasions. Then she knelt 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 n 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 9TH
ers-she was praying for the burglar.
Having QOlo lillS, SQe dIOSS ana lnlQ
herself peacefully down upon the bed
as was her wont.
That was the cue for the burglar
Crawling from under the bed, he stood
beside it and addressed the occupant:
Madam" he said. Il came here with
the intention of robbing you, and of
numbering you if necessary Your
cries for help would have been OF no
avail, for | have two accompllces out
side. But l have heard your prayer,
and | am going to leave you unmolest-
ed. And he did.
That was the end of the first part of
the burglar story. Truth being strang-
er 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 a conclu-
sion. The mother of the family was
listening with a devout and grateful
interest to the testimony being given,
when a man arose and told his expert
ehtc-the history OF his conversion
ana he told the burglar story and the
effect of the prayer from the burglars
standpoint. 81 was that man." he
said. with emphasis, 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 ii great spiritual rejoicing, for
| was that woman"