The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-07

Has Remarkable Experience. With a
UighuaYman.

Has Remarkable Experience. With a
Highvayman.
Rev. Sam Jones, tells the following
story IN tho Atlanta Journel:
When I was in Texas a few months ago
I heard a well authenticated case Of this
kind which happened in that community.
a local Methodist preacher-a plain. UNI
assuming man-was riding into town on
horseback. Passing one eff his neigh
bors homes on the way The neighbor
stepped out Of his gate and asked the
preacher n he would take check 10
town ana bring back 5000 n cash for
him. that he had bought a piece OF land
ana the man was there WIN the deed
20 deliver and he wanted 90 pdy .tim the
money The preacher reptile he would
certainly do him the kin mess 10 lring
him the money. lie rode - into Town
and when Through with his business went
20 the bank. got the money. put II In his
pocket, got on his horse and started
home. lie hadn't ridden more than three
or four miles from town before n man
stepped ont from behind some bushes with
a drawn pistol saying: Give me that five
thousand dollars
The local preacher replied:
II won't do g.. sir.
well. II you don't will kin YOU" re-
piled the highwayman.
"All right" said the preacher. you can
get the money after / am dead, but not
while ] am alive"
What do You mean?' said the high
wayman. don't Won know that i VIII NIL
YOU for that MONEY II / must Kill Won to
get it,"
Yes" said The -.e4,her. OF thtiS ycr
Will. but you will have 20 KIN mo 10 get
Tho hlehwayman then said 10 the
preacher. What do YOU mean hy this2
Do You think more or that mans FIVE
thousand dollars than You think Of your
life2"
NO" replied the preacher but DO
think more of my character than / do Of
my life ! have a wife and several boys
and girls az home. Their husband and
father Is known as an honest. upright
man. II ] give YOU this money and then
10 10 the man whose money it is and tell
him that / was robbed on the highway. he
would never believe me. NV character
would De gone and my children disgraced.
SO dfilrm 20 YOU. SIR that / think more
of my character than ] 10 Of my life. m
YOU Will have the money, whack away
with your gun"
The highwayman looked al him and
said.
81 haven't # IN my heart to shoot n
man like YOU. Go on with your life and
money too
A few months afterwards this highway
man did XIII "a man. was convicted and
sentenced TO be hanged. To a visiting
preacher he confessed. among other
things. these facts in reference 10 the
local preacher. The visiting pastor went
10 the local preacher and asked him ~
30 was true "Yes. said he. cit occurred
just as the highwayman has related 10 10
YOU
why" said the visiting pastor, you
never said anything about it,"
NO said the local preacher 81 never
have said anything about H. I never told
my wife about IT,"
Why"
Because 7 didn't thing IL was anything
to talk about. some people might have
thought that I was telling "a falsehood or
trying TO give an illustration of my BRAY
cry or something OF that kind: but the
thing occurred Just as related"
Oh If we had "a citizenship Ike this.
where every man and boy thought more
of his character than he ala Of his life.
and would die before he'd bring reproach
upon himself or his family. Then we
would have a world worth living In. But
chattels are put above character now and
men ruin their characters. kill their con-
sciences and damn their souls for dollars
and cents And en- the end they realize
that they made bargain that bank
runted them here and ruined them mere
after. Let every man be true TO nus own
character and honest with all those with
whom he has dealings