Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-03-31

ll4C IlQlliC VI INC ACN CIulNH. 1lO
sured the deacon that he would be on
time, and then urging him to remain
d few moments longer wrote out, upon
impulse, the following notices to be
posted on trees in the neighborhood:
Don't fail to attend services at Alas
next Sunday. The steel of the Gospel
may strike fire from the flint hoofs of
Satan"
"All enemies of the Lord are re-
spectfully requested to meet at Alas
next Sunday at ten o'clock"
"An exhibition of lively and some
what noisy nature will be given in front
of the door at Alas next Sunday be-
fore the regular services begin. Come
one, come all. Doctors are especially
invited
Bring lint and bandages with you
to meeting at Alas next Sunday"
The notices were put up; the peo-
pie marveled, and in groups at the
store discussed the strange invitations.
The deacon was applied TO for light,
but he hid it under his bushel of eva
sion. Months had passed, and the peo-
pie had felt no sensation. There had
been killings, but they were we'll with
in the limits of the ordinary. Between
two acquaintances, meeting in the
road, this form of colloquy was not
rare:
Hi, Dave"
'Ho, Bill"
"Any news out yo' way?"
"Nothin' unusual. Well, 1 must be
goin'. Wait n mint. Let me see.
Oh, yes, Tom Ateherson killed old
Pruitt at the mil yesterday"
THAT so? What's the price of aigs
out yo' way?"
Such information was commonplace,
but in the church notices there was
thrill of true excitement. The county
had been so dull and sluggish of late
that the peaceable citizen had forgot
ten to put a pistol under his pillow.
Even the state militia would have been
welcomed as a change. And now the
ncighborhood was blessed with sen-
sation. Abe Lighthorn rode abroad,
gleeful in his saddle, and he tod ac-
quaintances that if they would only be
on hand he would promise them good
time. The day came The weather
had been wet, but the cloud-curtain
was ripped asunder and the sun burst
forth. The woods rang with merri-
ment The people were taking their
good-humor to church. The deacon
had come early TO unlock the door.
But no one entered the house. Men
and women waited for the exhibition
outside. The preacher rode up. The
Lighthorns grunted in derision.
Wait" said their leader. Lets give
him a chance to cut his shines. Ireckon
he will open by abusin' u.s."
Sir Tony mounted the log step at
the door. lie bowed TO the men and
smiled upon the women. Then he
took from his pocket number of
small apples and gave them to the
deacon. whispering something to him.
That's funny caper," said one of
the Lighthorns.
Wait" Abe commanded.
The preacher drew out pistol. The
deacon threw an apple high in the air.
Crack, went the pistol, and the apple
fell, shattered. Up went another
apple. Down it cane in fragments
This was kept up till all the apples had
been smashed. Hes regular cider
mill for Dustin apples" Abe whispered
in establishment.
Come into the house" the preacher
commanded, and they lost 10 time in
following him. He stepped leisurely
into the pulpit, took cut two pistols and
placed one on each side of the Bible.
Then he surveyed his congregation.
"My friends" said he, 81 have come
among you to bring the word. Several
of the brethren have preceded me on the
same mission and they have been driven
away. A preacher receives better treat
!uont in the heart of Africa than he
does in this community. There are
many good people here, but there are
enough of the bad to make this place
speck of hell on Gods green earth.
can forgive ignorance, but hate bru-
tality Sit down there"
A man had arisen. I've only got up
to stretch" said he. 81 reckon a mans
got a right to stretch"
"Well, then, stretch and sit down."
The fellow stretched, sat down, and the
preacher continued: Il don't come
among you with a foreign title, as it
would seem. My first name-we won't
call it Christian appellation-is Sir.
But of this l need not tell you. have
come to speak the word. 1 have come
out into the highway of iniquity and
among the hedges of hell to compel you
to come into the feast, and you've gotto
come or outshoot me, and I don't be-
Iieve YOU can. religion has fooled with
YOU long enough. You laugh at gentle
ness and sheer at love. l am with you
to stay. I am going to settle down
among you; believe that the Lord has
appointed me to set your souls right
and 1 am going to do it or let my own
90 to its reward Yes, am going to
stay with you, and pursuant upon that
determination, I believe it good plan
to take wife from among YOU" He
looked searchingly over the congrega-
ton. as there any young woman here
who would like to marry me? Speak
out"
81 would" spoke up conely crea-
ture, "but I'm afraid Abe won't let me-"
"Who is Abe?"
"Why, my brother, Abe Lighthorn."
"Ah, and he is the devils special rep
| 7 hpDrp
Abe arose. "Now, Mr.. Preacher, 1
want my say. like your shootin' and
all that, but I've got my rights and
I'm goin' to stand up for 'eln. You
set bait to get me here, and now
that you've got me you want to poke
YOUR words down my throat. 1 don't
believe in yo' book. It's in 'cordance
with that book that our fellers air tuck
up by the militia and put in Jail. There
Fo-o bo4e If and won't have DOthin' to