Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-20
a BURGLAR CONVERTED.
An Absolutely True Story Which Has
Become a Family Tradition.

Become Family Tradition.
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 genera
tions still unborn. AS the veracity OF
everyone concerned in it-including
that of the burglar himself, in his re,
generate conditions quite unim'
peachable, the facts can be vouched for
It was the mother of the family tc
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 house
keeper, was to look under her bed be-
fore retiring. She looked, of course, fol
the devastating burglar.
One night she found him.
Under her bed was the shadowy out
line of the figure of man. There coulc
be no mistake about it. She had founc
her burglar at last. The next problem
was what to do with him.
The story, as it is related, does moi
state if there was no one in the house
to whom she might have gone fol-
help, but it implies that the mother
of the family was obliged to rely upor
her own resources and supernatural aic
alone.
In a hurried review of the situation
10 oo,o1rcinT, +ba+ the In T.
ter was her only resource; that alone
she was helpless. So she quickly re-
solved to do in every way as she woulc
have done if the long-looked-for bur
glar had not been found.
She locked her door-she always die
that-undressed, and made her prep
arations 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 feryently she prayed-pray
ing for the members of her family
her friends, and for the direction of he1
daily life. Then she offered a specla
petition for the unfortunate men lee
from the paths of honesty and rectl
tude, for those who had no respect fol
the rights and possessions of others
she was praying for the burglar. HaV'
ing done this, she arose and laid her
self 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, II came here with
the intention of robbing you, and OF
numbering you if necessary. Your cries
for help would Of been Of no avail, fol
l have two accomplices outside. But
have heard your prayer, and am going
to leave you unmolested." And he did
That was the end of the first part OF
the burglar story. Truth being stranger
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 conclusion
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 experience-theh his
tory of his conversion-and he told the
burglar story, and the effect of the
prayer from the burglars standpoint
Il was that man." he said, with en-
phasis, as he concluded his remarks.
and 1 can vouch for the truth of the
story" said the mother of the family,
rising, while her face shone with the
light of a great spiritual rejoicing, ''for
| was that woman."-N. Y. Times.