The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-02-05

cut INTO the lgnWa OF inquiry ana
among the hedges of hell TO compel YOU
to come into the feast. and you've got TO
come or outshoot me, and l don't be-
lieve you can. Religion has fooled with
you long enough. You laugh at gentle
ness and sheer at love. / am with you
to stay. I am going to settle down
among you; l believe that the Lord has
appointed me TO set your souls right
and 1 am going to do it or let my own
go to its reward. Yes, I am going to
stay with you, and pursuant upon that
determination. l believe it a good plan
to take a wife from among you" He
looked searchingIy over the congrega-
ton. SIS there any young woman here
who would like to marry me? Speak
out"
81 would" spoke up a comely 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
resentative in this place, l hear"
Abe arose. "Now. Mr.. Preacher, I
want my say. I like your shootin' and
all that. but I've got my rights and
I'm goir' to stand up for 'em. You
set a bait to get me here, and now
that you've got me you want 70 poke
your words down my throat. l don't
believe in yo' book. It's in 'cordance
with that book hat our fellers air tuck
up by the militia and put in Jail. There
fore I hate it and won't have nothin' to
do with it. y passul of us come here to
ride you on n rail, but o. sorter tuck
the wind outen us with your shootin'.
| never thought the Gospel would i'm
prove that much: | didn't believe thar
ever would be SIGH 4 able preacher. But
enough is enough. | will agree not to
poster you-you may preach all You
want to and my fe!lers shan't bother
you, but if you cut scollops round my
sister I'll fill you so full of lead that
two bosses couldn't pull you or a slide"
But" said the preacher, "sne has
announced her willingness to marry
me-"
Eyes, and I am mighty surprised at
it. for all the fellers in the county fust
and last have been after her and she
won't have 'em. But that's neither
herc nor thar, she amt goin' to marry
you"
Well" replied Sir Tony. "just wait
till the sermon is over and we will dis
cuss the matter"
"You may preach al you want to, but
1 won't stay to hear YOU"
~ -. .a F-r-L f-1r, 4hn
hedges of torment" said the preacher,
"and You must stay. don't want TO
kill my prospective brother-in-,aw. but
if YOU attempt to leave this house I'll
shoot YOU"
Il reckon the rest of us can do a lit
tie shootin'."
Yes. in a slow sort of way, but I
can have Il hole through al your heads
before YOU could get me"
Wei. ain't no blame fool. and I
reckon that's so. Go on with yOur
p%reachin'. but | won't stand no abuse"
MY friend. | did not come TO abuse,
but to talk of love. Listen to me"
Then in the simplest WY he told thn
story Of the Saviour of man. His words
were warm ard poetic. The Saviour
had not come To enforce a law-He had
violated Il law matte by the hard-heart-
ed. He was the Gent!est and bravest
of all The universe. lie had blessed a
thief. And if He were to come upon
earth now. the rich the man of the
law. the banker, the railroad king,
would he as hard toward Him as the law
that crucified Him"
wait Il mint cried Abe. WAS it
the law that killed Him."
"Yes. the law: and the rich and the
powerful gloried in it,"
why. l always lowed that He was
the law"
lie was the law of @entiencss and
love. but not of legislatures"
Go ahead. You are gettin' next to
me-"
When the sermon was done Abe came
forward and said: Il reckon l must
be the i~runtest man in the word.
Why. the Christ you tel about loves 3
poor brute like me"
Yes. He died for YOU"
-Anu LOT sam anu DdNt anu inc resi-
of us"'
Yes. for you all"
well. now. they didn't tell me that
That always told me that He
hated sin and would senG me to hell,
and l couldn't love no man like that.
l can't help bein ignunt-I never was
in a school"
will you come TO church tonight?
We are going to hold a revival"
- don't know what that is, but I'll
and help you hold it, l don't care
how hard it tries to git loose. Now
let me git yo' boss for you and fetch him
up to the door"
At night the Lighthorns were there.
They asked many questions during the
services; ard al last, when called upon
to pray, Abe said: "Fellers, it amt no
part of a coward to pray to 4 man that
give His life for you. He could have
rich and powerful if He had want
I'd to 90 with the high-headers, but He
stayed down with the poor and needy,
and I'm going to pray to Him."
On the following Sunday there was
a wedding in the church. "You fell in