Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-02

On Saturday morning the settlers
began to come in. Bill was mad at
their credulity; but said the lying old
hypocrite would not come and if any
of "uuns" want to hear Old Sledge
preach you will have to 60 10 miles to
hear him. But he had an eye to busi-
ness, kept behind the counter, and
sold more whisky in an hour than he
had in a month before. AS the ap-
pointed hour drew near the settlers
began to look down the road, and COM
pare time by their silver bullseye
watches. just at 1885 the old horse
thief exclaimed: ~ see Tom Barker
rising of the bill. I hain't seed him
for nigh on to II years; but gentle
men that ar him, or I'm liar |" And
sure enough it was him. AS he grew
nearer q voice seemed to be coming
with him, some said he was prayin',
some said he was talking to God, and
others said he was "singin' hime."
But Bill Jones was advised of this, and
coming to the front, said: "He is
singing before 1 axed him ; but 1 make
him sing another tune from that for
his onsultin' message! I'm not gwine
to kill him boys, I'll jist leave life in
him, but that's ALL" Slowly and SOL
emnly the preacher came up. AS be
came near, he narrowed down his tune
and looked kindly on the crowd. He
was a massive man in frame, had a
heavy suit of dark brown hair, but his
face was clean shaved, and showed q
nose and chin of firmness and great
determination. "Look at i'm boys,
and mind yer eye!" said the old horse
thief.
"Where will 1 find my friend, Bill
Jones?" inquired Old Sledge. All
around they pointed him out. Riding
up close he said "My friend and
brother, the good Lord has sent me to
you and I ask your hospitality for my
self and beast" and slowly dismount-
ed and faced his foe, as though expect
ing kind reply. The crisis had come
and Bill Jones met it. "You old
scoundrel; didn't you know that 1 had
sworn an oath that I would make you
sing and dance, and whip you besides
if you ever dared figure these cross
roads with your shoe tracksP Now
sing, and dance as you sing," and he
emphasized his command with a ring
ing slap with his open hand on the
parsons face. Old Sledge recoiled with
pain and surprise. Recovering in a
moment he said: "Well, brother Jones,
1 did not expect such warm recep-
ton, but if this be your crossroads
manners I suppose J. must sing," and
as Devil Bill gave him another slap he
began with:
My soul be on thy guard, ten thousand
foes arise.
And with his long arm suddenly
gave Bill an open handler that nearly
Knocked him off his feet! Never was
a lion more aroused to frenzy than was
Devil Bill, and he made at Old Sledge,
as if to annihilate him; but the par
son Tended off the strokes as easily as
a practiced boxer, and with his left
hand dealt Bill settler on his peppers
and continued:
Oh, watch and fight and pray, the battle
ne'r give DER.
Bill Jones was plucky, the crisis had
come, and he squared himself, and his
clinched fist flew fast on the parsons
frame, which for a time disturbed his
equilibrium; but he rallied quickly
and sang on:
Meier think the victory won nor lay the
armor down.
He backed his adversary squarely to
the wall of his shop, and seized him
by the throat, and mauled him as he
sang:
Fight on my soul till death
Well, the long and short of it was
that Old Sledge whipped him and
humbled him to the ground, then lifted
him up and begged thousand par
dons.
When Devil Bill was taken to his
house, and was being cared for by his
wife, Old Sledge mounted goods box
in front of the grocery and preached
Righteousness, Temperance and
Judgment to come to the people. He
closed his solemn discourse with
brief history of his own sinful life be-
fore bis conversion, and his humber
labors for the Lord ever since and be-
sought his hearers to stop and think.
"Stop, poor sinners, think J" he cried
in alarming tones.
There were few men and women
in the crowd whose eyes being unused
to the melting mood dropped tears of
penitence at the preachers kind and
tender exhortation.
After Bill's wife had dressed his
wounds, she asked if she might 60
down and hear the preacher. For
minute he-was silent and seemed to be
dumb with amazement. He had never
been whipped before, and suddenly
lost confidence in himself and his int-
delity "Go on, Sallie, for if he can
preach like he can fight and sing,
mavbe the Lord did send him. It's all
mighty strange to me-" and he groan,,
ed in anguish. His animosity seemed
to have changed into anxious, wonder
ing curiosity and after his wife had
gone, he left his bed and drew near
the window where he could hear.
Old Sledge made an earnest, soul
searching prayer, and his pleading with
the Lord for Bill Jones' salvation and
that of his wife and children, reached
the window where he sat, and he
heard it. His wife returned in tears,
l 4aal. a saat near him and went