The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-11-20

them held it high IN the air when
there rang on the stiffness of The
mornXe air. the words: Put that
axe down. The one was of com
maud- l. was uttered by one ju ali-
thority. The negro had heard IL be-
fore and he quickly dropped his axe.
" What are sou doing there. you vuga-
bonds" cricd the i~nierruptcr TN y
tone of wrath. tie had not seen the
preacher. The large tree hii his STEM
der form.
The Negro replied. we are going
to cat down th. tree
IF SoU put an axe IN that tree. IN
pint yon both in Jail roarttd out the
man whose fortuuat. appearance
saved the tree And Ia. ncgres turn
81 a shade Talcr. for the speaker WAS
sheriff Jonas truwelt tGozi bless him.
even i he docs now liz. liz the Radical
State OF West Nirginial.
"Nha do Yen mean by this he in
quirc3.
Is that time the preacher. n eSonr.
agvouS man who cputd face auyba-lv.
emerged from behind the tree and
said: THAT tree Is rotting the rs,f
II the church. | have hired these
men Ia cat II down"
That almost took away the breath
Of sheriff truWrll. FOR hc was an old
fashioned Methodist who believed in
h%onoriug the pastor in charge nut
lie recovered in a minute. aud leaked
up NJ the tree and waS moved hy the
sweet music OF the birds who were
singing their mafin HYMNS in It's leafy
branches. That gasr him nerve 10
stand up agln" the preacher.
by what authority III ,ou order
this tree cut DOWN" lie asked the
preacher.
As pastor az this church" was the
reply.
You have nothing Ia do with The
property If this church." answered the.
sheriff. The trustees control ii. am
y member OF the board of trustees.
Have YOU called . meeting and obtain
ell their consent?"
No" was the reply. "thnt is not
necessary. rs pastor | am in charge
and have the right TO have the tree cut
down., and he said II dctiantly.
Il am 4 trustee of this church" said
the sheriff. with determination. 'nnd
will stand here till Christmas before
an axe shall touch IT." and he spoke
With "A little more defiance than the
preacher.
The negroes stood still. The matter
was growing interesting. Preacher
and trustee kept their temper. they
didn't say 4 bad word. but they were
both hot in the collar" and each de-
termined 10 have his way. The
preacher. nothing daunted. then turn
ed TO the negroes he had hired and
said: "Do as | told you. Cnt down
the tree" and one raised his axe. That
was most too much for the sheriff.
That tree shaded him in church every
Sunday. If he had said a little cuss
49, 1s-I
dropped n tear and blotted il out. But
he didn't. no matter what he thought.
He turned 10 the negroes. with a
clouded brow and Numbered nj them:
IF Won cut a chip ont OF that tree. III
put hand-CntfS on YOU both and slap
YOU in iail." And he would have done
if. too law or no law. for he was in n
towering rage. as he Thought that
next Sunday the sun would blaze on
his head, where the hair was growing
thin.
go on" said the plucky preacher.
Cut down this tree"
IF YOU touch IT," said the trustee.
Il will put Won in Jail"
| must admit that the trustee had
the advantage Of the preacher owing
to his official position. The negroes
knew he carried the KEYS to the Jail.
/ "ii'i lil'.N IIi' if VI EbftiE ~
Jail than they were c%ovetous of the
two dollars the preacher would give
them. And 50. the preacher still cx-
horting them to cut down the tree. The
negroes began to put on their coats.
The preacher was outdOnc but not de-
feated utterly. He said that he could
hire other men and that that tree
should come down. The trustee said
if would never come down except over
his dead body.
] do not know whether the full meet
ing of the trustees was held or lot
whether the preacher WAS directed
under pains and penalties not to cut
the tree down Cthe records would
show. but | do know that the tree.
is still standing there and has given
shade during all the months and
wears. never see il. or stand in its
ShadOwinp foliage. without saying 10
myself Jonas Crowell had the stuff
in him that was in Oliver Cromwell.
More power to his hand rs he saves
shade trees from destruction!' j. ID.