The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-12-13
THE CONVEX SION
OF PHILANDER

His was one OF the most unique and
| interesting recltals since the dnys when
Saul OF Tarsus was suddenly converted
and sayors Of the miraculous as well,
hut TO get the full meat Of II one must
hear It from the lips Of the chief actor,
touched by the strong flavor Of humor
he imparts to 1t. 1t is quite q different
heroic from the experience" he gives
ia prayer meeting, quite as Truthful
hut garnished with frills Of expression
that are easily forgiven to an OLD sol
der, Phllandcr being veteran OF the
civil war.
His whole name-it comes OF good
stock and is IN honorable one-ls PHI
lander Klle Tucker, and he was mem
Der OF the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin
volunteers, Company g, with the rank
OF first sergeant. And one of the little
ironles OF fate is expressed In the fact
that he fought hard and bravely and
went through the war without n scratch
TO find himself many years later badiy
worsted by an agent of peace. Sergeant
Tucker believes absolutely that 1t was
divine plan carefully laid and carried
out to bring him into the fold.
II fought men part OF my life. but
fought the Lord nil my life. You see, III
| wasn't for him must be against him.
Why. | was terror in those days. l
used to swear IKE II trooper before
was converted. by gum. sometimes the
mir was blue with sulphur-wasn't 1t,
wife =
yes" admitted Mrs. Tucker with a
smile. Her face, with Its corona OF
white hair and pink color, looked MS
sweet and serene as Madonna's ms
she sat opposite her soldier laddie and
heard his oft told tale with the same
amount Of interest rs II 1t We're new.
You didn't mean any harm, father.
and you were honest, but you had
great gift OF swearing. noticed 1t
more after you came home from the
war"
II always swore, ever since could
speak. but you got kind of used TO 1t.
Cuss words Just seemed to come kind
of natural. When got mad. l swore.
That was before was converted. what
year was that? 1t seems-particular-
that can't remember"
at was along in 1907" HIS wife said.
"Sure. You're right, rs you always
are. 1t was In September. at 4 o'clock
in the afternoon. 1 was helping neigh
Dor harvest. and was driving steam
traction harvester, and that was the
time the Lord got ready to tackle me.
II was backing up to hitch on to the
separator before moving TO the next lot.
anl lust Mt that moment the folks came
ont and asked me to come in TO supper.
1 wasn't hungry and would rather have
worked than eat. but farmers are kind
OF huffy IL you slight their whites and
expect hands to eat carly and often.
$50 / went in to supper. and when !
come out found that engine blowing
or Mt ll5 pounds Of steam. Whew! 1t
was hotter than-no, mother. l Won't
swcar--thnn particular, and l swore
then n blue streak. And don't doubt
the Lord heard me. certainly swore
loud enough.
"Then took hold OF the reverse lever
to back my engine up to take on the
separator. and the pressure of steam
was so great on the valve the lever
pulled like n runaway horse. gave 1t
a quick. hard jerk. and that lever drop
ped from my hand to the bottom of the
quadrant and that left the ports wide
open, and the engine lit out like Wild
fire ana run back into the separator.
and when they came together | was
between the two. l was squeezed ike
lemon between the two machines. ana
the engine run thirty feet with me ne
fore il jounced away from the separa-
tor. | was saying to myself. Old boy.
If you're going to get out of this IT'S
time you were doing something your
self and with that gave shout, and
the men came running up and was
taken out in sections--at least 1t seemed
that way then.
II said: Boys. catch me. am going
to faint. This is the Lords doing, but IL
liz thinks I'm going to accept his love
in this fashion hell find he's mistaken.
II I'm 10 20 over the road. I'll 20 Just
Gs | am And then | 1idn't know
another thing for two weeks. Aud |
wasn't converted then, by gum.
"Eut when they had used barn
loor 10 splinter me together aud was
beginning TO suffer the pain of healing
wounds began to wonder why the
Lord hadn't finished the job aud
squeezed me out altogether, and kind
Of feeling came over me that might as
well give up; If he cared enough about
my soul rs TO try to save it might rs
well help along instead of kicking
against him. rs had done all my life.
And tllcm UP and asked pardon for all
my mennness and promised to use no
more cuss words. and II one does slip
out now and th"n-T'd kept them on
tap so long he isn't going to be hard
on me after putting re through what
he did 10 get M. t.loy halleluiah!
Here Mrs. rliinMGcr ran her hands