Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-01-05
Copyright, 1900. by c. b. Lewis.l
s&&8

s,'E'I-'
CUT OFF THE TAILS OF THREE or HIS HOGS
err paused to collect his thoughts, but
up to this period his language is sorter
ambiguous. He's drlvin at sunthln. but
what that sunthin is he'll have to ex-
plain"
Its Jest this" resumed Abljah. I'm
In favor of holdin one of the biggest
religious revivals in this town this fall
that was ever held on the top Of this
airth. want 1t to be kept up till ev-
cry human bein in the place IS good
huff to die at minit's notice. Well
git our moral standard first. and then
we'll purceed to boom. When you kin
advertise the fact that a town Of nigh
1000 inhabitants hasn't one single sim
ner in it, what's goin to be the result!
Why, gentlemen. the influx. the rush,
of preachers alone to such place Will
bring about the sale of 1000 city lots
within a year. Widders will come
here, orphans will come here, convert
ed sinners and reformed drunkards will
come here, and the newspapers will
spread it broadcast that Jericho has no
need Of courts. constables or jails."
81 do decide that Bijah has made a
pint" said the deacon. In a gineral
way Jericho is a purity good town. but
its moral standard kin be boosted up
a peg or two, l reckon. I'm in fur the
revival"
Admiron Taylor got up and said he
also favored it. A town was like a
child-start out in the right way with
1t, and it would prove a JOY and a
blessin. He hadn't seen a great deal
of wickedness around Jericho, and he
didn't believe there was much. but
what was lurkin around in the fence
corners might as well be driv out to
make a clean state or it. He didn't be-
lieve In mixin boOms with religion, but
vet if q boom did foller the revival he
had six acres Of land which he would
cut up into town lots and sell for fair
prices.
Salathial Thompson follered with
a ringin speech. He had bin seem
wickedness in Jericho for over 20
years, but not feelin strong huff to
cope with it single handed had kept his
head shet and let 1t 90 on. To his
certain knowledge there was liars and
thieves and swindlers in the town.
There was also drunkenness and pro-
family and bettin. He had sometimes
gone to bed O. nights eXpectin the fate
Of Sodom to overtake the place before
the sun riz. If a revival would sweep
away all this wickedneSs. and he be-
lleved it would, then let 'er come.
More goodness meant more churches,
and If another meetin house was built
he wanted the job and would take 1t
at the lowest reasonable fgger.
Solomon Davis follered with a his
tory Of Sodom and Gomorrah. He had
read up on them towns and got all the
particulars. If they'd had revival
and everybody turned to goodness.
they'd not only have bin standin yit,
but property along the main streets
would have bin with $1,000 a foot
front. Nobody could say that Jericho
was a hundredth part as wicked as
Sodom, but she'd got start and unless
checked up it was only question of
time when an airthquake would leave
her a heap Of ruins He wouldn't take
up the valuable time Of the meetin to
give instances Of wickedneSs beyond
maxim it known that durn the past
year some GOmOrrohite bad cut of the
tails Of three OF his hogs and pulled
all the tail feathers out Of one OF his
peacOcks Let the revival and the
wave of goodness come on. He'd ring
the bell for services and sweep out
the church and not charge cent for
his services. and when the business
boom follered it would find him ready
TO put down four rods Of new sidewalk
and take in ten boarders at s. week
apiece.
There were half dozen others who
made speeches and pledged them
selves, and Deacon Spooner tapped on
the floor with his cane and said he
thanked heaven he had lived to see
that night The enthusiasm was still
bilin when Lish Billings strolled IN
and looked around In an inqulrin way.
The deacon explained what was up
and asked him if he hadn't sunthin to
say.
"Waal, not a great DEAL" replied
Lish. ard Ike to ask who's to git I'D
this revival?"
well send for some great preach
er," answers Abijah Holden.
"Who's to pay him? Preachers amt
revivalin around for nuthin. though
they like to do good"
Everybody looked at everybody. but
no one had any more to say.
"And when we got the revival start
ed" continued Lish, "there'd have to
be lot of ownln up to things and ask
In forgiveness. Who's goin to own up
to gttin drunk on hard cider, to jawin
his wife. to lickin his children. to pi-
zenin dogs. to cripplln hogs. to stealth
fence rails. to n hundred other mean
things? Take yer time about it and
don't all speak at once. hut femme