News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-07-15

ner. 81 reckon 1t can pass jest this
once, bein as you are tired an hain't
had nothin' to eat"
mo; it can't pass, nuther. don't
| want to touch a mouthfuI. Tell the
| rest of 'em to come in, an you fetch
| me the Book"
"Well" Mrs. Bishop went out and
told the negro woman and her daugh-
| ter to stop washing the dishes and go
in to prayer. Then she hurried out to
the back porch, where Alan was oiling
his gun.
"Somethin's happened to yore pa"
she said. HE acts queer an says sech
strange things. He walked all the
way from barley this mornin' an now
wants to have prayers fore he touches
a bite O. breakfast. l reckon we are
ruined"
I'm afraid that's it" opined her son
as he put down his gun and followed
her into the sitting room. Here the
two negroes stood against the wall
Abner Daniel was smoking, and Bish-
op held the big family Bible on his
quivering knees.
EFF you mean to keep it up" Abner
was saying argunentatlvely, "all right
an good, but don't believe in sudden
spurts O. worship. My bosses is hitched
I'D ready to haul load o. bark to the
tannery, an it may throw me little
late at dinner, but eff you are a-goin'
to make daily business of it I'm with
you"
I'm a-goin' to be regular from now
on" said Bishop, slowly turning the
leaves of the tome. Il forgot whar /
read last"
"You didn't finish about Samson ty-
in all them foxes tails together" said
Abner Daniel as he knocked the hot
ashes from his pipe into the palm of
his hand and tossed them into the
chimney. "That sorter interested me-
l wondered how that was a-goin' to
end. I'd hate to have passle O foxes
with torches to Their tails turned loose
in my wheat jest fore cuttin' time. 1t
must "a been sight. l wondered
how that was a-goin' to end"
you'll wonder how you're a-goin' to
said his sister.
Like the foxes, I reckon" grinned
Abnep-"with a eternal torch tied to
me. Well, eff l am treated that away
I'll go into the business O. destruction
an set fire to everything l run across"
"Ain't you goin' to tell us what you
did in Atlanta fore you have prayer|
asked Mrs. Bishop. almost resentfully.
''No, hain't" Bishop snapped. "I'll
tell you soon enough. l reckon | won't
read this mornin Let's pray"
They all knelt reverently and yet
with some curiosity. for Bishop often
suited his prayers to important occa-
sions, and it struck them that he might
now allude to the subject bound up
within him.
lord, God Almighty" he began, his
lower lip hanging and quivering, as
We're his hands clasped in the seat Of
his chair thou knowest the struggle
thy creatures are maxim on the face Of
thy green globe to live up to the best
of Their lights an standards. As l
bend before thee this mornin' | realize
how small bein' l am in thy sight
an that | ort to bow in humble sub
mission to thy will, an do. For
many yeers this family has enjoyed
thy bounteous blessings. We've had
good health an the influence of a
Bible readin', God fearin' community,
an our Children has been educated in
way that raised 'em head an Shout
ders above many O. Their associates an
even blood kin. l don't know exactly
whar an how I've sinned, but know
| have displeased thee, fer thy scourge
has fallen hard an heavy on my am
billions. wanted to see my boy heer
a good, obedient SON an nay daughter
thar in Atlanta able to hold Their |
heads Hp among the folks they mix
with an so | reached out. Maybe it |
was forbidden fruit belt cut by snake
in the devils service. | don't know
thou knowest. Anyways, | steered my !
course out O the calm waters o con- |
tent an peace O soul into the whirl- |
pool rapids O. avariee an greed. l |
lowed l was in safe haven an didn't |
dream O. the stormclouds hangin' over |
me till they bust in fury on my head |
Now, Lord, my Father, give them |
hearts Of patience an forgiveness fer
the blunders of thy servant. What l
done l done in the bullheaded way |
that I've always done things, but l |
meant good and not harm. These things |
we ask in the name O. Jesus Christ, |
our blessed Lord and Master. Amen"
During the latter part of the prayer
Mrs Bishop had been starring at her
husband through her parted fingers
her face pale and agitated, and as she
rose her eyes were glued to his face.
"Now, Alfred" she said what are
you goin to tell us about the railroad? |
Is it as bad as brother Alb thought it
would be-"
Bishop hesitated. 1t seemed as If
he had even then to tear himself from
the clutch of his natural stubbornHess.
He looked into all the anxious, waiting
faces before he spoke, and then he
gave in
"Ab made good guess. IF I'd "a
had his sense or Alan's, I'd "a made a
better trader. It's like Alb said it was,
)nly sight wuss, powerful sight