The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-03-14
HE WASN'T PREPARED.
The Fiery Chariot Called For Brer'
Williams, All Right.

1t is pretty generally understood
| among the brethren of the settlement
! that some day, in the economy of Prov
idence. an angel from Paradise was to
call upon Br'er Williams, place him in
a 'cheeryoot" of fire. and take him
galloping to glory. This understanding
was the result of repeated statements
| of Br'er Williams that the said angel
had appeared to him in a dream, and
| had warned him to put his house in
order that he might be ready at a mo-
ment's notice to depart in the celestial
carriage. And it was remarked that it
was with a more serene countenance
| and ever uplifted, expectant eyes that
Br'er Williams walked among his fell
low men thereafter.
Hit may be-" he said to them, "dat
I'll be took endurin' my daily walk
right in de middle err de street, befo'
de eyes er all er you; so hits behoovin'
er me ter be dressed en- ready, en- ter
have my min in ez peaceful a frame
ez dat what my pictur's in, hangin' on
de home WALL"
But time wore on; and many lost
faith in the advent of the angel with
the fiery chariot, until one dark night
long to be remembered by Br'er Will
liams and the community-when satan
influenced q few of the brethren, who
Br'er Williams the victim of a practical
joke.
He was sleeping soundly in his cabin
when he heard the galloping of horses,
the sudden stopping of a vehicle at his
door-saw a glipmer of lights through
the window chinks, and caught the
sound, of low, sepulchral voices.
Then there was a slow, measured
knock at the door, and a voice, as from
the tomb crying:
"Br'er Williams, Br'er Williams!'
He rose to a sitting posture on the
bed-chill perspiration dripping from
his brow.
But no onswer.
"Br'er Williams! Br'er Williamsi''
His limbs shook till the bedslats rat
tied, and it seemed that the very shin
giles on the roof were dancing.
Shivering and wild-eyed he crawled
forth and peeped through the shutter.
Saints above him. The fiery chariot
was there-tte wheels blazing-the
ghostly horses impatiently paving the
earthl
There was but one escape for him
the chimney. And up he crawled, as
far as its narrowing limits would let
him-just as the door gave way, and
the ghostly visitors entered.
"Br'er Williamsl Where are you?
The fiery chariot is waiting"
For answer they heard muff1ed sounds
up the chimney: "Lawd, hep me ter
reach de top! Good Lawd, hep mel"
But his dangling feet were visible,
and by them he was dragged down and
carried bowling to the door by two
white-robed figures.
Don't take me now!' he pleaded. 81
got a blister on my chist already, en-
can't stan no mo- firel Don't take me,
Kunnel Angel. don't take mel"
But the noise and the scuffIing had
alarmed the phantom horses, and
away they dashed down the dark road.
with the fiery chariot blazing at their
heels, and after them sped the ghostly
visitants who had been struggling with
Br'er Williams.
Then a number of the citizens who
had been lurking conveniently near
rushed in and asked the old man what
was the matter.
When he had breath enough he
gasped: "LoolSy what you gone en-
done now. The fiery cheeryoot come fer
me. en- TO I had time ter jump in you
folks coined UP en- skeeredeit Off