The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-09-23

~ got to prayin' more hopeful. Ever
time the light I'd flare up out o the
gloom my sperits nd risc,, till after
awhile felt as light as q feather.
sung an shouted an prayed an hugged
my hoss 1t seemed like was climbin'
up to God. The light on the mountain
was his presence. Once 1 fell down
steep bank in the dark, but I wasn't |
hurt, an then ag'in I slipped on some !
rocks while | was crossin' q branch an |
got wet to the waist, but when I scram- |
bled out the light was a-shinin' bright |
er than ever Finally I crossed a old
field an seed the open door Of her
house. A dog run out barkin, but
wasn't no more afeard of i'm than the |
apostles was o snakes. l walked
straight at i'm, called to i'm in a firm
friendly voice, an patted i'm on the
head, an he licked my hand an pranced
about in front O. me like was old
acquaintance he was glad to see. Mrs
Hambright was at the fireplace cookin
some'n t. eat when got thar, an she
invited me in. l went in an shook
hands an set down in the chair she
give me. an she put more wood on the
fire. fer she seed was wet.
"'You don't know me, Mrs. Ham
bright says I.
".No,' says she, L don't know you'
sir; but that don't make no dlnerence'
I take in lots O. folks that git pe
nighted up here. Nobody would DE
mean enough to rob ur harm woman
as old as l am
"'That's so,' says 1. Her head was
n chp all DGnt
over, but she had the sweetest, most
| patient face ever seed. 1t mace me
feel easier about tellin' 'er who l was
! an what I'd come fer, but 1 acknowl-
| edge 1 was afeard. Then she proposed
to set the table, fer she said she know
ed 1 was famished, but l wouldn't let
'er.
"'No; watt says l, wait till I've
told you who l am, Mrs. Hambright,
says l, an l couldn't look at 'er then
I'm Hiram Hillyer. the man who tucl;
yore pore boys life
al seed 'er sorter jump q little, an
then she got as still as grave rock
| | was afeared to look ut 'er. All my
...~,-,--s---A lea k IN
out O. me. / bowed my head an nit
ed fer 'er verdict. God knows / Nus
miserable, but 1 was prayin'-prayfn
fer pardon-prayin' both to her an GOD
She was still long time. / reckon
she was stuGyin' up what to say tC
me. Then she spoke. Did you come
away out here jest to see me, Mr.. Hill
yer? she aXed in q trembly voice, an
1 nodded, still afeard to meet her eye
Il come to make q confession an i'm
plore you to pardon me- said.
"'Pardon you? she said, slowlike an
saft.
esquire Trabue's dead 1 told 'er
He died two days ago. 900"
"I heard he was low she, said, AN
1 was sorry to hear 1t, fer he. was {
good man, but is that all you, iwantet
to tell meT
: INA, SAYS .,.ttY .s,,.tYas9,ss Mrs FrP,
: the government. 1t. was from met
: Hiram Hillyer,' says she in, IN
: sweet old voice, I've knowed that @
twenty-five years. Squire Trabne toit
) me an axed me never to let on to you
! fer he'd promised you never to let Ia
G know; but, Hiram, eff I've prayed G8,
. to bless you fer it once l have tel
I thousand times. I couldn't "a live
y without that allowance. 1t has k9,
u me In comfort an enabled me to lid,
my neighbors in time o. sufferin'. IL
wanted to tell you how grateful felt
but the squire wouldn't let me an sal,
v you never wanted that old troubl
s mentioned, an so couldn't do it,
- ..rhen.- George, 1 broke down cotil
pietely. L couldn't hold in. / set tha
: an cried like child. told Ser NOV
: long an hard I'd suffered an, YhoSc
had tried In all manner o. ways to si
e forgiveness an feel right, an neye
j seed sech look on a human face n,
was on her'n. She actually set dowI
on the bare floor before the fire an
iald 'er thin, bony hands on my knee.
Hiram, my boy, my pore boyn say.
she 'Shorely you hain't been all tina
tllhe thlnkin' yore God was that sor
or God. Why, he's all goodness, al
glory, all infinite perfection. You've
been blamin' yoreself fer some'n' an
other man done. 1t was q man you
hain't seed in thirty odd year that sbo,
my son in hasty passion. God don't
hold you-the new man-accountable
Ter that, but he's been holdlp,s you &C.
countable fer thinkin' so i'll of him. fer
all yore worry has come from wrongly
accusin' yore Holy Maker!
"Oh' George. she made it as clear to
me as daylight. She was right-she
was right. God don't hold a new, re-
pentant man accountable fer what his
OLD dead self done. She thought I
wasn't convinced, I reckon. fer she got
down on her knees an sent UP a PRAYER
that ripped the roof off the house an
showed the glorious way clean to Gods