The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-24

bend before thee this mornin' realize
how small a bein' I 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 q
Bible readin. God fearin' community,
an our Children has been educated in
a way that raised 'em head an shoul.
ders above many O. Their associates an
even blood kin. | 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 my daughter
thar In Atlanta able to hold Their
heads up among the folks they mix
with. an so | reached out. Maybe Il
was forbidden fruit belt out by a 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. avarice an greed. I
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 I
done / done in the bullheaded way
that I've always done things, but
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 staring at her
husband through her parted fingers,
her face pale and agitated, and as she
rose her eyes were glued to his face.
Nov, Alfred" she said, what are
you goin' to tell us about the railroadl
Is it as bad as brother Alb thought II
would be-"
Bishop hesitated. 1t seemed as II
he had even then to tear himself from
the clutch of his natural stubbornness.
He looked into all the anxious, waiting
faces before he spoke, and then he
gave In.
"Ab made a good guess. Ef I'd "a
had his sense or Alan's, I'd "a made q
better trader. It's like Alb said it was,
only a sight wuss. powerful sight
wussv'
"Wuss?" gasped his wife in fresh
alarm. How could it be wuss? Why,
Brother Alb said
Il never have told you the extent o.
my dealin's" went on Bishop In the
current of confession. Il never even
told Perkins yesterday. Fust an last
I've managed to rake in fully twenty
acres o. mountain land.
was goin' on what lowed was dead
shore thing. secured all could lay
my hands on, an l did 1t In secret.
was afeerd even to tell you about what
Perkins said, thinkin' 1t mought leak
out an Spite my chances"
But, father" said Alan, you didn't
have enough money to buy all that
and"
II got 1t up"-Bishop's face was dog.
yedly pale, almost defiant Of his over.
disaster-'T mortgaged thia
arm to get money to buy Maybry and
Morton's four thousand acres"
THE farm you was going to deed to
Alanf1 gasped his wife. "You didn't
include thatT'
mot in that DEAL" groaned Bishop.
I snapped that to Phil Parsons fer
lis poplar an cypress belt"
The words seemed to cut raspingly
nto the silence of the big room. Abner
Daniel was the only one who seemed
lnmoved by the confession. He filed
lis pipe from the bowl on the mantel.
'iece and pressed the tobacco down
With his forefnger; then he kicked the
shes in the chimney till he uncovered
small live coal. He eyed 1t for
moment then dipped it up in the shov-
], rolled 1t into his pipe and began to
moke.
$50 amt agoin' to git no yeerly
ass over the new road" he said, his
bject being to draw his brother-in,
NV back to Perkins action In the mat,
er.
Perkins was allyn to me-" an.
wered Bishop. HE hain't admitted
yet. but be was a-lyin'. His object
Tas TO hep the Tompkins sell out fer
decent price. but he can't be ham
led. He's got me on the hip"
mo" said Abner I'D ruther keep
n swappin' gold dollars fer mountain
md an lettin' 1t go fer taxes AN to
y to beat lawyer at his own game.
courthouse is like the devils abode.
Continued on Eighth Page,