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

m Denind ner husband. sweeping Aim
from head to foot with her searching
eyes.
You don't mean TO tell me you
walked out beer this mOrnin'." she
cried. Lord have mercyr'
Il don't know as I've prepared any
set speech on the subject" said her
husband testify. but | walked.
could "a gone to a livery an or
dered out a team. but l believe thars
more'n one way O. wearin' sackclOth
an ashes. an the sooner | begin the
better I'll feel"
Abner Daniel winked. The Scrip
tural allusion appealed to his fancy,
and he smiled impulsively.
THAT thar is" he said. 'Thar's a
whole way an half way. Some folks
jest wear it next to the skin whar it
don't show. with broadclOth ur silk on
the outside. They think eff it scratches
a little that'll satisfy the Lord an
hoodwink other folks. But l believe
he meant it to be the whole hog or
none"
Mrs. Bishop was deaf to this philos-
Ophy. Il don't see." she said in her
own field of re1ection-"I don't see,
say. how you got to Atlanta. attended
to business, seed Adele an got back
heer at sunrise. Why, Alfred
But Bishop interrupted her. Have
you all had prayers yet?'
mo; you know we hain't." said his
wife, wondering over his strange man
ner. Il reckon 1t can pass jest this
once. bein as you are tired an hain't
had nothin' to eat"
mo: 1t can't pass. nuther. l don't
want to touch a mouthful. 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 oil the
way from barley this mornin' an now
wants to have prayers fore he touches
a bite O. breakfast. ! 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.
"Ef you mean to keep 1t up" Abner
was saying argumentatively, "all right
an good, but don't believe in sudden
spurts o. worship. My bosses is hitched
up ready to haul load O. bark to the
tannery, an 1t may throw me little
late at dinner. but eff you are a-goin'
to make a daily business Of 1t I'm with
you."
I'm a-goin' to be regular from now
on" said Bishop, slowly turning the
leaves of the torue. 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. | wondered
how that was a-goin' to end"
you'll wonder how you're a-goin' to
end If you don't be more respectful"
said his sister
Like the foxes, reckon" grinned
eternal torch tied to
me. Well, eff am treated that away
I'll go into the business o. destruction
In set fire TO everything run across"
"Ain't you goin' to tell us what you
lid In Atlanta fore you have prayerT
lsked Mrs. Bishop. almost resentfully.
mo, | haln'tr' Bishop snapped. 'T'll |
ell you soon enough. reckon won't
cad this mornin'. Let's pray"
They all knelt reverently and yet |
With some curiosity, for Bishop often
uited his prayers to important occa-
ions. and X struck them that he might |
low allude to the subject bound up
within him.
Lord, God Almighty" he began, his
over lip hanging and quivering. as
we're his hands clasped in the seat of
is chair. thou knowest the struggle
by creatures are maxim on the face of
by green globe to live up to the best !
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