The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-03-08

Uncle Tom Barker was much Of q
man. he bad been Wild and reckless,
and feared bob God nor regard man,
but one daylata ia camp-meeting, while
Bishop CASTOR was shaking up the
sinners and lsdorehipg them over the
Internal pit, Tom got alarmed, and be-
fore the meeting ,Tas over he professed
religion and beotime jealous, out
spoken convert, cad declared his in
tention OF going forth into The world
and preaching the gospel. He was
terribly in earnest, FOR he said he had
lost power Of time and must make it
up. Tom was rough talker, but he
was good one, and knew right smart
of "scripter,' and . good many Of the
old fashioned hymns by heart. Tha
conference thought he was b pretty
good fellow 20 send out into the Dor.
der country among the settlers; and so
Tom straddled his old fee-bitsen gray,
and in due time was circuit riding in
north Mississippi. In course Of time
Tom acquired aotoriety, and from his
strong language and stronger gestures,
and his muscular eloquence, they
called him sold Sledge Hammer"
and after while, "Old sledge,'' for
short. Away down in one corner Of
Of his territory there was a blacksmith
shop and wagon shop and whiskey
shop and postofioe as Bill Jones
crossroads; and Bill kept all7of them,
and was known far and wide as Devil
Bill Jones'" SO; o;as.to distinguish him.
from Squire Bill, the magistrate.
Devil Bill had swore that no preacher
should ever toot a horn or sing q
hymn in the settlement, and if any Of
the cussed hypocrites ever dared to
stop at the crossroads, he'd make him
dance horppipe and sing a hymn,
and whip him besides. And Bill
Jones meant justwhat he said, for he.
had mortal hate For TIE men Of God.
1t was reasonably supposed that Bill
could-and would do what he said, for
his trade at the anvil had made himi
strong and everybody kps y that he
had as much brute courage. as was
necessary. And so Uncle Tom was
advised 10 take rcundance and never
tackle the, cross roads. He accepted
shis for 8 time, and lefttbe people to
the bad influence Of Devil Bill; butt
seemed TO him he was not doing the
Lord . will and whenever ne thought
ofthe women and children living in
darknesB and growing up in intidelity,
he Woul ! grean ID spisis and exslaim,
What i pityl what . pisyl One
night ha prayed over 10 with great
earneatneas, and vowed 90 do the
Lord 8 win il che Lord would give him
light, and it aeemed 10 him 90 he rosei
from bic s.::ss 4 So, was no
,longer5any doubt be must 60. Unolss
Tom never dallied shout anything
when his mind was made up. He
wsntright st:$ Sc like killing snakes,
and next morning as neighbor;
:passed on his way / to Bill Jones's shop,
Uncle Tom said
sSs please carry q 4
mesaags 10 Bill Jones for me & DO.
you!telI him that iiff the Lord IS Millin. ],
Twill be at the or roBsroads TO preach
next Saturday att1 ] !o clock, and IS am
shore tie Lord is viii /. Tell him I'd
please norate &c III the settlement
about and about, and AZ The women
and children % com elI Bill Jones
will stay at hia house, God wiliinn /,
and Il, shore he lss' s VII ID
preach snnda daysS Too, as III thhiinga git along
harmon lou d,
hen Bill . ones got she esssageE
he was amaged astounde and isss inss
dignation knes no hound IaIe j rare slss ess
and CURSED at she sonsult as hs1
called tha lonsnlt rnessaga ofa
So ,ld Eledge, !, md he swore that shes
woala hunt him u b: and whip him FOR
he EnoNed that he sYot,id nst dare ! ko5
aon6s the csossrpsd d. B as tsAeS
!neigh ghbors hispercd III M eround 5that8
ss0ld sledg S,ssoul one ffors he ss ,s
nsyers knoWn q ID ke sn pointms snti
and bysa iss and sre Sss asl III Ias
hprse thies Who nsed toS I'D run ssiitE al nrss lr
gang ho AID q aihe ss,ssd so nov
Tom barker he uas Il ssas sss ansi
q had asesn Il him M & f III snl 90
taah 81 Sisggss,S sgs
;thak De sIIsdg y csoslsIip q, u EN ind ana
Devil Bill igiRiie 80 Whip him sisi andl
make him anes sMnals M D siing ii.9 s hire & and AID
srsat % hon 81 sjp acb ssrand dy bes s
i1iIa ~; S 81 Il.