Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-06-02
Dying Miners Prayer.
BY N. j. MILLsoN.

l II Is pam 70 De seen mat Billy IS uy-
ing. He implores some one to pray;
and here comes a most painfully hui
morous scene in which one type Of
American humor is exhibited in its
perfection.
The boys looked sorrowful. If gold
dust could have bought prayers, Billy
would have mad a frst-class assort-
ment in al instant.
There's Deacon Adams oyer to Pat
tens" suggested a bystander; AN
they do say he's a reglar riproarer at
prayin'. But 'twould take four hours
to go and fetch him.
Too long" said the doctor. Down
In Mexico they pray for a Teller after
he's dead, an they say it's jist the
t%hing-sure pop. I'll give yer my
word, Billy, an no go back, that I'll
see the job done up in style fur yer, eff
| that's any comfort"
Il want to hear II myself" groaned
the sufferer. Il don't feel right. Can't
| nobody p~ray-nobody in the crowd?"
Finally matters were brought to a
| crisis by Mose-no one knew his other
| name. Nose uncovered a sandy mead,
with the back of his hand rubbed his
bronzed face, then stroked his sandy
beard, and Immediately remarked:
Il don't want to put on airs in this
here crowd. but ef nobody else can say
a word to the Lord about Billy Bent.
I'm a-goin' 20 do 1t myself. It's a biz
ness I've never been in, but there's
nothin' like tryin'. This meetin' mus.
now come TO order at wunst."
Hats off in church, gentlemen
commanded Pentecost.
Off came every hat and some of the
boys knelt down as Nose knelt beside
the cot, and said:
ooh, Lord, here's Billy Bent needs
'tendin' to. He's PANIED out his last
dust, an he seems to have a purity
clear idea that this is his last chance,
He wants you to give him a lift, Lord,
an it's the opinion of this house that
he needs it. faint nom of our bizness
what he's done, and eff it wuz you'd
know more about it than we cud tell
yer. But it's mighty sartin that g
cuss that's been in the diggin's fur
years needs a sight of mendin' before
he kicks the bucket"
That's so" responded two or three,
very emphatieally.
"Billy's down, Lord" resumed Nose,
"an no decent man believes that the
Lord nd hit a man when he's down.
So there's one of two things got to be
done-either he's got to be let alone.
or he's got to be helped. Lettin' him
alone won't do him or enybody else
emmy good, so helpin's the holt. An
as emmy of us tough fellers would help
Ell We knew how to, it's only fair to
suppose that the Lord'H do 1t a mighty
sight quicker.
Now, what Billy needs is to see the
thing in hat light, an you ken make
him do it a good deal better than we
ken. It's mighty little fur the Lord to
do, but it's meat and drink, an clothes
to Billy jest now. When we wuz boys,
some Of us read some promise OF
your'n in that Book tibet wuz writ a
good spell ago by chaps in the old
country, an though Sunday school
teachers and preachers mixed the mat
ter up in our minds, and got us all
tangle-footed, we know them promises
are thar, an you'n know what We
mean.
Now, Lord, Billy's jest the boy. He's
a hard case, Sc you can't find no better
stuff to work on-he's in a bad fix, an
we can't do nothin' fur him, so it's jest
yer chance. He amt exactly the chap
to make a No. l angel of, but he amt
the man to forget a friend, SO he'll be
a handy Teller to have around"
Feel any better, Billy" said Nose.
stopping the prayer for a moment.
"A little, said Billy feebly, but you
want to tell the whole yarn. I'm sorry
for all the wrong I've done"
Hes sorry for all his deviltry
Lord"
"An' amt got nothin' agin' the
Judge" continued the sufferer.
An he don't bear no malice agin'
the Judge, which he shouldn't, seem
he generally give as good as he took.
An the long and short Of it, Lord, is
Jest this, he's a-dyin', an he wants a
chance to die with his mind easy; an
nobody else ken rake it so: so we
leave the whole Job in your hands, only
putin in fur Billy's comfort tibet we
recollect hearing how yer wunst for
give a dyin' thief, an tibet it amt like
ly yer a-goin' to De harder on a chap
that's always paid fur what he got.
That's the whole story. Amen!'
Billy's hand. rapidly growing cold
reached for that OF Nose, and he said.
with considerable effort:
Nose, yer came in as handy as a
nugget in a gone-up claim. God bless
yer, Nose feel better inside. Eff
set through the clouds, an hev a Twin
chance to say a word to them as is the
chiefs mp thar, tibet wordll be fur you.
Nose, God bless yer, Nose! an, eff my
blessin s no account, it can't cuss yer
anyhow. This claims washed out, fell
lers. an here goes the last shovelful to
- -f . - 4 - go.