The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-06-29
A Dying Miners Prayer.



mor0us 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 frst-class assOrt-
ment in an instant.
There's Deacon Adams over 70 Pas-
tens" suggested a bystander; -an'
they do say he's a reglar riproarer at
prayin'. But 'twould take four hours
to so and fetch him"
"Too long. said the doctor. Down
in Mexico they pray for a feller after
he's dead, an they say it's jist the
thing-sure pop. III give yer my
word, Billy, an no 80 back, that III
see the job done up in style fur yer, ef
that's any comfort"
Il want to hear il myself" groaned
the sufferer Il don't feel right Can't
nobody pray-nobody in the crowd?"
Finally matters were brought to a
crisis by MOse-no one knew his other
name. Nose uncovered a sandy mead,
WIN tAo DatA VI LIS manu- AhbDtL us
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
word 10 the Lord about Billy Bent.
I'm a-goin' 70 do It 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 wlnst"
Hats of in church, gentlemen!"
commanded Penteoost.
on came every hat and some Of the
boys knelt down as Nose knelt beside
the cot. and said:
"Oh, Lord, here's Billy Bent needs
'tendin' to. He's panned out his last
dust. an he seems 10 have a purity
clear idea that this is his last chance
He wants you to give him lift, Lord
an it's the opinion of this house that
he needs It. 'Tai't none of our bizness
what he's done, and eff II wuz you'd
know more about II than we cud tell
yer. But it's mighty sartin that o
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 emphatically.
"Billy's down, Lord" resumed Nose.
"an no decent man believes that the
Lord 'ud 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
ef we knew how to. it's only fair to
suppose that the Lordll do It a mighty
sight quicker
Now, what Billy needs is TO see the
thing In that light. an you ken make /
him do II 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 thet 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 youll know what We
mean.
"Now, Lord. Billy's jest the boy. He's
a hard case, sc you can't find no better
stun 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 chan
to make a No. l angel OF. but he amt
the man to forget a friend. so he'll be
a handy feller 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 done7
Hes sorry for all his deviltry.
Lord"
AN I amt got nothin' agin' the
Judge" continued the sufferer.
AN he don't bear no malice agin.
the Judge. which he shouldn't, seein'
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 2
chance to die with his mind easy; an
nobody else ken rake 1t so; so we
leave the whole job in your hands, only
putin in fur Billy's comfort thet we
recollect hearing how yer wunst for
give dyin' thief. an thet 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. Amenl"
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, Mosel l feel better inside. Ell
get through the clouds, an hev a livin'
chance to say a word to them as is the
chiefs up thar. thet wordll be fur you.
Nose. God bless yer, Mosei an. ef my
blessin's no account. it can't cuss yer
anyhow. This claims washed out. fel.
lers, an here goes the last shovelful to
see ef there's emmy gold in II or notig
And Billy departed this life. and the