Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-05

~ Lord!" he burst out, 'Tve come home!"
wave Oh emotion went through the crowded con-
gregation. More thar one sob sounded upon the
stiffness that followed A woman's voice cried ring.
ingy, % pappy!" tall young Wimbery over near
the wall uttered deep bass amen"
For snort time 1t seemed Volumnia's fears might
De unIounded' or Brother billiards. stratagem wholly
successful The new convert rapt in the ecstasy
of his novel, spiritual experiences In nervous terse
colloquial sentences he poured out to heaven the
bliss that was his There was passion of original
ity in the little mamie would never prav like anv
body else His fiery words were calculated to arouse
and 1x the attention of even those who made nrac
tice of doing impartialy through prayer and ser.
mon.
Yet the outburst of enthusiasm from the new con.
vert grows old story to the longtime church
member, and 1t was not till Abner came down to
personalities that Little Shiloh was fully awake
With sharp drop in his tone he began:
Il been awanderin' long time the gates of the
fold has been barred agin me-but I've come home
An now, Lord, beg and pray Thy merciful kind
ness on-them that barred the gates Forgive my
wife, Volumny, and them that put her up to what
she's been doin."
The blow fell like mute shock that reverberated
soundlessy through every listeners being And the
hush within the church suddenly became SO profound
that small night noises outside distinctly aud
ible and the stamping Of the tethered animals sound
ed loud
"Thou knowest that when yearned most toward
Thee, hit seem like some folks was afraid would
forsake my wickedness; an I'd jest about set my
foot the dostep O. Thy house have its door pop
ped In my face Fergive her, that when 1 didn't
cuss enough to make the neighbors feel she was the
worst abused in the two Turkey Tracks she
up an turned her chickens into my gyarden. Thou
knowst, Lord man couldn't stand that-an' his
early be Jest apoddin out!"
Voumnia dropped to her knees, and hid her face
against back of the seat before her
"Fergive this woman-for she's good woman
that she wouldn't believe that Thou coudst save her
husband but must put him to shame befo his chill
dren acalln' them to notice that he headed
for the lake that burns with hellire; apretendin'
all the time to be warnin' of them not to take the
same road fergive her, o Lord, as Thou hast fer
give me. 1 fergive Polk billiard. fergve Volumny's
second cousin Jaspar Stribbing. from overt Big
Buck Gap 1 fergve all them that knowed my weak
ness, how prone was to sin in the way, O. wicked
cussin, an worked upon it, an then rolled up
their eyes an showed off me. 1 fergve 'em ALL"
He would have been comparatively harmless in
rage. Now that he flowed forgiveness, gushed for
giveness stormed forgiveness, his former persecu-
tors lodged
can fergve all my wfe's family an kin an con-
nections" the shaking voice went on. Hit takes
heap to go aroupd-but I've got tive got It, Ter
give 'em. l fergive Beene shifhet that moved to
Texas-I reckon my forgiveness will do him as much
good out thar as 'twoud ef he'd stayed hyer. Any
how fergive him. 1 fergve Perry Carter, that was
shot by the sheriff last fall said some hard things
then about his bein' better out o the way. I'm
sorry I fergive him. reckon he'll know ABOUT IT,
an it does me good for to name 1t to you ALL Ter
give each an every that has in times past done me
neanness Eff I can't jest think UP their names to
call out-I reckon Thou knowest, Lord-Thou know
est"
Aroan
Knows cbimed in the deep voice of the elder to the
manifest relief Of several in the gathering.
During these closing statements there had been
more than one sudden sound amid the AUDIENCE
sort Of grunt such as is made by the puncturing OF
an inflated object And Little Shiloh church openeu
it's eyes on several very red faces Only Uncle AD
ner of all those closely concerned in the matter was