The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-01-20

MS chill, Ut uIS edlS, AoS "N
seemed too large. How could he have
put it in so easily?
His body was pierced with d
cold, yet he was so excited n ter
! rorized that the perspiration STOOD
in drops on his forehead.
He kept muttering to himself:
as it possible that I am such a fool
| as to put my head in a place that l
cannot get it out of? Is such a thing
possible? Why, if I don't get out OF
this pretty soon 1 shall die! Already
I am numb with the cold. If it were
not so cold 1 might live several days,
snd some one would find me. Martha
would have people looking for me to-
night"
Then he began specializing as to
how long he might endure the dread
full cold. But here I am" he said,
caught like a rat in a trap"
All the time he was muttering he
was struggling with his hands to tear
out those splinters, which held so
cruelty.
Suddenly Uncle Daniel thought he
might pray. He believed the Lord
was all-powerful. But he had never
been a praying man. Martha was a
good Quakeress; it might be the Fa-
Their would hear him for her sake.
But he was ashamed to pray. 1t
seemed not quite honest to put on
praying until he was in a tight place.
He looked upward. The way was
clear to the top of the tree. He could
see a bit of blue sky far above.
Although Uncle Daniel was a sensi-
BILE man, and knew a thought could
reach the heavenly throne, this
seemed such an extreme case that he
soliloquized, as he was looking up
ward, "That is the way I would have
it, for if I am going to pray, I don't
want anything between. I want 1t to
go straight up to Him quick"
Still he hesitated. He did not
know how to begin praying. 1t
seemed a dreadful task.
But upon making another fruitless
effort to free himself, he cried, with
out thinking he was praying:
20 Lord, I can't do it! If I get out
of this, You'll have to help me. I feel
mean to ask such a favor the first
time I've talked to You for years,
but I'll try to do better if You'll help
me. I know You can"
Instantly there rose before Uncle
Daniels mental vision the picture OF
the preacher at Martha's church, as
he stood with his great arm and hand
stretched toward heaven, saying,
"Tarry We in the city of Jerusalem
until We be endued with power from
on high" .
Uncle Daniel thought, what does
this mean? What does it mean?" He
had grown calm while seeing the
vision of the preacher. 1t flashed
upon him, II must be quiet and
think"
He thought of how he pushed his
cap back to make DOL for his head,
and how he had to turn his head far
to one side to get it in. @Well," he
said, "if that is the way I put it in,
I surely ought to get it out the same
way"
So turning his head in as nearly as
possible the same position, he calmly
and slowly withdrew it.
There never was a happier man
than Uncle Daniel at that time. His
great rejoicing and thankfulness
made him forget where his cap was,
and he began looking for it. There
were the rabbits, his gun and ak, but
no cap. He became angry, and said:
"What wretch could have come
along and stolen my cap and left me
fast in the tree? Any n who would
do such a thing as that would commit
deliberate murder!"
Uncle Daniel started On barehead-
ed. The farther he went, the more
angry he was, and he threatened ven
geance if he should ever find the
thief. AS these thoughts were in his
mind he was passing under the low
branches of a tree. One caught in
his cap and held fast. Then Uncle
Daniel laughed and laughed, as if to
split his sides.
He sat on a log and wiped his tears
and smoothed his hair and beard, and
resolved that as long as he was whole
and had everything he would say
nothing about the matter, for he
would only be laughed at for doing
what he considered a very foolish
thing. He rose, and stretching his
hand upward, said:
"You did it. I would neve have
got out but for You. I am Yours
from now on"
So Uncle Daniel said nothing to
Martha or any one, at that time, of
his adventure; but four years after
ward he told Martha, and in three
mor years he made the world his
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Comnanion- -