The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-07-17


mems side, locked that and put the
key in his pocket. Then he turned
around and faced the pulpit. And I
don't keer how the devil looks, he
amt circumstance to this angel of
the collection that Milan had fore.
told; he was seven foot high if he
was an inch. His boot legs reached
to his thighs, and there was pistol
stickin' out Of the top of each. He
had two more buck1ed around his
waist and couple of dirks crossed
OH his belly. His hair reached to his
shoulders, and he had mustaches that
drooped under his nose mighty nigh
as long as another brace of pistols.
His eyes showed thru strip of black
cloth like fiery beads.
Mister, continued the old man
after pause, did you know fear is
ketchin' same as the measles or the
eetch, only more so? It's sort of
natural contagion and when 1t gifts
started the bravest ain proof agin it.
There were men in that congregation
that had faced the Yankee guns for
four years without losin' as much
color as they did that night in one
jump, as they looked up and seen
that highwayman at the top OF the
aisle. The singin' died away in the
back of the house as if it had been
quenched by speret. Then the folks
in front twisted around to see what
was the matter, and it died away in
front, all except Misses Lovin' good.
She carried the tune half line further
before she realized she had it all to
herself, but when she looked back
and seen him, she give squawk like
a hen that has been jerked off her
nest, fell back agin the wall and be-
gun to have one of her smotherin'
spells. Nobody could a moved to 60
to her if she'd been dyin'. We were
skeert stiff. It's the only time ever
heerd five hundred folks teeth chat
ter at the same time, and it's terri
BILE nervous sound. Prim Mayberry,
old Jonathan Snow and me were set
tin together in the Amen Corner.
Prim sings bass, and his face froze in
that shape, and was Altered his eyes
would pop out. Snow looked like an
old man out out Of Genesis with his
long white beard.
'Goddlmighty,' he says, it's
Jesse Jeems p and with that he be-
gan to sink slowly out of sight. AS
for me, was in the battle of the
Wilderness, and l was at Gettysburg,
but that was the first time 1 ever felt
my life runnin' around inside of me
like skeert rabbit tryin' to git out.
"Mr. Jeems stood there with his
back to the door twoor three minutes,
waitin for us to git used to him.
Then he took his hat in one hand, his
pistol in the other and started the COL
lection. There was passel of young
hill billies on the back benches that
was always misbehavin' and lookin
sassy. Well, sir, they jest wilted
like gals before that pistol and them
eyes. But Mr.. Jeems didn't seem to
git in earnest till he come to the front
rows where the deacons and pillars of
the church were settin'. He 6xt his
eyes on Bill Lovin' good and drawed
ten dollars out of him, five out of
Glenn Stollins, and so on till he come
to where old man Snow had been
settin in the Amen Corner. Mister,
did you ever see dog pint a partridge
in bresh-heap? 1t was like that.
There want nothin shown of
Snow but his coat tails, and they was
layin' as fiat almost as folded wings
on the floor. Mr.. Jeems didn't say
He jest stood there with
the nose of his pistol about six inches
from them coat-tails. Slowly they
riZ, parted little, and we could see
that Brother Snow was on his all
fours. Then his little hickernut head
come up and turned on his long neck
till his eyes met them of Mr.. Jeems.
His hand went into his pocket sorter
like it was sleep walkin' and he fetch
ed out a dime. Mister, l mighty
nigh tainted myself at the expression
on Mr.. Jeem's face.
"fDurn it, I says 10 myself, this
is no time for Jonathan Snow to be
economical 7
"But 'twan't worth while to worry.
When Snow seen that congested look
on the collectors face, he drawed out
a roll of bills the size of your fist and
let it fall into the hat. Then I'll be
DANCED if he didn't drop back in a
dead faint.
"The next minute Jesse Jeems
tucked the hat under his arm, drawed
his other pistol and begun to back
down the aisle toward the door. AS
it banged behind him 1 thought of
Brother Milan for the first time. He
was standin' right where he was when
he give out the hymn, hadn't moved
a muscle, but he had the look of one
who has passed thru great tribula-
tious.
Brethren, he says, very faint,
We'll receive the benediction.'
"Long about twelve o'clock that
night l heerd a knock on my door.
Mister, my har sot up and my jaws
clamped together so l had to speak
thru my teeth.
Who's there?' says.
It's me, Pappy, Tom Purcell
"'I don't keer if it is, Tom,' I
says, I'm sick, and I can't come to
the do
"T jest want you to see me
minute" he says.
"'I've seen enough tonight I
says.
"T got somethin' for you, he
lowed.
clay it on the steps then. 1
wouldn't open that do to the Angel
Gabriel if he was to tell me he had
brung me harp and golden CROWN
l says.
II heerd him snicker, and then the
gate slammed. The next mornin'
there was an old hat on my doorstep
with three hundred dollars in it and