The Washington herald., 1909-07-21
RESCUES LOST SHEEP
Smiths Religion Takes Up
All His Time.
COURT ORDERS HIM TO WORK
Wbereat William Franklin smith
Is Aggrieved and Calls Down
ThunderbOIts Upon His Wife, Who
Would Rather Have Him Support
the Family Than Save Souls.

His now forsaken religion has done
many things Tor William Franklin Smith,
a brilliantly dark-hued negro OF Shott's
court. which are not included in the
usual list OF benefits accorded those who
Indicate an intention OF following the mar
row path OF rectitude.
Religion caused william Franklin
Smiths wife to charge him with nonsup-
port. after it has been the prime factor IN
MS giving UP all orduous work and had
led TO his being elected from his home
by an irritable and unsppreciativs help
meet
William Franklin was brought into the
Juvenile Court yesterday to explain why
he had failed to assist his wife and two
children in their struggle for existence,
and. furthermore. 20 tell why he had re-
pudiared his offspring when they came 70
him with waning pleas OF hunger.
Mrs. William Franklin Smith too. the
stand, supported by the consciousness
that some half a dozen OF her friends
were gloweTing savagely at her life part
ner, and unfolded a tale dating back 20
the time William took a "cullid LADY, to
a camp meeting.
Twas like dis, yo' 'onner," she began.
Nah OF man wus doin' his wu'k regu-
lar, an bringin' his 50 home eve'y week
till about two months ago.
Received n Can.
'One night he spruces all up an takes
lady TO a sarvice held To- po', mise'ble
sinners. while All stays home and cleans
UP de house. When he gifts back. he sez:
'Toodles.' he sez. Abs done got de call
'Youse gwine TO git another call ef
you stays out dis late agin. says ].
Abs done got religion he sez
'Yo' better git some sense, sez I.
We'll, sub, from dat day nah wufless
husband amt done lick o. wu'k. and
heah's me slavin mahse'f 10 death TO-
him"
The friends OF 'Toodles" supported her
vociferously. Any little detail that she
overlooked was supplied willingly. They
were conscientious witnesses.
Meanwhile William Franklin, his face
enwreathed IN an expression Of benign
suffering and patience. sat back in his
chair waiting for his turn. His long, thin
face possessed a fixed. almost startling.
smile, which only deepened when the
eXcOriatiOn Of his character became un.
usually vicious. He resembled a man sit
ting behind four aces in a poker game.
At last he was called TO the witness stand.
"Dah was a time. y'onner." no muir
INJURED IN gently prcpitiating voice,
when All didn't have no mo- religion dan
de res Of desc folk. But All done got hit
now. Abs got nah religion"
Judge De Lacy paused a moment IN
thought. Then he inquired whether re-
ligion had wrought any physical change
IN the defendant by reason Of which he
found work impossible.
'Taint dat, y'onner," said William
Franklin: 'taint dat. You see, slnoe Ahs
done got dis religion An feels so good dat
Abs goin' round savin' other po' mise
bic los sheep. IL takes up all nah time"
Mrs William Franklin eyed her hus-
band sternly. and expressed herself as
confident that he would do much for the
general public 81 he would try. 20 save
the poor micerable sheep whom she had
married. William Franklin calmlysignored
this.
Made Wife Angry.
''Wen All gifts religion, y'onner," con-
tinued he. 1T made nah wife uncon-
tractable. cause she's ore Of desc sinful.
worldly wimmen. One day she done said
An was hawg. Mother time she
slammed de do In nah face an told me
to git some -po' mise'ble sheep TO take
care Of me.
''But-Ah didn't get mad, y'onner," pro-
tested William mildly; "Ah's got too
much religion 10 git mad An jes' tells
her All feels sorry 70 her. an goes on
nah way"
William left the stand, calmly confident
that religion would see him through his
trials He smiled at Mrs. William as ne
passed her. thereby irritating her to the
point Of madness. The situation was
rapidly growing tenser. and the excited
murmurings of the wife's friends showed
Williams tal6 OF martyrdOm had had its
effect.
But though religion Is not without It's
force and influence, it did not prevail.
You've got to work" said judge De
Lacy, "and. furthermore, you've got 10
support your wife and children. II YOU
don't, I'm going 20 send you to the work
house. Your religion is a splendid thing
for you, but you should always remember
that, like charity, religion should begin
and have for its base the home. The
court will Insist that you pay Mrs. Smith
s. a week.
For the first time William Franklin's
consistent placldity showed signs of
cracking
''How's All gwine TO DO nah wu'k.' ne
asked reproachfully. ''when Abs got 10
save DO miSe'ble sheepG"
Don't try 10 save so many sheep"
suggested the court.
Religion and all, William Franklin
arose from his chair. and from his length
Of Six feet some inches delivered his ulti-
matum
Promised to Work.
Yes suh," he said. ''Yes. y'onner:
Abs gwine TO wu'k- AhTI pay dat wife
o mine free dollahs a week. He paused.
Then. turning to his wife. he blurted out:
But CONAN, All wants you TO under
stan dat youse de- cause OF spoilin' q
religion dat mought have saved lots of
po' sheep. Youse done made me give I'D
nah wu'lC"
Whereat the wife and her friends smiled
audibly.