Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-07-30
The Parson Of
Cinnamon Gulch
BY WILLIAM SINGLETON

II was Sunday In the mining camp
on Cinnamon gulch. But the day was
not being respected as In civilized com
munities.
However, word had been received
from the Rev. Arthur Dixon that be
had been sent out By a society to
start the people ON different course.
He was coming among them TO remain
as long as necessary, which meant to
build q place OF worship.
About 10 o'clock on this Sunday
morning a man came up the gulch
whose appearance did not seem to In
ficate that he wns especially fitted for
the work In hand His face was red.
be wore stubble beard. and his ap-
parel was by no means clerical In
deed, II was the ordinary costume of
the country--eombreno flannel shirt
and trousers tucked In bis boots. TAX
ing position in the center Of the cab
In, he said In loud voice:
Friends. have COME among you
to eject Satan from your midst The
sight see on this Sabbath mornin' Is
one IO upIskh AuC utaiA- AaetEaa Va
washin' up and putin on your best
clothes for meetin'. instead Of moth
ers brushin the children's hair and
putin clean aprons on 'em for Sun.
day school. some Of you are workin'.
some piayin' cards. while the women
and children are dom whatever they
take q notion to do"
l. rst.n ctra ryar tauaaI and hx. v,ftporx
who had been gathering about him
while he was speaking wondered They
had expected a sleek looking. clean
shaver gentleman In clerical dress
who would talk to them In soft, per
suasive voice This man was rough
and uncouth--indeed. nowise superior
to themselves. However. 1t Is dues-
tionable If this very rugyedness did not
Incline them to receive him more IA.
vorably than one more refined.
81 reckon" resumed the newcomer,
that you've been advised Of my bein'
sent out to convert this camp. I'm the
Rev. Arthur Dixon. and I'm purity well
used to sieh as You. fou thought you
was goIn' to git a smooth taikin' gent
with moiasses candy hair and mild
blue eyes. The society amt sendin
that kind of men round to do theii
work. or. rather. the Lords work
Them kind Is sent to places where
there's been some sort o cultivation
What I'm goin' TO do Is tussle With
the devil and throw him out. Just as
when a mans goin' to plan, he gifts rid
o. the stumps and weeds and all that
Them fancy parsons wouldn't be nc
good for that Their work comes In
when the seeds planted and springtn
up. When one o. them feilers comes
yere goes on to another place where
there's no ciearia'."
BY this time the whole camp-men.
women and children. though there were
few women and fewer children-were
standing in front Of the parson. gaping
at him. To one or two who found room
In his rear he said savagely:
You galoots come forward where ]
kin see you. That's one o. Satan's best
dodges-to git in feiler's rear and
take him from behind"
Those addressed came forward
"Now. want you people to under
stand" the parson continued. that the
first thing needed In bringin' about Q
new deal is that when you get together
for purposes o. worship you do 1t with
humility. There's no humility In SIX
shooter nor In a knife want every
one Of you that has weapons on you to
take 'em up there" - pointing to an
open space between trees-"and leave
'em there durin' these yere religious
ceremonies"
The speaker paused. and a number
of the men went to the spot he indi-
Gated and then threw down their
weapons. When he was satisfied that
all the arms were where be had order
ed them deposited he said that the first
thing to do in the premises was to
build some sort Of place where they
could meet for religious worship. Then
he nominated one of the men to pass
around the hat for contributions.
While the collection was being taken
up a young man Of different type
came into the camp. approaching the
parsoD from the rear. When he caught
sight of the speaker he opened bis
eyes. He was especially interested In
his remarks made from time to time
exhorting the miners to contribute lib
orally.
The collector. having gone the
rounds. took the hat to the parson.
who emptied the contribution into his
pockets, then. drawing revolver from
each boot. covered the assembly.
"stand where you are" be said. '4for
III put hole In any one that moves!
Any man ieayfn' for them weapons
won't get more'n yardr'
He began moving away from the
congregation, keeping his face toward
them. and backed right into the man
who had just come upon the scene.
Feeling a pair Of arms clasping him
shout his body. he wriggled to get
-