The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-08-21
The Parson Of
Cinnamon Gulch
By WILLIAM SINGLETON

.
had been sent out by a society TO
start the people on a 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
dicate that he was especially Tilted for
the work in hand Ills face was red.
he wore Il stubble beard, and his ap-
parel was by no means clcSaL In
deed, it was the ordinary costume of
the country-sombrero. flannel shirt
and trousers tucked in his boots. TAX
Ing a position in the center Of the cab
In. be said in a loud voice:
Friends. | have come among you
to eject Satan from your midst The
sight see on this Sabbath mornin' Is
one to appall the heart Instead OF
waShin' up and putin on your hest
clothes for meetin' instead Of moth
ers brushin' the children's hair and
putin clean aprons on EN- Tor sun
day school. some OF you are workin'
some playin' cards. while the women
and children are doin' whatever they
take a notion 10 do"
The stranger paused. and the miners
who had been gathering about him
while be was speaking wondered They
had expected sleek looking. clean
Shaven gentleman in clerical dress
in,
suaSive voice. This man was rough
and uncouth-indeed. nOwise superior
to themselves. However, it is ques-
tionable if this very ruggedness 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 ont to convert this camp. I'm the
Rev Arthur Dixon. and Im purity well
used to SIGH rs you. You thought you
was Goin' to git a smooth talkin' gent
with molasses candy hair and mild
blue eyes. The society amt sendin'
that kind of men round to do their
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 plant he gifts rid
o the stumps and weeds and all that.
Them fancy parsons wouldn't be no
good for that Their work comes in
when the seeds planted end springin'
~
yere | goes on to another place where
there's no clearin'."
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 l
kin see you. That's one O. Satan's best
dodges-to git in a feller'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
new deal is that when you get together
for purposes o worship you do it with
humility. There's no humility in a 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 he 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 young man Of different type
came into the camp. approaching the
parsOp from the rear. When he caught
sight of the speaker he opened his
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 bat TO the parson.
who emptied the contribution into his
pockets, then, drawing a revolver from
each boot, covered the assembly.
''Stand where you are" be said. "for
I'll put hole in any one that moves!
Any man leavin' for them weapons
won't get more'n a 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
sbout his body. he wrigged to get
away, but TO no purpose Presently
one of the congrega ton, taking advan-
tage Of the diversion. jumped In and
grasped the weapons That ended the
dispute. The 50 called parson was
downed aud securely bound
The young man who had turned the
tables was the real Arthur Dixon. The
man who had personated him bad met
him and learned OF his purpose. Hur.
ryfng on ahead of him. he had hoped
to play his game and get away with
the plnnder before his arrival