The Washington herald., 1914-12-06
OLD PAP PINKHAM
Tells Why the Town Jericho Has Never Doomed

it would prove a joy and a blessin. He
hadn't seen a great deal of wickedness
around Jericho, and he didn't believe
there was much, but what was lurkin'
around in the fence corners might as
well be driv out to make a clean state of
II. He didn't believe in mixing boOms
with religion. but yet If a boom did foller
the revival he had six acres of land
which he would cut up into town lots
and sell fur fair prices.
Salatial Thompson followed with
ringin' speech. He had bin seeing wick
edness in Jericho for over twenty years,
but not feelin' strong enuff to cope with
it single-handed had kept his head shet
and let it go on. To his certain know
ledge there was liars and thieves and
swindlers in the town. There was also
drunkenness and profanity and bettin'.
He had sometimes gone to bed o'nights
expectin' the fate Of Sodom to overtake
the place before the sun riZ. II re-
vival would sweep away all this wicked
ness, and he believed it would, then let
'er come. More goodness meant more
churches. and if another meeting house
was built he wanted the job and would
take it at the lowest reasonable figger.
Solomon Davis followed with history
of Sodom and Gormorrah. He had read
up on them towns and got all the particu-
lars. If they'd had a revival and every
body turned to goodness, they'd not only
have bin standin' yit, but property along
the main street would have bin wuth
81 900 a foot front Nobody could say
that Jericho was a hundreth part as
wicked as Sodom. but she'd got a start.
and unless checked up IL was only a ques-
ton of time when an airthQuake would
leave her a heap OF ruins. He wouldn't
take up the valuable time of the meetin
to give instances of wickedness beyond
maxim it known that durin' the past
year some Gomorrohite had cut OF the
tails OF three of his dogs and pulled
all the tail-feathers out of one OF his
peacocks. Let the revival and the wave OF
goodness come on. He'd ring the bell
for services, and sweep out the church
and not charge a cent for his services,
and when the business boom follered 1t
would find him ready to put down four
rods of new sidewalk and take in ten
boarders at IS a week apiece.
There were half a dozen others who
made speeches and pledged themselves.
and Deacon Spooner tapped on the
floor with his cone and said he thanked
heaven he had lived to see that night.
The enthusiasm was still bilin' when
Lish Billings strolled in and looked
around in an inquirin' way. The deacon
explained what was up and asked him II
he hadn't sunthin' to say.
wall, not a great deal" replied Lish.
I'D like TO ask who's to git up this re-
vival?''
We'll send for some great preacher"
answers Abijah Holden.
Who's to pay him? Preachers amt re-
vivalin' around fur nuthin', though they
like to do good"
Everybody looked at everybody, but 10
one had any more to say.
And when We got the revival started"
continued Lish. "there'd have 10 get a
lot of ownin' up to gittin' drunk on hard
cider. to jawin' your wife. to lickin' your
children. to piZenin' dogs, to cripplin'
hogs, to stealin' fence rails to a hundred
other mean things Take yer time about
it and don't all speak AT once, but let's
have the names or the fellers who are
goin' to own up"
Deacon Spooner opened his mouth al
if to say that Lish had made a strong
pint, but closed it again, and he heaved
a sigh and went out. Other sighs was
heaved and other folks went out. and 10
three minutes Lish Billings had all the
cracker and sugar bar'ls to hisself and
was wonderin' what had busted up the
meetin'.
OLD PAP PINKHAM,
Postmaster.