Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-01-18

The three had themselves cut and
hewed the timbers. Mr.. Taylor, for
that was his name, explained to me
that, having no money, that seemed
the only way to get a church. He
showed us his w place, q little shack
not unlike the others, but inclosed, and
planted with red geraniums, nastur-
tlums and other bright things.
"As far as 1 know" he told us, with
pride, chat is the first garden in San
Francisco"
In the back yard he had inclosee
three chickens, two hens and a cock.
81 paid SIS for Them" said he.
We looked at each other in startled
establishment. The sun appeared a
tritle extrayagant considering the just
acknowledged impecuniosity Of the
church. He caught the glance.
Boys" he said quantity. "San Fran
cisco is Il very lonesome place for tho
godly. The hosts Of sin are very strong,
and the faithful are very few. Mortal
flesh Is weak, and mortal spirit is
prone to black encouragement. When
I bought those chickens 1 bought SIS
worth Of hope. Somehow Sunday morn
ing seems more like the Sabbath with
them clucking around sleepy and lazy
and full Of SUM-"
We liked him so much that we turn
ed to at odd times and helped him Will:
his carpenter work. While thus en-
gagged he confided to us his intention
to preach against gambling the next
Sunday in the Plaza. We stopped ham,
mering to consider this.
81 shouldn't if l were YOU" said I.
THE gamblers w the Plaza. They
are respected by the bulk Of the COM
munity, and they won't stand any non
sense. They, one of them, think any
thing Of shooting a nan in their places.
l don't think they will stand for it. I
am afraid you will be roughly han
died"
more likely shot" put in Johnny
bluntly.
"Weli, well. boys. we'll see" said
Taylor easily.
Nor could We him in spite Of
the fact that, as we came to see his
intention was real. we urged very eur
nestly against 1t.
"Well, If you will, you WILL Johnny
conceded at last. with a sigh. We'll
see what we can do to get you a fair
show"
Now, that is just what l don't want
you to do" begged the old man ear
nestly. 81 want no vain contention
and strife. II the Lord desires that l
preach to these sinners he will pro-
tect me-"
In the end he extorted from us a re-
luctant promise not to mingle in the
affair.
Taylor arrived about 10 O'clock and
proceeded briskly to the pork barrel
that had been rolled QUITO serve as a
pulpit. He faced q lowering, hostile
mob.
"Gentlenlen," said he, "if some means
of communication existed by which
the United States could this morning
know that street preaching was to be
attempted III the streets Of San Fran
cisco, the morning papers, badly in
formed as to the temper and DISPOSE
ton Of the people Of this new coun-
try, would feel themselves fully justi-
fed in predicting riot, If not actual
b%loodshed. Furthermore, l do not
hold their forms open to report the
tragedy when Jews Of it should come
i'll. But we Of the west know better
than that. We know ourselves rough
and ready. but we know ourselves also
to be lovers Of fair play. We know
that. even though we may not agree
with q man, we are willing to afford
him a fair hearing. And as for riot
ing or bloodshed. we can afford to
smile rather than become angry at
such wide misconception of our de-
sency and sense Of fair dealing"
Having in this skillful fashion drawn
the venom from the fangs of the mob.
he Went directly ahead at his sermon,
hammering boldly on his major the
sis. He finished in a respectful silence,
closed his Bible with a snap and strobe
away through the lane the crowd OPEN
ed for him.
Truth to tell. there was much In the
sermon. Gambling although consid-
cred n Of the respectable amuse-
ments, undoubtedly did a great deal
of harm. Men dropped their last cents
at the tables. / remember one young
business man who had sold out his
share In his firm for $4,000 in cash
and three notes for $1,000 each. He
had every intention Of taking this lit
tile fortune back to his family in the
east, but he began gambling. First he
lost his $4,000 in cash. This took him
just two days. After %vacillating an
other day he staked II Of the notes,
at a discount, of course. This he lost.
A second note followed the first, and
everybody confidently expected that
the third would disappear in the same
fashion. But Jim Reckett, who was a
very good sort, took this man aside
and gave him Il good talking to.
"You COMPOUNDED fool" said he,
you're barred from my tables. My
advice to you Is to go to your old part.