The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-08-30

him vigorously with the handle of the
pitchfork until he was aroused to con-
sciousness, and then guided him into
the woodshed with the buggy whip.
When he was seated on a chunk OF
wood she faced him sternly.
"Well, you are q dandy" she sal.
"Going into parsonage barn, of a..
places In the world, to sleep off an odor
Ike yours, Why didn't you go dorz
to Fred Greer's harness shop. that's
where you got 1t. We're such an awful,
ly temperance town, you know! Bot
the parsonage! Why. II the trustees
had happened into the barn and caught
n Whit of that smell, father'd have
lost his job. Now you just take warn
ing from me, and keep away from this
parsonage until you can develop a
good Methodist odor. Oh. don't cry
about it Your very tears smell rummy
Just you hang on to that chunk of
wood, and I'll bring you some coffee"
Like thief in the night she sneaked
into the house. and presently returned
with a huge tin of coffee, steaming hot
He drank it eagerly, but kept wary
eye on the naughty twin. who stood
above him with the whip in her hand
That's better Now, sit down and
listen to me. If you would come to
the parsonage, you have to take your
medicine. Silver and gold have we
none, but such as we have we give to
you. And religions all we've got.
ON hnr
any choir or any Bible. but parsonage
folks have to be adaptable. Now then,
Ben Peters, you've got to get con.
verted."
The poor doddering old fellow, So
bered by this awful announcement,
looked helplessly at the window. II
was too small. And slender active
Carol, with the buggy whip, stood be-
tween him and the door.
"No, you can't escape. You're done
for this time-it's the straight and mar
row from this on. Now listen-it's
really very simple. And you need II
pretty badly, Ben. OF course you don't
realize 1t when you're drunk, you can't
see how terribly disgusting you are
but honestly. Ben. a pig is a ray of
sunshine compared to a drunk man
You're blot on the landscape. You're
a-youre a" She fished vainly for
words, longing for Lark's literary flow
of language.
'Tm not drunk" he stammered.
"No, you're not, thanks to the buggy
whip and that strong coffee. but you're
no beauty even yet. Well now, to come
down to religion again. You can't stop
II could" he clustered feebly. u
could II wanted to-"
"Oh, no, you couldn't. You haven't
backbone enough. You couldn't stop
TO save your life. But" Carols voice
a little. and she grew shy, but
very earnest but God can stop you
because he has enough backbone for a
hundred thousand-er, jellyfshes. And
you see. It's like this. God made the
world, and put the people In 1t. Now
listen carefully. Ben. and I'll make II
just as simple as possible SO 1t can
sink through the smell and get at you.
God made the world, and put the peo-
pie In 1t. And the people sinned, wor-
SHIPPED idols and went back on God,
and-did a lot Of other mean things.
30 God was In honor bound to punish
them, for that's the law, and Gods the
Judge that can't be bought. He had to
Inflict punishment. But God and Jesus
talked 1t over. and they felt awfully
bad about 1t, for they kind Of liked the
people anyhow" She stared at the
figure slouching on the
hunk Of wood. Its very hard to un-
derstand, very. should think they
would despise us-some of u.s." she
added significantly. "Tm sure I should.
But anyhow they didn't. Are you get
ling met"
The bleary eyes were really fastened
lntently on the girls bright face. and
he hung upon her words.
swell, they decided that Jesus
should come down here and live, and
be perfectly good. SO he would not de-
serve any punishment, and then God
would allow him to receive the punish
ment anyhow, and the rest Of us could
90 free. That would cover the law.
Sect Furnishing him when he deserved
no punishment. Then they could for
give us heathens that didn't deserve 1t.
Do you get that7" She looked at him
anxiously. ut all hinges on that, you
know. I'm not preacher myself. but
that's the idea. So Jesus was crucifled.
and then God said. There he is! Look
IN him, believe in him. worship him,
and in his name you stand o. K See?
That means. II we give him the chance,
God1l let Jesus take our share Of the
punishment. So we've just got to let
90, and say, All right. here I am. I
believe 1t, give up. know I don't
amount to hill of beans-and you can
say 1t very honestly-but II you want
ne, and will cali 1t square. God knows
rm willing And there you are"
"Wop't drink any mOreT