The Lamar register., 1920-09-15
A Modern
Miracle
By EUGENE 8. WATSON
CCopyright)

Big Ben, sheltered from observation
by the upturned roots of forest gi-
ant. squirTning uneasily upon his earthly
seat, seeking relief for bis swollen
ankle By tenderly lifting from II the
weight Of its endrciing iron band. AT
tacbed TO which through the medium
Of q short chain was = heavy iron
ball.
Big Ben was convict and had -s-
capped.
All during that hazy autumD day he
bad eluded the vigorous search OF the
guards from the iron mines where,
with other convicts OF the state or
Tennessee, he had been forced 10 la
bor
II was not his fault that the first
few breaths OF frost Kissed autumn air
always filed his being with an uncon-
troliabls appetite for backbone and
spareribs. Nor could he be blamed
because Just upon the first day that
this appetite vas Irritating his sys-
TEN the colonei's brother from up
North had careiessly Ieft his new rifle
roaming against ine porch where
Ben's eyes could c0 help seeing 1t.
And after lhat, while crossing
through The, timber to his little cabin.
he had nearly run over half dozen Of
The finest porkers 10 Marion county,
escaped from the plantation OF the
Judge and enjoying their new-fonnd
freedom 10 the woods. Under this ir-
resistible chain OF circumstance. how
ha h.. Ia f..x talr h.. ri
and forgetting 10 return II In the ex-
citeDent following a lust for slaush-
ter which eliminated in the death OF
four OF those porkersf
The jury that found him guilty"
could not understand They had said
be ~ss q thief and branded him
felon. But they did not know. no one
Knew except 'Inammy" and sisters.
As his thoughts dwelt upon his tribu-
lstions. there came TO him vision OF
mis- old NANNY" and her early teach
lngs of the strength and comfort to be
derived from prayer. and with this pie
ture before him he bowed his head
knelt with hands outstretched. and
tsrvently exclaimed:
.'Oh, Lord. l never done nothing. [
don't deserve all this trouble. You
knows how good been. so send me
ole. quick sos I kin take OF desc
irons and 20 home to nanny"
And hardly had the silent words
osen mentally formed when before him
noisslsssly appeared an angel. in the
guiss Of q white man mounted upon .
white horss.
Without word or slightest sound this
angel placed In Ben's outstretcbsd
hands q, small; green boz contsinins
from view.
1t was "Hoo-hoo" night In ST. Louis
and the corridors of the Planters no
rel were thronsed with weil-dressed
men. each wearing that mystic insis-
nik denotinG the owner . deyotse Of
iumbsrs' cult and q worshipsr at the
shrine Of the black cat
1t had been a very busy day and eve
ming. and In the short time remaining
before the noise and Peverbsration OF
q large city awoke was to change into
the drowsy. echoins. audible silence of
the same city asleep. . few Of the
prominent brothers 10 forestry had
seated themselves round a table in
the cafe. Willing away the time by
anecdote. experience and "Reminiscences.
The conversation had slowly drift
ed into those higher Ideals and planes
OF thought 50 frequently found most
highly developed among those whose
rearing has been close TO natures
breast, and the opinion was expressed
BY the Gestor Of the gathering that
naturally all men were good, and the
bad In them resulting only from edu.
cation and Environment IL support
0i bis argument. he stated that IN his
experience every unceh scious solun'
tsry action by human being was
based upon a good Impulse and In.
suitably resulted 10 q kindly deed
These sentiments were warmly In.
doysed. and the silence which followed
left each to his own renectious until
broken by one OF the party.
Speaking of unconscious impulses"
as said. reminds me of an Incident
which hsppensd to ne down In Ten
osssse.
II had been cruising around among
s0iue timber In the ,sOuthern part OF
the state, and was temporarily stayias
at & mill owned BY friend of mine