Year: 1867

try, ID advance OF society and of social re-
fnement, there have been, are to-day,
class Of preachers, rough and untaught,
and yet devoted to their work--true evan.
gelists of the baekwoodsmen. Among
them are some of the most fearless apos-
ties in the world In Texas especially,
where in some localities there are com.
munities of fierce, lawless spirits, these
pioneer preachers necessarily encounter
not only porils from wild beasts, perils
from disease and exposure. but penls
from brutal men, more dangerous than
either. Their courage IS Of the Texan
type, and although it may occasionally
show itself IN a manner not exactly in
yet one is inclined to look somewhat
eharitably upon faults that are the result
of educatirn and exhibit themselves in
defence of the truth. These preachers
often have less of the gentleness of John
than of Peters fiery impulses.


Capt Marcy, in his Army Life on the
Border" gives an incident or two in the
life Of one of these devoted Christian
men, who, however, possessed rather
more cultivation than most of his class,
and was for time chaplain of military
post at which the captain was stationed.


He was man of unacceptable moral
character, but at the same time possessed
an iraselble temperament, which required
all the exercise Of his power of self disci-
pine to keep in subjection. One day he
learned that certain deacon Of his church
boJ cia b,p, +1,o
Of his indignation he seized cowhide and
started for the offenders house 10 give
him sound fogging Luckily for the
deacon, the preacher CHANGED to think,
before he got to the end of his journey,
that his conduct was hardly in keeping
with his profession, and concluded toseek
less violent mode of redress.


Late one night-en the Red river cir
cuit-he once found himself in thinly,
settled country, near the house of a des.
perado and gambler, who was noted for
his hatred Of religion and of Christian
professors. There were dark stories told
about this man. It was believed that he
had murdered travellers who had put up
at his house, although no proof could be
presented against him.


The preacher knew these facts and
would have preferred less ungodly
landlord; but as he was in his Masters
service, and feared neither man nor
devil" he did not hesitate to enter the
desperado's house.


AS he halted his horse at the door, he
heard the gambler say to his wife, with
an oath.


t:There comes that old parson. | sup
pose he wants to stay over night, but 1t
he thinks I'm a-goin to put up with his
praying and psalm singing, he's mistaken.
III make him pay his bill in different
coin from that!'


Such greeting from such man
would have caused most travellers to pass
on and get as far as possible from the
gamblers reach. But the preacher quiet
ly got off his horse, went into the house
and to Id the surly ruffan that he meant
to spend the night there!


"Better wait and see whether you're
wanted fust, grouled the gambler


The preacher coolly took off his coat,
and said,-


''Ive come to stGv!"


Supper was put on the table. They
all sat down. The gambler took his knife
and fork and was about to eat. The
preacher raised his hands as in the act
of invoking blessing, and at the same
time looked steadily and sternly at the
ruhan Cowed by the cool courage of
the man, the desperate dropped his knife
and fork ard muttered in sullen tone,-


"Let 'e4 slide porson"
The preacher asked grace. But the
gambler was so i'll at his ease, and so
much annoyed at the missionary's dicta-
torial conduct, that he hardly spoke 8
word to him all the evening.


As the hour for going to bed drew
near, he preacher made up his mind to
have customary evening family worship.
He took a Bible from his pocket and
motioned the rutfan to bring him small
table Half subdued by his stern and
serious manner, the gambler seized the
table, and slammed it down IN front Of
his guest, and then began to whistle the.
tune g Arkansas Trayeler!


The preacher vouchsafed no comment,
but pointed very decidedly and signiG-
Gently to his Bible The gambler stop
ped In an angry tone, and with an
oath, he said -


"Well, parson, bile ahead"


The night passed quietly. The fear
less clergyman slept calmly, and in the
morning conducted religious services
again without opposition from the rufflau
| landlord.


| AS he was about to leave he asked the
gambler how much there was to pay for
his supper, breakfast and nights lodging.


''Not a cent, parson, said the despera-
| do, mot cent; go along about your bus