-' -■■ : H"-"; r .\ 
 
 
 
 fllSSIONAKT 
 
 IWilkerson 
 
Class 
 Book 
 
 ■ We 
 
 GppyrightlS!?. 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: 
 
HADEN WILSON 
 
 MISSIONARY 
 
 A Narrative of Real Adventures, 
 True to Frontier Life ; the Names of 
 Persons and Places Only Fictitious 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 American Sunday-School Union 
 
 1816 Chestnut Street 
 
A tf 
 
 ^v 
 
 Copyright, 1912, by 
 AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION 
 
 l?C!.A319379 
 1x^ | 
 
Preface 
 
 Early in the twentieth century a Sunday- 
 school missionary in Arkansas gave an impress- 
 ive address based on his personal experiences 
 in that state and in the Indian Territory, which 
 is now a part of the state of Oklahoma. His 
 forcible statements, thrilling incidents and 
 graphic description of the great work of the 
 American Sunday-School Union in neglected 
 rural communities so impressed a young man in 
 the audience that he resolved to offer himself 
 as a Sunday-school missionary. Through the 
 speaker, the Eev. Charles W. Burks, he made 
 application for a commission and two years 
 later the way was opened for the young man 
 to enter the Sunday-school mission work. 
 
 That young man's experience furnishes the 
 framework for this story. A large portion of 
 what is narrated as growing out of Haden 
 Wilson's first visit to the Modoc country is in 
 reality a personal experience in a similar region 
 once known as the Cherokee Nation. The de- 
 scription of early life in the Indian Territory, 
 the intellectual and religious destitution which 
 
 3 
 
4 PREFACE 
 
 existed among the white settlers and the reck- 
 less characters who openly defied the law and 
 showed a vicious disregard for the claims of 
 society are not in any way exaggerated. 
 
 This story is not only true to life; but it 
 represents real facts and real characters (but 
 not their real names) in the person of Haden 
 Wilson, Mike Masters and his father, Harry 
 Keith, Clarence Bush, Mrs. Holmes and others, 
 and portrays a religious destitution that was 
 real in communities where the missionary lived. 
 That young man's adventures are also substan- 
 tially types of the experience and efforts of 
 more than a score of other faithful Sunday- 
 school missionaries laboring in the regions of 
 the Southwest. If it shall increase the interest, 
 stir the sympathies and stimulate the readers 
 heartily to support this work, the purpose and 
 sincere desire of the author will be amply 
 realized. 
 
 P. H. WlLKERSOtf. 
 
Contents 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. 
 
 First Visit to Modoc 
 
 7 
 
 II. 
 
 A Father's Folly , 
 
 24 
 
 III. 
 
 A New Country 
 
 31 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Missionary's First Ex- 
 perience in the Modoc 
 Country 
 
 40 
 
 V. 
 
 The Missionary's First Serv- 
 ice in Modoc . . . 
 
 50 
 
 VI. 
 
 After the Service . 
 
 65 
 
 VII. 
 
 The First Sunday in Modoc . 
 
 71 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Life of a Missionary 
 
 82 
 
 IX. 
 
 A Struggle— Thus Far and No 
 Farther 
 
 91 
 
 X. 
 
 The First Sunday- School in 
 Modoc 
 
 107 
 
 XL 
 
 The Old Indian Woman . 
 
 121 
 
 XII. 
 
 Victory and Failure 
 
 126 
 
 XIII. 
 
 The Lambs and the Wolves . 
 
 138 
 
 XIV. 
 
 "The Good Shepherd Giveth 
 His Life For His Sheep " 
 
 149 
 
 XV. 
 
 The Shepherd Smitten . 
 
 162 
 
 XVI. 
 
 "My Word Shall Not Eeturn 
 Unto Me Void" 
 
 182 
 
6 CONTENTS 
 
 XVII. Some Eeal Conditions Which 
 
 Demand Attention • . 191 
 
 XVIII. The Missionary Goes to the 
 
 Ozarks 196 
 
 XIX. Dr. Cypert Seeks to Discredit 
 
 the Missionary . . . 200 
 
 XX. The People's Answer . . 210 
 
 XXI. " Truly the Harvest is 
 
 Great " 220 
 
Haden Wilson: 
 Missionary 
 
 CHAPTEE I 
 
 FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 
 
 On a hot day in August, Haden Wilson 
 alighted from a freight train in the neighbor- 
 hood of Modoc, Oklahoma. There was no 
 depot where the train stopped ; only a water 
 tank and siding. The engine pulling a local 
 freight stopped to take water, and also to let 
 the passenger off. For the lack of more pas- 
 senger trains, the conductor on this local freight 
 was allowed to carry travelers. Young Wilson 
 had arranged that the "tank" was to be his 
 destination. The conductor got off the caboose 
 with his passenger, and the two men engaged 
 in conversation while the engine took on its 
 required supply of water. At the sound of the 
 whistle they shook hands, and the conductor 
 swung aboard his train as it pulled out to the 
 south. 
 
 7 
 
8 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 A box car rested on the siding and by it 
 stood a wagon and team. The wagon was 
 loaded with prairie hay, and two men were 
 engaged in transferring the hay from the 
 wagon to the box car. 
 
 The strange young man — for this was Haden 
 Wilson's first visit to Modoc — after seeking the 
 shade of the tank, sent a searching glance across 
 the prairie to the west. Attracted by the sound 
 of the men unloading the hay, he left the shade 
 and walked to the box car. Before he reached 
 it, they stopped work and stood watching the 
 stranger with an expression on their faces which, 
 if interpreted, would have said, " Who are you, 
 and what is your business here ? " 
 
 It was not unusual for strangers to appear in 
 the neighborhood of Modoc, but they were gen- 
 erally whiskey peddlers, or United States of- 
 ficers; either were always interesting to the 
 two men working at the hay. 
 
 Young Wilson greeted the men in a frank 
 and courteous manner. The tone of voice and 
 the free and easy manner of the young man 
 were good evidence, in the judgment of the men, 
 that the visitor was neither a bootlegger nor 
 an officer of the law. The men returned the 
 friendly greeting, and the reserve common be- 
 tween strangers was swept away. Inquiry was 
 made as to the distance and direction to the 
 
FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 9 
 
 store and post-office. "Two miles west," re- 
 sponded the elder of the two men, with a slight 
 ring of the Irish brogue in his voice. 
 
 The names of the merchant, doctor and 
 several farmers were as readily given by the 
 same one in response to the young man's re- 
 quest. All of which names were written down 
 in a blank book by the inquirer. 
 
 "Is the schoolhouse near the store?" the 
 stranger asked. 
 
 " Yes, only three hundred yards north," an- 
 swered the elder of the two men again. 
 
 It was eleven o'clock, and the rays of the 
 August sun were sizzling hot, but the young 
 man seemed to take no note of the intense 
 heat as he picked up his grip and started 
 toward the store. After going a short distance 
 he turned and came back to the men, who w T ere 
 still trying, in their minds, to reach a satis- 
 factory solution of the stranger's business. 
 
 " Is there a Sunday-school in the school- 
 house ? " he inquired. 
 
 The question puzzled the two men still more, 
 and Mike Masters — that was the name of the 
 elder of the two men — exclaimed, " Man, no ! " 
 with strong emphasis on the first word. 
 
 " If you are looking for Sunday-school peo- 
 ple," continued Mike, emphasizing the word 
 people, " you need not stop in these parts." 
 
10 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 The statement opened the way for further 
 conversation by which young Wilson learned 
 that there were about sixty children of school 
 age in the neighborhood, and a large number 
 of young people, whose ages ranged from seven- 
 teen to twenty-five ; and that since Mike could 
 remember, there had not been a Sunday-school 
 and very little preaching. 
 
 " Do you know any one in the community 
 who might become interested in a Sunday- 
 school ? " asked the stranger. 
 
 " No one," with a searching look at his in- 
 quisitor. 
 
 "Would you not like to have a Sunday- 
 school ? " asked the young man, walking closer 
 to Mike. 
 
 " 1 think it would be a good thing for the 
 children ; but, man, we haven't any one about 
 Modoc to run it. It takes people who read the 
 Bible, sing good songs and pray, to run a Sun- 
 day-school, and there's no one here who works 
 in that kind of harness." 
 
 Following this young Wilson explained that 
 he was a Sunday-school missionary, and also 
 the purpose of his visit to Modoc. 
 
 " Say, mister, if you are a religious man you 
 will sure get lonesome in this country, if you 
 are looking for that brand of people to run 
 with. The boys may make it lively for you." 
 
FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 11 
 
 At the conclusion of this speech the mission- 
 ary picked up his suit case and again started 
 toward the store. 
 
 "Say, Mr. Wilson, since you are going to 
 stop anyway, if you will wait a few minutes 
 you are welcome to ride to the store. You 
 will find it warm enough over there without 
 heating yourself up by walking. Harry Keith 
 is a terror to all who say they believe the Bible. 
 And the boys — they are sure to be drunk when 
 there's preaching, and what they do is a plenty, 
 I'll tell you." 
 
 The missionary decided to accept Mike's kind 
 offer and sought the shade of the car while the 
 men unloaded the big bales of hay. All con- 
 versation ceased ; but Mike and his companion 
 were busy contemplating the results of the 
 young man's visit. Both felt that they knew 
 how it would terminate, and a chuckle escaped 
 the lips of Mike. 
 
 Young Wilson was also busy. His past ex- 
 perience with men, and especially since he had 
 become a missionary, led him to believe that 
 Mike was a character, and one of the first 
 things for him to do was to make of him a 
 friend. 
 
 14 All right, Mr. Wilson, we are ready," called 
 out Mike. 
 
 Young Wilson stepped from the shady side 
 
12 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 of the car, and with a vigorous swing of the 
 right arm tossed his suit case to a secure place 
 on the hay frame and followed it with a spring 
 that landed him by the side of Mike, who 
 watched his movements with a marked degree 
 of interest. 
 
 " You say your name is Wilson ? " 
 
 " Yes, Haden Wilson." 
 
 " I have a friend named Tom Wilson, but I 
 guess you don't know him. He's not your kind 
 of people." 
 
 11 1 know a Tom Wilson over in the Spavinaw 
 Mountains." 
 
 " It may be the same bid Tom. You may 
 be of kin. Are you ? " said Mike, with emphasis 
 on " you." Without waiting for an answer Mike 
 continued : " I first met Tom twenty-four years 
 ago in the seminary at Tahlequah. His home 
 was on Coyote Creek, in the hill country. His 
 father was a white man, but he killed some 
 men over in Georgia, and when they threatened 
 to enforce the law, he came to the Cherokee 
 country and married old man Hawkeye's 
 daughter. Hawkeye was half Cherokee. 
 Coyote Creek is a fine valley country with 
 mountains on both sides ; a good place to hide, 
 as well as to hunt. Tom grew up in them hills 
 and mountains — a mean devil ! His father sent 
 him to Tahlequah, but he never took to study, 
 
FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 13 
 
 and lie objected to the requirements of the 
 school. Sometimes he would run away and 
 return to the mountains to live with the In- 
 dians. But his father would bring him back. 
 After two years' trial he was allowed to remain 
 at home." 
 
 The team was driven by Mike's companion ; 
 and with a vigorous application of the whip it 
 moved off at a lively rate, but the driver was 
 interested in what passed between Mike and 
 the stranger and soon forgot to apply the " per- 
 suader," as he called it. The horses took notice 
 of the apathy of the driver and settled to a 
 poky walk. 
 
 " Tom and I are not related," said the Sun- 
 day-school man, " but I know him. I first met 
 him near two years ago." 
 
 "Was you in them hills with a grip like 
 that ? " asked Mike quickly. " Something has 
 come over Tom. Years ago you would not 
 have been safe. Then, if you had showed up 
 with a thing like that without red liquor, you 
 would have been taken for a government offi- 
 cer ; and I'll tell you, young man, you would 
 have to answer mighty straight if you got out 
 all right. Was you in them hills alone ? Nine 
 years ago I lived in that valley, and Tom and 
 me took in the country when we felt like it. I 
 tell you it was tough. It was not safe then for 
 
14 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONAKY 
 
 a fellow like you to be roaming around. I've 
 not heard from Tom in several years. How 
 was he getting along when you saw him ? The 
 last time I heard of the rascal there was war 
 on between him and Jake Jones. They were 
 trying to settle some trouble with Winchesters. 
 Where did you meet Tom ? " 
 
 The mention of Mike's old friend brought 
 back the past and he plunged into its review, 
 not appearing to note that he had asked ques- 
 tions which required answers. 
 
 The missionary was willing to let him talk. 
 In that way he would get a clue to the man he 
 wanted to know more about, so he did not at- 
 tempt to interrupt him by answering. But 
 after Mike asked the last question, he paused 
 as if expecting an answer. 
 
 " I met him out in the mountains northwest 
 of the valley." 
 
 " Great Scott ! man, what was a Sunday- 
 school worker doing in that country ? Nobody 
 but outlaws, moonshiners and revenue officers 
 go into such a devil's den as the Spavinaw 
 Mountains," ejaculated Mike, as he gave the 
 young man a searching look. 
 
 " In October of that year," said the mission- 
 ary, " I was asked to visit the Coyote Creek 
 valley and see if I could not organize a Sunday- 
 school. After securing the names of several 
 
FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 15 
 
 people who lived there, I started from Fayette- 
 ville, Arkansas, early on Thursday morning to 
 make the trip by noon the next day. When I 
 stopped that night I found that I was fifteen 
 miles from the valley. The next morning was 
 cloudy, and a chilly wind was blowing from 
 the north ; but I set out soon after daylight to 
 make the fifteen miles. The road was rough, 
 and my ponies were forced to go slowly. I 
 soon reached the deep gorges in the mountains. 
 Everything I could see looked lonely, and I felt 
 as my surroundings appeared. My courage was 
 kept up, however, by the expectation that I 
 would soon come out of the gloomy scenes into 
 the valley of Coyote Creek. Hours passed and 
 the hills, or mountains, appeared to get higher, 
 and the space between them much narrower. 
 The way continued to grow rougher and more 
 gloomy, and I began to think I had taken the 
 wrong road, when I reached the most desolate 
 part. However, as I pressed on, I saw ahead 
 of me a board fastened to a tree. Here I felt 
 sure was 'the friendly guide-post and, urging 
 my ponies forward, I drove up to read its direc- 
 tions. On the board in big, black letters were 
 the words, ' Just Five Miles To H-ll.' " 
 
 " Thunder ! mister, you was eight miles from 
 the valley," roared Mike, with a vigor that 
 caused the little old bony team to move into a 
 
16 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 livelier trot, " and just five miles from where 
 old Shanks' wildcat-still used to be. That 
 thing stirred up more hellishness in them moun- 
 tains than has ever been found in any other 
 place on the earth. Jake Jones and I nailed 
 that very board on that tree the day after Sam 
 Jesup and Hal West killed each other. We 
 swore that we would shoot the one who tore it 
 down, and I guess it is there to this day. Both 
 men had good wives. On that day they went 
 to the still, good friends, got drunk on old 
 Shanks' moonshine whiskey and rounded up by 
 killing each other. As we stood around their 
 graves and heard their weeping wives and the 
 cries of their helpless children, I felt like rising 
 up and stamping out the whole infernal busi- 
 ness. The next day after we buried them, Jake 
 and me walked up the valley and nailed that 
 board where you saw it, as a warning to all 
 who did not want to go to hell." 
 
 Here Mike paused as if in deep agony over 
 the past. 
 
 " I tell you, Mr. Wilson, I have sold many a 
 gallon and drunk more of the cursed stuff, and 
 I know it is hell." 
 
 This utterance of Mike was with such force 
 that the little old bony team moved out again, 
 evidently thinking that the whole demonstra- 
 tion was for it. 
 
 »r 
 
FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 17 
 
 Wilson saw that he had made a discovery 
 that would add interest to his experience, and 
 remained silent, hoping that his companion 
 would continue. 
 
 " I told the revenue officers if they wanted 
 to find the place where most of them would go 
 after Uncle Sam got through with them, to 
 follow the directions of that sign-board. The 
 old ' devil,' Shanks, and his son were killed, 
 and his plant burned. I left when that raid 
 was made, but some of the gang stayed. Tom 
 Wilson was one of them. But I don't know how 
 it is now. How was it when you was there ? " 
 
 Mike paused after asking this question. 
 
 " It is not so bad now," said young Wilson. 
 
 " How did you get out of that country alive ? " 
 
 " When I saw that sign I stopped. I had al- 
 ready gone as close to that country as I wanted 
 to get. In fact, I was not hunting that place." 
 At this statement Mike and the driver laughed. 
 
 " You was not traveling on that road," said 
 Mike, continuing to laugh. 
 
 " No, sir. I turned my ponies' heads at once 
 in the other direction and started back down 
 the narrow valley. As soon as I felt that I was 
 out of danger, I stopped, knowing that I was 
 lost. After a little while I concluded to hallo ; 
 so I gave a big ' whoo-ee,' hoping that I might 
 attract the attention of some one." 
 
18 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 " By the eternals, man, that was a dangerous 
 thing to do ! Them hills might have been full 
 of men looking for bootleggers or officers. If 
 they had found you, it is dead sure you would 
 not be taking this ride with us to-day." 
 
 This last statement served to send the little 
 old bony team into a lively trot again. 
 
 " Yes, so I thought that day. After giving 
 that big whoop, in a very short time, three 
 voices answered back. I soon heard them 
 again. I was almost sure that I was about to 
 fall into the hands of outlaws. They continued 
 to hallo ; one down the valley in the direction 
 I was going. After reflecting a short time as 
 to what to do I concluded that I would stop, 
 and answered back in a good strong voice. I 
 did not have to wait long, for in a few minutes 
 I saw a man looking in every way like an out- 
 law, as I had such characters pictured in my 
 mind. He appeared to be very tall, much more 
 than six feet, and carried a Winchester in both 
 hands, ready to shoot at the slightest warning. 
 I sat in my buggy and held the ponies, but 
 they were very impatient, and I thought scented 
 danger. By the time he approached the buggy, 
 another, looking equally dangerous, came into 
 view from the other side. The first man de- 
 manded with an oath why I did not come yes- 
 terday. I explained that I did not know that 
 
FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 19 
 
 I was expected on that day, but he insisted that 
 I did. Pretty soon two more came up, both 
 with Winchesters. Their greeting was some- 
 thing similar to that of the first men, and I 
 continued to protest that I did not know I was 
 expected yesterday. All came close up, and 
 the first one to address me walked to the rear 
 of the buggy, lifted the cover and ran his hand 
 inside. He brought out a twenty-five cent 
 Bible, a large number of which I was carrying 
 with me. When he held up that Bible for his 
 companions to inspect — the surprise that came 
 to the face of each I shall never forget. At 
 first they looked like they would run away. 
 Pretty soon, however, the one who held the 
 book gained his self-control, gave a long, keen 
 whistle, and then broke into a laugh in which 
 the others joined. 
 
 " ' Say, mister, who are you, and what do 
 you expect to do with these things ? ' said the 
 leader, who by this time had made a further 
 examination of the buggy, bringing out other 
 Bibles and passing one to each of his compan- 
 ions. 
 
 " I told them my name. 
 
 " ' You must not be the man we are looking 
 for just now. But you may be one of them 
 cursed revenue officers,' continued the leader. 
 
 " At this suggestion a vicious look came into 
 
20 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 the face of each one. Throwing the Bibles to 
 the ground they stepped back from the buggy, 
 holding their "Winchesters in a most threaten- 
 ing position. 
 
 " ' I say, mister/ demanded the man to my 
 left, i who are you ? "We're not going to be 
 fooled with this time. If you are one of them 
 cursed officers, pretending to be a Bible man, 
 your days are up. It is the last time you will 
 slip into these woods and pry into our business.' 
 
 " They looked desperate, and some explana- 
 tion was necessary. I held up my hands and 
 told the men to come and search me. 
 
 " At this the one at my left said, ' Pull him 
 out, Tom, and see what he's got.' " 
 
 " I'll bet these horses and wagon that that 
 was Tom Wilson," exclaimed Mike. 
 
 This statement was accompanied with a 
 greater demonstration than any of Mike's pre- 
 vious performances, which caused the little old 
 bony horses to lunge forward, nearly sending 
 the missionary and Mike sprawling on the 
 ground. Mike avenged this breach on the part 
 of the horses by vigorously cursing each. 
 
 " That long six-footer who came around the 
 bend, I'll bet Bill and Kate (those were the 
 names of the horses) was Tom — the same old 
 Tom Wilson I used to tramp with over the hills 
 and mountains looking for bootleggers, marshals 
 
FIEST VISIT TO MODOC 21 
 
 and revenue officers. I'll tell you, Mr. Wilson, 
 if that Torn had ever pulled the trigger of his 
 Winchester on you I'm sure we wouldn't have 
 the pleasure of your company to-day. How 
 did you and them rascals settle it ? You must 
 be a slick duck to explain to that gang. Yes, 
 sir, you must be a good one to be here to-day. 
 How did you do it ? " 
 
 Mike paused ; this gave the missionary a 
 chance to proceed. 
 
 " I told them frankly who I was, and my 
 mission to that country. They laughed and 
 made sport of my purpose, but I was firm and 
 asked them about several people whose names 
 I had secured. One of the parties I inquired 
 about was Tom Wilson, the six-footer. When 
 I called his name the gang forgot its murder- 
 ous purpose of a few minutes before in an out- 
 burst of laughter, and when I told them I had 
 selected Tom Wilson's name from the list as a 
 person probably suitable for superintendent of 
 the Sunday-school I expected to organize I 
 gained a point. Of course they laughed at the 
 idea, but understood my ignorance of the real 
 condition. I told them I would hold a service 
 at their little schoolhouse the following night 
 and another on Sunday, and expressed the hope 
 that each one would be present. I asked Tom 
 to get into the buggy with me, as I had to 
 
22 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 spend the night somewhere, and would as soon 
 stay with him as any one in the valley. None 
 of the men would go with me, but I insisted 
 that I was going to Tom's house. Tom ob- 
 jected by saying he was not fixed to keep 
 strangers. He tried to bluff me by saying that 
 he had eleven children at home. But he told 
 me how to go and I drove down the little narrow 
 valley. I knew I was watched, so I took my 
 time, stopped at the first house I came to and 
 explained my mission to a poor, tired woman 
 with a number of children, a Mrs. West." 
 
 "That's Hal's widow, I'll bet this wagon," 
 broke in Mike with great emphasis. 
 
 " When I told her what I was there for, she 
 burst into tears and said she wished I had come 
 long ago. I found the little schoolhouse, called 
 on a few other families and finally drove up to 
 Tom Wilson's and told his wife I wanted to stay 
 all night. Tom soon rounded in, satisfied that 
 I was neither a bootlegger nor an officer. I 
 spent the next day in the valley, meeting as 
 many people as I could, and arranging to make 
 the little old schoolhouse comfortable. To 
 make a long story short," said the missionary, 
 for he saw they were near the store, " I spent 
 ten days in the valley and organized a little 
 Sunday-school. I preached each night and 
 visited the people during the day. Some 
 
FIRST VISIT TO MODOC 23 
 
 months later I returned and held a meeting in 
 which a number were converted. A church 
 was organized. Tom Wilson is an officer in it 
 and superintendent of the Sunday-school. A 
 painted church house stands in the valley near 
 the banks of that beautiful little creek, and the 
 people are called together each Sunday morning 
 by the church bell. The blind tiger and boot- 
 legger find it hard to do business in that coun- 
 try now. The people have learned that a Sun- 
 day-school and a church are much better." 
 
 The wagon had stopped in front of the store, 
 but Mike appeared to be oblivious of all about 
 him. What the missionary had said about the 
 change in Coyote Creek valley brought to his 
 mind visions that had long been marred by a 
 vicious and dissipated life. 
 
CHAPTEE II 
 
 A father's folly 
 
 Mike's father was an Irishman. While a 
 young man his adventurous spirit carried him 
 into the Indian country. After remaining there 
 some time he married a Cherokee girl whose 
 father was a white man. The elder Masters, 
 after making some investigation as to a suitable 
 section in which to locate, chose the western 
 part of the nation, and was the first farmer to 
 demonstrate the fact that that country was 
 suitable for growing grain in addition to its ad- 
 vantages for grazing. 
 
 Mike's father lived a reckless life, although he 
 was a successful farmer and stockman. He soon 
 laid claim to a large portion of the land about 
 him ; and was never more in his proper element 
 than when in a dispute with some other claimant 
 over boundary lines, or unbranded cattle. It is 
 reported that for a number of years, during the 
 latter part of the existence of the courts of the 
 tribal government, and also after the United 
 States superseded that government by substitut- 
 ing its own courts, the elder Masters' name 
 
 24 
 
A father's folly 25 
 
 seldom failed to appear on the dockets, both 
 civil and criminal, at each term of these courts. 
 
 He was not content to let the law settle all 
 matters of dispute. A difference with him 
 meant a challenge to physical combat wherever 
 he encountered his enemies. This was especially 
 true when he was under the influence of liquor, 
 and that was always his condition when he was 
 where whiskey could be had. As a result of 
 that temperament the elder Mike Masters bore 
 to his grave many marks of sanguinary conflicts. 
 From the earliest recollection of the eldest son, 
 Mike Jr., it was his father's protracted drunks, 
 ungovernable rage, and frequent returns home, 
 half dead, maimed and bleeding, that impressed 
 him most. 
 
 The younger Masters as he advanced in years 
 shared his father's cause. His Irish and Indian 
 blood, under the influence of whiskey, com- 
 bined to make him a dangerous character at an 
 early age. His prowess and nerve readily won 
 for him the admiration of the drunken clans. 
 After passing into his teens, young Mike was a 
 power to be reckoned with by the enemies of 
 the Masters family. 
 
 While the elder Masters frequently rose to 
 great heights in praising his son's courage and 
 physical powers, he was not unmindful that he 
 should receive a fair degree of mental training. 
 
26 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 To accomplish this, Mike was sent to the tribal 
 school at Tahlequah. 
 
 In school his progress was also marked. He 
 entered as heartily into his new life and ac- 
 cepted the requirements of the faculty with the 
 same zeal that had made him the young hero and 
 champion at home. Ere long young Masters 
 demonstrated that he possessed strong mental 
 powers as well as physical strength and cour- 
 age. He also had a frank way of always tell- 
 ing the truth, that won for him the admiration 
 of the officers and teachers of the institution. 
 
 The social and religious influence of the 
 seminary aided in bringing great changes to 
 the semi-civilized life of the young student. 
 These marked improvements, with his frank 
 temperament, led some of the members of the 
 faculty and citizens of Tahlequah, who had the 
 good of the Cherokee people at heart, to regard 
 him as one of the promising young men of the 
 nation. 
 
 Upon his return home, however, at the close 
 of the school, these hopeful signs of reform and 
 development would disappear. The conduct 
 and conversation of his associates, and the gen- 
 eral environments of the home would fall like 
 a dark shadow over his budding and promising 
 life. The transformation of the young man was 
 always great ; so much so, that at times he him- 
 
A father's folly 27 
 
 self was amazed at the changes. He would 
 often long to return and seek the associations 
 of the seminary which had been the means of 
 discovering, and, to an extent, developing new 
 purposes in his life. But bad company and 
 language, the impious and debauched life of his 
 father and the low and depressing surroundings 
 of the ill-kept home had been a part of his 
 existence from his earliest recollections, and he 
 supposed were to continue as they had always 
 been. 
 
 When only a small boy he was taught by his 
 depraved father and associates to drink and 
 gamble, and now in his young manhood he was 
 expected to join in the frequent drunken 
 revelries. At first, on returning home, his 
 conscience smote him as he joined his old com- 
 panions in their frantic orgies, but that small 
 voice was soon hushed by the overwhelming in- 
 fluence arrayed against it, and he was again ere 
 long the leader of the neighborhood clans. 
 
 The few years in school qualified Mike to 
 handle business with a degree of system and 
 accuracy. His aptness in making calculations 
 and keeping accounts afforded his father much 
 pleasure ; and he took great credit to himself 
 that he had been generous enough to provide 
 the means to educate his son. But the habit of 
 drinking and gambling, which he himself had 
 
28 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 taught the boy, was a matter of no concern to 
 him. 
 
 Soon after returning home from the seminary, 
 having spent four years at Tahlequah, Mike mar- 
 ried a successful farmer's daughter. At this 
 time the young man enjoyed the utmost con- 
 fidence of his father, who took great pleasure in 
 making a good selection of a farm on which the 
 young couple were to settle, the farm to be 
 Mike's allotment, by virtue of his being a citizen 
 of the Cherokee Nation. 
 
 Shortly after taking charge of his own affairs 
 Mike was also placed in control of the school in- 
 terest, then administered under the tribal laws of 
 the nation. He was greatly pleased with the 
 responsibility and took special pains to discharge 
 the duties of that office. It delighted him to 
 see the children in school, and he frequently 
 visited them. When in their presence the re- 
 fining influences of his early training, in the 
 seminary, were so pronounced that all traces of 
 a reckless and debauched leader disappeared. 
 In the school he was as gentle and kind as the 
 trusting child. Of all the experiences that 
 were a part of his life, save that of his young 
 wife, which served to check the tide of wicked- 
 ness into which he was being plunged, the lit- 
 tle schoolhouse was his only refuge. There he 
 could be free from temptation. It, too, brought 
 
A father's folly 29 
 
 back to him memories of pleasant associations. 
 "While thinking and working in the interest of 
 the children, there would often come to him 
 visions of a life free from the debasing habits 
 that held the young manhood of the country in 
 their relentless grasp. At times he longed to 
 be free from them, and the little schoolhouse 
 for a while encouraged him. But its influence, 
 like the still, small voice of his conscience, 
 forced to combat such powers of evil, too, was 
 hushed by the increasing flood of wickedness. 
 
 As the years passed the drinking habit, and 
 all it entails, grew on young Masters. Gam- 
 bling was common ; and with the years, that 
 blighting curse sunk its fangs deep into his 
 whole life. He frequently lost heavily. At 
 times all of his available property was swept 
 away in a game of poker. Occasionally he 
 would win, but failure or success only served to 
 plunge him deeper and deeper into gambling's 
 treacherous power. In a few years all the 
 property he could control was consumed in the 
 vortex of dissipation. His father was so 
 estranged from him on account of his losses 
 and neglect of business that he refused further 
 aid or protection to him or his family. While 
 the elder Masters would often bewail the fact 
 that his son had made such shipwreck of his 
 life, yet at no time did he think to reproach 
 
30 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 himself with the truth that he, his father, was 
 the primary cause of this stranding of the son's 
 manhood. 
 
 After long years of dissipation, and when all 
 hopes for Mike's reformation — even by himself 
 — had been ground to powder, there would still, 
 in his sober moments, come to him the vision of 
 that purer life which attracted him in his 
 earliest manhood. He would sometimes wonder 
 how or why it was, that visions of better things 
 would appear to one, such as he was, a stranded 
 human being, a derelict, tossed and driven by 
 the winds of dissipation. It has ever been so 
 with poor and helpless men. They may not 
 know that such visions are the calls of a loving 
 God, seeking to win them back from the power 
 of sin. Yet it is true. It is the call of him 
 who came to seek and to save the lost. Men 
 like Mike are helpless, as much so as poor blind 
 Bartimseus; while Jesus is as ready to save 
 them from their depraved life as he was to heal 
 the blind beggar, yet they, like the beggar, must 
 go to him if they would be saved from the 
 power of sin. 
 
CHAPTEE III 
 
 A NEW COUNTRY 
 
 Modoo was not only the name of the post- 
 office, but it stood for a section of country. 
 The post-office was established in the seventies, 
 before any railroads were built. In the early 
 days the entire region, composing the western 
 part of the Cherokee Nation, was regarded as 
 fit for grazing purposes only ; and that particu- 
 lar section, which finally became known as Mo- 
 doc, was considered one of the choice portions. 
 The grass was luxuriant and the whole territory 
 well watered by a number of small streams 
 which headed back in the hill country to the 
 west. The low land adjacent to those streams 
 and extending some distance back from them 
 on either side was covered with timber such as 
 oak, hickory, walnut and other growths. This 
 timber afforded abundant shade for the cattle 
 during the heat of the summer, and protection 
 from the storms of winter. Such advantages, 
 together with the bountiful supply of water and 
 abundant grass, made the Modoc country an 
 ideal place for cattle raising. 
 
 James Clark was one of the first enterprising 
 
 31 
 
32 haden wilsok: missionary 
 
 white men to discover this ideal region. He 
 was also the first white man to appropriate 
 a portion of its superior advantages. Clark 
 drifted into the country in 1832, stopping at 
 Fort Gibson with the Kangers sent to that fort 
 by the United States government. He made 
 the " Tour of the Prairies " with the Kangers 
 and parties from the East, commissioned by the 
 United States to negotiate a treaty with certain 
 tribes of Indians located in what is now central 
 and western Oklahoma. Clark possessed an 
 adventurous spirit and enjoyed the confidence 
 of the commission and United States army offi- 
 cers. He also enjoyed the personal friendship 
 of Washington Irving, who accompanied the 
 commission on its trip to the West from St. 
 Louis. 
 
 After returning to Fort Gibson, from the 
 " Tour of the Prairies," Clark decided to re- 
 main in the Indian Territory. Frequent excur- 
 sions were made into other little known regions 
 of the West. It was on one of these expeditions 
 that he discovered the attractive country after- 
 ward known as Modoc, and some years later 
 he came with his Indian wife to build his home 
 and appropriate its superior advantages. 
 
 Clark's aggressive spirit soon won the friend- 
 ship of the Indians, and he in turn became an 
 adopted member of the tribe. He was devoted 
 
A NEW COUNTRY 33 
 
 to the interest of the Cherokee people — so far 
 as he was able to discourage them from adopt- 
 ing other white men ; but in after years it was 
 a common report that James Clark's large ac- 
 cumulations were at the expense of the people 
 he professed to love. 
 
 After settling in the Modoc country Clark's 
 holdings soon doubled, and he became an influ- 
 ential man in the management of tribal affairs. 
 His cattle, roaming over that region which his 
 prophetic eye had marked, growing sleek and 
 fat on the succulent grass, were numbered by 
 the thousand. The men whom he employed to 
 protect his interests on the range were not ham- 
 pered with instructions ; only his interests were 
 not to be neglected. One of the orders to be 
 faithfully observed, that he might not be robbed 
 of his own, was to place upon all unbranded 
 stock found in the region the imprint of Clark's 
 ownership. 
 
 This method of acquiring property often led 
 to trouble. Other men made the discovery 
 that the Modoc portion of the Cherokee Nation 
 was a desirable stock country, and they made 
 bold, as Clark had done, to appropriate its ad- 
 vantages. Among them Mike Masters was one 
 of the most aggressive. This clashing of inter- 
 ests often led to hostilities in which one or more 
 of the cowboys lost their lives. 
 
34 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 Harry Keith, who drifted across the border 
 near Coffeyville, Kansas, was one of Clark's 
 most faithful adherents. Where he came from 
 no one ever knew. But that fact in those days 
 was not sufficient to raise a suspicion derogatory 
 to a newcomer's character. All that was re- 
 quired was loyalty to the present interest of 
 those he served. In this Harry Keith never 
 failed, even to the extent of rebranding cattle 
 where the marks of other ownerships were 
 dimmed. After a service of a few years, Keith 
 married a daughter of his employer and soon 
 thereafter became one of the managers of his 
 father-in-law's large estate. 
 
 It had become generally known that the 
 western portion of the nation was good for 
 farming. While opposition to breaking or 
 plowing the land was bitter among the cow- 
 men, yet cutting up the region into farms con- 
 tinued to increase. 
 
 As early as 1866 the Delaware Indians 
 purchased from the Cherokee Nation the right 
 to the ownership of one hundred and sixty 
 thousand acres of land. After making this 
 purchase that tribe moved from Kansas to the 
 Cherokee country. While very few of the 
 Delawares were farmers, yet they were a 
 home-loving people, and many of them settled 
 in the western part known as Modoc. 
 
A NEW COUNTRY 35 
 
 Finally it became a recognized fact that this 
 region could no longer be held for grazing 
 purposes. In compliance with this conclusion, 
 James Clark disposed of much of the land he 
 claimed by making leases to white farmers for 
 a term of years. Thus after a bitter contest 
 between the cowmen themselves, and also be- 
 tween the cowmen and farmers, there came a 
 change from that of a grazing to an agricultural 
 country. 
 
 Harry Keith knew what would happen. 
 With the increase of population and especially 
 the coming of the Delawares, who received 
 large payments of money from the United 
 States government, a demand for supplies 
 nearer home would be created. To meet such 
 a demand he opened up the first store in that 
 region south of Coffeyville, and west of the 
 Yerdigres Kiver. It proved a success. Harry's 
 trade with the Indians was good, and the prices 
 they were forced to pay greatly enriched the 
 merchant. 
 
 In a short time after opening the store a 
 post-office was established, and Modoc became 
 a recognized place on the map. 
 
 Some years later the St. Louis and Iron Moun- 
 tain Kailroad was built from Fort Smith, Ar- 
 kansas, to Coffeyville, Kansas. This road missed 
 Modoc, passing some miles to the east. At its 
 
36 haden wilsok: missionary 
 
 nearest point there was only a siding and water- 
 ing tank. But the trains stopped there to re- 
 ceive and discharge passengers, and also to un- 
 load freight. It was here that Haden "Wilson 
 first stopped to begin his work as a Sunday- 
 school missionary in this section, and here he 
 met Mike Masters. 
 
 When Modoc began to attract attention as a 
 farming country, its choicest lands were leased 
 by white farmers. However, some of the In- 
 dians located in the vicinity where the post- 
 office was afterward established. 
 
 The settlement of the Indian families led to 
 the building of the little schoolhouse in which 
 was taught a six-months school during each 
 year for the benefit of the Indian children. 
 While a large per cent, of the children in the 
 community were white, no provision was made 
 for their education. 
 
 The white farmers had been attracted to the 
 nation on account of the favorable conditions 
 for farming and the long term leases on land 
 at a nominal cost. 
 
 The fact that only a few of them owned or 
 could own the land had a depressing effect on 
 the educational, moral and religious interest of 
 the entire country. The lack of the element of 
 permanency prevented some, who understood 
 the need of schools and a higher standard of 
 
A NEW COUNTRY 37 
 
 morals, from taking active steps along these 
 lines. There was little reverence for the Sab- 
 bath day or regard for the holy Bible. It was 
 true that occasionally a citizen sent a son or 
 daughter to the national school at Tahlequah, 
 but in most instances these students would re- 
 turn to their homes as Mike Masters had done, 
 to find such a contrast between the ideal life 
 of which they had a glimpse, and the real life 
 in which they lived every hour of the day, that 
 they soon settled down in what seemed to be 
 the only way open to them. 
 
 True, religious matters and the Bible were 
 frequently discussed at the store ; yet such dis- 
 cussions generally ended by impressing the 
 youths, who often heard them, that the Bible 
 and the Christian religion were frauds. Harry 
 Keith prided himself on violently criticizing 
 both. His opposition was always pronounced. 
 In fact, he was determined that no church or- 
 ganization should gain a footing in the commu- 
 nity, and had several times secured infidels to 
 visit the little schoolhouse and deliver lectures 
 in which the Bible and Jesus Christ were 
 severely condemned. All this resulted in prac- 
 tically intimidating those who did not believe 
 as he did. 
 
 Not all the people, it is true, were disbeliev- 
 ers; there was, however, but one individual, 
 
38 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 Mrs. Holmes, who was a professing Christian 
 at the time of Haden Wilson's visit. " Uncle 
 Bill " Massey would at times take a bold stand 
 against Harry Keith, but his inconsistent life, 
 inasmuch as he got drunk occasionally, and 
 when angry would curse, was a great humilia- 
 tion to him in his sober moments ; and because 
 he was guilty of such conduct he would lay no 
 claims to being a Christian. 
 
 In fact, when a young man in Missouri, he 
 was converted and lived a consistent Christian 
 life for several years. But during his long resi- 
 dence in the Indian Territory he had fallen 
 away from his early profession. Yet " Uncle 
 Bill's" loyalty in the support of his belief 
 caused many to regard him with a marked de- 
 gree of reverence. In his arguments with 
 Harry Keith, however, he was always subject 
 to one weakness, that of losing his temper. 
 The victory in the minds of many who would 
 hear the heated discussion between the infidel 
 and " Uncle Bill " was not always on the side 
 of the infidel. Occasionally he would attack 
 the disbeliever with arguments that he was un- 
 able to answer. Then Harry Keith would re- 
 sort to his old schemes of provoking his antag- 
 onist to wrath, which was always followed by 
 a volley of oaths. These oaths were the refuge 
 of the infidel, for the reason that the listening 
 
A NEW COUNTRY 39 
 
 crowd would be moved to uproarious laughter, 
 and that ended the arguments. 
 
 It was to this community that Haden Wilson 
 had voluntarily gone for the express purpose of 
 spending at least ten days. His plans were to 
 hold services each night during that time, and 
 to establish a Sunday-school. 
 
 The little schoolhouse erected years before 
 for the Indian children was the only building 
 available for such services. It was necessary 
 to get the consent of the directors of the school 
 district to use it. Harry Keith was one of 
 them and, as Mike had remarked, whatever he 
 said was law. It was true there were two 
 other members of the board, but Keith dictated 
 all the business at that time. It had been the 
 custom to use the building for all purposes of a 
 public nature, such as shows, debates, dances 
 and occasionally, in bad weather, those who 
 gambled would resort to the schoolhouse. 
 Sometimes, too, a preacher would venture that 
 way and hold a service in it. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE MISSIONARY'S FIRST EXPERIENCE IN 
 THE MODOC COUNTRY 
 
 "When the wagon in which Mike and Haden 
 Wilson rode stopped at the store, it was twelve 
 o'clock. The missionary proceeded at once to 
 see the merchant, who was pointed out by some 
 of the loungers about the store. He was tall, 
 at least six feet, large of bone and clothed with 
 very little extra flesh — a raw-boned six-footer. 
 His hands and feet were also large and, as he 
 moved about, one got the impression that he 
 was a conspirator. His big hands, with their 
 long, bony fingers, made the missionary think 
 of a snake. There was no warm, hearty clasp, 
 but a cold, almost slimy, touch. His face, 
 lank, skinny and gaunt, harmonized with his 
 hands and feet. His eyebrows were heavy and 
 they, with his lowering forehead, gave one the 
 impression that he owned a very brutish na- 
 ture. His eyes were small and black, and were 
 never still, refusing to stand for a searching 
 glance. That they were the windows of his 
 soul appeared to be fully understood by Harry 
 
 40 
 
THE FIRST EXPERIENCE 41 
 
 Keith, and he was determined that his soul 
 should not be explored. 
 
 After introducing himself, the missionary en- 
 tered at once into an explanation of his work, 
 and the object of his visit to Modoc. The bold- 
 ness and candor of the young man astonished 
 the merchant. It was the first time in many 
 years that any one had been daring enough to 
 make so frank a statement of his plans, which 
 were altogether contrary to Keith's views. 
 Others who approached him along such lines 
 did so with an air of apology. But this young 
 man had no apology to offer. With him clearly 
 his work was a business of importance, and to 
 do that work was his greatest purpose. 
 
 "Well, Mr. Wilson, you understand we do 
 not care for your kind of work," said the mer- 
 chant. 
 
 " I have understood that you seldom have 
 preaching and that you have never had a Sun- 
 day-school," replied the missionary. "But I 
 suppose there are some who would like to have 
 some religious services, and I am sure that the 
 children would be glad to attend a Sunday- 
 school." 
 
 " You will find it hard ; I guess you will," 
 and he gave the young man a brief, searching 
 glance of inquiry as if to learn whether he had 
 the nerve and the good common sense to meet 
 
42 HADEN WILSON." MISSIONARY 
 
 and overcome the opposition which he knew 
 would be arrayed against him. 
 
 " You can have the schoolhouse, but I'll guar- 
 antee you will not want it two weeks," said the 
 merchant, in a bantering tone. 
 
 "I may get through before that time," re- 
 plied the missionary, " but I have planned to 
 spend two weeks here at present." 
 
 With the preliminaries relative to the school- 
 house settled, the missionary next set about to 
 engage a room where he could make his home, 
 and he was not long in getting located. 
 
 Haden Wilson was deeply impressed with the 
 importance of the task he was undertaking. 
 Already he had been made to feel that there 
 were breakers ahead. He felt his utter inabil- 
 ity to accomplish his mission in his own name. 
 By years of experience he had come to know 
 in his weakness that there was strength in 
 Christ's promises ; the only trouble was to trust 
 them. This he constantly sought to do by 
 often engaging in earnest prayer. To that end 
 he knelt in his room that afternoon, and in his 
 prayer asked to be guided in the special work 
 he was about to begin. 
 
 After spending a short time in the home 
 where he had secured lodging Haden Wilson 
 returned to the store. It was clear that his 
 mission had been made known. His approach 
 
THE FIRST EXPERIENCE 43 
 
 had the effect of silencing the noisv crowd. A 
 battery of eyes was turned upon him as if he 
 were a visitor from another planet. The 
 crowd's curiosity was met with frankness. To 
 a number he introduced himself, and most of 
 the men were respectful, yet some manifested a 
 coarse and boorish manner. James Murray, a 
 noted character in the neighborhood, showed 
 his rudeness when the missionary asked him to 
 attend the services. 
 
 " I never go to such places except to help the 
 tramp preachers to move on," he said in a 
 swaggering manner. 
 
 The crowd laughed. The missionary smiled, 
 but did not show that he was intimidated. 
 
 " If I am invited to that kind of a service I 
 may be there," said Murray, giving some of the 
 boys a wink, and they laughed again. 
 
 " I suppose you make some investigations be- 
 fore you take part in that kind of service," 
 remarked the missionary. 
 
 " All preachers are about the same," rejoined 
 Murray, squaring himself for an argument or 
 anything else that might follow. 
 
 At this point Mike Masters broke in with the 
 same emphatic manner that had set the little 
 bony team into a trot. 
 
 " I expect to see to it that Mr. Wilson gets a 
 fair deal," said Mike, with a swing of his fist 
 
44: HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 and a stamp on the floor that at once silenced 
 Murray's bantering attitude. " I expect to see 
 to it, Jim Murray, that you and your gang 
 will have company on the spot if you go to the 
 schoolhouse to-night to disturb Mr. Wilson," 
 continued Mike in no uncertain tone. 
 
 " I'm sure," said the missionary, " that the 
 boys will give me a chance. I have generally 
 found them willing to do that, wherever I have 
 gone." 
 
 This pointed statement, together with the 
 young man's new friend's demonstration and 
 remarks, had a good effect. 
 
 " I will be busy the remainder of the day, 
 but I hope to see all the boys at the service 
 to-night." And with that statement Haden 
 Wilson withdrew and set out to visit as many 
 homes in the community as he might be able to 
 reach that afternoon. His object was to give 
 publicity to his services and to invite the people 
 to attend them. In this simple act he was en- 
 gaged in his first battle with Satan for the 
 salvation of the people of Modoc. At times, 
 on his rounds that afternoon, the results of his 
 efforts appeared so small that he was tempted 
 to give up the fight. But in the struggle there 
 came to him the promise, " Lo, I am with you 
 alvvay, even unto the end," and he rushed on 
 to the next home. 
 
THE FIRST EXPERIENCE 45 
 
 On visiting one cabin, young Wilson prac- 
 tically forced his way inside. It was a poor and 
 badly kept home. In response to his knock at 
 the door an old Indian woman appeared holding 
 it only partly open, her own body filling the 
 space. It was an unusual sight to see her, in 
 whose tall, statue-like body, black and piercing 
 eves and brown and withered face, there still 
 lingered traces of her noble ancestors. She 
 showed great indifference to what her visitor 
 said, and was averse to answering questions. 
 The missionary was a little taken back when 
 she refused to talk, but there came to him the 
 impression that perhaps of all whom he had 
 called on that afternoon she most needed help. 
 As she moved back from the door, with a wave 
 of her hand as a signal for him to leave, he, in- 
 stead of departing, gently pushed his way 
 inside and took his stand in the middle of the 
 room. He continued his questions, but she an- 
 swered no more readily than before. Observ- 
 ing an enlarged picture suspended from the 
 wall the missionary looked at it for a while. 
 It was that of a young man. Glancing at the 
 old woman, he saw that she was pleased. 
 
 Turning to her he asked : " Whose picture is 
 that ? " 
 
 " My boy — he my boy — he good boy." 
 
 " Where is he ? " continued the missionary. 
 
46 HADEtf WILSON: MISSIONAKY 
 
 The mother hesitated, then replied : " He at 
 Leavenworth," and would say no more. 
 
 " What does he do at Leavenworth ? " not 
 suspecting the real cause of his being there. 
 
 "He work — he in prison — he innocent — he 
 good boy." 
 
 By continuing to ask questions about the 
 young man, who had been sent to the United 
 States penitentiary for a long term of years, 
 the missionary led the poor old Indian mother 
 to forget the reserve, and she was soon talk- 
 ing freely. He learned that she was sixty 
 years of age, a widow, who had two sons; 
 that she could not read and was not a Chris- 
 tian. 
 
 " Mothers' prayers can greatly help their 
 boys," said the missionary. "Your boy at 
 Leavenworth needs your prayers." 
 
 " Me want help my poor boy. Not good," 
 and she placed both hands on her breast. Still 
 holding them there, and shaking her head, she 
 said, " Heap bad." 
 
 " Jesus can help you to be good and will hear 
 your prayer for your boy." 
 
 " Me want Jesus," said the old Indian woman, 
 still holding one hand on her breast. 
 
 " I will help you to find him and pray for 
 your boy if you will go to the services*" 
 
 " Me will go." 
 
THE FIRST EXPERIENCE 47 
 
 With* this the missionary gave her his hand 
 and left the cabin. 
 
 Among the homes visited that afternoon was 
 that of Mike Masters. His wife was a tired 
 little woman. While there was an air of tidi- 
 ness in the little two-roomed cottage, yet every 
 article of furniture was of the cheapest char- 
 acter. The children, who stood in silence about 
 the room with a look of anxiety in their faces, 
 were scantily clad. When the object of his 
 visit was explained there was a visible expres- 
 sion of relief on the mother's face. It was not 
 unusual for strangers to visit their home, but 
 the purpose of such calls was generally to col- 
 lect debts contracted by Mike during his 
 drunken sprees. So when it was learned that 
 the object of the present visit was of a helpful 
 nature, in the interest of the children, the tired 
 little woman could not keep back the tears. 
 
 In her early girlhood, back in the state of 
 Missouri, she was a member of the little Sunday- 
 school. The memories of those sweet, innocent 
 days in her young life, the contrast which the 
 years had brought her ; the great difference in 
 her own childhood and that of her children — 
 all this flashing through her mind came near 
 unnerving Mrs. Masters, who for more than 
 eighteen years had been tried in the hardest 
 school of life. 
 
48 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 The missionary understood it all. His heart 
 was full of sympathy for the mother and the 
 helpless children. While these children bore in 
 their pinched, pale faces and on their bodies 
 the marks of poverty, there were in their ap- 
 pealing looks and regular and well-formed 
 features expressions of gentleness, love and 
 devotion to their mother that was beautiful. 
 She in her long suffering had not forgotten or 
 thrown aside gentleness and patience. The full 
 blessing of both had rewarded her in the 
 beautiful and loving devotion of her children. 
 The father was a most impatient man when 
 drinking, but his outbursts of rage had been 
 borne meekly. The meekness was, and had al- 
 ways been, the children's refuge. How she 
 held to it no one seemed to know. In silence 
 she bore her disappointments and afflictions and 
 clung to what she felt, in the assurance of her 
 heart, was her duty. 
 
 When the missionary left that scant and 
 humble home he had an enlarged vision of his 
 mission to the people of Modoc. 
 
 " I must win that man," he said almost 
 audibly, as he rushed along the dusty road to 
 the next house. The prize was a glorious one. 
 To win Mike signified far more than saving a 
 man. It meant the lifting from the wife and 
 mother a load of poverty that hung like a mill- 
 
THE FIRST EXPERIENCE 49 
 
 stone about her neck, and bringing to the chil- 
 dren much more than they could hope for, 
 trained, as they had been, to know the hardest 
 conditions of life ; it would bring to them happy 
 childhood ; strike from their tender, innocent 
 lives the shackles that bound them prisoners to 
 all the curses that drink brings to home, mother 
 and childhood. 
 
 " It must be done," he said over and over 
 again, and the vision of saving a man and his 
 wife and children did not leave the missionary 
 until he was face to face w r ith the mother in the 
 next home. 
 
CHAPTEE V 
 
 THE MISSIONARY'S FIRST SERVICE IN MODOC 
 
 After calling at the last house, Haden 
 Wilson hurried back toward the store. Coming 
 near he was surprised to see so many men on 
 the outside in groups. His approach was met 
 by a stare from a score of eyes, the same to 
 which he had been subjected several times dur- 
 ing the day. 
 
 After seeing the increased crowd, and surmis- 
 ing what it all might mean, he did not stop, 
 but went direct to his home and took a seat on 
 the gallery for a brief rest. From where he sat 
 he had a good view of the store and its sur- 
 roundings. The men were still collected in 
 groups. Some were moving about in a more or 
 less excited manner. The missionary became 
 deeply interested in what he saw, and he did not 
 watch long before he was convinced that a 
 number of the men were already under the in- 
 fluence of liquor. Voices grew louder and men 
 rushed about in a manner that clearly indicated 
 its effects. The bootlegger was abroad and 
 at that time was plying his ruinous business. 
 Voices continued to grow more boisterous. 
 
 50 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE IN MODOO 51 
 
 Two young men left the crowd and rode away 
 in a gallop, yelling like wild Indians. The 
 yells were accompanied by a volley of pistol 
 shots. Looking a while after the young men, 
 who continued their demonstrations, he again 
 turned to watch the crowd at the store. This 
 time he recognized Mike Masters, surrounded by 
 several men, some laughing, others cursing, and 
 Mike apparently in a great rage, opposing what 
 seemed to be advocated by those about him. 
 Mike was demonstrating his protests with violent 
 language and gestures. 
 
 Haden Wilson half wished, as he watched the 
 movements of the men and as it came to him 
 more fully what it all meant, that he had not 
 made the appointment to preach that night. 
 While he was not altogether a stranger to such 
 scenes, he had never become so used to them as 
 not to dread facing such conditions. He was a 
 timid young man and often felt a dread in 
 standing before a reasonably civil crowd. 
 From all outward appearances he was sure the 
 crowd he would have to face at the schoolhouse 
 that night would be a noisy one at least, and 
 that there would be some interferences with the 
 service. Although he was timid and dreaded 
 to face an ill-tempered or noisy gathering, it 
 had been necessary a number of times for him 
 to do so since taking up mission work. 
 
52 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 " I will do my duty," he mentally resolved, 
 after sitting some time watching the gathering 
 unrest of the men at the store. 
 
 When the missionary reached the school build- 
 ing there were but few present, the crowd con- 
 sisting of children, girls and boys, with very few 
 adults. Uncle Bill Finley was there, also the 
 old Indian woman whom he had visited that 
 afternoon. But judging from the stern expres- 
 sion on her face there was no indication that 
 the service might mean anything to her. The 
 missionary made it a point to pass around and 
 speak to each one, or in some way show that he 
 recognized them. He was kindly received by 
 most of those present, but some were re- 
 sentful. A group of girls who were manifestly 
 bent on showing their disregard for him laughed 
 in his face when they refused to take his prof- 
 fered hand. 
 
 By eight-thirty a fairly good crowd had gath- 
 ered. Some few were standing on the outside 
 looking in at the door and windows. Those 
 inside were engaged in laughing and talking. 
 The congregation was asked to join in singing. 
 Some complied, others were indifferent. By 
 the time the song was completed the mission- 
 ary, by giving careful attention, had located 
 several good voices in the congregation. 
 
 " I'm glad to hear you sing so well," he re- 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE IN MODOC 53 
 
 marked at the close of the song. This statement 
 had the effect of drawing his congregation closer 
 to him. 
 
 Haden Wilson had a pleasant voice, a kind 
 eye, and at times a smile would play across his 
 face adding to his personal appearance ; all of 
 which were at his command that night. 
 
 While he was not a professional singer, yet 
 necessity had forced him to a training that had 
 developed his ability to sing to a passable de- 
 gree. His voice was not strong, but it was 
 smooth and clear, and he had acquired the 
 happy faculty of getting the people to join in 
 his song services. That he w r as able to do so 
 was always a matter of pride with him. It had 
 helped him out of many a hard place. When 
 he w r ould fail to win his congregation or to hold 
 it — and he did sometimes fail — in presenting his 
 message, it was seldom that he failed to inter- 
 est them in a song service. 
 
 Following the first selection, he asked that 
 they join in another. The chorus, after the 
 first verse, was repeated several times. A num- 
 ber of others joined in this, and by the time 
 the chorus following the last verse was 
 reached nearly every one present joined. Why 
 they did so, few could have explained. There 
 was a power, somehow, that swept them all into 
 line, and it required a greater effort to resist 
 
54 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 than was necessary to join in the singing. And 
 every one enjoyed it. 
 
 "That was fine," again remarked the mis- 
 sionary at the close. And the young man and 
 his congregation were drawn one link closer to- 
 gether. 
 
 At the conclusion of the second song some of 
 those who had been standing on the outside 
 came in and took seats. Following this last 
 movement, the missionary asked that all bow 
 their heads for a short prayer. Some few did, 
 but others continued to sit upright. From one 
 or two sections there were loud whisperings and 
 suppressed laughter. To comply with such a re- 
 quest was unusual, and some seemed to think to 
 do so meant that they were to represent them- 
 selves as praying, a duty that very few in the 
 neighborhood of Modoc had ever performed. 
 The thought was amusing. 
 
 The missionary prayed. When he began, 
 some looked up in surprise. They had never 
 heard any one pray in that way before. He 
 appeared to be in the very presence of his God, 
 and was addressing him in the fullest confidence 
 that what he asked for would be granted. It 
 was the simple petition of one who had faith. 
 That faith swept all the barriers away and en- 
 abled the young man to approach his heavenly 
 Father as he would his kind and helpful earthly 
 
THE FIKST SERVICE IN MODOC 55 
 
 pai*ent. The disturbance which was manifested 
 in the beginning soon subsided, and there was 
 silence. All ears were open to hear the plead- 
 ing and confident appeal. During the prayer 
 more than one heart was made glad, that in it 
 the fathers and mothers, the children and 
 young people of the community were remem- 
 bered. 
 
 At the close of the prayer there was a greater 
 feeling of reverence in the congregation. The 
 girls, who had shown such rudeness toward the 
 missionary and for some time continued giddy 
 in manner, had become more subdued. 
 
 This spirit of reverence was rudely shocked 
 when some young men entered the room in a 
 swaggering manner, and after taking seats near 
 the crowd of giggling girls, began to talk in low 
 tones and occasionally laugh. They were un- 
 der the influence of liquor. The group of girls, 
 who twenty minutes before had refused to shake 
 hands with the missionary, looked hard at the 
 young men, and as they continued, one of the 
 young women reached over and violently shook 
 a disturber. At this the young man gave a 
 shriek as if in great pain. The crowd laughed. 
 
 It was seen at once that the purpose of those 
 coming in last was to disturb and probably 
 to break up the meeting. Some expected to see 
 the young man fly into a rage and roundly 
 
56 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 abuse the disturbers. But in that they were 
 disappointed. 
 
 During the confusion that followed more 
 men came in and stalked about the room, pre- 
 tending to look for a place to sit down. They, 
 too, were under the influence of liquor. Two 
 of them found a vacant seat, and one, in at- 
 tempting to sit down, missed his aim and fell 
 sprawling on the floor. The crowd again 
 laughed. The companion of the one on the 
 floor attempted to aid him to his seat, but feign- 
 ing drunkenness he, too, fell and rolled over the 
 floor near the young woman, whose vigorous 
 shake had brought from the young man such 
 frantic yells. Beaching for a stick, which had 
 been used as a window prop, but which had 
 been discarded for a longer one, the young 
 woman seized it and turning on the intruder, be- 
 gan vigorously to pound him about the head 
 and body. He soon retreated to a safe distance 
 and began to rail at his friend for allowing him 
 to be " beat up " while he was trying to aid 
 him so he could enjoy the worship. He also 
 turned to the preacher, who was standing 
 quietly on the little stage, and began to re- 
 proach him for allowing people to be " beat up " 
 as he had been when they came to enjoy the 
 preaching. 
 
 " If this is the way you are going to run your 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE IN MODOC 57 
 
 meeting — have people beat up instead of preach- 
 ing to them — I'm in favor of stopping you right 
 now. We don't need a fighting school ; we've 
 had plenty of lessons in that line. "What we 
 need is to be taught how to quit fighting, and 
 I thought that was your business. " 
 
 Following this little lecture he rubbed his 
 hand over his head and, as he did so, gave a sur- 
 prised start when he discovered that blood was 
 flowing from a wound, caused by the vigorous 
 use of the stick. He exclaimed, " By grashus, 
 Bill, that gal came as near as Christmas killing 
 me ! " This statement and the frantic actions 
 of the victim provoked laughter from the crowd. 
 
 A half dozen more men came in from the 
 store, all evidently under the influence of liquor. 
 One of them, seeing the victim of the girl's 
 wrath standing in the aisle, bleeding and call- 
 ing for a doctor, rushed up to him and de- 
 manded if the parson had licked him already. 
 
 " No," he roared, " worse than that. That 
 gal of Sam Smith's won't give him a chance. 
 She's took the job." 
 
 The confusion continued to grow and more 
 men came in. It was now clear that the whole 
 procedure, except the use of the stick, was to 
 provoke the missionary to wrath, break up the 
 meeting, and force him to leave in double quick 
 time. 
 
58 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 Mike understood that afternoon that such 
 had been planned and vigorously protested. 
 He swore vehemently that he would kill the 
 man who interfered with young "Wilson. 
 That since he had something to do with his 
 coming to the community, he felt that it was 
 his duty to protect him. And, too, during the 
 ride from the tank to the store, he was drawn 
 toward the young missionary, and now he was 
 ready to defend him at any cost. 
 
 Those who knew Mike understood that it 
 would not be safe to attempt to carry out their 
 plans as long as he could interfere. So some of 
 the leaders, with the advice of Harry Keith, 
 conspired to get him out of the way by making 
 him drunk. Mike fell a victim to their design, 
 drank heavily, and as it set his blood on fire, 
 his rage toward those who were plotting against 
 the young man grew more furious. By eight- 
 thirty his frenzy was beyond control. Several 
 fights had already been started in which he 
 was an aggressive participant. This highly in- 
 flamed condition of the man was well under- 
 stood, for it was a sign that he would soon col- 
 lapse. That meant that he would subside into 
 a sluggish stupor for the remainder of the night. 
 By nine o'clock that state of drunkenness, which 
 deprives a man of action as well as reason, had 
 taken complete possession of Mike, and he lay 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE Itf MODOC 59 
 
 helpless, battered and bruised, on the grass at 
 the back of the store — thus removing, as 
 Harry Keith supposed, the only obstacle in the 
 way of getting the missionary out of the 
 country. 
 
 It had been planned that the crowd would 
 go in several groups to the schoolhouse. Each 
 group, after entering, was to do something that 
 would either provoke the preacher or some 
 member of the gang. In the end a fight was 
 to ensue and a cry raised against the missionary. 
 When that stage of the game was reached they 
 were sure the young man would be glad to get 
 away. A chance was to be given him to run, 
 and all would enjoy the fun. Parties with fire- 
 arms were stationed along the road, which it 
 was supposed he would take, and these were to 
 open up on him with a vengeance. This they 
 knew would increase his fright, and at the 
 thought of how he would " burn the wind," as 
 they called it, some were convulsed with 
 laughter. 
 
 The store had been gradually deserted, the 
 crowd appearing, as had been previously ar- 
 ranged, at the schoolhouse. The part that had 
 been played by Mary Smith, especially her 
 vigorous use of the window prop on the head 
 of Jacen Provine, had not been arranged for, 
 and therefore had the effect of disconcerting 
 
60 HADETST WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 their movements. And, too, the perfect calm- 
 ness of the young man, whom they had marked 
 for their victim, during the entire disturbance, 
 was a phase of the procedure that they had 
 not planned for. 
 
 The crowd, however, swayed and swaggered 
 about the room, and some moved near the stage 
 where the young man stood. One man pre- 
 tending to lose his footing fell in the aisle, and 
 in an effort to gain his balance, came too near 
 Mary Smith's club. No sooner was he on the 
 floor than she began pounding him with a vim 
 over the head. Such a determined and unex- 
 pected assault from a young woman set him to 
 roaring and protesting his innocence, all of 
 which was great fun for the crowd. Some 
 parties in the rear of the building called out, 
 " Hit 'im again." The victim soon retreated to 
 a safe distance and stood against the wall on 
 the other side, rubbing his wounds. 
 
 Silence for the first time in the last twenty 
 minutes came over the crowd. Why every one 
 had ceased to say or do something, no one 
 knew. But all eyes were fixed on the young 
 man, who stood as quietly and as unmoved as 
 if he faced a bevy of schoolgirls instead of a 
 drunken and vicious mob. 
 
 The missionary saw that this moment was 
 his opportunity. Opening the book, which all 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE IN MODOC 61 
 
 the while had been held in his hand, he said, 
 " Let us sing number ." 
 
 This statement from the young man increased 
 the quietness as well as the surprise of some. 
 It was expected that the disorder would be 
 severely rebuked which in turn would open up 
 the way for the ruffians to renew their disturb- 
 ances. Being thus shut off from any direct 
 means of renewing the trouble, those bent on 
 mischief waited in silence for their turn. They 
 did not want to be defeated in their purpose 
 and sought to use discretion to that end, hence 
 their silence — that they might find the proper 
 method of attack. 
 
 " Before beginning the song," the missionary 
 stated, "I want to say that it is one your 
 mothers sang when you were smiling, innocent 
 babies. Years ago when she sat by your 
 cradle, or held you in her loving arms and sang 
 these beautiful lines, you would look up into 
 her pure, smiling face and coo as innocently as 
 the little dove in its nest. Do you not remember 
 your innocent childhood ? And crowded into 
 those days are there not the cheerful smiles and 
 tender voice of mother ? Those were sweet 
 days. Let us in this song go back to them and 
 live for a few moments with our innocent child- 
 hood, and feel again the power of our mothers' 
 tender care and love." 
 
62 HADE1ST WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 Following this statement, which made the 
 boisterous crowd understand it was facing a, 
 new order of man, the missionary began in his 
 tenderest tones to sing. But no one joined in 
 the first verse nor the chorus. On the second 
 two or three attempted to follow, but soon 
 ceased. The young man sang on. He seemed 
 to be lost to all about him, to everything but 
 the pleading of the mother for her wandering 
 boy. The crowd of rough men stood transfixed. 
 Before he had completed the last verse Haden 
 Wilson knew that the victory was his — that he 
 had won. There was something in the young 
 man — it was not a defiant spirit ; no, it was not 
 the spirit of antagonism — but there was some- 
 thing that disarmed every man that stood be- 
 fore him that night. 
 
 When the last sound of the chorus had died 
 away, he said, " I'm glad you like that song. 
 
 At some other time I will tell vou more about 
 
 t/ 
 
 it, and what it has been to me." The crowd 
 did not move, but remained as if bound by a 
 spell of reverence for the young man before it. 
 The missionary announced that he would hold 
 services the following day at eleven o'clock and 
 at night, also each night during the week. " I 
 am glad," he said, " to see so many out to-night, 
 and I trust you will be present at each of the 
 services to follow." Then he said, " Let us be 
 
THE FIRST SERVICE IN MODOC 63 
 
 dismissed," and he lifted up his voice with such 
 thankfulness to the Father for his tender care 
 that it was guessed by some how it was that 
 the rough spirit of the men had been changed 
 to that of meekness. 
 
 There is a power in the faith that trusts God. 
 But there are very few Christians who seek to 
 obtain that power in the way that gives them 
 strength. When Jesus said, " He that follow- 
 eth me shall not walk in darkness," he stated a 
 truth as definite and universal as the law of 
 gravitation. The race has progressed in pro- 
 portion as it has understood and applied the 
 latter law. The irnpotency of the Christian has 
 been marked by his failure to understand and 
 apply the former. There are thousands of souls 
 crying out daily for light of the revealed Christ, 
 and yet they are pigmies in his service. If one 
 enters the service of Christ in his own strength, 
 he is impotent. "We can only lose our irnpo- 
 tency by forsaking all and following him with a 
 faith as clearly defined as is the faith of the 
 individual who, knowing that his credit is good 
 at the bank, believes that his check will be 
 cashed. 
 
 This nation can be won for Christ in a gener- 
 ation ; but before that can be done, his follow- 
 ers must, with glad, willing hearts and lives, 
 answer the demand that he made of the rich 
 
64 HADEN WILS01ST: MISSIONARY 
 
 young man, " Forsake all and follow me." If 
 the Christian wants to know how to realize the 
 truth and power of faith in Jesus Christ, he 
 must gather up all his ambitions, his idols, prop- 
 erty — absolutely all, and know which is first 
 in his life ; these or Christ. If the former, he 
 will have no more power in his name than the 
 gambler. He is not and cannot be within his 
 law. In " forsaking all " we go away — it may 
 be from friends, property, ease, a cherished am- 
 bition. Then in that hour of struggle, in his 
 name, we can claim his promises, and with our 
 lives in harmony with his will, we are equipped 
 as a laborer in his vineyard. 
 
 Haden Wilson knew what "forsaking all" 
 meant in his own life. He knew also what it 
 was to refuse to surrender all. But one day he 
 was able to say, " I will do it," and faced the 
 world with all he had cherished most against 
 him. But he did not falter. Few, if any, 
 knew his struggle. In that surrender of all, he 
 found a new and richer revelation of Christ. It 
 was through the power of that revelation that 
 he won the rough men of Modoc. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 AFTER THE SERVICE 
 
 After the meeting at the schoolhouse was 
 dismissed, most of the crowd left at once, espe- 
 cially those who went there for the purpose of 
 raising a disturbance. They did not even re- 
 turn to the store as it had been planned for 
 them to do, but went in different directions to 
 their homes. Seeing that their plans had failed, 
 very few of the men were willing to discuss the 
 matter or admit that they were parties to a 
 plot to commit a wrong against such a man as 
 they found the missionary to be. There were 
 a few, however, who were displeased with the 
 outcome and soundly abused their leader for 
 the failure. 
 
 Harry Keith remained at the store, waiting 
 for a report. Several times he chuckled to 
 himself as he imagined that he could see the 
 young man in his fright rush out to escape the 
 mob, and when free from one, dash into the 
 arms of another, who would with increased 
 fury set upon him. Such a scene to Harry 
 Keith, as he reviewed it in his mind, was highly 
 
 65 
 
66 HADEj* WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 entertaining. It had not occurred to him, since 
 Mike had collapsed into a drunken stupor, that 
 their plan might fail. 
 
 All of his thoughts and actions were on such 
 a low plane, and his standard for men was so 
 debased that he was almost impervious to the 
 noble and beautiful traits in any human life. 
 With him in most instances and conditions, hu- 
 man beings occupied the common level with 
 the lower animals. The noble traits of mind 
 and heart, their power to win others to the 
 beautiful and good, were no longer realities 
 with him. In his youth and early manhood it 
 was not so. But in his maturer years he had 
 failed to walk steadily in the paths of virtue 
 and honesty ; to silence his conscience he took 
 refuge in the doctrine that his responsibility 
 ended w r ith his life. Thus deluded he had gone 
 through the years, and while it had brought to 
 him nothing but a harvest of barren regrets, he 
 willingly remained a slave to his folly. If he 
 sought to express sympathy for the unfortunate, 
 it was heartless ; if he professed to be in har- 
 mony with those who labored to aid others, his 
 professions were as sounding brass. Mastered 
 by such a life it would be hard to conceive that 
 men with high and noble purposes still lived, 
 and that most people could be influenced by 
 the power of such characters. The beautiful, 
 
AFTER THE SERVICE 67 
 
 pure and good were out of harmony with his 
 low ideals, and with his real life as he lived it. 
 If either called to him, it was like the dewdrop 
 reflecting all the beauty of the rainbow as it 
 lost its identity in the stagnant water of a 
 filthy pool. 
 
 The thirty minutes' time which Harry Keith 
 had allotted to carry out his plan was awaited 
 with deep interest by him. As the time passed, 
 he was puzzled that no one returned to report 
 the proceedings. He was growing anxious, but 
 his anxiety was to some degree relieved by two 
 young men entering the store. The merchant 
 stood ready to receive a report of the fun. The 
 young men were not parties to the compact to 
 disturb the meeting, yet he expected them to 
 have something to say about the trouble at the 
 schoolhouse. When they failed to do so, he 
 was surprised. 
 
 " Have you been to the schoolhouse, boys ?" 
 he asked, hoping to lead them to begin the 
 story. 
 
 " Yes," each replied at the same time, and 
 then a pause followed. 
 
 " Have a good crowd ? " the merchant in- 
 quired. 
 
 " Yes, a big crowd," said one of the young 
 men, and then another pause. 
 
 Harry Keith was becoming more impatient, 
 
68 HADEN WILSON*: MISSIONARY 
 
 and he ventured to ask again : " Is the meeting 
 out?" 
 
 " Yes," again replied the young men in con- 
 cert. 
 
 The merchant walked hurriedly to the front 
 door and looked out. He could not understand 
 how it was that the men did not return to the 
 store. 
 
 " Was Mike Masters at the meeting ? " the 
 merchant asked, knowing full well that Mike 
 at that time was dead drunk at the back of the 
 store. But he asked the question to draw the 
 young men out to tell about the meeting. 
 
 " No," was the reply, and another pause. 
 
 He waited a few moments and then asked, 
 "Did anything happen at the schoolhouse to- 
 night?" 
 
 "You bet there did." 
 
 At this point the missionary and another 
 young man entered the store. The merchant 
 could hardly believe his eyes. His first impulse 
 was that of joy, for he had come to fear that 
 the mob had done its worst to the young man, 
 and while he was an adept in shifting responsi- 
 bilities, he could not help feeling his liability, 
 to a degree at least, if the mob's action had re- 
 sulted as he had begun to suspect. The impulse 
 was for a moment only, when there rushed into 
 his heart the long-nourished bitterness against 
 
AFTER THE SERVICE 69 
 
 the teachings for which the young man stood. 
 His mood was sullen. It had dawned upon him 
 that the men had failed. And he began under 
 his breath violently to curse them. By the 
 time the two young men had made a small pur- 
 chase and left the store, Harry Keith felt that 
 he had been outraged. Others dropped in and 
 by degrees he heard what took place at the 
 schoolhouse. When he had learned the whole 
 story, and that the young man had made 
 friends, he was in a towering rage. The mer- 
 chant was now an avowed enemy of the young 
 missionary, and would go to almost any extreme 
 to defeat the purposes for which he was labor- 
 ing. 
 
 But there was one condition in the Modoc 
 community with which Harry Keith had to 
 reckon, and that was that his influence was 
 limited to a few of the most desperate char- 
 acters in that section. Prior to the present 
 time he had felt the weight of public sentiment 
 against him, and had learned to be cautious 
 when that sentiment was pronounced. Taking 
 counsel of this experience he concluded that he 
 would not arrange any further plans until he 
 knew to what extent the missionary had made 
 friends with the people. He knew that it was 
 possible for an aggressive and capable young 
 man, as he believed the missionary to be, to 
 
70 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 have a powerful influence for either right or 
 wrong, and openly to oppose him would only 
 result in the defeat of his purpose. 
 
 One thing, however, he settled that night 
 before he slept, and that was to hold in his 
 ranks the faithful few who were ready to do 
 his bidding. To that extent there was well 
 defined opposition to the efforts of the mission- 
 ary, and just as much more as the merchant 
 might be able to set in motion. 
 
 Haden Wilson knew full well that every 
 movement he made would be watched by his 
 enemies. He also knew that they would not 
 hesitate to resort to acts of violence if such acts 
 would serve to force him out of the country. 
 On the other hand he already felt sure that he 
 would have the people with him. And that 
 any other plans of a violent nature would be 
 withheld from the public. Whatever it might 
 be he was not disconcerted in the least and, in 
 a spirit of meekness, he resolved that he would 
 proceed with his work. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 THE FIEST SUNDAY IN MODOC 
 
 The service on Sunday morning was well 
 attended, and at night the crowd was large. 
 At each service particular stress was placed 
 on the music. Sufficient song-books had been 
 provided by the missionary, and a number of 
 people entered heartily into the singing. 
 
 He noted again the presence of several very 
 good voices. These, and the willingness which 
 the people showed to accede to his request, were 
 encouraging to the missionary and to a degree 
 convinced him that they were not with Harry 
 Keith in his opposition. 
 
 At the morning hour the missionary talked 
 twenty minutes, and let the people go at twelve 
 o'clock. His theme was the " Prodigal Son," 
 and he read the whole story. As an illustra- 
 tion of his theme, at the conclusion, he told of 
 a boy, who had left his home in the state of 
 Missouri, before the days of railroads, and sought 
 his fortune in the far West ; how he was sorely 
 afflicted by disease and, penniless and friend- 
 less, refused to return to his father's home, but 
 
 71 
 
72 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 remained with those who had no love or sym- 
 pathy for him and died a miserable beggar, 
 although the father had done all he could to 
 find his prodigal boy. 
 
 The story won — more than one looked 
 through their tears at the speaker. He closed 
 by saying that every one present who is away 
 from God — who is a sinner — and who rejects 
 his plans to save them — is, in God's sight, like 
 that poor penniless boy out in the Eocky Moun- 
 tains. 
 
 The last thought almost startled some of the 
 members of the congregation. They had been 
 interested, their sympathy had been aroused 
 for the suffering boy, and to have the lesson 
 brought home to them — that they were equally 
 helpless— brought them to see at least in part 
 as they had never seen before the real applica- 
 tion of the great parable of the Prodigal Son. 
 
 Seed had been sown and the young man 
 prayed that it might fall into good ground and 
 bring forth an abundant harvest. 
 
 Sunday afternoon a group of young men col- 
 lected at the shady side of Harry Keith's store 
 building and discussed the events of the night 
 before. None of them seemed to understand 
 how or why the program previously arranged 
 was not carried out. James Murray and one 
 or two others were bold enough to say in a 
 
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN MODOC 73 
 
 swaggering manner that if they were to go 
 through it again they would pull the young 
 chap down and send him out over the road in 
 double quick time. Such boasting, however, 
 did not meet with flattering encouragement. 
 Another young man, Clarence Bush, remarked 
 that while he was with the crowd that went to 
 the schoolhouse to raise a disturbance, he did 
 not see why they wanted to run the missionary 
 out of the country. " He appears to be a nice 
 young man, and I think we should let him 
 alone." Some others present were of the same 
 opinion. 
 
 "It's all Harry Keith's work," exclaimed 
 Ed Crockett, who arrived in time to hear the 
 remarks of Clarence Bush. " And now he is 
 cavorting like a madman. He swears that the 
 young man will have to light a shuck before 
 the last of the week. He says he will lead the 
 crowd next time and will not be bluffed with a 
 song, prayer, or Mary Smith's stick." 
 
 That afternoon Haden Wilson walked out a 
 mile or so from his boarding-place. He was 
 anxious about the evening services and deeply 
 absorbed in his plans. He was sure the crowd 
 would be large, and to make a favorable im- 
 pression meant much to his success. On the 
 way back he passed by Mike Masters' home, 
 and on coming near he decided to go in and 
 
74: HABEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 speak to the family. The first one he saw on 
 entering was Mike. He was in his right mind, 
 but his appearance was distressing, suffering 
 from his late drunk. In his helpless condition 
 of the night before he had been severely beaten, 
 and when he was reminded of it, as he often 
 was by the pain he suffered, he would break 
 into such frantic rage as to frighten the chil- 
 dren from the house. All day he swore venge- 
 ance against every one who was a party to his 
 misery. 
 
 When Mike saw his young friend enter the 
 room he smiled, and while that smile spread 
 over his face, which was bruised and scarred, it 
 gave the missionary an impression that Mike 
 was not alogether bad. Haden Wilson took a 
 seat by the suffering man, and when he held his 
 large, hard, bony hand in both his, Mike felt 
 that it was the touch of a friend, and the anger 
 that had kept him and his family miserable 
 through the day subsided. 
 
 " You need not tell me what happened last 
 night; I know it all." This was said by the 
 missionary to forestall Mike, for he knew if he 
 began the story he would soon be in a passion 
 that would prove hurtful. 
 
 "We must not think and talk about what 
 happened at the store any more now. None of 
 us can help at this time what was done, but it 
 
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN MODOC <o 
 
 is necessary that you get well right soon. I 
 want you to attend the services. I missed you 
 to-day." 
 
 Every few moments, however, Mike would 
 break out in his impetuous way against those 
 who had treated him so brutally. But as the 
 details of what happened at the schoolhouse 
 were related, he grew quieter. "When the per- 
 formance of Mary Smith with her stick was 
 told he laughed heartily, although to do so 
 caused him great pain. The story of the song, 
 which the missionary sang the previous night, 
 was related. It, too, had a good effect on the 
 man, who had for many years been moved to 
 action by coarse and dissipated surroundings, 
 save in the little home where the good little 
 wife still preserved an air of refinement, cour- 
 age and purity. 
 
 The missionary's visit brought a new vision 
 into Mike's life ; visions of years ago, before he 
 was a complete slave to habit, a scorned victim 
 of those who forged the chains that bound him, 
 before the harsh law of necessity had forced him 
 to grinding toil, with no cheering hope to illu- 
 minate his coming years. 
 
 Mike had been cast down so often in the past 
 years ; he had so many times failed to throw off 
 the yoke of intemperance ; had so often blasted 
 his wife's most cherished expectations, that he 
 
?6 HADEtf WILSON: MISSIONAKY 
 
 felt his star of hope for the future had set in 
 blackest despair. He had come to look upon 
 life as holding no prize for him. The knowl- 
 edge that others regarded him as an outcast, 
 with his coming years to live like a galley-slave, 
 stood as a wall of adamant between him and 
 that liberty and light which his soul at times 
 longed to know. Everything had conspired to 
 drag him down. In his sober moments he 
 would curse his weakness and swear vengeance 
 against those who conspired to betray him into 
 the power of the enemy of hope, home, man- 
 hood and happiness. 
 
 " Curse your personal liberty," he would say 
 when Harry Keith, standing against all restrict- 
 ing laws, would argue that every man had a 
 right to drink. "Look at me and the other 
 poor devils in this country ! We have appro- 
 priated your personal liberty, associated with 
 its advocates, bootleggers, gamblers, thieves 
 and murderers. After years of loyalty see 
 what it has given us in return — a wrecked 
 manhood, wives and children bound by poverty 
 that crushes ! " 
 
 During such arguments Mike would at times 
 grow into a great fury, and his Irish blood 
 caused him to vindicate his views in one or 
 both of the good old Irish ways of settling all 
 difficulties — a fight, and then a drink. With 
 
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN MODOC 77 
 
 Mike one drink meant many more, and as long 
 as he could argue or fight he would wage war 
 with any one who would dispute the fact that 
 his own life was the most powerful argument 
 against Harry Keith's doctrine. 
 
 Thus it had come that his whole future was 
 blotted out. He had reached that period in 
 life where he refused to believe that it held any 
 hope or promise for him. Mike still possessed a 
 vigorous body and a clear mind when free from 
 strong drink ; liberated from it he would give 
 himself to hard and incessant toil. 
 
 The missionary was hopeful that Mike would 
 soon recover, and upon leaving said so, but 
 promised to visit him the next day. 
 
 After the departure of the visitor the poor 
 victim was much quieter. During that brief 
 hour the dark clouds had drifted, but to him 
 the vision beyond was not for Mike Masters. 
 "What followed through the night, his struggle 
 with pain and his remorse of conscience, we 
 will not, and cannot, record. But some who 
 have gone the road that Mike was then 
 traveling know full well the anguish of his 
 soul, as he tossed and moaned on his bed of 
 straw. 
 
 A large crowd was present at the evening 
 service. The old Indian was there with the 
 same stoical expression on her face. The 
 
78 HADEN wilsost: MISSIONARY 
 
 crowd was boisterous. Everything indicated 
 that the reverent spirit which came over the 
 congregation in the morning service had been 
 swept away. 
 
 Mary Smith was the heroine of the hour. She 
 was asked many bantering questions. Some 
 wanted to know if she had her war club, oth- 
 ers asked about her paint, and still others in- 
 quired what she would do if Uncle Bill Finley 
 should get happy and shout. 
 
 The crowd laughed at all these sallies. The 
 entrance of the missionary made no difference ; 
 the fun and jokes continued. While it all had 
 a depressing effect on him, yet he knew that no 
 special disrespect was intended. The people 
 had never known any other way. To them 
 there was very little difference in going to the 
 schoolhouse to see a show or hear some one 
 preach. 
 
 The song service began promptly at eight 
 o'clock. The same plan of repeating the chorus, 
 which the missionary had adopted as one of the 
 methods to interest the people, was followed 
 in the opening song. Several selections were 
 rendered and a number of those present joined 
 in that part of the service, all of which was a 
 means of bringing the congregation and mis- 
 sionary closer together. 
 
 Haden Wilson had adopted this course for 
 
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN MODOC 79 
 
 several other reasons ; the chief of which was 
 that it served as an aid to concentrate the minds 
 of the people on the service. This he had 
 learned was one of the essentials of a successful 
 service. Concentration in religious work is as 
 needful to success as along any other line of ef- 
 fort, and he was always planning and working 
 to that end. 
 
 After the prayer, through which he held the 
 minds of his congregation, he again read the 
 story of the Prodigal Son. In the talk that 
 followed he placed special emphasis on the love 
 of the father and mother for their children, and 
 especially for those who were disobedient and 
 many times go far wrong. At its close he again 
 told a story of a young man who at home was 
 disobedient, disregarding his parents' entreaties, 
 and rudely trampled under foot all their plans 
 for his future, left his father's roof, his oppor- 
 tunities, to associate with gamblers, drunkards 
 and outlaws. His life was stormy, and when 
 only twenty-six years of age he fell a victim to 
 disease. His money was gone and he was in a 
 strange land without friends. When all had 
 failed him his thoughts turned back to the old 
 home, and a vision of his kind father and lov- 
 ing and devoted mother were before him. As 
 he lay in pain and poverty, thinking of them, 
 and how he had ruthlessly sacrificed their love 
 
80 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 for a life of ruin, he wept bitterly. With his 
 feeble hands he wrote and told of his pitiable 
 state. When the news from the wandering boy- 
 reached the parents there was a hasty drive 
 from the farm to the railroad, and a hurried 
 trip half across the continent by the anxious 
 father to reach his boy and carry him back to 
 the old home. 
 
 All were impressed with his story. The mis- 
 sionary followed it up by stating that all men 
 who were sinners, away from God, are in his 
 sight like the young man who gave up his home 
 and parents for the associations that led to his 
 ruin. " You, like him, are prodigals, and God, 
 like the earthly parent, is even more ready to 
 save all men from their sins. That means 
 You." 
 
 The service lasted one hour and the mis- 
 sionary occupied only twenty minutes in his 
 talk. In that time he made a deep impres- 
 sion on nearly every one. All that he said was 
 simple and his illustrations were clear. There 
 was no way of dodging the central truth. 
 Some already felt, but would not admit it, that 
 their own consciences were witnesses to the 
 truth of what the missionary brought out in 
 the story of the Prodigal Son. That they, 
 in common with the whole community, were 
 great sinners was frankly confessed in their 
 
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN MODOC 81 
 
 hearts (secretly). How it would all end they 
 did not know. The missionary had not 
 pointed out the way by which they were to 
 be saved. 
 
CHAPTER YIII 
 
 THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY 
 
 The services during the week were unevent- 
 ful. The old organ which had been set aside as 
 useless was worked over and served a good pur- 
 pose in the services. A young lady, Miss Effie 
 Knox, who had taken music lessons while at- 
 tending school at Tahlequah, agreed to serve as 
 organist. By this arrangement quite a number 
 were induced to join in the services, not as a 
 select choir, but in general singing. 
 
 After some experience with choirs, the mis- 
 sionary abandoned that plan of promoting song 
 services. He had noticed that it was often the 
 case that the leaders of the community among 
 the young people of both sexes were of the 
 number who took active parts in choir singing. 
 These leaders were very often unsaved persons. 
 The choir was a protection to them. He had 
 further observed that there was* a tendency in 
 choirs to consider that they were exempt from 
 all demands except to sing. Those who were 
 religious would often claim exemptions for the 
 reason that they served in the choir; the ir- 
 religious would seek to justify themselves for 
 
 82 
 
THE LIFE OF A MISSIONAKY S3 
 
 not accepting the call of the minister for the 
 same reason — that they were serving in the 
 choir ; and some were found who went so far 
 as to pretend that the sermons were not preached 
 to those who led in the singing. 
 
 The congregation and the people gradually 
 settled down to a respectful attitude toward the 
 missionary, but evidently that was as far as 
 they expected to go. Harry Keith was the dis- 
 cordant member of the neighborhood. The fact 
 that the people had practically sided with the 
 missionary had served to increase his bitterness 
 toward the young man and the cause he repre- 
 sented. While he sought to use discretion, 
 hoping by that to gain some advantage, at 
 times he would fling it to the winds and harshly 
 condemn all who went to the meetings. This 
 he seldom failed to do when a crowd of young 
 people were gathered at the store. His criti- 
 cisms served to intimidate them, which he knew 
 would, in a measure, defeat the purposes of the 
 meeting. Several times when the missionary 
 stopped at the store the merchant would make 
 statements by which he hoped to draw him into 
 a discussion. But such had been studiously 
 avoided. This also served to increase Keith's 
 discomfort. 
 
 Each day during the week visits were made 
 to the homes in the surrounding country. It 
 
84 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 was a point with Haden Wilson to meet and 
 talk with as many people as it was possible for 
 him to do. And he always sought to get ac- 
 quainted with the young men. 
 
 It was the season of the year in that country 
 when the prairie hay was being cut and shipped 
 to market, or housed in barns. The work re- 
 quired a large force, the greater number being 
 young men. When Haden found a hay camp 
 some time would be spent in meeting and get- 
 ting acquainted with these young men. Several 
 times during the week he rode with them to the 
 barns or cars where the hay was stored or 
 loaded for shipment. The fact that he would 
 do that, and at noon, in the camp, take a tin 
 plate loaded with food, a tin cup filled with 
 water, and sit in a circle with the boys, eating 
 as heartily as any of them, won for him an ad- 
 miration and loyalty that not even Harry Keith 
 could shatter with all his bitterness and intimi- 
 dation. In the first week eighty-five visits 
 were made to homes. 
 
 The Christian worker who goes into rural 
 sections where there are no pastors and churches 
 assumes a great responsibility, as well as enjoys 
 a great opportunity to aid others. One of the 
 opportunities is that of visiting in the homes of 
 the people. In this phase of service the labor- 
 ers soon become experts. This is especially 
 
THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY 85 
 
 true in the rural districts where the people are 
 not accustomed to receiving Christian workers. 
 To go into a home where little or no attention 
 is given to a religious life — and there are many 
 such homes — say the right word, make those 
 one meets feel glad that the worker came, and 
 then leave before the visit becomes tiresome, is 
 a delicate duty. It is to be regretted that this 
 is a lost art with many good people who are 
 seeking to work for Christ. Some feel that 
 they are not called to that sphere of service, but 
 the Apostle Paul, the prince of preachers, did 
 not neglect " house to house visitation " as a 
 most fruitful means of soul winning. 
 
 In every community a number of well-de- 
 fined and similar conditions exist which not 
 only claim the attention of the Christian 
 workers, but all others as well who are labor- 
 ing for the elevation of the people. 
 
 It is also a well-known fact that there is a 
 striking similarity in those conditions in exten- 
 sive regions of our country. It is true that 
 some one condition may be more pronounced in 
 a certain section than it is in a whole region, but 
 there is, running through the whole, the similar- 
 ity that is always noticeable to the close ob- 
 server. 
 
 To illustrate this — in all that region of the 
 state of Oklahoma, which was once known as 
 
86 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 the Indian Territory of the five civilized tribes, 
 the same destitution of religion and educational 
 effort has for many years existed in the rural 
 section, even where farming interests thrived. 
 In the great black land belt of Texas this is 
 also true. There, in many of the counties, from 
 seventy to eighty per cent, of those who culti- 
 vate the land are tenants, renting from year to 
 year. The owners make their homes in the 
 towns and cities. Schools and churches do not 
 thrive under such conditions. The mountain 
 regions of north Arkansas and southwest Mis- 
 souri furnish another illustration of this state- 
 ment. 
 
 Haden Wilson made this observation early 
 in his missionary life. The same general needs 
 he found to be almost universal ; and so often 
 came in touch with these, and similar demands, 
 that he soon became an expert in sizing up a 
 community, a family, and also the individual. 
 
 Some of the crying defects which the mis- 
 sionary had constantly observed in the rural 
 districts were, on some farms, the constant ap- 
 plication of grinding toil by every member of 
 the family, with very little or no relief from 
 the daily routine. There were no books and 
 papers for the boys and girls ; meagre educa- 
 tional environments in the few months of the 
 district schools ; and possibly no attention 
 
THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY 87 
 
 given to the spiritual and religious side of life. 
 Another was the great need of proper care of 
 the homes. The water supply in many places 
 was bad, full of germs, and allowed to continue 
 so, year after year, as if forced upon the family 
 by an inexorable law. The untidy, and to use 
 terms which more fully describe what was 
 meant, the dirty, filthy homes were, in the mis- 
 sionary's mind, one of the greatest barriers to 
 the proper development of a wholesome man- 
 hood and womanhood in the country. 
 
 Dirt and filth fostered where they should not 
 exist are out of harmony with every law of 
 God. No home can fulfil its mission where 
 these discordant elements exist. By repeated 
 observations Haden Wilson gathered indis- 
 putable facts which showed a most striking 
 difference in families — one grown up in a tidy, 
 wholesome home, the other where dirt and filth 
 hold sway. In the former is generally found 
 well-cooked food, good books, papers, pictures 
 and flowers. These are the natural accompani- 
 ments of the neat, orderly home. They create 
 environments which are conducive to a higher 
 degree of intellectual, moral and spiritual de- 
 velopment. In the latter, the absence of these 
 creates environments which are conducive to 
 the smallest degree of intellectual and spiritual 
 growth. 
 
88 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 Before taking up the work at Modoc, Haden 
 Wilson knew by abundant experience some- 
 thing of what he would encounter in going into 
 all classes of houses ; the poorest and also the 
 well-to-do ; but in this work he tried to use 
 good sense. Because a home was uninviting 
 was to him no excuse for passing it by. It 
 might be — and a number of times he found it 
 so — the very place where he might render aid. 
 While he was anxious to save souls, he was not 
 so narrow as to believe that such great work 
 could only be done by always emphasizing 
 Christ's claim on the people's lives. To those 
 buffeted about by the hard conditions of the 
 world, such talk is often foolish. The wise 
 worker soon finds another way to deal with 
 and win the despondent and indifferent char- 
 acters. In this Haden Wilson was successful. 
 In hard conditions people crave sympathy, the 
 one thing seldom given. Contact with people 
 who have within their souls an unselfish sym- 
 pathy has many times served to drive away 
 dark clouds and frequently despair. The mis- 
 sionary early learned this lesson in his mission- 
 ary excursions. 
 
 In taking up the work at Modoc, he began 
 by showing the people by his life and associa- 
 tion that he sought to fill his Master's mission 
 by " going about doing good." This was soon 
 
THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY 89 
 
 realized in some of the most destitute homes on 
 the outskirts of the community. In one he 
 found a mother greatly afflicted, and arranged 
 to aid her by explaining her destitution to some 
 of the ladies attending the services, and they 
 in turn gladly complied with his request. In a 
 different direction, on the eastern border of 
 the neighborhood, he found another destitute 
 family. The father was greatly afflicted. Sev- 
 eral times after the services the missionary vis- 
 ited the poor man and administered to his com- 
 fort by nursing and watching through the long 
 vigils of the night. But death soon did its 
 work. 
 
 One morning after the missionary had been 
 in the Modoc country for some time he was 
 told that a man, who lived some miles away, 
 was dying. Briefly stated, the man was a 
 rough character ; like others, he had prided 
 himself on defying God. He lived a reckless 
 life and while still a young man, thirty-eight 
 years of age, was dying. 
 
 The missionary set out at once with a friend 
 to visit the home. He found it as distressing 
 as his imagination could picture. The man 
 was still in his right mind, but was expected to 
 pass away at any moment. The family of 
 young children, the weeping wife, and several 
 friends were gathered about the sufferer. Two 
 
90 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 stalwart, rugged men were on either side of the 
 dying man when the missionary entered the 
 home. The patient was appealing to them in 
 turns to help him, and all that one would say 
 was, " Be brave, Bill ; hold a stiff upper lip." 
 And then the dying man would exclaim in 
 wild, wearied agony : " I'm lost, Jim ! It 
 won't do to die by." To this heart-rending 
 wail, Jim would only say again, " Be brave, 
 Bill ; hold a stiff upper lip." With a wail, 
 " I'm lost, Jim ! " blended with the bitter sobs 
 of his wife and children, his soul went out to 
 meet its record in eternity. 
 
 After entering the room, the missionary 
 made an effort to get the man's attention, but 
 he could do so only for a moment. The 
 thought of his being lost had such mastery of 
 his mind that no other impression could be 
 made. 
 
 The two friends who were seeking to comfort 
 the dying man were those with whom he had 
 covenanted to defy God, and demonstrated in 
 death their faith by bravely meeting the issue. 
 The first of the three to be summoned held out 
 for a while, but as he approached the inevitable, 
 his courage failed him and he died with the ex- 
 clamation on his lips : " I'm lost, Jim ; it won't 
 do to die by." 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 A STRUGGLE — THUS FAR AND NO FARTHER 
 
 Later in the week Harry Keith grew less 
 pronounced in his opposition to the missionary, 
 and to the meeting. This was in a degree the 
 result of his failure to create a feeling against 
 either. It did not mean that he was any the 
 less opposed to the work, or any less deter- 
 mined to silence the young missionary and send 
 him out of the country with the condemnation 
 of the people resting on him. 
 
 Early in the week he got word to his bootleg- 
 ger friend to be at the store on Saturday, ac- 
 companied by a certain well-known character. 
 So, early in the afternoon of that day the law- 
 breaker was on hand in consultation with the 
 merchant. The bootlegger had not failed to 
 bring with him an abundant supply of his goods, 
 and he was also accompanied by his companion, 
 the well-known and wicked character. It was 
 not unusual to see all these parties at Modoc, 
 and therefore there was little suspicion of any 
 unusual movement attached to their presence on 
 that day. Late in the evening these men, with 
 
 91 
 
92 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 Harry Keith as the central figure, held a secret 
 caucus. 
 
 The people assembled at the schoolhouse that 
 night as usual. The songs and prayers had 
 become interesting features of each service. 
 Uncle Bill Finley prayed as he had never been 
 heard to do before. He confessed his own weak- 
 ness with such humility that every one had a 
 sympathetic feeling for him. His shortcomings 
 were known to his neighbors ; yet, despite these 
 everybody knew he had a good heart, and that 
 he was moved by a sincere desire for a pure and 
 more helpful life. His plea also that night 
 for his tormentors, the scoffers, and those who 
 boldly defied the word of God was such as to 
 touch the boldest of them. 
 
 The song service, too, was more inspiring than 
 usual. The missionary during the week had 
 prevailed upon three of the young people, Ethel 
 and Walter Holmes and Charlie Shoemaker, to 
 join him in practicing a few special songs. One 
 of them was, " Where Is My Boy To-night." 
 With the aid of the leader the song had been 
 fairly well prepared, and near the conclusion of 
 that part of the service it was rendered by the 
 quartette. Some strong, rough men in the con- 
 gregation who had seen and witnessed much of 
 the wicked side of life were moved to tears. 
 The old Indian woman who occupied the same 
 
A STRUGC4LE 93 
 
 seat that she selected the first night of the serv- 
 ice was seen to brush the tears away as they 
 trickled down her brown and withered cheeks. 
 
 The missionary followed the song service with 
 a twenty-minute talk about lost boys whom he 
 had found ; some had been saved, others had re- 
 jected the call to a better life. 
 
 During the week Haden Wilson had empha- 
 sized the importance of a Sunday-school. At 
 this service he again dwelt upon its meaning to 
 the community. The school was to be organized 
 the following Sunday at nine-thirty in the morn- 
 ing. 
 
 The meeting closed. After consulting with 
 several persons who had become attached to the 
 missionary and also interested in the work, 
 Haden, with these friends together, left the 
 school building and walked to the store. It 
 was suggested on the way that it was a surprise 
 that the meeting was not disturbed. " Some of 
 the worst characters in the country were at the 
 store after dark," continued one of the party, 
 "and all of them were drinking." When the 
 missionary and his friends reached the store the 
 same parties who had been referred to on the 
 way were seen in the rear of the building, but 
 did not show any inclination to recognize those 
 who came in, although in former days they had 
 consorted together as boon companions. 
 
94 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 Harry Keith was more friendly toward the 
 young man that evening than usual. Upon his 
 entering he greeted him in a good-humored 
 manner, stating that there was mail in the office 
 for him. After delivering some letters and 
 papers, he sought to enter into a conversation 
 by asking about the meeting. He also stated 
 that he understood that Mike Masters had been 
 quite sick all the week, and asked the mission- 
 ary if he knew how he was getting along. 
 
 " Mike has been a great sufferer this week," 
 the young man replied. 
 
 " So I have understood," said the merchant. 
 
 "He was brutally treated last Saturday 
 night," continued the young man. 
 
 " He deserves no mercy — a man who will 
 starve his family as he has done should be 
 beaten," replied the merchant in some heat. 
 
 " It is true," came back the young man, with 
 a ringing emphasis in his voice, " he is a victim 
 of his weakness and folly, but other men have 
 no right to take advantage of them to gratify 
 their own brutish natures." 
 
 This last statement was a thrust the merchant 
 was not looking for. He saw clearly its mean- 
 ing and knew that he had done just what the 
 young man had boldly declared should not be 
 done. 
 
 " That is the way with the world," replied 
 
A STRUGGLE 95 
 
 the merchant, after a moment's reflection. " All 
 of us are preying upon each other. The weak 
 has to give way to the strong. It's every fel- 
 low for himself, and that's the end of it." 
 
 The merchant's reply was made with a view 
 of leading the young man into a controversy on 
 one phase of his arguments with which he felt 
 very much at home. He was thoroughly self- 
 ish and never tired of defending that sin by de- 
 claring that it was the way with the world. 
 
 The missionary saw at once his purpose. 
 Looking at his watch he stated to the mer- 
 chant that he would see him some other time, 
 as he was under a promise to visit Mike that 
 night. 
 
 This statement seemed to please Harry Keith 
 so much that he was glad to drop the discussion. 
 
 " I hope you will find Mike better," he said 
 in a tone that made one think of sounding 
 brass. 
 
 The missionary and several others left the 
 store, he going to his room to look over his 
 mail. With that completed he left the home, 
 closing the door behind him, and walked 
 slowly to the gate, where he paused. Looking 
 toward the store he saw that it was still open, 
 judging from the dim light visible from the 
 rear window. As he caught the faint rays of 
 the flickering lamp the thought of Harry Keith 
 
96 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 and his unreasonable opposition, and what it 
 might mean to him, sent a chill through his 
 body. After this short pause he walked down 
 the road which led past the store on to Mike 
 Masters' house. 
 
 Mike had not recovered from his last spree 
 as it had been hoped he would, and as he had 
 usually done in the past. The present visit 
 was the third one the missionary had made that 
 week. 
 
 Immediately after Haden Wilson and his 
 friends had left the store there was a hurried 
 consultation by the merchant and the men 
 whom he had held in servile obedience during 
 the last few hours. In a very short while these 
 men left the store in haste, taking the road to 
 the west, the same the missionary was to travel 
 going to visit Mike. 
 
 The distance of three-quarters of a mile 
 brought them to a section of the road which ran 
 through a grove of timber. A tiny stream, fed 
 by a spring, a short distance from the highway, 
 threaded its way to the south through this 
 timber and small undergrowth. Where it 
 crossed the road a bridge had been constructed, 
 the span rising more than ten feet above the 
 rippling streamlet and extending some distance 
 on either side. 
 
 During the summer there was a well-beaten 
 
A STRUGGLE 97 
 
 foot-path which left the main road not more 
 than a quarter of a mile from the store. It 
 wound its way through the small groves, on by 
 the spring, under the bridge and beyond, and 
 finally merged into the main road again some 
 distance to the west. This path was the favorite 
 way of all who went that direction traveling on 
 foot, for it afforded shelter from the scorching 
 rays of the sun, and freedom from the dust in 
 that season of the year. It was nearer also, 
 and the fact that it led by the spring was a con- 
 sideration. While to go that path required the 
 pedestrian to cross two fences or open two wire 
 gates, they willingly did that for one or all the 
 advantages it afforded over the main traveled 
 road. 
 
 The band of men after leaving the store 
 quickly made their way to this bridge, where 
 all was dark and silent. The missionary, with- 
 out knowing it, had given Harry Keith the 
 information which he was most anxious to 
 secure. 
 
 The merchant felt sure that he would take 
 the path and they were to seize him as he 
 passed under the bridge, rush away to some 
 secret place where he was to be forced under 
 the threats of severe punishment to agree to 
 leave the country at once and not return. He 
 was to be escorted on his way by the two char- 
 
98 HADEX WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 acters from Notava. These men were to see to 
 it that he complied with every demand stipu- 
 lated by Harry Keith. 
 
 The men, still under the influence of liquor, 
 and eager for the work of dealing with their in- 
 nocent victim, waited with some impatience for 
 the time when they would surprise the mission- 
 ary and by this one act put an end to the work 
 that threatened the supremacy of the merchant's 
 power, and also the destruction of the boot- 
 leggers' and gamblers' business. 
 
 After the service that night, several of the 
 young people went from the schoolhouse to 
 Uncle Bill Finley's home to spend a while in 
 friendly gossip ; Ethel Holmes and her brother, 
 Walter, were among them. 
 
 After remaining a short time the two started 
 for their home. Walter was a young lad of 
 sixteen years, and as he was ready to ride away 
 in company with his sister he was called by 
 some one of his companions. Ethel being famil- 
 iar with the road, and not fearing the dark, 
 gave her pony the reins and was soon out on 
 the public road leading from the store to Mike 
 Masters' home and on to the west. She was in 
 a deep study and rode slowly and quietly, gaz- 
 ing at the moon which would soon disappear be- 
 hind the hills to the west. 
 
 Before she reached the bridge the pony 
 
A STRUGGLE 99 
 
 showed some signs of uneasiness, shying to one 
 side and continuing in a frightened state. 
 Ethel tightened her bridle reins and brought 
 him to a still slower walk. As the bridge was 
 approached the horse's fright increased, he 
 showing an unwillingness to cross it. This 
 was so rare with the pony the rider knew 
 that something unusual had happened or might 
 happen. She stopped and listened. Her alert 
 ear caught the sound of human voices which 
 came from under the bridge. What it all 
 meant at first she did not know, but remember- 
 ing that the path led beneath the structure, her 
 first conclusion was that the voices were those 
 of her neighbors. And then remembering that 
 Haden Wilson was to visit Mike that night her 
 second conclusion was that it was the missionary 
 and some friend on their way to the sick man's 
 house. 
 
 Assuming that the latter surmise was correct, 
 she waited for the parties to get from beneath 
 the bridge, when she would continue on her 
 journey. But they failed to move, and as she 
 listened she detected a note of harshness that 
 set her all alert. The pony, still frightened, re- 
 fused to proceed. The rider leaned forward to 
 listen, but could catch nothing but suppressed 
 laughter and discordant sounds. And as they 
 continued under the bridge she had the impres- 
 
100 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 sion that it meant danger. Her quick percep- 
 tion soon discerned the whole truth. Like a 
 flash it came into her mind that a band of 
 desperate characters were at that moment 
 waiting for Haden Wilson and would inflict 
 upon him great violence. It was her next 
 thought to save him from the mob. She was 
 certain he would soon be on his way ; if he had 
 not already left the public road and turned 
 into the path that led by the spring under the 
 bridge. 
 
 The night was the 14th of August. The new 
 moon was still shedding a dim golden light over 
 the fields and prairies when Haden Wilson left 
 his room and started to visit his friend Mike. 
 A gentle breeze blew from the south. The 
 russet blades of maturing corn waved a joyous 
 welcome. The day had been hot ; the mercury 
 had gone up beyond the one hundred mark. 
 But with the coming of the night all nature had 
 conspired to atone for the discomforts of the 
 day just closed. 
 
 The soul of Haden Wilson was attuned to 
 the glad change and appropriated its share of 
 peace and joy. He rejoiced in the hope of 
 victory in sight for the cause to which he was 
 unselfishly giving his life. He had noticed that 
 evening, when he shook hands with a number 
 of his congregation at the close of the service, 
 
A STRUGGLE 101 
 
 that there was a suppressed and anxious feeling 
 manifest in their countenances. As he walked 
 along the quiet way he reviewed much of the 
 week just passed. Without knowing it, he 
 dwelt upon the almost pathetic look of Ethel 
 Holmes as she took his hand that night. His 
 mind lingered upon her searching and beautiful 
 eyes, and as he did so a new symphony began 
 to vibrate in his soul. Just how long this new 
 found joy was allowed to live he never knew. 
 But when he came to himself, and realized the 
 spell and its charms, for the first time during 
 many months he found he had allowed human 
 love to take precedence over his Master's busi- 
 ness. He was startled, and laid a firm hand, 
 as it were, on himself and said, " Thus far and 
 no farther." 
 
 There were several reasons why Haden Wil- 
 son so rudely suffocated this response of his 
 soul to that of Ethel Holmes. The first, and 
 only one that may be recorded here, was that 
 back some years before, prior to his entering 
 the missionary service, he had bound himself 
 with a compact to which, up to that time, 
 there was no key. It made no difference how 
 the soul might beat against its prison bars, it 
 was bound and chained as firmly by this com- 
 pact as was Prometheus bound to his horrible 
 fate. 
 
102 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 Ethel was a bright and beautiful girl of 
 eighteen years. Her life on the farm was 
 conducive to a perfect and well-developed 
 body, good health and a wholesome tempera- 
 ment. She was an expert in horseback riding. 
 It was common for her to join in the wolf 
 chase ; in a number of heated contests she had 
 won the laurels. A ride of ten or fifteen miles 
 across the prairies, to transact business for her 
 father, or to visit a friend, was a matter of small 
 consequence to Ethel. 
 
 She had a good mother, and while the 
 familv had been denied much that adds to 
 spiritual and educational development, the 
 mother, though pressed with a multitude of 
 duties, was not indifferent to the proper moral 
 training of her children. The coming of the 
 missionary had encouraged her, and aided Ethel 
 to understand more fully something of the 
 Christian life ; but as yet she had made no 
 public acknowledgment of her faith. 
 
 That night as the full meaning of the danger 
 to which Haden Wilson was exposed flashed 
 through Ethel's mind, she came near swooning 
 and falling to the ground. The thought that 
 she might not be able to save him was excruciat- 
 ing. If he had already left the road, and was 
 on his way following the path, she saw how 
 hopeless it would be to reach him before he 
 
A STRUGGLE 103 
 
 was in the hands of the mob. As the full 
 significance of it all came to her she turned her 
 pony, facing the way she had come, and reached 
 her hand out into the pale moonlight as it found 
 its way among the giant and silent trees ; Ethel 
 for the first time in her life realized what desti- 
 nies a few moments might hold. At all hazard 
 she must save him ; but she knew quick action 
 was required. With this one thought dominat- 
 ing every fibre of her being, she was not long 
 in throwing herself into the work. 
 
 Her pony, too, seemed to understand all that 
 its rider discerned, for with a signal from Ethel 
 he rushed back over the road as if he knew 
 some great destiny was held in the space of a 
 moment, and that moment depended on his 
 speed. 
 
 The distance was not far — only a half mile — 
 and yet to Ethel it seemed an age before she 
 reached the point where the familiar path left 
 the road. When it was reached she stopped 
 and cast an anxious and searching look over 
 the prairie in the direction of the grove of tim- 
 ber, through which she knew the path wound 
 its way. But there was no one in sight. Per- 
 haps, she reasoned, he is beyond the grove, and 
 to reach him before he arrives at the bridge is 
 uncertain. It would be necessary for her to 
 dismount and open two gates; that would 
 
104 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 cause delay. It may be, she again reasoned, 
 that he has not yet left his room ; but to wait, 
 or go farther on toward the store to ascertain 
 if that were true, would each moment lessen 
 her chances to save him from the mob if he had 
 really passed into the timber. " What shall I 
 do?" she almost cried out, with her anxious 
 gaze fixed on the road toward the store. 
 
 At that moment a lone figure came into view. 
 The relief and joy that came to her at the sight 
 of it, for she knew it was the missionary, again 
 almost overwhelmed her. Calling to her com- 
 mand all her self-control, she waited for him to 
 come up. 
 
 Haden "Wilson was much surprised to see a 
 lone figure, particularly a woman, on a pony in 
 the road before him. All his plans and the 
 glory of the night were forgotten. He knew 
 it meant something unusual. As he came near 
 he recognized Ethel. 
 
 " Why, Ethel ! why are you here ? " he ex- 
 claimed. 
 
 " To save you from the hands of the mob." 
 And she quietly related all she knew. 
 
 "I am sure you are right, Ethel. I saw 
 those men to-night and have been wondering 
 what had become of them." 
 
 " You must not go ; you won ? t go, will you ? " 
 she pleaded in a trembling and choking tone. 
 
A STRUGGLE 105 
 
 "You are a brave girl, Ethel, and I must 
 listen to you ; but," he paused, " what must I 
 do?" 
 
 " You must not go," was her reply. 
 
 " Ethel, I will go with you, and we together 
 will cross the bridge." 
 
 She paused. She thought of being with him 
 at the scene of danger and a thrill of joy surged 
 through her soul — if they had to face the worst 
 she could share it with him. 
 
 "All right," she said more cheerfully. "If 
 you will let me go right along with you all the 
 way to Mike's house." 
 
 " You may do that, my dear girl," and the 
 missionary felt the new joy again beat against 
 the prison bars. 
 
 Ethel alighted from her faithful pony and, 
 gathering up the reins in one hand, she and the 
 missionary took their way down the road which 
 she had rushed over only a few moments before. 
 "When the bridge was reached the pony was still 
 uneasy, but did not refuse to follow. The mis- 
 sionary and his companion walked slowly across 
 the bridge, and as they did so Haden was 
 charmed more than ever with the bravery and 
 marked self-possession which Ethel commanded. 
 After crossing they paused to listen. The same 
 discordant sounds could be heard, and both 
 knew that it was the mob. The home of Mike 
 
106 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 Masters was soon reached, and Ethel, bidding 
 the young man good-night, mounted her pony 
 to ride away to her home. She refused to allow 
 the missionary to accompany her. 
 
 " I can outrun the whole bunch," she laugh- 
 ingly said, " but it isn't me they want." 
 
 Before riding away, however, she paused as 
 she started to bid him good-night, and then 
 said, " You will stay all night with Mike, won't 
 you ? " It was the same pleading, anxious tone, 
 and the missionary knew full well what it 
 meant. 
 
 " I will stay till morning, Ethel. I will not 
 give them a chance to get me." 
 
 " Good-night," she said, and rode away at a 
 swift gallop. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 THE FIEST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IN MODOO 
 
 Sunday morning brought with it the promise 
 of a beautiful day. But the minds of many of 
 the citizens of Modoc were not in harmony with 
 the lovely promise. "What had been attempted 
 the night before was soon known throughout 
 the vicinity. As the full significance of the 
 purpose of the mob dawned upon the minds of 
 the people, some became indignant. Other 
 facts than those which Ethel Holmes and the 
 missionary knew developed during the night. 
 The men, after waiting some time for their 
 victim, became very impatient, drank heavily, 
 and soon lost the discretion necessary to guard 
 their secret — the dark mission which might 
 end in murdering an innocent man. The des- 
 peradoes' disappointment resulting from the 
 failure to apprehend their prey was so great 
 that it culminated in a disagreement among 
 themselves. A fight ensued in which some of 
 the men were unmercifully beaten. 
 
 Harry Keith was notified of the failure and 
 also of the fight which served as an exhaust for 
 
 107 
 
108 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 the concentrated villainy of the outlaws. While 
 he again felt outraged at the results, the mer- 
 chant knew that it would not do to abandon 
 his men. So when they made their way back 
 to the store he took charge of those who had 
 suffered most in the battle under the bridge 
 and called the doctor to administer to their 
 
 miserable plight. Those coming from N 
 
 he arranged to send away, for he understood 
 that there might come a limit to the patience 
 of the people toward such vile characters. 
 
 The citizens in discussing the matter that 
 morning at the post-office expressed the belief 
 that the time had come when such attempts at 
 mob violence should stop. Some stated that 
 while they did not take much stock in the work 
 and plans of the missionary, yet they were will- 
 ing to stand for a change in the community ; 
 but no definite plans resulted from the discus- 
 sions of the events of the night before. Strong 
 indignation, however, was expressed toward 
 Harry Keith, whom it was generally believed 
 was at the head of the whole affair. But that 
 citizen was nowhere to be seen. The store re- 
 mained closed during the entire day. 
 
 After it was found that no definite plans 
 would be formulated to vindicate the mission- 
 ary, the matter was gradually dropped by those 
 w r ho had gathered at the store with the under- 
 
FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IK MODOC 109 
 
 standing that they would attend the services 
 and hear what the young man would have to 
 say ; for they felt that such an affair, one so 
 vitally concerning hini, would not pass un- 
 noticed by the missionary. 
 
 By nine o'clock there was a bevy of children 
 gathered at the schoolhouse. Some of them 
 were quite timid and reserved. Their little 
 shy faces and shabby clothes were mute appeals 
 to Haden Wilson. To him they were eloquent 
 witnesses of the homes from which the children 
 came. 
 
 Gentle reader, have you ever stood before an 
 assembly of children gathered from the homes 
 which make the community, in the city, town, 
 hamlet or the remotest districts, and studied 
 them as the interpreters of their homes ? It is 
 here that the trained worker for the uplifting 
 of humanity can make his observations which 
 may be relied on as surely reflecting the char- 
 acters of the homes relative to intellectual 
 development and moral and religious culture, 
 as can the sailor by his observation of the stars 
 determine his position on the high seas. 
 
 Since it was Haden Wilson's special mission 
 to labor in the most destitute sections, he ap- 
 plied himself with great care to the study of 
 the people, and especially so as touching their 
 intellectual, moral and spiritual environment. 
 
110 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 By numerous tests he found where a com- 
 munity or section of long standing had neg- 
 lected religious culture that there was a cor- 
 responding lack of intellectual development. 
 He also found, by facts gathered from a num- 
 ber of communities in which the agricultural 
 lands were equal in fertility if not superior to 
 others which he had selected for comparison, 
 that where the spiritual culture of the children 
 was neglected the leading citizens were careless 
 of their religious obligations ; the church and 
 Sunday-school were regarded with great indif- 
 ference ; there were fewer well-kept homes and 
 farms; the public schools were of inferior 
 grade, and the public roads were of the poorest 
 type. 
 
 It was further discovered that of those who 
 were prosecuted for crimes in the courts in the 
 counties where these investigations were made, 
 that the communities which neglected the relig- 
 ious training of the children furnished ninety 
 per cent, more of the criminals than those 
 where it was sought properly to train them. 
 This was found to be true, although the latter 
 communities contained a larger population than 
 the former. These facts had been burned, as 
 it were, into the life of Haden Wilson, since in 
 a number of instances he had been forced to 
 witness the consequences of such awful neglect. 
 
FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IN MODOC 111 
 
 On one of the missionary excursions he went 
 into a cabin where there were six children. 
 All surroundings were repulsive, but the par- 
 ents seemed oblivious to what such a condition 
 meant to them or to their children. Neither 
 father nor mother read books or papers — there 
 were none in the home — and manifested no 
 interest in God's word nor the religious or the 
 intellectual culture of their children. 
 
 In this home there was a girl sixteen years 
 of age. She was a stepdaughter to the man. 
 The girl was well developed physically for one 
 of her years, yet she was very indifferent to 
 her untidy appearance. She was asked by the 
 missionary if she had a Bible. Her reply was 
 " No," but she stated, " I want to go to school 
 and learn to read, so I can get one." This girl 
 and the other children appeared eager to join 
 the Sunday-school which was to be organized 
 only two miles from their home, but the par- 
 ents gave them no encouragement. 
 
 These and many other experiences had made 
 a deep impression on Haden Wilson's life and 
 served to increase his efforts in trying to bring 
 an uplifting message to every community and 
 to impress upon the child life a lasting picture 
 of the beautiful and good. Fully mindful of 
 his responsibility, it was with no small degree 
 of interest that he looked into the faces of the 
 
112 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 young people and children of Modoc on that 
 Sunday morning. "While I may," he often 
 said, " reform to a degree some of the lives of 
 the adults, it is the lives of the children I want 
 to form in harmony with the beautiful and 
 good." 
 
 The eager faces and bright eyes were an 
 eloquent welcome to the missionary as he faced 
 them to open the service. All the children 
 were soon sure that they had in him a friend, 
 and their timidity was soon forgotten. 
 
 The first act of the missionary, after a short 
 prayer, was to unfold a picture and place it 
 where every one could see it. The picture was 
 a large and attractive one — that of the Saviour 
 blessing the little ones. He told the story how 
 he then loved little children, and of his great 
 love for them at the present time. The talk 
 was brief and he closed by asking how many 
 wanted a Sunday-school where all could learn 
 about such a Saviour and Friend. Every one 
 present lifted a hand. 
 
 It had been one of the missionary's special 
 purposes during the week to find a suitable 
 person for superintendent. He had also been 
 careful to look for those who were fitted for 
 teachers. This is one of the most difficult 
 tasks of the Sunday-school missionary. In fact, 
 to secure competent teachers and officers is the 
 
FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IN MODOC 113 
 
 greatest problem in any Sunday-school, even in 
 those where there are many consecrated Chris- 
 tians. When the reader understands this he or 
 she is better prepared to appreciate the many 
 embarrassing difficulties the Sunday-school 
 worker is forced to meet and overcome in the 
 rural districts where there has not been, perhaps 
 in many years, any special effort given to such 
 training. 
 
 The missionary had been careful to complete 
 his list of officers and teachers. None of them, 
 however, were trained workers, but each one 
 had been selected with a hope of their being 
 developed into a reasonable degree of efficiency. 
 
 When the vote was taken favoring the Sun- 
 day-school, Haden Wilson was ready to proceed 
 at once to the organization. The officers were 
 not arbitrarily chosen by him. Some of the 
 people had been consulted as to the fitness of 
 those he had listed. With very little prelimi- 
 naries he proceeded to the selection of the super- 
 intendent and other officers. Names had been 
 previously suggested and were now voted on by 
 the school. 
 
 Following the election of officers came 
 the arranging of classes. Four had been 
 planned. For that purpose those of certain 
 ages were divided into groups. For each class 
 the missionary suggested the name of a teacher, 
 
114: HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 which was readily accepted. While this method 
 of arranging classes according to the ages of the 
 pupils may not be the best, Haden Wilson had 
 found it to be the most satisfactory in his work. 
 It is proper to follow some such method until 
 the school can be properly graded. It can be 
 readily understood that in the country where 
 the people have had no experience in such work 
 the missionary had good reasons for assuming 
 so much. The responsibility of the whole rested 
 upon him. He possessed large experience ; had 
 studied the local conditions, and was better fitted 
 to direct the organization than any one else. 
 
 After the organization of the Sunday-school, 
 arrangements w^ere made for literature, Bibles, 
 song-books, papers for the children, and a 
 library. The latter the missionary insisted 
 upon, and donated half the price of thirty 
 volumes. 
 
 Mrs. Holmes, Ethel's mother, was selected for 
 the superintendent. It had been found by the 
 missionary that she was held in high esteem by 
 all her neighbors and was regarded as a conse- 
 crated Christian by those who had thought on 
 the subject. Without any suggestion whatever 
 on the part of the missionary in the canvass to 
 find a suitable person for superintendent, her 
 name was more often mentioned than all others 
 combined. With these assurances of the con- 
 
FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IN MODOC 115 
 
 fidence of her neighbors, the missionary placed 
 the matter before Mrs. Holmes, whom he had 
 already found to be an intelligent lady and one 
 who also enjoyed a Christian experience. At 
 first she could not bring herself to the point of 
 accepting the responsibility, but after two days 
 of reflection and prayer, she agreed to take up 
 the work. On that morning she w r as present, 
 ready to make some sacrifice of her home 
 duties for the sake of others. Her daughter, 
 Ethel, was elected to serve as secretary and 
 treasurer. 
 
 The missionary placed in the hands of each 
 officer and teacher a small book, the title of 
 which was, " The Sunday-School — How to Start 
 and Keep It." Lesson supplies for the re- 
 mainder of the quarter and picture cards were 
 furnished each of the scholars. The latter 
 greatly delighted the smaller children, as their 
 sparkling eyes indicated. 
 
 All this work was accomplished in a compar- 
 atively short time. Every one present entered 
 heartily into the plans. A good start had been 
 made and the school dismissed at ten minutes 
 before eleven o'clock. 
 
 The eleven o'clock service was well attended, 
 the house being comfortably filled. More citi- 
 zens than usual were present. Some, however, 
 were not there with a view of being benefited, 
 
116 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 but with the expectation of hearing the mission- 
 ary arraign Harry Keith and his intended mob 
 violence. But in this they were disappointed. 
 
 The song service was much better than 
 usual ; the week's training had resulted in much 
 improvement. After the second song had been 
 rendered, Mr. Webb, who had stated that morn- 
 ing that he did not take much stock in the 
 young man's work, showed surprise as he leaned 
 over and whispered to his neighbor, Sharp, " I 
 did not know that they were learning to sing 
 so well. I am proud of our girls and boys." 
 
 " I should say so," replied Mr. Sharp. " All 
 they need is a chance ; but we are just begin- 
 ning to see that since Mr. Wilson came." 
 
 The Scripture lesson was from Luke 16 : 
 19-31, the story of Lazarus and the lost rich 
 man. When the reading of the lesson was 
 completed, and the missionary faced his au- 
 dience to present his message, he never felt be- 
 fore so completely his own weakness. There 
 were lost men before him, and it was the mis- 
 sionary's first chance to bring them the mes- 
 sage of salvation. He was almost helpless in 
 the face of so great a responsibility. In that 
 moment he paused and mentally said, " Lord, 
 the work is all thine. I am in myself power- 
 less. Help me." He was conscious that his 
 message must be simple and also convincingo 
 
FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IK MODOC 117 
 
 As he proceeded to relate the story of the lost 
 man in his own language, there came to him a 
 fuller meaning of what the Master meant, and 
 with it increased power to present it. In his 
 application of the lesson, a more powerful 
 vision of the lost gripped him than he had ever 
 known before. 
 
 The missionary's intense interest won the 
 people. Those who heard him for the first 
 time were amazed at his words, as he pictured 
 the doomed man in eternity with no plea to 
 justify himself. " We do not know what were 
 all the sins of the rich man," he exclaimed, 
 " but we do know that he refused to acknowl- 
 edge God, and for that sin he went to the place 
 of torment. 
 
 " If you, my friends, are guilty of that sin 
 to-day you are lost already as surely as that man 
 was lost." 
 
 " My God ! " exclaimed a voice in the con- 
 gregation. 
 
 " But there is a difference. The door of hope 
 was shut against the rich man. While you are 
 lost, the door of hope has not been closed 
 against you. Christ is still seeking you, as did 
 the loving shepherd his lost lamb. If you ac- 
 cept Christ you are saved. He must be first 
 in your heart, your home, your business. 
 When that is true there will be no longer plot- 
 
118 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 ting against innocent men; drunken revelries 
 will be unknown ; your young men will be 
 saved from dissipation and blaspheming against 
 God, and the intimidation of those who believe 
 on his name will cease." 
 
 Young Wilson knew this moment was a 
 crisis in the lives of some present. Following 
 a brief pause, he continued : " As many as feel 
 that they are lost, but who want to be saved 
 from the punishment described by the Saviour 
 of men, I will ask them to stand up." The 
 congregation arose almost as one man. Webb 
 and Sharp were among the first to stand. All 
 faced the missionary in silence; some with 
 blanched faces. " Those who feel that they 
 cannot save themselves, but will trust in Jesus 
 Christ for salvation, I will ask you, while we 
 sing, to give me your hand as an evidence of 
 your willingness to trust him." " Just As I 
 Am " was started by the missionary. He was 
 joined at once by those who had seats near the 
 organ. This phase of the service was intro- 
 duced with hardly a pause, the missionary still 
 retaining control of the congregation. The old 
 Indian woman was the first to respond, but in- 
 stead of kneeling, she took her stand near the 
 missionary and looked steadily out over her 
 neighbors. There was a tremor on her lips, 
 and tears were in her eyes. The missionary 
 
F1KST SUNDAY-SCHOOL IN MODOC 119 
 
 pleaded with the people as the song proceeded ; 
 others came ; a few were overwhelmed with 
 deep conviction and could not face the congre- 
 gation, but knelt where they were, giving 
 themselves up to weeping. Plea after plea was 
 made for the men to decide, but with ashen 
 faces the most of them held back. The mis- 
 sionary sang the first verse of " All To Jesus I 
 Surrender." At its close he said to those 
 kneeling, "While we sing these lines again I 
 want you to make them your prayer, and if 
 you can surrender your life to him rise and 
 give me your hand. If there are others out 
 there in the congregation who can surrender 
 all, do it now." 
 
 When the chorus was reached, Ethel Holmes, 
 who had been singing, gave the missionary her 
 hand, saying, " I surrender all." Her face was 
 radiant with the new joy. The old Indian 
 woman was moved, and the two were in each 
 other's arms. Others arose from their knees, 
 and as they did so a great burden seemed to 
 roll away, and there was rejoicing and gladness 
 in their voices. The missionary still pleaded 
 with those in the congregation to come. The 
 chorus was repeated again and again while he 
 stood with outstretched arms pleading for the 
 men to surrender, but they would not. 
 
 The service closed, and the missionary with 
 
120 II ADEN WILSON: MISSION AKY 
 
 many others went away with heavy hearts. 
 True he rejoiced that some accepted Christ, but 
 he knew that men had been moved upon by the 
 Holy Ghost to give up their sinful ways. That 
 they would not do it gave the devil another 
 chance to force them farther away, and maybe 
 to open opposition. Also the refusal of older 
 men to acknowledge Christ definitely served to 
 keep back those who were much younger. 
 
CHAPTEE XI 
 
 THE OLD INDIAN WOMAN 
 
 That afternoon following the meeting at the 
 schoolhouse the missionary called on the old 
 Indian woman and inquired what she meant by 
 taking the stand she did at the services that 
 morning. In response she replied : " Me want 
 to be Christian." 
 
 " Do you mean that you fully surrender to 
 Christ, and that your sins are forgiven ? " 
 
 "Me did." 
 
 " Since you have done that how do you feel ? " 
 he asked, knowing it was a test question, and he 
 was sure that she would give an honest answer. 
 
 " Me feel better," came a ready response. 
 
 " How do you feel better ? " he asked. 
 
 " Me do not want to do things me did." 
 
 " What things ? " 
 
 " Me do not want cuss. Me want do things 
 for Lord Jesus Christ," and placing her hand 
 over her heart, she said, " Peace, rest." 
 
 That testimony was given in no tone of doubt, 
 and her black, piercing eyes, glowing with 
 peace and joy, were enough to convince the mis- 
 sionary that she had been born again. He knew 
 
 121 
 
122 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 that an unlettered woman sixty years of age 
 could not and would not feign such a change. 
 
 Another instance in which a deaf and unlet- 
 tered Indian showed the remarkable power and 
 leading of the Holy Spirit made a vivid and last- 
 ing impression on Haden "Wilson. The name of 
 the Indian was Miller. He was forty years of age. 
 His lot had been a hard one, resulting largely 
 from the loss of his hearing in childhood. Al- 
 though he still, to a limited degree, retained and 
 used his voice, his manner of communication was 
 generally by physical signs, but he had learned 
 partly to interpret the speech of others by the 
 movement of their lips. In this he sometimes 
 surprised his associates by his accurate interpre- 
 tations. Miller had no knowledge of books, 
 having never learned to read. At the time the 
 missionary first visited Modoc he was living 
 with a family whose home was not more than a 
 mile from the schoolhouse, earning his board and 
 a small payment of money by aiding in the nu- 
 merous duties incident to farm life. The family 
 was kind to him and he generally came with 
 them to the services at the schoolhouse. He al- 
 ways took a seat near the missionary and ap- 
 peared to be as deeply interested in every phase 
 of the service as if he could hear and under- 
 stand all that was said. The missionary noted 
 this interest and often showed his appreciation 
 
THE OLD INDIAN WOMAN 123 
 
 of Miller's presence by some mark of kindness. 
 At one time the missionary mentioned the mani- 
 fest interest of the Indian to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, 
 in whose home he was staying. They, too, had 
 observed it. As a further evidence of his inter- 
 est, Mrs. Jones mentioned the fact that he was 
 always anxious to get the family started to the 
 services. That they might do so he often as- 
 sisted by doing an extra amount of chores about 
 the place. But the fact that he could not read 
 and was also deaf had led the parties to conclude 
 that his interest was prompted by the social 
 feature which the meeting afforded, and with 
 this conclusion the matter was dismissed. 
 
 One evening, during the second week of the 
 meeting, the missionary took supper with the 
 family in whose home Miller was staying. As 
 his custom was, Haden Wilson left near sun- 
 down to walk alone to the schoolhouse. The 
 best and nearest way to reach this was a foot- 
 path which led across the prairie through a pas- 
 ture. The sun had just set — the golden west 
 had never appeared more glorious. As the twi- 
 light gathered over the prairie the missionary 
 hurried along the path, deeply absorbed in his 
 plans for the service. Looking ahead, he was 
 surprised to see at some distance beyond his In- 
 dian friend Miller. 
 
 He was standing in the path with his face 
 
124 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 turned to the west, apparently contemplating 
 its glory and beauty. While the missionary 
 knew that the person in the path before him 
 was Miller, yet his appearance was so strange 
 and unusual the young man stopped short to 
 contemplate his striking figure. The lone In- 
 dian, as he stood like a statue gazing into the 
 golden west, brought back to the missionary the 
 memory of his boyhood days when he had com- 
 mitted to memory and declaimed in the little 
 country school, " The Lone Indian — His Last 
 Appeal to the White Man." But to pause and 
 rush back over the past years, to days free from 
 care, was only for a moment. That which 
 tempted his imagination was a subject for art- 
 ists and poets and not for a missionary whose 
 life was crowded with sterner things. He has- 
 tened on to meet the Indian, who turned from 
 his contemplation of distant scenes and looked 
 steadily at Haden Wilson as he came near. 
 
 " Hello, Jim," the missionary said, extending 
 his hand, which was clasped warmly by Miller. 
 Continuing to hold the young man's hand, he 
 said : " Me want be baptized." 
 
 This statement greatly surprised young Wil- 
 son. He was also perplexed since he could not 
 communicate with the man before him. 
 
 " Others be baptized ; me want be baptized." 
 
 The missionary's perplexity grew, but sud- 
 
THE OLD INDIAN WOMAN 125 
 
 denly remembering that Miller could under- 
 stand to a degree the movements of the lips, he 
 gently placed one hand on his shoulder, and 
 touching his lips with the other, said : " Do 
 you love Jesus ? " 
 
 " Me do," came a ready response, and placing 
 one hand on his breast the Indian continued, 
 " Me love Jesus." Moving his hand from his 
 breast to his eyes, covering them, he said, 
 " Blind." Then waving his hand toward the 
 west, he exclaimed, " Now me see ! " 
 
 To the missionary these signs and words 
 meant " I was blind, but now I see." 
 
 The young man was greatly moved at what 
 he discovered, and standing close to Jim in the 
 gathering twilight, said slowly : " I will baptize 
 you." 
 
 The Indian indicated clearly that he under- 
 stood, and again placing his hand on his breast, 
 said : " Heap good, heap good." 
 
CHAPTEE XII 
 
 VICTORY AND FAILURE 
 
 The services on Sanday night were more 
 largely attended than any thus far held. A 
 number from adjoining communities were there 
 for the first time. Every available space in the 
 little schoolhouse was filled. The song serv- 
 ice was again entered into with a good will. 
 After singing several selections the missionary 
 announced that he would give a few minutes 
 to Scripture quotations, insisting on all to re- 
 spond by repeating a verse from the Bible or 
 Testament. This had been done several times 
 before, and a number now readily arose and re- 
 peated verses from the Bible. This phase of the 
 service had also become so interesting that some 
 of the roughest men of the neighborhood re- 
 peated Scripture quotations with evident satis- 
 faction. The missionary had noted this growing 
 interest and sought to encourage it. He had 
 repeated several times at the beginning of the 
 service the First and Twenty-third Psalms, and 
 had the people to follow him in concert. In 
 
 126 
 
VICTORY AND FAILURE 127 
 
 this way quite a number had learned both. At 
 this service the Psalms were repeated with a 
 greater degree of willingness than had formerly 
 been shown. All who took part arose to their 
 feet. 
 
 When Hugh Crane arose there was a degree 
 of merriment shown by some in the congrega- 
 tion. In his efforts to rise there was a disturb- 
 ance sufficient to destroy the solemnity of an 
 average congregation, but when he felt fully 
 sure that he was on his feet his first perform- 
 ance was forgotten in what followed. Hugh 
 Crane was the owner of a voice of immense 
 volume. It was declared by his neighbors that 
 he had been heard five miles when calling hogs. 
 In ordinary conversation he had never practiced 
 the art of subduing his vocal organs to an aver- 
 age conversational tone, and when excited it at 
 once leaped to a high key, with volume in pro- 
 portion. On the present occasion his composure 
 was somewhat disturbed, as he proceeded in a 
 voice that startled those who did not fully un- 
 derstand what might be expected. He began : 
 " The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 
 He leadeth me through his still waters, he 
 maketh me lie down in his cool shades," end- 
 ing with an emphasis on cool shades that made 
 one think of Texas blizzards. 
 
 The congregation was amused. Several knew 
 
128 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 that the quotation was not right ; others under- 
 stood that something was wrong, but did not 
 know what, and amid the smiles of the congre- 
 gation Hugh Crane took his seat with no less 
 disturbance than when he arose. 
 
 During this same service another quotation 
 was given which amused the missionary. Two 
 citizens sat side by side ; one of them had given 
 a Scripture quotation ; the other was evidently 
 anxious to say something, but could not recall 
 a statement from the Bible, as the missionary 
 judged from his looks. He leaned over to his 
 friend and said something. The friend answered 
 back by whispering in his ear. It was no doubt 
 a proper quotation as he thought. Then he 
 arose and said : " Be sure you are right, then 
 go ahead. " 
 
 There was nothing unusual by way of a dis- 
 turbance in the services that followed. A 
 strong appeal was made for men to decide for 
 Christ. Several came forward to the front for 
 prayer, but others, whose appearance showed 
 that they were struggling to resist the Spirit, 
 held back. The same parties were present who 
 attended the morning services and listened 
 eagerly to every word of the preacher, but they 
 would not move. 
 
 One man said to the missionary at the close : 
 " I know I am a bad man, but as long as you 
 
VICTORY AITO FAILURE 129 
 
 pray for me as you do, I feel like I will not be 
 lost." 
 
 One interesting feature of the meeting that 
 night was the response of Mrs. Harry Keith 
 and her two daughters to the request that every 
 one who wanted to take a definite stand for 
 Christ to come forward and take their places 
 on the little platform. Mrs. Keith appeared 
 very determined and stated to the missionary 
 at the close of the service that she had fully de- 
 cided to do her duty. Her daughters appeared 
 to be as determined as their mother. 
 
 The fact that the mother and daughters at- 
 tended the meeting caused a disturbance in the 
 home. Harry Keith stormed and raged, but 
 with all he could say and do, he could not keep 
 his family from attending the services. 
 
 Mrs. Keith was an intelligent woman, one- 
 eighth Indian. Her two daughters, young 
 ladies eighteen and twenty years of age, had 
 spent several years in the Tribal Seminary at 
 Tahlequah and also were intelligent, and pos- 
 sessed a degree of culture that was far beyond 
 that of the average young lady of that section. 
 In discussing the matter of attending the serv- 
 ices, and fully becoming a Christian, Mrs. Keith 
 had made it clear to her husband that while 
 she was glad to cooperate with him in most 
 instances, she would not allow him to dictate 
 
130 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 to her as to religious matters, and then pro- 
 ceeded to do what she felt was her religious 
 duty. All that Keith could do was to rail 
 at the missionary and the meeting. He had 
 learned by sad experience that it was better for 
 him to respect the wishes of his wife, but that 
 did not go to the extent of altogether stopping 
 his vile and blasphemous utterances against the 
 Bible, the missionary and the present meeting. 
 However, on Monday it was clear that he had 
 decided not to show his aggressive opposition 
 so definitely as he had the last few days. 
 
 The meeting was the general topic for con- 
 versation with those who gathered at the store 
 on Monday morning. Nothing like it had been 
 known in that section. It also had the good 
 effect to encourage a number of men to come 
 out definitely and declare their belief in the 
 Bible and their faith in religion. 
 
 These men had for years been intimidated by 
 Harry Keith's bold and aggressive stand against 
 both. In doing so, that is, in taking such a 
 stand, more than one citizen experienced great 
 relief. During the week the discovery was 
 made that several citizens of the community, 
 before moving from their native states — some 
 from Tennessee, others from Missouri and Ar- 
 kansas — were members of some church and 
 lived reasonably consecrated and religious lives 
 
VICTORY AND FAILURE 131 
 
 in their earlier days. "Why they did not con- 
 tinue their allegiance to their Master and church 
 is well known to every Christian worker in the 
 great Southwest. The homeseekers go into 
 the new regions to open up farms and build 
 their homes, and the toil is so great and such 
 a heavy tax upon their mental and physical 
 powers that many lose sight of their spiritual 
 obligations. While they who move to new 
 countries know the need of religious training, 
 for themselves and also for their children, they 
 are very largely disqualified on account of the 
 manifold duties incident to building their new 
 homes. The lack of organization and intelligent 
 ministers as leaders result in the loss of interest 
 on the part of the citizens, and the children 
 grow up without any training along the line of 
 Christian effort. 
 
 While our churches see this situation, it is 
 seen through a glass darkly. They have looked 
 at it, but their money, energy and brains have 
 been absorbed in other fields. When the 
 church comes really to understand this great 
 question we term " Home Missions," see it face 
 to face, and is moved by the prospect of such a 
 wonderful opportunity, then it will be that the 
 real work of winning this nation and the world 
 for Christ will begin. 
 
 The interest in the meeting continued ; early 
 
132 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 in the week the missionary decided that he 
 would make Wednesday evening the decision 
 service, and planned everything to that end. 
 For several days a large number of young men 
 had attended regularly. They were already 
 convinced that they should give up a life of 
 sin. In private conversation with the mission- 
 ary they did not hesitate to say as much. The 
 greatest sins of these young men were profanity, 
 gambling, and drunkenness ; the most of them 
 would occasionally get drunk and some would 
 gamble. To reach them on that night the mis- 
 sionary was concentrating all his powers. But 
 he did not know that other influences were at 
 work to defeat all that he might do. 
 
 When Haden Wilson went to the school- 
 house on Wednesday evening he was surprised 
 to see so few of the young men present. Parties 
 to whom he spoke about their absence were also 
 surprised, and could not account for it, unless 
 it was that the bootleggers had returned. 
 Young Wilson was greatly depressed at that 
 surmise. He had counted on winning a great 
 victory in that service, and to have his plan 
 spoiled by the cunning devices of such lawless 
 men distressed and discouraged him. If he 
 failed, he would lose much, and the devil, and 
 those in the community who rejoiced to see the 
 devil win, would gain a great victory. The 
 
VICTORY AND FAILURE 133 
 
 missionary reproached himself for not spending 
 the day in closer personal touch with the young 
 men. But at that hour it was too late. If 
 the wicked one was abroad in the community, 
 sowing his seed, he had by that time found his 
 victims. Besides, at that moment, Wilson had 
 no idea where the young men were. He had 
 noticed as he came by the store that it seemed 
 deserted. The service proceeded at the proper 
 time, but it was lacking in the buoyancy that 
 had marked all the former meetings. 
 
 The missionary was not the only one who felt 
 that there was something wrong. As Ethel 
 Holmes took her place by the organ she said 
 she felt like some of their sheep were lost, and 
 that she would like to go out and hunt them. 
 The suggestion that the boys had gone some- 
 where to engage in a drunken carousal was be- 
 lieved by all. By the time the service had ad- 
 vanced to the beginning of the sermon a young 
 man, who had been faithful in his attendance at 
 all the meetings, came in and whispered to his 
 nearest friend that he had just left the boys at 
 the old Barnett house. 
 
 The missionary devoted twenty minutes to 
 his talk in which he took up the theme of the 
 lost lamb. At the close he emphasized the fact 
 that the shepherd did not abuse his lamb or 
 talk ugly to it when he found it. " Jesus was 
 
134 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 always kind and patient with his erring children. 
 He wants to win them back when they go 
 wrong, but not by harsh means." 
 
 The talk was touching. It proceeded from a 
 full heart and it found its way to others who 
 felt the same burden. All knew what was on 
 the mind and heart of the missionary, and 
 some present felt such pity for him that they 
 wept when he poured out his heart in prayer at 
 the close for the boys and young men. 
 
 After the congregation was dismissed it was 
 learned that a barrel of bottled beer had been 
 delivered at an old vacant house one mile east 
 of the store and about the same distance from 
 the tank. Tickets for free beer had been 
 quietly passed around to the boys during the 
 day. 
 
 It had been the custom of many in the com- 
 munity who drank to buy a quantity of such 
 goods and collect at a convenient place and 
 drink, gamble, and often fight. For the past 
 ten days there had been little drinking, and 
 each day a number were getting farther away 
 from the habit. On the Saturdav before the 
 refusal of some to drink and others to buy was 
 the handwriting on the wall. 
 
 Harry Keith conceived a new plan to carry 
 out his opposition. It was to give the boys a 
 free spread, as he called it, consisting of beer, 
 
VICTORY AND FAILURE 135 
 
 some stale cheese and fruifc. The beer, and also 
 the spread, were mentioned in such tempting 
 and confidential way that it appealed to the ap- 
 petites of all those who had not become tee- 
 totalers. Some, it is true, had fully decided to 
 give up the habit ; however, the social gather- 
 ing had been such a common thing in the com- 
 munity, especially the beer drinking, that many 
 of the young men decided to go, not thinking 
 nor understanding fully what it all meant ; that 
 it was a scheme of Harry Keith's to destroy the 
 effects of the missionary's work. 
 
 The boys were there, the beer flowed freely. 
 It was not long before its effects were felt. 
 Bitter oaths were handed about. As the beer 
 disappeared, violent discussions arose — much of 
 it about the missionary and the meeting. Both 
 were condemned by some. Others stoutly de- 
 fended each. 
 
 An improvised platform was erected. As 
 names were called the party was expected to 
 appear on the platform and make a speech. If 
 he failed to do so he was fined the sum of one 
 dollar. This sum was to go to the beer fund. 
 Some responded and others refused. Still 
 others tried, but failed, because of one of two 
 things — either too much beer or not sufficient 
 knowledge. The fines were collected. By the 
 time the beer was consumed the crowd was 
 
136 HADEK WILSON: MISSIONAKY 
 
 boisterous and could be heard a mile away. 
 Bad tempers were developing in not a few. 
 Violent language was used freely, and a gen- 
 eral fight was close at hand. That was soon 
 brought on between Jake Smith and Pete Jones. 
 Others took up the quarrel, each defending his 
 man as champion. An all round fight was on, 
 and soon the whole room was a seething, curs- 
 ing, bleeding humanity. Some were sober 
 enough to find the door and escape. The fight 
 ended and the crowd dispersed. Many of 
 them left the cabin and the scene of their 
 debauchery with skinned noses, black eyes and 
 bleeding faces. 
 
 The next morning Harry Keith was greatly 
 rejoiced. He gloated over the reports of the 
 spread. He would exclaim: "That fixes the 
 preacher. I guess he will find he will have to 
 go." Addressing a crowd, he said several 
 times : " Now you boys can see his preaching is 
 all bosh ; it won't stick when there is beer in 
 sight," and then he would laugh boisterously. 
 
 Many of the boys did not let themselves be 
 seen the following day. Those who went out 
 bore ample marks of what had happened the 
 night before. The few that the missionary was 
 able to find showed embarrassment. But he 
 swept everything aside and let them know that 
 they were missed at the service, also that they 
 
VICTORY AKD FAILURE 137 
 
 were wanted back. The next day, Friday, lie 
 managed to see and talk with quite a number 
 of them. That night more were present, but 
 others were still out. 
 
 On Saturday morning three of the boys 
 came to the missionary as a committee, rep- 
 resenting a number of others, and stated that 
 they were sorry for what they had done. " Be- 
 fore that night," they said, "it had not oc- 
 curred to us how bad it was to engage in such 
 conduct. We know you are here to help us, 
 and we feel that we have not treated you right, 
 and we want to ask your pardon for all the 
 boys." 
 
 The gentlemanly statement was gladly ac- 
 cepted and the boys were assured that it was a 
 manly step. He again insisted on all of them 
 coming back to the services. 
 
CHAPTEE XIII 
 
 THE LAMBS AND THE WOLVES 
 
 The following Sunday was the missionary's 
 last day in this community. His anxiety about 
 the result grew each hour. He was on his 
 guard to shield the boys against the bootlegger, 
 should he again come into the community. He 
 planned to get information as to whether or not 
 he was expected to return. Ed Crockett, one 
 of the men whom he felt that he could trust, 
 was sent to Harry Keith to make inquiry if 
 there would be anything on Saturday or Sun- 
 day. Without being suspected by the mer- 
 chant he was told that two of the bootleggers 
 would reach the store about five o'clock Satur- 
 day evening. The missionary was almost hor- 
 rified at the news. He knew if more beer and 
 liquor were distributed that he would lose a 
 number of the boys and men he hoped to win. 
 What should he do ? There were no officers 
 he could trust. 
 
 Without explaining his plans he decided to 
 take a risk. He would go out and meet the 
 men and make a personal appeal to them. If 
 
 138 
 
THE LAMBS AND THE WOLVES 139 
 
 they would not hear him and return, he planned 
 to buy the stuff ; if they refused, what would 
 then follow he had not the slightest idea. But 
 he would save the boys if it was in his power. 
 
 That afternoon some young men met at the 
 store. They received the important news that 
 the bootleggers would arrive about five o'clock 
 with the latest and best brands of beer, fur- 
 nished by the Kansas City breweries. It was 
 to be free and would be distributed at the store 
 about eight o'clock. 
 
 Some of them were not altogether pleased 
 with the news. They felt that it was another 
 direct challenge to them. It was a test as to 
 which side they would line up with. 
 
 Distributing beer at the store, especially to 
 the boys, was common. But there had never 
 been any defined plan of opposing the practice. 
 To the average young man, it appeared that he 
 was expected to go with the crowd, and he gen- 
 erally did. But now there was well-defined 
 opposition, and these same young men saw that 
 they were to put themselves on record — to line 
 up with one side or the other. The day was 
 hot and they had left the store and taken seats 
 under the shade of a tree at the back of the 
 building, some thirty yards west. 
 
 Clarence Bush, a foreman at one of the hay 
 camps, who was looked upon as a leader among 
 
140 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 the young men and who was always at the 
 front in every kind of gathering, the socials, 
 dances and smokes, was one of the number to 
 gather under the shade tree. It was said that 
 Bush was a very successful gambler. While it 
 was not published from the housetops, it was 
 the common talk of the neighborhood that he 
 beat Harry Keith only two Sunday nights be- 
 fore the appearance of the missionary in a game 
 of poker for fifty dollars, and was so cold 
 blooded that he picked up the money and re- 
 fused to play any further. 
 
 " I know Mr. "Wilson is right," said young 
 Bush in a general discussion of the situation, 
 " but we young fellows would have a hard fight 
 to live up to what he teaches. If we fail to join 
 the drinking crowd to-night they will cut us 
 out ; or at least Harry Keith will never quit 
 laughing at us. But it looks like a mean and 
 cowardly thing to do, to desert Mr. Wilson at 
 this time." 
 
 " Yes, it is," broke in Charlie Dodge. " But 
 if we fail to be at the smoke to-night they will 
 accuse us of lining up with the preaching crowd. 
 Next week Mr. Wilson will be gone and we will 
 not have the preaching crowd to run with. I 
 know what they will say. Harry Keith will 
 never quit asking all kinds of fool questions." 
 
 " Yes, I heard the old cuss ask Ethel Holmes 
 
THE LAMBS AXD THE WOLVES 141 
 
 when she called for mail this morning, ' what 
 she would do when the meeting closed and the 
 preacher was gone,' " said Harvey Brooks. 
 " Then he laughed." 
 
 44 The old cuss," responded McCooly. " I 
 wish she had slapped him in the mouth." 
 
 44 She ought to, but she didn't. Her face 
 turned red and she said she was going to help 
 save the children from his wicked ways," said 
 Harvey. 
 
 " Good ! " exclaimed a chorus of voices. 
 " That sounds like Ethel. But, the poor girl, 
 won't she have a hard time with such cowards 
 as we are ? " added Clarence Bush. 
 
 " That she will, but she's got the nerve," said 
 another member of the crowd. 
 
 44 1 hain't never been much in living good ; 
 I've gone with the crowd as I did last Wednes- 
 day night," and the speaker rubbed his hand 
 over his right eye, which had been hit with a 
 beer bottle. It was still closed and as black as 
 crepe. The speaker was Ed Crockett. 44 I 
 have known one thing a long time ; that it is 
 always best to stand for the right thing," con- 
 tinued Ed. 44 1 hain't always done it, but I 
 know it's the best," and there was a pause. 
 4fc Our old school-teacher back in the little log 
 schoolhouse in Tennessee used to talk to us boys 
 about standing for the right," the same voice 
 
142 HADE^ WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 continued. " He used to tell us what David 
 Crockett would do, and I'll bet he would do it 
 too," another pause following. "He used to 
 tell us that one of David's first sayings was, 
 ' Be sure you are right, then go ahead.' " 
 
 " It will be a fight that will try our mettle if 
 We stay by the preacher to-night," said Bert 
 Redecker. " We are all cowards. If we go 
 to-night we will also go to-morrow, and in that 
 time, if we stay sober, we will line up with the 
 preacher. I know a lot of you boys can do it, 
 and I hope you will. But it will be a hard 
 fight." 
 
 " There will be some who will stand with Mr. 
 "Wilson anyway," again remarked Clarence 
 Bush. " Fred Holmes was always a nice, quiet 
 boy. He is on the preacher's side now ; and 
 there's John Stuart, Hal Skyes, and a whole 
 crowd of girls. But my! they will be like 
 lambs among wolves. I am sorry for them 
 now." 
 
 " Would it not be a great fight for us to take 
 a stand with them and show a solid front to 
 Harry Keith and his crowd of scoffers ? " This 
 vision rushed into Ed Crockett's mind after the 
 suggestion of Clarence Bush — that the young 
 people would be like lambs among wolves. He 
 continued : " It will be a mean thing if we do 
 not try to keep them from the wolves." 
 
THE LAMBS AND THE WOLVES 143 
 
 " Hello, boys ! " called out the voice of 
 Mike Masters, who had just driven up in his old 
 rickety wagon drawn by the same little old 
 bony horses. 
 
 Mike was visiting the store for the first time 
 since he was beaten up by the mob two weeks 
 before. He was still weak, but had gained 
 some strength in the last few days. He was 
 recognized by the boys, but it was clear they re- 
 gretted to see him. One remarked while Mike 
 was climbing out of the wagon : " It is bad for 
 Mike that he is able to come down to-day." 
 
 " That's so," said Clarence Bush. 
 
 " Can't we get him back home before five ? " 
 asked Ed Crockett. 
 
 " Another spree to-night would about finish 
 him," suggested Bert Eedecker. 
 
 By this time Mike had hitched his ponies and 
 walked up to where the boys sat. 
 
 "Have a seat, Mike," said Clarence Bush, 
 moving to give him room. " We're glad to see 
 that you are better. You still look thin and 
 weak. I guess you will go back home soon," 
 continued the hay foreman. 
 
 " Yes," replied Mike. " As soon as I can get 
 a little something to eat for my wife and chil- 
 dren. I have struck it hard, boys — lots harder 
 than ever before. I was hit hard the other 
 night. It was much more than the pain from 
 
144: HADEN wilsok: missionary 
 
 the blow. It's no worse now than it has been 
 lots of times before, but I just feel it more. The 
 scales are falling from my eyes, boys. For six- 
 teen long years I have been drinking, cussing, 
 fighting, and my wife and children have been suf- 
 fering and suffering. It's all off, boys. I may 
 need more help, but Mr. Wilson is a power of 
 strength to me. He's changed things some, 
 boys, and Mike is going to be a better man." 
 
 " Mike," said Ed Crockett, " we are going to 
 have an old time smoker to-night with plenty 
 of free beer to drink, the best that's made in 
 Kansas City. Would you like to join us ? " 
 This statement was made by Crockett to test 
 Mike's power to resist temptation. 
 
 All eyes were on Mike. Many times those 
 same boys had seen him fall under the pressure 
 of much less temptation, and they had never 
 known of his failing to fall. In an instant 
 Mike was a changed man. The same old ap- 
 petite which had long been a disease with him 
 gripped him as firmly as if he were a piece of 
 inanimate matter in the jaws of a vise. Had 
 there been within his reach that moment whis- 
 key, beer, or anything that would answer the 
 craving of the appetite, he would at once have 
 made a complete surrender to its power. The 
 boys saw and understood all that Mike was 
 suffering. He looked helplessly at them, and 
 
THE LAMBS AND THE WOLVES 145 
 
 then with an effort to get hold of himself again, 
 he exclaimed, " My God ! I thought that I was 
 free, but I am not. Where has my strength 
 gone ? " and he looked about, a helpless victim. 
 " How may I find it again ? " he said, with an 
 appealing look at the young men who sat by 
 knowing not what to do. 
 
 " Mike," said young Bush, " let me get the 
 groceries you need this evening. I want to go 
 out to Mr. Holmes' place, and I will drive back 
 with you." 
 
 This was done to save Mike from falling into 
 other hands. If he had gotten into the store 
 he would have been a drunken maniac even be- 
 fore five o'clock. The items were purchased by 
 Clarence Bush, while the boys kept Mike in 
 the shade of the tree. In a short time he and 
 the hay boss were driving back over the road 
 to his home. Mike was greatly depressed. 
 More than once he exclaimed, u My God ! " 
 and then lapsed into silence. 
 
 The conversation in which the young men 
 had engaged that afternoon, and the helpful in- 
 terest they had shown to Mike Masters, was a 
 revelation even to themselves. Two weeks be- 
 fore they could not have appreciated the spirit 
 which moved them in the present conversation 
 and prompted them to aid Mike in such a time 
 of need. Many times before they had allowed 
 
146 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 him to rush headlong into the merciless grasp of 
 dissipation with no thought of the great truth 
 that they were their brother's keeper. All this 
 had been brought about by the untiring efforts 
 of the young missionary, his associations, his 
 songs, prayers and sermons. These young men 
 did not know it, but it was a fulfilment of 
 God's promise : " And, lo, I am with you." 
 
 That such a change had come to pass in a 
 community of such little promise illustrates the 
 great need of men with good common sense and 
 tact to do the Lord's work in the rural districts. 
 It has long been the custom of the churches to 
 keep their strong men, men of resource and 
 power, in the city churches and stations in the 
 larger towns where they can be well supported ; 
 to send the weaker and less qualified men — al- 
 lowing the term qualified to be given its fullest 
 meaning — to the country places. It is a fact 
 that at this time the people in the country can- 
 not be won for Christ and the church by just 
 any one that the church may send. If spiritual 
 leadership is again to assume its rightful place 
 with the people in the country, qualified men 
 must be sent there. And let it be understood 
 that qualification for such a field does not mean 
 the ability to preach and that only, but much 
 more. The times require men of good sense, 
 judgment and energy ; and all of these thor- 
 
THE LAMBS AND THE WOLVES 117 
 
 oughly dominated by a spirit of consecration. 
 This means that men are needed who have a 
 real love for the people in the neglected places. 
 Men who can adapt themselves to the condi- 
 tions that exist in the rural districts and who 
 possess the rare qualifications to interest people 
 and set them to work. 
 
 What has been set forth in this volume of the 
 character of Haden Wilson is a fair illustration 
 of the kind of men needed in the great neglected 
 fields of our nation, and the wonderful work 
 that may be wrought by those possessing these 
 qualifications. The rewards are enough to 
 challenge the strongest to enter the service. 
 
 The crowd of young men, after Mike and 
 Clarence drove away, dispersed without reach- 
 ing any understanding as to which side they 
 would line up with that night. The words of 
 Ed Crockett, " Be sure you are right, then go 
 ahead," lingered with some, and the suggestion 
 that the young people who had and would 
 stand with the missionary w r ould be as lambs 
 among wolves, brought to the minds of some a 
 picture that enlisted all their sympathy and ap- 
 pealed to their manhood. The wolf had al- 
 ready shown his teeth in the person of Harry 
 Keith that morning. There were other wolves. 
 They would grow bold. To stand off and see 
 them enter the fold of the innocent lambs, intim- 
 
148 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 idate them, stampede and destroy their faith, 
 while these young men stood quietly by, ap- 
 peared to some to be the consummation of 
 cowardice. But, with all this, not one would 
 decide fully to defend the lambs. 
 
OHAPTEE XIV 
 
 "the good shepherd giveth his life 
 fok his sheep " 
 
 That afternoon Haden Wilson left his room 
 without explaining to any one where he was 
 going or the purpose of his mission. He rode 
 in a buggy that went out toward the tank. At 
 the time nothing was thought about it by those 
 who saw him drive away. He had been seen 
 before to go in that direction, as well as in 
 many others. The deeply set purpose which 
 was indicated by his firmly set jaws, his statue- 
 like posture of body, his hands with almost the 
 grip of a vise clasping each other, and his gaze 
 fixed steadily ahead, turning neither to the 
 right nor to the left, was not observed by those 
 who watched him as he drove away. The 
 farmer with whom he rode lived in the Verdi- 
 gres bottom, some miles beyond and east of the 
 railroad. The missionary had met him before, 
 once at a sick neighbor's where he had called, 
 and the farmer had on one or two occasions at- 
 tended a service at the schoolhouse. The brief 
 acquaintance had served to develop a mutual 
 
 149 
 
150 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 friendship between the two men. The farmer 
 was very glad to have the missionary, who 
 stated that he was going in the neighborhood of 
 the tank, to ride with him. He, however, was 
 surprised and disappointed that his companion 
 was so little inclined to talk. Several times on 
 the way he tried to interest him in a conversa- 
 tion, but each time his efforts ended with a blunt 
 " yes " or " no." 
 
 This temper of young Wilson, so different to 
 that which the farmer had seen on former oc- 
 casions, was a puzzle to his companion and 
 friend, and had the effect of checking his grow- 
 ing admiration for the young missionary. 
 
 The farmer did not and could not observe 
 that his companion's mind, body and soul were 
 absorbed in a great purpose. He could not see, 
 neither could he understand how it was with 
 the missionary that he was so absorbed in a 
 contest which involved the highest destiny and 
 happiness of a score or more of the community's 
 best young men. He could not appreciate the 
 fact that it was his or any one else's business to 
 lift from the burdened backs and aching hearts 
 the load which avarice, fettered with all manner 
 of sin, sought to bind the unsuspecting, innocent 
 and helpless. He could not understand how it 
 was that on that afternoon this young man was 
 risking his life that he might carry out his mis- 
 
"the good shepherd " 151 
 
 sion to save others. Neither could he com- 
 prehend how it was that he himself, though he 
 might hear the groans and witness the desola- 
 tion wrought by sin, should join in the battle 
 against the enemy. 
 
 Such impulses had never called this friend of 
 the missionary to a vision of service in which 
 the cry of others was heard above that of his 
 own selfishness. 
 
 When the tank was reached the missionary 
 thanked the farmer friend, who drove away 
 still more puzzled by his strange actions. There 
 was no house within a half mile of the tank, 
 neither was there a train due until nine o'clock 
 that night, and why it was he would stop there 
 at that time in the day and not explain his pur- 
 pose, raised questions of suspicion in the farmer's 
 mind. For he had learned to interpret the 
 actions of all men whom he could not under- 
 stand, or who would not explain away all 
 doubts, as intending some wrong. So it was 
 doing no violence to his conscience when he 
 reached the conclusion that the missionary was 
 bent on some dark deed. 
 
 Haden Wilson stood on the railroad track for 
 some minutes. All was silent save the constant 
 dropping of water which was forcing its way 
 through a small hole in the bottom of the 
 wooden tank. These little bits of water — drop, 
 
152 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 drop, drop — into the tiny pool which they had 
 created below attracted the attention of the 
 silent visitor, and he stood contemplating it. 
 As he watched the drops of water follow each 
 other, as regular as the tick of his watch, and 
 so readily lose themselves in the body of the 
 whole, a meadow-lark hopped out from its 
 hiding-place to the pool, dipped its little bill 
 into the sparkling liquid, lifted its head and 
 stretched its neck high above its graceful body, 
 swallowing with great satisfaction the refresh- 
 ing draught. The performance was repeated 
 several times. The lark was joined by its 
 mate, and soon other feathered friends came. 
 A little wren flew down from its hiding-place 
 beneath the eave of the tank, and a mocking- 
 bird left its perch on top to join its neighbors. 
 All stood around drinking from the sparkling 
 little pool. There was no crowding, no protest, 
 or objections among these little neighbors. All 
 drank, and drank, and drank. And the shining 
 particles continued to drop, drop, drop. Each 
 had enough ; and still drop, drop, drop came 
 the water from above. The little pool seemed 
 to smile as it added to the comfort and happi- 
 ness of the feathered denizens of the prairie. 
 The wren with a sweet note, as if to say, 
 " Thank you," flew back to its place under the 
 eave. The graceful larks in a louder tone of 
 
"the good shepherd" 153 
 
 thankfulness hopped away to their paradise, 
 and the mocking-bird full of joy and thanks 
 for blessings took its flight to the shady bough 
 on an oak where it, too, poured forth its beauti- 
 ful song of praise. 
 
 " It is," young Wilson mused, " our Father 
 who cares for the birds. How different to 
 these little creatures is man. Out of the great 
 abundance the birds only seek that which they 
 can use to-day and leave the remainder free 
 from the mark of preemption or the slimy coils 
 of greed. How unlike man, who is seeking to 
 pervert all of God's plans. He has taken his 
 gold and silver and through the spirit of greed 
 has used it to mortgage the happiness of man- 
 kind. Through his spirit of avarice man has 
 thwarted God's purpose in perverting the means 
 of his creation for food, raiment, home and 
 happiness, and brought forth from these, his 
 own creations, wrecked manhood and woman- 
 hood, desolated homes, weeping and disconsolate 
 wives, mothers and widows, hungry, helpless 
 children, and young men and women sold into 
 slavery." 
 
 These were the thoughts of the missionary 
 for the brief space of time as he stood under 
 the shadow of the tank. As his reflections 
 reached the vision of young men, he was no 
 longer lost in reverie, but was alert. It was 
 
154 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 his mission to save young men. That was why 
 he was at the tank. He turned and looked up 
 the railroad track, which stretched to the 
 north, then south; but there was no one in 
 sight. 
 
 It was now four o'clock. If the bootleggers, 
 he reasoned to himself, are to be at the store at 
 five o'clock it is time for them to be in sight. 
 After a few moments' reflection he decided that 
 he would go up the track, as he was sure they 
 would come from the north, and he started out 
 in a brisk walk over the ties. He had gone 
 nearly half a mile when he saw some distance 
 ahead two men coming up the right-of-way. 
 He was sure they were the parties for whom 
 he was looking. Each one carried packages 
 sufficiently large to hold several dozen bottles 
 of the stuff such as was generally handled by 
 men of their character. Both parties continued 
 toward each other ; the bootleggers, closing up 
 ranks, walked side by side on the track. 
 
 From their actions it was not difficult to 
 judge that they were suspicious of the party in 
 front. At this point it was necessary for them 
 to get on the track, for the right-of-way crossed 
 a deep ravine. A bridge had been built over 
 it, so it was an easy matter to cross on the ties ; 
 whereas it would require considerable more 
 time to follow a path which led some distance 
 
"the good shepherd" 155 
 
 away and then back to the railroad some three 
 or four hundred yards to the south. 
 
 As the missionary and bootleggers walked 
 forward they met on the bridge above this 
 ravine. The two men recognized the mission- 
 ary and their looks were not those of friendly 
 greetings. 
 
 The missionary stopped when within a few 
 feet of the men facing him. They also stopped 
 short and set down their burdens. 
 
 " What do you want ? " demanded the bully, 
 with a brutal scowl on his face. 
 
 " I want to talk to you men," was the reply. 
 
 " All right, fire away," said one of the men. 
 
 " You're going to the store ? " 
 
 " Yes, but what business is it of yours ? " 
 
 " I think I know your business, and I wanted 
 to ask you not to go." 
 
 " I am sorry, young man, but we can't oblige 
 you." 
 
 " If you could understand things there as I do, 
 I am sure you would not go. There are a num- 
 ber of young men, and a few of the older ones, 
 too, who are trying to give up a dissipated life. 
 The next twenty-four hours mean much to them. 
 If you go there to-night and distribute the liquor 
 you have, there could hardly any worse thing 
 happen to the community. I want to save the 
 boys. If you go, there is little hope for them. 
 
156 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 So I thought if I could get you to understand 
 it, you might listen to reason." 
 
 "Why, mister, if the young men want to 
 drink, get drunk, and spoil your plans, that's 
 none of our business." 
 
 " Surely you know that what you will do, if 
 you go on, may result in serious injury and 
 maybe the death of some of those parties. You 
 know that such serious things have happened. 
 And, don't you know that whatever does hap- 
 pen from their drinking the liquor you are 
 largely responsible for, and that does make it 
 your business ? " 
 
 " See here, mister, that's all baby prattle. 
 We've heard it before. You need not talk to 
 us. It's our business to deliver the goods." 
 
 " To whom ? " 
 
 " Harry Keith." 
 
 " Where are these goods from ? " 
 
 "Kansas City." 
 
 " Are they to be distributed free ? " 
 
 "Yes, half of them." 
 
 "Why not all of them?" 
 
 " See here, mister, there is nobody in business 
 for their health. It's money at the bottom, and 
 what is given away will soon come back when 
 the boys are broke in." 
 
 " Do you get the proceeds from the sales ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
" THE GOOD SHEPHERD " 157 
 
 " Will you take the money from me for that 
 half and deliver the whole to me and go back ? " 
 
 " What will you do with it ? " 
 
 " Destroy it.' 5 
 
 " No, sir. That is injuring our business." 
 
 " Can you not wait then — not go to-day ? " 
 and the missionary gave the men an appealing 
 and steady look which meant more than he said. 
 
 " No one has interfered with you before ; can 
 vou not wait ? " 
 
 " We don't stand for that. You are playing 
 with dynamite, my young friend. We will be 
 late now. Get out of the way," and the two 
 men picked up their packages. 
 
 " I am pleading for the young men and chil- 
 dren, and God being my helper I intend to de- 
 fend them against your cursed business," and 
 Haden Wilson showed in every fibre of his 
 being that he meant it. 
 
 The men could not go on without coming in 
 close touch with the antagonist, and they saw 
 to do that meant to fight. To turn back and 
 take the path would cause at least twenty -five 
 minutes' delay. Soon, however, they deter- 
 mined on their course. Still holding their pack- 
 ages, each rushed forward at the same time, 
 thinking to overpower their enemy and go on 
 with no further resistance. 
 
 As young Wilson instantly saw and read in 
 
15S HADEN WILSON I MISSIONARY 
 
 their eyes what was intended, he braced him- 
 self, gave a lunge forward and received the 
 impact of the rush without being borne down. 
 
 The bully was hurled back, almost losing his 
 balance and falling to the ground twenty feet 
 below. In an effort to save himself he let go 
 his package, which crushed on the rocks under 
 the bridge. The other man was slightly stag- 
 gered, but still held to his goods. The leader 
 was now in a great rage. He saw what a great 
 calamity had happened, and turned to his 
 enemy, cursing furiously. Both rushed at him 
 again ; this time the young man quickly moved 
 to one side, thereby escaping the desperate fury 
 of the bully, who, missing his mark, staggered 
 some feet beyond before he could check him- 
 self. In moving, as the missionary had done, 
 he not only escaped the mad rush of the one, 
 but was able to throw his full weight with all 
 the power he could command against the other. 
 The shock was so great that he, too, staggered 
 back, still holding on to his goods. The mis- 
 sionary instantly pulled himself together and 
 rushed forward before he had time to regain 
 his balance and bore him down. To protect 
 himself against this assault the package was 
 dropped, which, by a violent kick of the mis- 
 sionary, was hurled some distance below the 
 bridge and the bottles crushed on the rocks. 
 
"the good shepherd" 159 
 
 This was all the work of a moment. While 
 the missionary had succeeded in destroying the 
 liquor he was face to face with an unequal con- 
 test. To continue longer with both men on 
 the bridge he knew was dangerous, and there 
 was little doubt what the result would be. All 
 this flashed through young Wilson's mind in a 
 moment, and to protect himself with every ad- 
 vantage, before his enemies had sufficiently re- 
 covered to rush to another attack, he retreated 
 from the open bridge to where it joined the 
 dump. This dump rose some eighteen or 
 twenty feet from the level surface below and 
 sloped gradually from the top to the base at an 
 angle of nearly forty-five degrees. The posi- 
 tion was not a safe one in such a contest, but 
 was more desirable than to have remained on 
 the bridge. Should he be overpowered and 
 hurled from his footing, the fall would not be 
 so dangerous. 
 
 A few rapid strides carried the missionary to 
 the end of the bridge, and he only had time to 
 turn and brace himself to receive his antago- 
 nists, who were rushing at him with increased 
 rage. The men being relieved of their burdens, 
 which they had endeavored to save, determined 
 to make short work of the object of their wrath. 
 Their assault was received with all the force 
 that the missionary could command. The im- 
 
160 HADEET WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 pact was fierce. A blow that was directed at 
 the bully fell on its victim with such force that 
 he recoiled and staggered back on the bridge. 
 But the united strength of the two was too 
 great for the single contestant and he too was 
 forced backward. Struggling to regain his 
 balance and to receive another assault, he made 
 the discovery that his right hand with which 
 he had dealt the furious blow was helpless. 
 The wrist had been dislocated ; the hand hung 
 limp and refused to obey the uplifted arm in 
 another desperate effort to resist the attack. 
 
 The punishment he received by this assault 
 was horrible. Haden Wilson was borne down 
 by terrific blows. All was dark. There was a 
 sensation of falling down, down, he could not 
 tell to what depths, and then all consciousness 
 ceased. In great fury the missionary had been 
 hurled over the embankment, which saved him 
 from still greater punishment, and he lay limp 
 and helpless at its base. The body was visible 
 from above • and the two men glared at it with 
 all the fury of enraged beasts. Could they 
 have descended with safety to themselves, the 
 helpless man would have received still greater 
 outrageous treatment. 
 
 Seeing that the body remained in the same 
 position with no signs of life, the two outlaws 
 abandoned any further attack. They, too, had 
 
"the good shepherd" 161 
 
 not emerged from the contest without bearing 
 visible marks of the battle. The leader's face 
 was bleeding freely and one eye was already 
 closed from the effects of the blow which sent 
 him staggering upon the bridge. His compan- 
 ion had fared little better. While they were 
 not disabled to the extent of preventing them 
 from continuing their journey, yet the marks of 
 the contest were so great that it would be de- 
 cidedly unpleasant to face the crowd at the 
 store. An explanation would be necessary, and 
 there was a profound aversion to telling how it 
 happened. And, too, their antagonist was 
 probably dead, and they did not care to an- 
 swer the charge of murder. Also the purpose 
 of their journey to the store lay before their 
 eyes a stranded wreck. The cases which con- 
 tained the liquors had fared badly in the fall. 
 So with a scowl and a curse, after a brief con- 
 sultation, the two men turned and retraced their 
 steps, leaving the scene of their murderous ac- 
 tion wrapped in silence. After going some 
 distance up the railroad track they left it and 
 disappeared in the wood, which fringed a small 
 stream that finally lost itself in the waters of 
 the Yerdigres Kiver. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN" 
 
 There was unusual activity at the store. A 
 large number of farmers and those working in 
 the hay camps came in during the afternoon ; 
 some to get their mail, others to buy supplies, 
 and still others to cash their checks, which they 
 had received for their week's labor in the hay- 
 fields. Harry Keith was never more obliging. 
 He allowed a timid little woman a better price 
 than usual for the dozen eggs she offered for 
 sale and gave her an extra large amount of the 
 goods she bought for the price. 
 
 The men continued to collect in groups and 
 discuss matters apparently of a serious nature. 
 Those who had frequently been witnesses to 
 such gatherings knew very well what might be 
 expected. It was a sure index to the fact that 
 the bootlegger was abroad and liable to make 
 his appearance in their midst at any time. As 
 the hour of five approached there was an air of 
 expectancy on more than one face. The young 
 men who early in the afternoon had collected 
 in the shade of the oak at the back of the store, 
 
 162 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 163 
 
 and who had dispersed when Mike climbed back 
 into the rickety old wagon, were again engaged 
 in earnest conversation. 
 
 Five o'clock passed. Harry Keith had al- 
 ready ceased to jolly his customers who entered 
 the store. He was now irritable and manifestly 
 cross toward some, especially a timid girl and 
 bashful boy who called for mail. Every min- 
 ute the prospects for carrying out his plans 
 which were to be the death-blow to the mis- 
 sionary's efforts grew less. Some who had been 
 induced to stay on account of prospects of free 
 beer were becoming restless, and he knew 
 would soon go away. At six o'clock he called 
 Arch Crow, a well-known character who was 
 ready to follow the bidding of the merchant. 
 After a brief conference Crow mounted his 
 horse and rode rapidly away toward the tank. 
 By six-thirty the crowd of men who had been 
 induced to stay began to disperse. Arch Crow 
 returned after having been gone some forty 
 minutes and reported to his chief. That it dis- 
 pleased him was clear by the oaths that he ut- 
 tered. 
 
 By seven-thirty the meeting folks began to 
 arrive at the store. Some stopped to spend a 
 short time there, while others drove on to the 
 schoolhouse. The keen eye of the merchant, 
 however, had noted that the missionary had not 
 
164 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 made his appearance, and in some way he as- 
 sociated this fact with the failure of his emis- 
 saries, through whom he would gladly turn the 
 joy of the neighborhood into mourning. He 
 was not entirely easy. The character of the 
 two men was well known to him and in their 
 hands he was sure little mercy would be shown 
 the missionary. 
 
 By eight o'clock a good crowd had gathered 
 at the schoolhouse, and those who took part in 
 the song services were engaged in rendering 
 some of their favorite selections. These songs 
 had drawn into the building quite a number. 
 There was a respectful silence, all seeming to 
 enjoy the music. 
 
 It was noted by this time that the missionary 
 was not present. The fact was particularly 
 emphasized by Clarence Bush and some of his 
 companions who had felt more than usual that 
 afternoon the appeal to their best manhood on 
 behalf of the " lambs," as they termed the 
 children. They had watched with increased 
 interest the failure of the bootleggers to arrive 
 at the given time. They had also seen Haden 
 Wilson drive away with the farmer whom they 
 knew lived beyond the tank. All these inci- 
 dents, together with his failure to be at his 
 post, which had never occurred before, had 
 raised in their minds grave suspicions. 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 165 
 
 Pretty soon the question, " Where is the 
 preacher ? " was being asked. No one seemed 
 to know. The singing ceased and the crowd 
 grew restless. One who knew related to his 
 neighbor what had been planned for that after- 
 noon and night. This information was soon 
 passed around, and as it traveled it was en- 
 larged. By nine o'clock the schoolhouse had 
 been abandoned by the people who collected in 
 groups outside, all discussing why the mission- 
 ary was not present. 
 
 A number of reasons were advanced. Clar- 
 ence Bush and his friends related all they knew 
 of his going away, and in a few minutes after, 
 it was told that the missionary had been seen 
 at the tank that afternoon with his suit case 
 waiting to catch a south-bound freight train. 
 This interpretation of his absence was given 
 prominence. It meant that he had left the 
 country, given up the fight. Some went so far 
 as to claim that he had been discovered and 
 was fleeing from his pursuers. This conclusion 
 was so in keeping with other characters who 
 had imposed upon the people that it was ac- 
 cepted by some as true. But others would not 
 believe it. Among those who defended the 
 young man most vigorously against any wrong 
 act was Ethel Holmes. She spurned the idea 
 of his leaving the community in such a manner. 
 
166 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 To those who knew what had been planned 
 that day, and who understood that the young 
 missionary had driven toward the railroad 
 track there was a fear that some tragedy had 
 been enacted. One was sure the people had 
 been buncoed, and others were expressing them- 
 selves freely against all men who sought to 
 preach and spread the knowledge of the Bible. 
 They declared that Harry Keith was right. 
 However, the contingent was small. 
 
 The contention of others was of a much more 
 serious character. They were thoughtful men 
 and women of the community ; those who had 
 seen much of the young man, and had placed 
 entire confidence in him. They would not 
 entertain the idea that he had left them with- 
 out an explanation. While the cause was 
 freely discussed by both contending parties 
 Ethel's father, at her suggestion, proposed that 
 they go to his room and see if his clothing and 
 suit case were gone. This reasonable sugges- 
 tion was at once adopted. A number of citizens 
 left the schoolhouse grounds for that purpose. 
 This was a signal for the crowd to disperse, 
 some going to the private home where the mis- 
 sionary boarded and others to collect at the 
 store. 
 
 The rumor was still on many tongues that 
 the missionary had taken flight. The citizens 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 167 
 
 who collected at the home where he stayed 
 were at once shown into his room. There was 
 nothing missing. His Bible lay open on the 
 table ; an extra suit of clothes hung on the 
 wall, and his suit case sat in one corner. A 
 package of laundered clothes, which had been 
 brought in that day, lay on the bed. The fact 
 that the missionary's personal effects were still 
 in the room was reported by those who had 
 made the examination, and resulted in silenc- 
 ing the ones who were willing to spread abroad 
 the slanders that he was a fraud and had been 
 discovered. 
 
 That something was wrong grew on the 
 crowd. The people became very anxious to 
 know what had happened, and as the minutes 
 lengthened into hours few were there who 
 thought of returning to their homes. 
 
 Clarence Bush suggested that they organize 
 a searching party to go to the tank, and make a 
 search of the railroad for some distance on 
 either side. Not all understood why he 
 thought of such a plan. This suggestion was 
 adopted at once, and in a short time a large 
 party left the store for the tank. Of those who 
 were in the front ranks of the searchers were 
 Clarence Bush, Ed Crockett, and Mr. Holmes 
 and his daughter, Ethel. As the night wore 
 on Ethel's anxiety increased. Others among 
 
168 HADEN wilsoist: MISSIONARY 
 
 the women became unnerved and wept bitterly, 
 When it was freely talked that the missionary 
 had likely been the victim of fonl play. Ethel 
 rode her faithful pony, which never lost his 
 place in the front of the party. She was al- 
 ways alert, searching with a trained eye every 
 object that was visible in the golden moon- 
 light. 
 
 The first party was soon followed by others 
 in buggies, on horseback, and still others on 
 foot. Few men were left at the store. In a 
 short time the prairie toward the tank was dot- 
 ted with people, some moving slowly, calm and 
 self-possessed ; others at a rapid gait, rushing in 
 one direction and then in another, excited, but 
 with no purpose. 
 
 It was only a few minutes' ride under the 
 present pressure to reach the tank. By con- 
 certed effort the advanced party was looking in 
 every direction for some sign that would furnish 
 a clue. At the tank there was nothing to aid. 
 In a short time the little group stood in its 
 shadow where Haden Wilson had stood a few 
 hours before and listened to the drops of water 
 as they came down from above, and watched 
 the little feathered denizens of the prairie as 
 they drank from the sparkling fountain. All 
 now was silence save the continued drop, drop, 
 drop of the water as it still pressed its way 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 169 
 
 through the tiny worn hole and splashed into 
 the pool below. 
 
 " The railroad and right-of-way to the north 
 on either side should be searched first," said 
 Clarence Bush. He suggested that at least 
 half a dozen should go over the right-of-way in- 
 side the wire fence, and as others arrived that 
 they join hands and go over the prairie as far 
 as the point where the railroad crossed the bridge 
 some half mile distant. 
 
 By the time these plans had been agreed upon 
 a large crowd had reached the tank. All fell 
 into line as much as is possible with an un- 
 trained body. Ethel, her father, and Clarence 
 Bush, with Ed Crockett and two others set off 
 at once on foot over the railroad track and 
 right-of-way, searching eagerly every object. 
 In a short while the prairie for some distance 
 on either side of the track was lined with men 
 and boys, all bent on finding the lost mission- 
 ary. The advance was almost in a solid and 
 uniform line. The short march under the hasty 
 suggestion of system had served to bring the 
 more excitable characters, to a degree, under 
 the sway of determined numbers. The move- 
 ments were slow, but no ground was covered 
 without being carefully inspected. Every sec- 
 tion of the railroad for some distance north and 
 south was familiar to Ethel as it was also to 
 
170 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 most of those who were with her and her father. 
 "When the long dump, which joined the bridge 
 and upon which the tragedy was enacted that 
 afternoon, was reached it was suggested that the 
 party separate, two going on the east side, a 
 like number to the west of the track and the 
 others following the road-bed. Ethel, followed 
 by her father, turned to the right into the path 
 that wound its narrow way along the base of 
 the dump. The path seemed to descend lower 
 and lower and the track of the railroad to ascend 
 in a like proportion. 
 
 The moon had passed its zenith. The shadows 
 cast by its silvery rays were growing in length. 
 The last hundred yards of the path, which led 
 beneath the bridge and in which Ethel and her 
 father were traveling, was filled with a frown- 
 ing shadow of the railroad dump which towered 
 above. The silence and gloom sent a chill to 
 Ethel's heart as she pressed forward. 
 
 Clarence Bush and his companion, Ed 
 Crockett, who followed the base of the dump 
 on the west side, rushed ahead with greater 
 speed than Ethel and her father, reaching the 
 opening under the bridge and paused in the 
 deep shadows of the trees. The rays of the 
 moon which fell through the cross timbers that 
 supported the ties and steel rails fell on an ob- 
 ject lying prone at the base of the dump on the 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 171 
 
 opposite side of the ravine. At once both men 
 recognized it as the form of the missionary, and 
 almost at a single bound both were kneeling 
 beside it. 
 
 The body still lay as it landed in its plunge 
 from the railroad above, the head resting on the 
 left arm, and the right arm thrown up lay 
 against the dump as if to grasp and cling to some 
 object. The lower limbs were half drawn as if 
 in a last struggle of resistance. The whole body 
 showed signs of terrible punishment. The face 
 was swollen and disfigured and gave the im- 
 pression that it was lifeless. 
 
 The first impulse of the two men was to place 
 their friend in a more comfortable position, and 
 raising the head and shoulders slightly, an 
 audible groan passed his lips. The body was 
 still warm. There was life ! In a moment the 
 minds of the two men were teeming with plans 
 to save the missionary. The discovery of the 
 body and the fact that there was still life in it 
 were the work of only a few seconds. 
 
 In the midst of the excitement following the 
 discovery, Ethel and her father rushed out of 
 the deep shadows. Ethel dropped by the side 
 of the disfigured man, clasping the still uplifted 
 hand in both her own. The touch was only for 
 one moment, when she exclaimed, " He is not 
 dead ! Go for the doctor ! Go quick ! " This 
 
172 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 imperative command brought the bewildered 
 men to understand what should be done. 
 
 Those who followed on the railroad track had 
 arrived by this time and stood on the bridge 
 above looking down on the unusual scene. The 
 news of the discovery was shouted from the 
 bridge and the narrow valley was soon crowded 
 with the eager questioning and helpless people. 
 Swift runners were dispatched for the doctor, 
 who was to meet them at the tank. An im- 
 provised litter was soon constructed on which 
 the helpless form of the missionary was placed, 
 and the crowd took up a silent march over the 
 right-of-way back to the tank. 
 
 Those who bore it through the deep shadows 
 and out through the moonlight were four of the 
 young men who had that afternoon discussed 
 the devotion of the missionary to his cause. 
 They were not willing a few hours before to 
 follow him, but now they would give up all to 
 have him restored and again push his work as 
 he had during the past weeks. 
 
 Had they and all those who followed in the 
 slow and silent march known with what will- 
 ingness this young man had followed his Master, 
 even to the point of giving his life for the sake 
 of those who now followed and mourned him 
 as dead, they could have more fully under- 
 stood the meaning of Jesus when he said: 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 173 
 
 " The good shepherd giveth his life for his 
 sheep." 
 
 The doctor arrived soon after the party 
 reached the tank and the hasty examination re- 
 vealed the fact that while there was still life 
 in the body, the heart was sluggish and re- 
 sponded slowly to stimulants. Within a few 
 minutes directions were given by Dr. Skyes to 
 remove the patient as speedily as possible to 
 his room. 
 
 Again the silent crowd took up its march over 
 the prairie. There was no sound save tramp, 
 tramp, tramp of the sad-faced people. The soft 
 rays of the moon as they fell across the up- 
 turned face of the patient seemed to unite in 
 sympathy with the stricken throng. 
 
 In the march to the store the doctor took his 
 place on one side of the patient ; Ethel did not 
 for one moment give up her place on the other. 
 
 The crowd at the store anxiously pressed 
 upon those returning from the search to know 
 if there was any hope. ~No one knew. All 
 that could be stated was that the missionary 
 was still alive. That he had been unmercifully 
 beaten and left by his murderers as dead. The 
 doctor would not, and in fact could not, give 
 out any statement that was encouraging. To 
 all that sought to know the truth he would only 
 say, " As long as there is life there is hope." 
 
174 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 As soon as the patient was in his room Dr. 
 Skyes set to work with a grim determination 
 to win back from death its victim. The heart's 
 action showed marked improvement. The deli- 
 cate and painful work of setting the broken 
 limbs and the dislocated joints in the right hand 
 and dressing the ghastly wounds on his face and 
 head was heroically begun. This was the work 
 of hours ; but not for one moment was the task 
 relinquished until the bruised and mutilated 
 body had received the most careful attention. 
 During the long ordeal, while yet unconscious, 
 the patient gave evidence of great pain. 
 
 At the conclusion there still remained on the 
 physician's face the signs of the greatest appre- 
 hension. His fears were of internal injuries. 
 The fact that the patient had not rallied was 
 taken as the gravest sign, since unconsciousness 
 of many hours' duration had followed the shock 
 resulting from the terrible blows which he had 
 received. When the work of dressing the 
 wounds had been completed, then followed the 
 anxious watching for returning signs of con- 
 sciousness. 
 
 After waiting long beyond midnight for some 
 word of hope many of the people sad and down- 
 cast drove away to their homes ; yet there still 
 remained numbers of anxious watchers. 
 
 During the process of dressing the patient's 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEK 175 
 
 wounds Dr. Skjes made a surprising discovery. 
 Ethel Holmes, who remained at the mission- 
 ary's side during the walk from the tank, took 
 up the work of aiding the doctor with such apt- 
 ness as to surprise him greatly. At one or two 
 points in the operation, which was enough to 
 try the nerve of the stoutest-hearted man, 
 she showed courage and even understanding 
 that would have been a credit to a nurse of 
 years' experience. Others were ready and anx- 
 ious to aid, but as the work advanced less skil- 
 ful hands gave way, leaving the whole process 
 to the doctor and to Ethel, whose minds ap- 
 peared to act in perfect harmony as to the 
 necessity of every movement. Wherever as- 
 sistance was needed her alertness never 
 failed to respond with an accuracy and deli- 
 cateness of touch that greatly astonished the 
 doctor. 
 
 He had known Ethel since she was ten years 
 of age, and to his certain knowledge she had 
 never had an opportunity to acquire the skill 
 she commanded. It was an endowment, a gift 
 of the Creator, which could not be acquired 
 even in the greatest schools. She and her father 
 joined the doctor in the silent and anxious 
 watch for signs of returning life, and the phy- 
 sician rejoiced that he had found in Ethel an as- 
 sistant whom he could trust should they have 
 
176 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 the privilege of nursing their young friend back 
 to health. 
 
 At Modoe that night another unusual thing 
 happened. It was not the first time, nay there 
 been many such times in the past twenty-five 
 years, when the crowds had witnessed tragedies, 
 or waited upon death. But such occasions had 
 been the outgrowth and results of the drunken 
 debauches which the bootleggers industriously 
 encouraged. Less than two years before the 
 present time James Fielder, a substantial farmer 
 and cow-man, had fallen a victim to Bushnell 
 Stagg's rage generated by bad liquor. The 
 crowd watched and waited as the life of the vic- 
 tim ebbed away. On that occasion there was curs- 
 ing and raging. The cry of the fatherless chil- 
 dren and the wail of the disconsolate widow 
 mingled with the curses of the drunken mob — 
 amid the blending of such awful discord James 
 Fielder passed into the other world. 
 
 Some of the same crowd watched again on 
 this occasion for the grim messenger to do his 
 worst ; but how changed was its temper ! In- 
 stead of the ravings, curses, piteous cries and 
 wails, there was silence, and sorrow, and prayer. 
 The face of every one who moved about in the 
 light of the moon bore marks of pity. Some 
 waited, seated in the shadows of the oaks back 
 of the store, where hours before the young men 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 177 
 
 debated what course they should adopt — 
 whether to follow the plans of Harry Keith, or 
 to stand with the missionary in his fight to save 
 the children. Several of the same young men 
 were there. 
 
 " Boys," said Clarence Bush, " I am sure I 
 know how it all happened," and then he inter- 
 preted or explained the purpose in the mission- 
 ary's heart when he drove across the prairie, 
 and what transpired when he met the boot- 
 leggers. 
 
 " It is the greatest outrage of all," broke in 
 Ed Crockett, as Clarence continued his descrip- 
 tion of the scene at the bridge. 
 
 " The villains had better never show them- 
 selves in this section of the country again ! " 
 stated another of the boys in a determined and 
 ringing voice. 
 
 " Have you thought, boys, what Mr. Wilson 
 would have us do at this time if he were able 
 to suggest anything ? " It was Clarence again 
 speaking. 
 
 " We now believe he has been right all the 
 time, and this afternoon it is more than likelv 
 that he gave his life to save us from the temp- 
 tations of those devils. While we were not 
 brave enough to decide to go with him, he was 
 fighting like a brave warrior to make it easier 
 for us." 
 
178 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 This speech went like an arrow deep into the 
 heart of the crowd that listened to the hay 
 boss. 
 
 " Could he call us," continued Clarence, " and 
 demand whether we would follow him against 
 any odds in a fight against those outlaws, all of 
 us would be glad to go anywhere and even die 
 in defending him against their murderous at- 
 tacks." 
 
 To this last statement a chorus of voices re- 
 sponded in a tone that left no doubt of their 
 loyalty. 
 
 " It has been coming up to me time and time 
 again, since he has been here," continued young 
 Bush, " why is it that a young fellow like he is, 
 educated, handsome, intelligent, and with a tact 
 to make people his friends, would be engaged 
 in a work like he is doing. I am sure he could 
 fill good places in towns where the conditions 
 are far more agreeable — nice churches and a 
 membership that is ready to aid him in his 
 work. Instead of that he goes into the rough- 
 est places as he has here, and as he did over in 
 the Spavinaw hills, visits the poorest and filth- 
 iest homes, and helps to nurse the sick and the 
 dying. What he has done to-day makes it clear 
 to me that there is but one answer. He is fol- 
 lowing that Good Shepherd, boys, he told us 
 about, willing to give his life for his sheep. 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 179 
 
 " And now what do you think he would have 
 us do to-night if he could stand here before us 
 after all that has happened ? It would not be 
 to tell us to go out and hunt and kill his mur- 
 derers. No, I don't think it would be that. 
 But I'll tell you what I think he would say," 
 continued the young man, after a short pause. 
 " It would be that we give up our wicked ways 
 and follow Christ as he is following him." 
 
 Deep silence succeeded this short but telling 
 speech. Some of the boys shifted uneasily, 
 others stood up and moved about as if to run 
 away from what they had heard. 
 
 " If one of us were where he is now, I think 
 I know what he would do," said Ed Crockett. 
 
 " What's that ? " broke in several voices. 
 
 " He would pray for our recovery. I am 
 sure he would." 
 
 " I think so, too," said Jesse Cole and Bert 
 Eedecker. 
 
 " It looks hard, after all that he has done and 
 tried to do for us, that none of us can or will 
 pray for him." This remark was made by Ed 
 Crockett. 
 
 " Yes, it does. But you know he has told us 
 that before we can be heard for others, our own 
 lives must be right with God. We must be 
 willing to say : * Thy will be done in us.' 
 Each one of us knows what we should do — fully 
 
180 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 accept Christ as he has pleaded for us to do. 
 We know we could do that. As long as we re- 
 ject him our prayers for our friends cannot be 
 heard." 
 
 This speech by Clarence Bush sent another 
 dart into the hearts of the waiting crowd. It 
 was the result of the missionary's faithful 
 teaching. Prayer had not been left out of 
 his plans. He believed in prayer. In the 
 past five years he had not gone to a single 
 duty that he did not first ask to be guided by 
 the Divine power in its performance. The sub- 
 ject was on his heart and in his mind, and very 
 few of his services were concluded that he did 
 not emphasize prayer. To all outward appear- 
 ances in Modoc his words had been sown in 
 barren soil. But the deep impressions that had 
 been made, and the fruit they were struggling 
 to bring forth, was a fulfilment of what all 
 faithful servants of Christ should learn that 
 " My word shall not return to me void." 
 
 The silence that brooded over the crowd be- 
 came a burden. The deep sense of conscious 
 guilt, and the depressed feeling of helplessness, 
 both as to themselves and their afflicted friend, 
 had now taken hold of the young men. 
 
 A sudden movement of those who were 
 watching at the house, which was only a short 
 distance away in full view of the watchers, at- 
 
THE SHEPHERD SMITTEN 181 
 
 tracted attention, and there was a quick move- 
 ment of the crowd in that direction. 
 
 The patient had shown slight signs of return- 
 ing consciousness. The news had sent a thrill 
 of joy to each heart, and when the young men 
 learned that fact it brought to some of them 
 the feeling that does not give expression of de- 
 light in demonstration, but that which craves 
 solitude. With this slight encouragement, after 
 a brief consultation they left the scene of their 
 anxiety and rode silently away. 
 
 It was four o'clock before there were any 
 indications to encourage those watching at the 
 bed of the missionary that the battle for life 
 might win. By that time Dr. Sykes had ma- 
 tured his plans for nursing his patient. The 
 strictest regulations were to be observed. No 
 one was to be admitted to the sick room, ex- 
 cept the attendant, without permission from 
 the doctor. To aid in carrying out these regu- 
 lations Dr. Sykes was greatly encouraged, for 
 he had found out in a few brief hours that Ethel 
 Holmes was a faithful and efficient nurse and 
 one he could fully trust. As the hours wore 
 away the heart's action improved, and by seven 
 o'clock the patient had fallen into a peaceful 
 slumber, which was to the waiting physician a 
 most encouraging sign. 
 
CHAPTEK XVI 
 "MY word shall not return unto me 
 
 VOID " 
 
 The rumor that the Sunday-school mission- 
 ary had been murdered spread over the country 
 with surprising rapidity. The people of the en- 
 tire section were stirred to an unusual degree. 
 By nine o'clock on Sunday morning a crowd 
 such as had never been seen before at Modoc 
 was gathering that they might learn the facts. 
 The first news that had gone abroad was that 
 the missionary was dead, and many who came 
 were greatly surprised to learn that he was still 
 alive with prospects of recovery. 
 
 Many of those who came visited the scene of 
 the tragedy and made a careful examination of 
 the signs of the conflict. It was easy for those 
 with long years of experience in Western life to 
 put together the movements of all the parties 
 and the mute signs, the known tracks of the 
 bootleggers, and also those of the missionary 
 coinciding exactly with those found on the 
 road-bed and in the path below which led under 
 the bridge, where they had gone to secure the 
 
 182 
 
" MY WORD SHALL NOT RETURN VOID " 183 
 
 wrecked packages of liquor; it was easy to 
 reach almost a perfect detail of all that had 
 happened. There was no doubt but that the 
 deed had been committed by the two men who 
 had for many months plied their trade in and 
 about Modoc, showing a gross disregard of the 
 laws of both God and man. As the awful 
 magnitude of the results of that business, which 
 the people then discussing it had sanctioned, 
 came up before them, their indignation arose to 
 a degree that was dangerous to tamper with. 
 
 The well-known interest that Harry Keith 
 had taken in the lawless acts of these men, and 
 his open encouragement of them, together with 
 his avowed purpose of driving the missionary 
 out of the country, made it very unpleasant for 
 that gentleman to face the enraged, and thor- 
 oughly outraged community. He was not long 
 in detecting this gathering storm of indigna- 
 tion, and in a short time he was seen driving 
 away from his home. 
 
 One of the pathetic scenes of the morning 
 was the gathering of the children who came 
 from many of the homes in the community. 
 The sad little faces, some with eyes brimming 
 with tears as they looked toward the place 
 where their good friend lay speechless, was a 
 mute and eloquent appeal that touched the 
 hearts of the roughest and strongest men. 
 
184 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONABY 
 
 The service on that day was to have been 
 largely in the interest of the children, an interest 
 hitherto unknown to them and the community 
 before the missionary came. The two weeks' 
 visiting from home to home and his oft-re- 
 peated plea for the children, and his appeals to 
 the parents to lead a better life, had served to 
 give the children themselves, and also many of 
 the adults, a new vision of child-life. The chil- 
 dren knew that they had found in him a new 
 friend, through whose message they had learned 
 for the first time of the great love of Christ for 
 the children. That wicked men could horribly 
 beat and murder such a friend filled their little 
 hearts with pity and anguish. They felt that 
 with his going, should he die, somehow there 
 would also disappear the new-found joy that 
 had been kindled in their childish lives. 
 
 By ten o'clock the positive assurance was 
 given out by the doctor that there was much 
 to encourage them to hope for the patient's 
 recovery. His vitality was returning in a 
 marked degree and with it a rational under- 
 standing that removed the first grave appre- 
 hensions of a fracture of the skull and a 
 permanent injury to the brain. At this hour 
 many had gathered at the little schoolhouse, 
 but no service was begun. When the good 
 news was learned by the superintendent, Mrs. 
 
"my word shall not return void" 185 
 
 Holmes, it was publicly stated that Mr. Wilson 
 might recover. This report brought a marked 
 change. The high tension was relieved and 
 many thought that the services of the Sunday- 
 school might proceed. The Scripture lesson 
 followed the favorite song, and then a short 
 prayer. In the prayer a pathetic appeal was 
 made for what every heart present desired — 
 that the life of the missionary might be spared. 
 There was a feeling that they were as a flock 
 without a shepherd. 
 
 During the progress of the service Clarence 
 Bush entered the school building and took a 
 seat far up to the front. At the conclusion of 
 the statement of Mrs. Holmes that they would 
 have the Sunday-school next Sunday, Clarence 
 arose to his feet, saying that he wished to make 
 a statement, and began by asserting that he had 
 been one of the biggest cowards in the state. 
 
 " I want now," he said, " to set everything 
 right so far as I am able. Ever since Mr. Wil- 
 son came I have known — yes, long before he 
 came — that my life was wrong. To drown 
 this very feeling I joined the other boys who 
 were led by Harry Keith in plans to get rid of 
 him. For two weeks I have stood by and 
 watched him wage the battle, single and alone, 
 for my soul and the souls of others that should 
 have long before this time put me to utter 
 
186 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 shame. Yesterday afternoon he reached the 
 climax of the contest. He did all that he has 
 preached to us about Christ. He offered his 
 life to save me from eternal death! When 
 what he did came to me last night I felt that I 
 was the poorest and meanest wretch that ever 
 lived. I rode out on the prairies to find rest, 
 but the very stars, the wind and the silence of 
 the night, condemned me. In my distress I 
 cried out for relief. I remembered the message 
 of the lost sheep. I was one of them! lost, 
 lost ! I was helpless, friendless, but I remem- 
 bered that he said Christ could save me from 
 my guilt. Out there on the prairie I forgot 
 myself in my despair and looked beyond, and 
 surrendered my all to Christ. Now I want to 
 say publicly, here where I have acted a coward 
 so many times, that I accept Christ and expect 
 to follow him as he would have me help to 
 save others." 
 
 This brave speech was received by some with 
 open-mouthed astonishment. Others, with tears 
 streaming from their eyes, showed their joy by 
 rushing to the young man with outstretched 
 hands. While some wept quietly for joy, others 
 gave way under the piercing words. They, too, 
 had been cowards, and like Clarence Bush had 
 been guilty of most disgraceful conduct toward 
 the missionary. At that moment their guilt 
 
"my word shall not return void" 187 
 
 was pressing hard on them. More than one 
 had given themselves up to tears. At a glance 
 the young hay boss saw that it was time for 
 him to show his loyalty to Christ. Another 
 voice whispered : " You are too fresh ; what do 
 you know of Christ ? " 
 
 " God ! forgive me for my cowardice," came 
 from Ed Crockett in a most pathetic appeal. 
 
 That appeal settled Clarence as to his duty. 
 He had just said that he would follow him in 
 helping to save others. What he should do 
 was clear, and he threw aside the suggestion of 
 Satan and like a brave young warrior faced 
 his duty. 
 
 " We are all like the prodigal son. We have 
 gone a long way off. But where we have gone 
 the Good Shepherd has followed us. Lots of 
 times we have slighted him, turned away and 
 gone further out on the dark mountain. I have 
 done it many times. But he would not give 
 me up. He wanted to save us all last night, 
 but some of you would not surrender. I did, 
 and I have joy and a sweet peace ! Boys, it all 
 has come through him. You can't save your- 
 selves. You have been great cowards, but to 
 see and to know that will not save you. I 
 tried that. But we are saved by losing self in 
 completely trusting Christ. Now while we 
 sing 'Just As I Am Without One Plea,' as 
 
188 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 many as are willing to trust him as I did, come 
 up here and stand on this stage with me," 
 
 While young Bush was talking Ethel came 
 in and took her seat near the organ and when 
 the song was called for she turned to it, and 
 with the low, sweet tones of the instrument, 
 began to sing as if it were a plea from her own 
 heart. All in the room were moved. Mike 
 Masters had entered in time to hear what Clar- 
 ence said, and before the first stanza was sung 
 he rushed forward, declaring that for days he 
 had been trying to reach that point. 
 
 " I give it all up," and Mike waved his long, 
 bony hand backward as if he had left a great 
 load. " It's all settled ! " And he walked the 
 stage greeting others as they came, all the while 
 exclaiming, " Peace ! peace ! peace ! " 
 
 Mike's Irish temperament, which always 
 served to bring him into the lime-light in any 
 crowd, was not subdued in his new experience 
 which had come to him in surrendering all to 
 Jesus. 
 
 " I have been the biggest coward and sinner 
 of the whole bunch. All it has brought to me 
 has been suffering. What that has been, no 
 man can know — but he does," and a joyful ex- 
 pression broke over his face. " He tried many 
 times to save me, but I could not understand it. 
 But I do now," and Mike laughed. 
 
" MY WORD SHALL JSTOT RETURN VOID " 189 
 
 While Mike talked, others came. Ed Crockett 
 struggled with great doubt, but as he moved 
 forward he threw up his hands, exclaiming : 
 " It's all gone ! " and rushed to Clarence Bush 
 with an ecstasy of joy. The battle was on. 
 More than a score were decided. From the 
 little schoolhouse that day many, who had 
 given years of their life to sin, walked out 
 with a conscious knowledge of being free from 
 its dominion. A new life, new aspirations, and 
 a peace that satisfies were fruits of victory. 
 
 Clarence Bush was strengthened. It was his 
 first opportunity to prove his loyalty. That 
 he was now brave, where he had many times 
 before proved a coward, brought to him an 
 appreciation of himself that he had never ex- 
 perienced before. He was beginning to realize 
 what was meant by "A conscience void of 
 offense toward God and man." As he walked 
 from the schoolhouse back toward the store, 
 there was in him, stronger than ever before, a 
 determination to surrender his life to the will 
 of Christ. 
 
 It was generally understood that there would 
 be no plans formulated by way of closing out 
 the meeting until the missionary was able to 
 dictate them, should he recover. All now felt 
 that the services should be closed in some 
 formal way since it had been stated by the 
 
190 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 missionary that an organization of Christians 
 should be perfected at the conclusion. Organ- 
 ized effort had often been emphasized, and now 
 with the proper leadership many felt that they 
 were willing to enlist to that end. But for 
 such a leader all turned to the faithful mission- 
 ary. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 some real conditions which demand 
 
 attention- 
 Four days after the tragedy at the bridge 
 Dr. Skyes reported that his patient would re- 
 cover unless some unforeseen complication set 
 in. This news brought great relief to his 
 friends, and matters again settled down to 
 something like their normal state. A great 
 change, however, had come to the people of the 
 community. 
 
 Early in the week a public meeting was held 
 at the schoolhouse, at which a number of the 
 citizens were present. The purpose of the 
 meeting was to put the citizenship on record 
 against the lawless conduct of some of its mem- 
 bers, and against the whiskey vendors outside 
 who had plied their trade with such horrible 
 results. It was decided at this meeting that 
 such violations of the law should cease, and 
 a committee was appointed to notify Harry 
 Keith that his connection with this nefarious 
 business must be discontinued. If not, the ex- 
 treme penalty of the law would be enforced. 
 
 191 
 
192 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 This step was taken that he might have 
 ample warning. Of course Harry blustered 
 some, but he knew that back of this movement 
 were men whom he had seen in action in other 
 days, and that it was time for him to change 
 some of his practices. 
 
 It is not our purpose to detail all the changes 
 that partly or wholly took place in the few 
 weeks that followed. Suffice it to say that 
 many families became better neighbors. Their 
 young men were no longer exposed to the 
 evil that had thrived so long. There was a 
 marked change in the observance of the Sab- 
 bath day, and the attendance at the Sunday- 
 school each Sunday morning had steadily grown 
 in numbers and increased in interest. 
 
 The ample supply of Bibles and periodicals 
 furnished had been the means of encouraging 
 many to read the Scriptures and wholesome 
 literature who had never before given such 
 matters the least consideration. In fact, the 
 whole neighborhood was in a changing state, 
 attempting to throw off some of its old habits 
 that had bound it like a slave to the lowest level 
 of civilized society. It had caught a glimpse of 
 better things, and with little or no training to 
 that end many of the people had set out to reach 
 the higher goal. There w ere breakers — many of 
 them ahead— but fortunately for these people, 
 
SOME REAL CONDITIONS 193 
 
 as it is with each of us as individuals, they did 
 not know what the future would bring forth. 
 
 Such periods come in the life of every com- 
 munity, where progress and the Protestant 
 religion shed a dim light. Then it is that 
 leaders are needed. At this point many a com- 
 munity has been led far out to sea and then set 
 adrift without chart or compass. The greatest 
 need of the rural districts to-day, as it was 
 with Modoc, is capable and well-trained spiritual 
 leaders. Throughout the entire country there 
 are hundreds of communities without such 
 leaders. In many instances where they have 
 leaders, they are so narrow, their knowledge of 
 men, conditions, and what is required of them, 
 is so limited that their leadership is often a 
 failure. 
 
 Here is a problem that claims the immediate 
 attention of all patriotic citizens, and more par- 
 ticularly the Protestant churches. The reason 
 is not far to seek. To-day we have proportion- 
 ately fewer ministers and churches in the rural 
 sections than existed twenty-five and fifty years 
 ago. While this is true, our rural population 
 continues to increase. Therefore there is a large 
 per cent, of the people in the country without 
 the uplifting force that has in the past proved 
 an inspiration to a multitude of our people. 
 The present generation needs this power ; if it 
 
194 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 is denied it, society, the church, the state, and 
 the nation will suffer irreparable loss. 
 
 Another reason why reaching the rural dis- 
 tricts in an organized effort, by which medium 
 only can spiritual leaders be supplied, claims 
 more careful attention, is the lack of comity pre- 
 vailing in the different denominations toward 
 the efforts of each other in seeking to occupy 
 these fields. It is a well-known fact that in 
 many communities, where two or more denom- 
 inations are seeking to form organizations, it 
 almost invariably results in a very meagre sup- 
 port for the ministers, and consequently both 
 churches are forced into a struggle for existence. 
 
 Such practices are a reflection on our boasted 
 liberality. There is no other movement in the 
 country which pursues the policy that has been, 
 and is pursued by our Protestant churches in 
 this matter. 
 
 It is high time for Christian organizations to 
 be more careful in the expenditure of their Lord's 
 money. The money, energy, and brain power 
 that are wasted, but assumed to be expended in 
 his name to promote denominational rivalry is 
 one of the greatest perversions of the age. It 
 defeats largely the real purpose of Christ's mis- 
 sion to men. 
 
 Haden Wilson, during the past five j^ears, 
 was often a helpless witness to such misguided 
 
SOME REAL CONDITIONS 195 
 
 zeal. Many times its fruit was effectually to 
 destroy his own work. What followed at 
 Modoc is an echo of the experience of many a 
 faithful missionary, as well as many other min- 
 isters of Christ, who have gone out into the great 
 harvest field of our nation to seek and to save 
 the lost and to establish Christianity in the 
 destitute places. 
 
CHAPTEE XVIII 
 
 THE MISSIONARY GOES TO THE OZARKS 
 
 During the five years since Haden Wilson 
 received his commission from the American 
 Sunday-School Union he had given himself to 
 incessant labor. His record at the home office 
 showed that his rank was with the leading 
 workers of the society. In the new and needy 
 country, eastern Oklahoma, there was such 
 great need for his services that he labored with- 
 out much thought for his own health. These 
 five years of unselfish labor had made inroads 
 on his vitalitv that he had not himself detected. 
 But it was fully realized in the struggle to re- 
 cover from the experience, which came so near 
 ending his missionary career. His recovery 
 was slow. His anxiety again to resume the 
 work at Modoc and carry to completion his 
 plans also worked to retard his recovery. 
 
 After some weeks Dr. Skyes was convinced 
 that complete rest and freedom from the scenes 
 of his activities was necessary for the recovery 
 of the missionary. This fact was communicated 
 to the society and it was arranged that he should 
 
 196 
 
THE MISSIONARY GOES TO OZARKS 197 
 
 spend at least one month in the Ozark Moun- 
 tains at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was 
 understood, however, that as soon as his 
 health would permit he was to return to Modoc 
 and continue his work, which had been so 
 abruptly terminated. 
 
 On his departure for the mountains he was 
 given a hearty Godspeed by a multitude of 
 friends who gathered at the tank. Clarence 
 Bush, who had in a few short weeks come to 
 be recognized as the leader of the community 
 to carry forward the work in the absence of the 
 missionary, was ready to give himself to service 
 to aid the cause he knew the brave and loyal 
 missionary had labored to advance. One of 
 the tokens of his devotion was evidenced to 
 those present at the tank when, at the close of 
 a modest little speech, the hay boss placed in 
 the hands of the missionary a check for the 
 sum of one hundred dollars. As the time for 
 the departure drew nigh the crowd fell into 
 line and slowly — some with sad faces, but 
 others more cheerful and hopeful — bade the 
 young man good-bye and gave him a hearty 
 hand-shake. 
 
 Ethel was among the last of the throng. 
 Her face had lost some of its ruddy glow. 
 The month that had just passed had brought 
 into her life new experience and also new 
 
198 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 visions. In some way she had been trans- 
 formed. She now appeared in her whole 
 demeanor a brave, self-possessed and determined 
 woman. During her service as a nurse many 
 new aspirations were awakened in her life. 
 Haden Wilson had even before that eventful 
 period discovered that she was an exceptionally 
 bright girl, and he often reflected in his own 
 mind that with proper training and care she 
 would develop into a most beautiful and useful 
 woman. In her long hours of waiting for his 
 returning health he had sought to encourage 
 her to that end. In this he had a great op- 
 portunity, for after the crisis was passed, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Holmes insisted that the patient 
 should be moved to their home. This was 
 done a few days after the tragedy, so they 
 were thrown much together, and out of years 
 of experience he selected from choice books at 
 hand such as would tend to develop the noblest 
 traits of her character and encouraged her to 
 read them. With this new ambition budding 
 in her life there had also come to her a fuller 
 realization that she loved the missionary. But 
 to Ethel they were the unfolding of her life, 
 and she sought bravely to meet the issue which 
 these new experiences might bring to her. 
 While her love for the missionary was a strong 
 uplifting force, she did not allow it so to possess 
 
THE MISSIONARY GOES TO OZARKS 199 
 
 her life as to obscure the other visions which 
 had been unfolded along with this new happi- 
 ness. She would not allow it to be the one 
 ruling passion of her life. She was conscious, 
 even without being told in so many words, that 
 could the object of her affections dictate the 
 development of her life, it would be that she 
 should grow into a sensible woman, with her 
 mind, heart and body in one harmonious whole 
 responding to God's will in consecrating all to 
 some noble purpose. Just how this was to be 
 done she did not know. But she believed that 
 it would be revealed to her. With this sublime 
 purpose and faith, free from foibles that have 
 imprisoned so many noble young girls, blessed 
 with graceful form and perfect health, Ethel 
 appeared more beautiful than ever on that day 
 when she gave her hand to Haden Wilson and 
 said good-bye. His eyes again searched the 
 recesses of her soul, and in that moment the 
 two souls were in harmony. It thrilled her, 
 and she bade the missionary farewell with a 
 joy unspeakable. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 DR. CYPERT SEEKS TO DISCREDIT THE 
 MISSIONARY 
 
 The story of the attempted murder of the 
 Sunday-school missionary was given wide 
 publicity. One of the daily papers of Kansas 
 City sent a reporter to Modoc who secured 
 the facts and wrote a long article which was 
 published in the Sunday edition. A daily in 
 Oklahoma did the same. The whole affair, in- 
 cluding a description of the country and people 
 about Modoc, also some of the tragedies of 
 former years, were given conspicuous write- 
 ups. The work of Haden Wilson and the 
 opposition that sought to drive him out, and 
 the final triumph of his cause while he lay 
 struggling between life and death, made a 
 story that thrilled thousands of people. 
 
 Modoc was at once a widely known place ; it 
 was prominent, yet it was only a small com- 
 munity with a post-office and without a church 
 and pastor. That this was so, moved ministers 
 of two denominations to visit the community 
 
 200 
 
DR. CYPERT 201 
 
 with the view of organizing a church. The 
 Saturday following the departure of the mis- 
 sionary, Rev. J. H. Cypert drove into the 
 neighborhood of Modoc and announced that he 
 would spend a few days, preaching each night. 
 The people gave him a cordial welcome. They 
 expected that he would continue the work of the 
 missionary. The first Saturday night's service 
 was well attended. Two services were held on 
 Sunday. The Sunday-school met and did its 
 work as faithfully as it could. 
 
 But Dr. Cypert did not enter into that part 
 of the day's service as heartily as those present 
 had expected. A glance at the literature that 
 was being used seemed to satisfy him that it 
 was an unclean thing. There was a good 
 crowd present at the eleven o'clock service. 
 But many people were disappointed. They 
 came expecting to find a man, a duplicate of 
 the one they had learned to love. But there 
 were many things lacking. The doctor was 
 much larger and far more imposing in his per- 
 sonal appearance. His voice was much stronger, 
 and the congregation were made to understand 
 that he was a minister possessing a large fund 
 of knowledge and experience. This, however, 
 instead of having the effect of drawing the peo- 
 ple to him, drove them farther away. 
 
 In his eleven o'clock sermon Dr. Cypert out- 
 
202 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 lined the purpose of his visit and stated that he 
 would each night of the week preach a doctri- 
 nal sermon. He told of the need of an organ- 
 ized church. This same thought had been em- 
 phasized by the missionary, but he had refrained 
 from naming any particular organization. Dr. 
 Cypert was there to tell them of the creed of 
 his church and to aid in organizing one of his 
 kind. 
 
 To illustrate why they should have his kind : 
 " I see," he exclaimed, with a manifestation of 
 contempt, " that you have here a union Sun- 
 day-school, and you are using union literature. 
 This should not be. This school should be- 
 long to some denomination. As it is, it be- 
 longs to nothing. The day for union work is 
 past." 
 
 Much more the doctor said relative to the 
 Sunday-school and its glorious history. Some 
 were indignant at what he said ; others were 
 hurt, wondering if their friend was wrong in 
 promoting a work that should not be endorsed. 
 Others knew not what to think. The whole 
 procedure, as a way of promoting Christianity, 
 was new to them and they did not understand 
 how it was that all who claimed to represent 
 the same cause could not work together along 
 the same line harmoniously. There was much 
 confusion, and the work started by the Sunday- 
 
DR. CYPEKT 203 
 
 school missionary was in a fair way to be des- 
 troyed. 
 
 The doctor at the close of the service was 
 subjected to some searching questions. Mrs. 
 Holmes was indignant, and she did not hesitate 
 to make her views known relative to the Sun- 
 day-school. " You object," she exclaimed, " to 
 our literature. It is my understanding that the 
 Scripture that we study is the same used in all 
 other schools. Is it because it has not the name 
 of some church printed on it instead of the 
 American Sunday-School Union that you ob- 
 ject to it ? If that is true the same motive that 
 prompts you to urge that reason would lead you 
 to object to all church literature except your 
 own, if by doing so you saw an opportunity to 
 advance the interest of your own church. 
 
 " Again," Mrs. Holmes urged, " you contend 
 that this Sunday-school belongs to nobody. I 
 want to know," the superintendent said, with 
 emphasis, " what the difference would be if it 
 were named a Baptist school ? Would we not 
 have to use the same teachers ? In fact would 
 it not be made up of the same people of this 
 community, and would not its success or failure 
 depend on us regardless of what we name it ? 
 It is my understanding that the Society that 
 publishes our literature is an old and very 
 highly esteemed organization. Its board of di- 
 
204 HADEK WILSON: MISSIONAKY 
 
 rectors is composed of Christian laymen of high 
 standing and reputation, and the men the So- 
 ciety sends out are regarded as intelligent, con- 
 secrated characters by their respective denomi- 
 nations. If you or your church can justly 
 claim more, pray tell us what it is." 
 
 Mrs. Holmes paused to give the doctor a 
 chance to reply. But it was clear that he had 
 met with a rebuke and had heard arguments 
 that he did not expect and was not therefore 
 prepared to answer. 
 
 After a brief pause, and noting that Dr. 
 Cypert manifested no disposition to reply, Mrs. 
 Holmes closed her heated remarks by adding, 
 " I do not understand, since it is true that this 
 society is an old and successful organization, 
 with good men to manage its affairs and with 
 a careful oversight of the Sunday-schools which 
 its missionaries organize, how you can claim 
 that this school belongs to nobody." 
 
 With this closing statement Mrs. Holmes, 
 accompanied by a number of others who were 
 friends of the little Sunday-school, left the 
 building. 
 
 For several nights, even until the following 
 Sunday, Dr. Cypert thundered away on the 
 special doctrines of his denomination, its mode 
 of baptism, and other great essentials, which, in 
 his estimation, God required of the militant 
 
DR. CYPERT 205 
 
 church. A few were pleased with his version 
 of salvation and expressed a willingness to ac- 
 cept his views. Others were in open rebellion. 
 They had found nothing in what he said to 
 agree with their first real impression of Chris- 
 tianity as they had received it from the mis- 
 sionary. They had noticed, too, that the doctor 
 had not sought out the destitute and most 
 lowly places as the missionary had done. Their 
 sick were not visited and nursed by the doctor 
 as they were by the missionary. All this re- 
 sulted in giving the impression that the church 
 he talked so much about would not be very 
 helpful to the neglected and destitute. 
 
 Neither could many understand why it was 
 that he could not speak commendingly of 
 Haden Wilson. His work was never approved 
 by this preacher. The people there knew what 
 he had done. They knew his life — or they 
 thought they did — that it was humble, trusting, 
 helpful. That life had won its way into their 
 hearts, and it was the doctor's greatest mistake 
 not to endorse it. Notwithstanding all this, 
 the new minister left his imprint on some of 
 the people. The meeting was closed with the 
 announcement that he would return at a certain 
 date in the next month. 
 
 During the week following the close of Dr. 
 Cypert's meeting, Rev. John Camp drove into 
 
206 
 
 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 the neighborhood. He was there for the same 
 purpose for which Dr. Cypert had labored. 
 Eev. Mr. Camp was a jolly character, obliging 
 and polite to a marked degree, and he sought 
 to make himself agreeable by entertaining those 
 about him with yarns, which were sometimes 
 not very chaste. He also smoked and was as 
 liberal as a " candidate, in setting up the cigars 
 to the boys." In this way he sought to win 
 the people. Some were disappointed when they 
 failed to find that deep spiritual life which they 
 felt should be one of the chief elements pos- 
 sessed by those who sought to work for Christ. 
 Mr. Camp was always busy. He went into 
 many homes, found those who were sick, but in 
 some way he could not sink self and his de- 
 nomination out of sight. He entered vigorously 
 upon a course of sermons in which he set forth 
 his creed, as the only way of salvation. The 
 Sunday-school and children received some atten- 
 tion, but he failed to win the hearts of the chil- 
 dren, although he knew and called many of 
 them by name. To some his whole conduct 
 appeared as " acted " that he might win a victory 
 for self instead of losing self in One greater. 
 His sermons contradicted in many essentials 
 those of Dr. Cypert. All this was staggering 
 to the people and had the effect of paralyzing 
 the zeal of some of the new converts and prac- 
 
DR. CYPERT 207 
 
 tically stampeding the whole community. 
 There were some, however, who approved of 
 Mr. Camp. This brought on arguments be- 
 tween those who could not agree with them, 
 and at times such arguments grew into heated 
 disputes. 
 
 All this happened within thirty days after 
 the missionary left the community with the 
 hope of regaining his health. The picture, or 
 such an attitude of Christians toward each other, 
 is appalling, and yet it is true. Many other 
 communities have and are now suffering in the 
 same way. Does not such a condition call 
 loudly for a better understanding between our 
 denominations ? Is it not a flagrant waste of 
 our Lord's money and in direct opposition to his 
 prayer that we might be " one," meaning with- 
 out doubt " one " in the great work of promot- 
 ing his kingdom ? 
 
 The result of the visit of these two denomi- 
 national workers brings out another fact that 
 cannot be ignored. The church cannot hope to 
 build up the cause it represents in the country 
 by sending out poorly equipped men — narrow, 
 selfish, or merely " smart " men. Those who 
 are to do the Lord's work must be men who love 
 the people and are willing to make sacrifices for 
 them. They must feel and be in their lives 
 what Christ was in his relation to the people, 
 
208 IIADEN" WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 willing and anxious to seek and to save the lost 
 regardless of creeds. 
 
 It is but just to say, on this point, that 
 denominational boards often find it very diffi- 
 cult to secure fit men to occupy mission terri- 
 tory. While the discord at Modoc was the re- 
 sult of the overzealous efforts of two narrow, 
 overzealous preachers, it does not mean that 
 such actions were authorized or endorsed by 
 their denominations. Neither is such strife ap- 
 proved by the consecrated Christian laity. The 
 folly of denominational competition that often 
 results in the plurality of Protestant churches in 
 villages and rural communities, which in point 
 of numbers and finances are only sufficient to 
 sustain one vigorous organization, must disap- 
 pear before the rising tide of cooperation and 
 church federation. And perhaps no body of 
 men in America are more conscious of this need 
 of cooperation and give to it a more hearty sup- 
 port than some of our denominational boards. 
 They understand that strife by those who are 
 seeking to do our Lord's work must cease : and, 
 also, that the trained and consecrated missionary 
 is as necessary to that end as is the trained 
 pastor. 
 
 The people cannot long be deceived on these 
 lines as to the Christian worker's real interest. 
 They know when a man's heart is in his work 
 
DR. CYPERT 209 
 
 and the real cause for which he is laboring. 
 Many men have failed even in a great mission 
 field for the reason that they have prosecuted 
 their labors in the name of their denomination 
 instead of in the name of their Lord. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 THE PEOPLE'S ANSWER 
 
 Haden Wilson's rest in the mountains with 
 the relief from all care soon brought marked im- 
 provement in his health. After the first week 
 he realized that he was gathering strength each 
 day. He was soon able to make excursions into 
 the mountains and enjoy the beautiful scenery 
 of the Ozarks. 
 
 During his stay at the Springs the mission- 
 ary did not forget his friends back at Modoc ; 
 though, he did not write long letters, yet he re- 
 minded a number there in short, helpful notes, 
 that he was still interested in them. These 
 letters greatly aided in keeping the people faith- 
 ful to their recent professions of religion. They 
 also served to contradict some of the state- 
 ments of Dr. Cypert. That reverend gentleman 
 learned in some way that a gift of one hundred 
 dollars had been made to the missionary, and 
 during one of the strongest presentations of his 
 doctrine, he insinuated that the missionary with 
 whom they had fallen in love would not be 
 heard of again. " It is common for such char- 
 
 210 
 
THE PEOPLE'S ANSWER 211 
 
 acters to labor a while, get all the money they 
 can and go away never to return." This state- 
 ment was contradicted by a number who 
 heard it. 
 
 At the close of six weeks Haden Wilson was 
 again strong and ready for a new campaign. 
 He had learned from several sources of the 
 great hindrances that were obstructing his 
 work, and he knew from past experiences that 
 this report was doubtless true. This made him 
 all the more anxious to get back to Modoc. 
 While at the Springs he wrote to his superin- 
 tendent a full statement of the conditions in 
 that section of the state and suggested that it 
 would be a good plan for him to spend a part 
 of his time there for several months in order to 
 hold that field. His suggestions were approved 
 and instructions were given for him to use his 
 best judgment in prosecuting the work. 
 
 When Haden Wilson returned he found con- 
 ditions somewhat changed. Two ministers had 
 created a following. Some from each faction 
 demanded that he should adopt their views and 
 organize a church in harmony with them. The 
 missionary understood that there was much 
 work to be done to bring about the proper mind 
 for such a step, but he gave the assurance that 
 he would take up the matter within a reason- 
 able time. 
 
212 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 His first plan was again to unite the people, 
 if such a thing could be done. That was hard, 
 however, for the reason that Dr. Cypert re- 
 turned at his appointed time and again pro- 
 claimed his denominational doctrine in the 
 ears of the people. His following was deter- 
 mined. Something had to be done. So the 
 missionary had it published abroad that he 
 would have, on the Sunday following the doc- 
 tor's great bombardment of all the denomina- 
 tions except his own, some definite proposition 
 to submit to all the people relative to the or- 
 ganization of a church. 
 
 The occasion brought together a representa- 
 tive citizenship. Many of them felt that it 
 would be to the credit of the community to 
 have such an organization, yet they were jeal- 
 ous of such a movement. They remembered 
 that for twenty-five years some of them had 
 lived there, in all kinds of wickedness, and had 
 been allowed to continue in their increasing 
 sinfulness without a protest from any denomina- 
 tion. However, a large majority felt that they 
 could trust the missionary and was willing to do 
 so. The name of every man, woman and child, 
 who had been converted and was willing to 
 place themselves on the side of Jesus Christ, 
 had been secured during the week ; all had 
 been spoken to personally by Haden Wilson. 
 
THE PEOPLE'S ANSWER 213 
 
 That list contained sixty names. At least forty 
 of them were adults past twenty years of age, — 
 something remarkable. Ten were from the 
 ranks of young people ranging from fourteen 
 to twenty years of age, and only five were un- 
 der fourteen years. The missionary knew that 
 very few of the number were sufficiently in- 
 formed as to the creeds of different churches 
 clearly to understand why they would prefer 
 one to another. This especially was the case 
 before Dr. Cypert and the Kev. Mr. Camp un- 
 dertook to indoctrinate them. Many of the 
 people had grown up without any instruction 
 or association that would lead them to a church 
 preference. A few in their early days were to 
 a degree under the influence of some particular 
 denomination, and to those early impressions 
 they were still loyal, although they were unin- 
 formed as to the articles of faith of the church 
 of their childhood. But as a whole the people 
 were broadly Christian, rather than denomina- 
 tional in their views. 
 
 In his opening discourse the missionary pre- 
 sented some reasons why they should have 
 a permanent church organization : " First, it 
 was God's plan by which the gospel is to be 
 maintained in the world. It serves to bring all 
 the people together with one purpose, to honor 
 and worship the Creator. This association of 
 
214: HADEN WILSON! MISSIONARY 
 
 neighbors, together with acts of worship in 
 song and prayer, followed by the earnest and 
 faithful presentation of the gospel, is one foun- 
 dation of our civil, political and religious institu- 
 tions. From these associations and acts of wor- 
 ship there comes into the individual life a help- 
 ful power that is a strong stay in the day of 
 adversity, and brings to us a higher apprecia- 
 tion of our duties as neighbors and citizens, and 
 a greater devotion and love toward God for all 
 his blessings. 
 
 " But the greatest results which come from 
 this church life are its effect upon the children. 
 It is a well known fact that where children 
 grow up under the influence of Bible instruc- 
 tion in the Sunday-school and church, they 
 make better citizens. Such communities fur- 
 nish fewer drunkards, gamblers and murderers 
 than those without the influence of these insti- 
 tutions. To illustrate this: I have secured a 
 list, so far as I have been able to do so, of the 
 number of drunkards, gamblers and of those 
 who have committed murder during the past 
 twenty years in your community. That list is 
 appalling and is a far more powerful appeal to 
 you than any I can make, to establish here in 
 vour midst those institutions from which eman- 
 ate good fellowship, love and charity. During 
 these twenty-five years your children have 
 
THE people's answer 215 
 
 grown up religiously uneducated, and I have 
 been able to find only a few who have gone out 
 into the world to occupy a prominent place in 
 any of the spheres of human activity. With 
 this record of crimes there is listed within these 
 twenty-five years a sufficient catalogue of mur- 
 dered innocence, wrecked homes and blighted 
 hopes to move even demons to tears. 
 
 " But that day has passed for you. You are 
 here at this hour to enter a decree for a brighter 
 and better future. This hour is yours. On it 
 hangs the highest destiny of your homes and 
 your children, and as you face the obligations 
 that it brings to you, let every loyal follower of 
 Christ be willing to lay aside all personal pref- 
 erence, if that preference conflicts with the best 
 interest of the whole. 
 
 " Why should you not unite in one church ? 
 Tou are neighbors. You patronize the same 
 merchant, call in the same doctor to care for 
 your sick ; your sons and daughters marry. In 
 the day of need you look to each other for mu- 
 tual aid, and in the hour of distress and sorrow 
 it is to your neighbor you turn for sympathy and 
 comfort. When the death angel comes into 
 your homes, claiming your loved ones, it is to 
 the same common burying ground that you go. 
 
 " All do not agree in your understanding and 
 estimate placed on your merchant and doctor ; 
 
216 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 not every one is ^pleased with the contracts of 
 matrimony ; your degrees of sympathy are as 
 many as you have neighbors ; neither do you 
 agree as to your idea of burying your dead. 
 While all this is true you do not refuse to buy 
 goods from your merchant ; neglect to call your 
 doctor ; repudiate matrimony, or deny sympathy 
 to your neighbor. 
 
 " In all these relations, some of them holy, 
 the individual is lost sight of in the interest of 
 the whole. And since this is true, and also 
 since you feel and believe a church is necessary 
 for your best interest, can you not say that you 
 will unite with your neighbor to secure its bless- 
 ings as you have done and are doing in other 
 matters ? " 
 
 This argument brought the response that was 
 desired. The missionary called names of pro- 
 fessing Christians in the community, explaining 
 first as he did so, if the person desiring to enter 
 a church organization with his neighbors, the 
 denomination to be determined by them, they 
 were to stand as their names were called. Sixty 
 names were called and fifty-five, all that were 
 present, stood up. 
 
 Following this it was decided that a commit- 
 tee of five should be appointed from the body 
 to make an investigation as to what denomination 
 should be selected. To reach that end, a fair 
 
THE people's answer 217 
 
 and impartial consideration was to be given to 
 at least four denominations — Baptist, Methodist, 
 Christian, Presbyterian and possibly others. 
 One matter that was emphasized for consider- 
 ation was that of ascertaining the ability of dif- 
 ferent denominations to aid them in providing 
 an acceptable pastor. 
 
 This step was highly pleasing to all. The 
 missionary was asked to name the committee, 
 which he did, with Mr. Holmes as chairman. 
 The committee was to have one month in which 
 to make its report, and was to be aided by the 
 missionary in any way he could, and that the 
 committee might suggest. 
 
 The following Sunday Dr. Cypert filled his 
 appointment. He was indignant at what had 
 been done and charged the missionary with a 
 breach of Christian courtesy. He again made 
 a strong appeal for the claims of his church. 
 The committee heard his plea and informed the 
 doctor that they would be glad to consider his 
 claim and asked for all information to that end. 
 
 Other denominations were communicated 
 with ; also, a conference was held by the com- 
 mittee with the presiding elder of the Meth- 
 odist church. All information that was avail- 
 able was secured relative to the Christian 
 church. The Baptist could furnish a pastor 
 once a month, with the understanding that 
 
218 HADEN WILSON: MISSIONARY 
 
 the people pay $160 for the first year. The 
 Presbj^terians offered to furnish a man for full 
 time, he to become a resident of the community, 
 and pay one-half of the salary, $400, if the 
 people would pay the other half, and also pro- 
 vide for him a home. The presiding elder was 
 in great need of available men and could only 
 offer that, at the beginning of the next confer- 
 ence year, if a circuit could be created sufficient 
 to insure from $300 to $450, he could probably 
 send a man with an appropriation of $150, the 
 circuit to make provisions for the pastor's home. 
 The best that could be done by the Christian 
 church at the present was to send a man once 
 a month, the expenses to be borne by the 
 people. 
 
 All these offers were clearly stated at the 
 meeting held for the purpose of hearing the re- 
 port. The committee moved that they accept, 
 so far as they could at that time, the offer of the 
 Presbyterians, and asked that the proper man be 
 sent to carry out all plans. 
 
 Clarence Bush, one of the committee, stated 
 that while he was reared by Methodist parents 
 he was willing to favor the motion, as he fully 
 believed that it would be for the best interest 
 of all. Others discussed the matter. Some 
 were fearful of the obligation to pay $400. 
 But the vote settled it. At least eighty per cent. 
 
THE people's answer 219 
 
 of the sixty persons present voted for the report 
 of the committee. 
 
 It was understood that the missionary was to 
 remain in charge and fill an appointment once 
 a month until the pastor could be agreed upon. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 "truly the harvest is great" 
 
 It is now almost six months since Haden 
 Wilson got off the freight train at the tank 
 and rode with Mike Masters in his rickety old 
 wagon drawn by his little old bony team to the 
 store. It had been six months full of interest. 
 When the work of the last meeting was finished 
 he felt that a great load was removed from his 
 shoulders. While he was a Methodist and was 
 loyal to his church, yet he was not disappointed 
 over the people's choice. His own church had 
 many good men, yet the demands upon it for 
 their services, and also for funds, were far too 
 great for the supply. The same was true with 
 the Baptist ; for in that end of the state their 
 money and men were both limited. Such was 
 the case with other denominations. 
 
 Without detailing what happened during the 
 next six months following the meeting, at which 
 it was decided to organize a church, we will 
 rush across a period of time and take a glance, 
 briefly, at Modoc one year after Haden Wilson 
 
 220 
 
"truly the harvest is great" 221 
 
 drove up to the store in Mike's rickety old 
 wagon. 
 
 The church organization has been perfected. 
 A young and energetic pastor with his wife 
 deeply interested in his work now has charge 
 of the church. Already material is on the 
 ground for a building to cost $2,500. The 
 Sunday-school has grown. Ed Crockett, loyal 
 to his convictions, "Be sure you are right, 
 then go ahead," is sure he is right in filling a 
 place in the church and Sunday-school. Mike 
 Masters, with his wife and children, drives to 
 the little schoolhouse each Sunday morning. 
 But his old rickety wagon and little old bony 
 team have given place to a more comfortable 
 vehicle and much better horses. The pinched, 
 starved look on the faces of the children has 
 disappeared and the little care-worn wife has 
 changed her burdens for joy and peace. Mike 
 is a new man — " clothed," as he says, " in his 
 right mind." He says: " There's no doubt 
 about the world being brought to Christ since 
 I, the hardest sinner in forty-five states, have 
 been saved from my sins. If we had one thou- 
 sand missionaries like Haden Wilson this nation 
 would be taken for Jesus Christ in this genera- 
 tion." Mike is a student of the Scriptures and 
 frequently holds prayer-meeting services and 
 makes short and impressive talks. Harry Keith 
 
222 HADEN WILSON : MISSIONARY 
 
 is still an infidel, but he is no longer able to in- 
 timidate his neighbors. " He is still a wolf," 
 says Clarence Bush, " but the lambs are safe in 
 the fold." Ethel Holmes is now a student in a 
 college near Kansas City, where she is prepar- 
 ing to become a missionary, subject to appoint- 
 ment of the church. She is a beautiful young 
 woman, and has not for one moment doubted 
 that in the unfolding of her life it will be done 
 in accordance with his will. With this vision 
 ever before her she presses bravely on. Clar- 
 ence Bush is now a student missionary. He 
 has planned to spend four years in a theological 
 school, but he is not at all sure that he will ac- 
 cept ordination from his church. The need of 
 the missionary field in his own state appeals to 
 him. Since his conversion, scores have been led 
 by him to accept Christ. Haden Wilson is still 
 a Sunday-school missionary, seeking to find the 
 neglected places, and is giving his life in willing 
 service to save the lost 
 
AUG 15^2 
 
Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process 
 Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
 Treatment Date: Sept. 2005 
 
 PreservationTechnologies 
 
 A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 
 
 111 Thomson Park Drive 
 Cranberry Township. PA 16066 
 
 I70A\ 77Q.Om 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 236 848 1 
 
 (Hit 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 -«■