w ofttie tSnibergitp of iSortii Carolina Collection of J^ortlj Caroliniana CSl'6 T>S5re. n -\ V This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE CENTS a day thereafter. It was taken out on the day indicated below: APR 3 1973 REUBEN DELTON, PREACHER: A SEQUEL TO "THE STORY OF MARTHY." BY S. O'H. DICKSON, Author o/'"'' Guessing at Heroes.^'' '^ Hoivard JMcPhlinn^'' '' Tlie Story of Marthy^'' '' The Grangers ajid Other Stories.''^ RICHMOND, VA.: Presbyterian CoMxMittee of Publication. Copyrighted BY J AS. K. HAZEN, Secretary of Publication. 1900. Printed by Whittet & Shepperson, Richmond, Va. TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW "THE MOUNTAIN WHITES OF THE SOUTH," TO THOSE WHO WOULD HELP THEM, AND TO SOUL-WINNERS EVERYWHERE, THIS STORY IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, S. O'H. DICKSON. Winston-Salem, N. C. 00 CONTEXTS. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. Page. The Call, . 9 CHAPTER 11. The Lost Sheep, .... . 30 CHAPTER III. A Strange Visitor, . 51 CHAPTER IV. Kindness Reciprocated, .... 67 CHAPTER V. The Victory of Love, ..... 86 CHAPTER VI. A New Man, 107 CHAPTER VII. Sustaining Grace, 133 6 Contents. BOOK II. CHAPTER I. PAGE. Into the Unknown, ..... 147 CHAPTER II. The Friends They Left Behind, . . .176 CHAPTER III. 'Tis Home Where'er the Heart Is," . . 190 Reuben rose from his seat, and, putting his arm about her, drew Marthv to him. 7 *, Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 13 ^There's never been a tliouglit in my mind worth sharing, Marthy, that I haven't told you, but" — he hesitated — "but I have been afraid to talk about this." Marthy looked up quickly. ''Oh! Reub, do vou mean — do vou think God is calling us away from this SAveet home, and our w^ork here?" Her eyes were filling with tears, her cheeks were flushed, her lips were quivering. Reub was moved by deep feeling too. At a glance thev seemed to take in their little home, all its comforts, and its simple attractions; the gar- den, the young trees just beginning to show for the care taken of them — and then that out- look ! . . . that very sea Of billowy mountains breaking free In waves of beauty 'gainst the glowing sky! How cotdd they leave it all ! And then, as the spiritual power within them gained the ascen- dency, their thoughts turned to the people among whom they had been working. How could they leave them ? ''But, my dear, we are really wasting time and tears on this subject, by anticipating the Lord's providence. ''We do not actually know what Brother Dol- liver wants to find out. Maybe it is some ques- 14 Reuben Delton, Preacher. tion of stock-raising, or chickens, or the best way to make a little money go a long way.'' Reuben, as usual, was trying to divert Mar- thy's thoughts. It was a new thing to see her so cast down. Reuben stooped and kissed his wife, then, taking Greyson from his chair, tossed him high in the air, and soon had saddled his horse, and was on the way to the post-office, a mile off. If Marthv could have met him suddenly, as he rode slowly towards EvergTeen, she would have been astonished. He was not following his own advice to her. But the fact was that Reuben Delton was almost perfectly sure that the letter he was ex- pecting would contain a definite call to another part of the mountain field. He had known for some time that a hardy, mountain man was needed, who could go among the people as one of themselves; who could en- dure the hardships and discomforts, while he was lifting the people to better things. There was a conflict begun already in his heart. The enemy of souls and self were in league to-day, and it was well for Preacher Del- ton's peace of mind that he whose name is "Won- derful Counsellor" was beside him. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 16 As lie rode up to Evergreen post-office, a cross- road store and post-office combined, his heart beat with unwonted vigor. This young man, reared in the quiet atmos- phere of a respectable mountain farmer^s home, with different environments, might have devel- oped very marked aesthetic gifts ; as it was, his education, and his marriage to one of like tastes, and his natural surroundings, had moulded his thoughts and revealed a nature fully in sympa- thy with beauty in every form. This might have unfitted him for his chosen work, but his unwearying labors among the most wretched and impoverished of the mountaineers for miles around had ffiven ballast to the aesthetic side of his nature, and the result was a character that well deserved the title given by a quaint old writer, ^^God Almighty's gentleman.'' When Reuben Delton reached Evergreen, there were the usual loafers around the door. One or two sorry looking mules were hitched to posts near by. The post boy had just arrived, and Reuben, though eager enough for his mail to-day, stopt with a friendly word for each of the group out- side, and was met with a look of welcome that does not often adorn the stolid faces of men utterly untrained in the habit of expression ; in- 16 Reuheii Delton, Preacher. deed, who seem often devoid of the feeling that needs expression. The opening of the mail of a country post- office is soon accomplished. A few newspapers from the county town, and, maybe, a few more from the outside world, a stray letter or two — such had been the story of mail delivery at Evergreen post-office until Preacher Delton had settled in the neighborhood. Probablv half of the men collected about the door had no other motive for waiting there than the desire to see Reub Delton get his mail. It was a never-ceasing source of wonder and amuse- ment, too ; and the value of their preacher was enhanced in no small degree by the universal belief that '^^he gits ther mos' letters of any man in Wautaus'a countv, you bet." This morning when Reuben asked, "Any let- ters for me to-day, Mooney ?" there was a burst of laughter outside, and somebody called out, "Say, preacher, d'you ever happen not ter git anything V^ Reub's anxious expression gave place to a bright smile as he called out, "Oh ! yes, I think so." He had hardly finished speaking when the postmaster handed him a bundle, and at a glance he saw that the letter on top was postmarked Asheville. Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. 17 He was about to beat a hasty retreat when a woman turned the corner of the building, and came in. ^^Waal, preacher, is that you. Why, I was a plannin' ter come on down ter yer house arter you. Why, Mandy Snoggs, up yer on the Squire's mountain farm, why she's down with the fever, an' powerful bad off. She said she wanted to see you — could you go up thar some time to-day?" '^Oh ! yes, of course, I'll go, Mrs. Belvin, but I'll be obliged to go home first. I guess that Mandy will need some things, and maybe my wife can go too. ^'Well, I'm right glad, fur you'uns is the on'y ones kin do anything with Mandy, an' she do need somethin' to make her more easv 'an' she is now." In a moment Reuben had decided that it would not do to leave Marthy in suspense about the letter. He could read it himself on the way up to the miserable little hovel on the mountain that ^landy Snoggs called home, but he had no right to let Marthy suffer suspense which he could relieve. Accordingly, he mounted his horse quickly, and as he rode he tore open the letter post- marked from Asheville, and found that it was 18 Ueuben Delton, Preacher. indeed from an evangelist of that Presbytery, and this was tlie letter : "Dear Brother Deltok" : In the course of a conversation v^ith Brother Munson, a short while ago, he mentioned yon as a man very well fitted for onr mountain field. When he did so, I regarded the testimony as particularly oppor- tune. We are sorely in need of a strong men, bodily, mentally, spiritually strong. The de- velopment of our work depends on prompt and vigorous action. ' ^'Now you may be saying that what is true over here is equally true on your side of the mountain, and I can believe you ; but I think I can prove to you that our call is not unreason- able. "We have several men spiritually and men- tally fitted for the work ; men ready and willing to deny themselves for Christ, but they are not physically suited. They are town-bred men, and you know that the environments of ever so poor a man in town are very different from those of one reared in the mountains, consequently they do not so readily adapt themselves to their work ; they are recognized as 'differ'nt. In conse- quence their intercourse savors of patronage, without their meaning it. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 19 '^Others are willing to go for training, or as an experiment, but do not look forward to this as a permanent field. "l^o\Y Brother M tells me that yon were born and reared in the mountains, and have had four years of encouraging experience as a pastor among these people, and, still further, that you mean this to be your life-work. ^Trom what he tells me of your wife, I judge that she is as well qualified as yourself. ^^Ours is a Macedonian cry. Think over it, and pray over it, from our standpoint as well as from your own, before you reply. ^^And may he whose work it is guide you ! "I am yours fraternally, ^^ James Montgomery Doleiver.^'' Reuben Delton folded the letter and rode slowly on without gathering up the reins which he had allowed to fall on his horses' s neck. His very first thought was of Mar thy. How could she bear to go? Poor little Marthy, whose life had been so full of brightness for the last ten years ; who had a nature so fitted for the refinements and the comforts of life; how could he ask her to give up such as they had in their sweet mountain manse ? Then his thoughts turned to one and then an- 20 Reuben Delton, Preaclier. other of tliose who they had rescued from lives of sill and wretchedness, and over whom they watched with unceasing prayer and patience; how could they leave them ? Wonld it be right ? Wlio could take their place? He suddenly re- membered that this was all the Master's work, and that if he needed a laborer in another part of his field, he would attend to the filling of his place without the assistance of either Martliy or himself. He was in sight of his home by this time. The cottage had never looked more attractive to Reub. Over the front door, on a trellis built bv his own hands, a luxuriant nasturtium and a scarlet bean were trailing. The front yard was gay with dahlias and others flowers. The small windows, with their white curtains, and the shelves under them adorned with choice potted plants, all gave an air of blended comfort and beauty that appealed to the aesthetic taste of Reuben Helton. Then he looked across the road to the com- fortable, well-filled bam, and to the lot where his stock was grazing, and then, off to that wonder- ful view, which grew dearer and dearer to him every day. The pure, fresh breeze that was nearly always blowing here, fanned his brow. The lazy, white clouds drifted slowly above Reuben Delton, Preacher. 21 the foreground of the wondrous picture, casting their soft blue shadows, sometimes on the sunlit mountains, sometimes on the yellow fields, where hay stacks lent their picturesque forms to the beauty of the scene, catching their small share of shadow, and offering it as a shelter to the sheep that were too lazy to graze. Away down in the valley, enclosed by pre- cipitous wooded hills, in a newly-cleared field was a cabin, from whose chimney curled the smoke like a pale blue wreath against the back- ground of dark green. There lived a man whom Reuben had rescued from a desperate life by his patient kindness, and who was now a sober, law-abiding citizen, earning his living for the first time by the sweat of his brow. That humble cabin was almost as delightsome a feature of the landscape as the pale blue moun- tains that faded into the sky at the distant hori- zon. With a smile that put his strong face into mo- mentary beauty, and with hearty thanksgiving for that saved soul, he could not trust himself to dwell longer with the thoughts that were rush- ing into his soul like a flood. Hitching his horse at the gate, he went into the house calling for Marthy. She was busy at her washtub down 22 Reuben Delton, Preacher. at tlie spring, not a hundred yards in the rear of the building. Little Greyson was playing happily near her, and she was singing in a clear, sweet voice — " It may not be my way, It may not be thy way, But still in his own way The Lord will provide." She heard Keuben call her, and wiping hands quickly, she called out, ''I'm coming, preacher," then turning to Greyson, ''Come, boy, let's go to papa, and you can have your 'bicky' and 'go seepy by' when you get through." Marthy had studied her husband's counte- nance so closely during the four happy years of their wedded life that she read at a glance, as he stood in the doorway of the cook-room, that the letter he had expected had come. "Well '?" she said in a tone in which anxiety was stronger than mere curiosity. For answer Eeuben handed her a letter. "That is from Brother Dolliver, and I read it comins: alono\ This one is from Brother Mun- son. I have not opened it yet." "What is it, preacher ? Tell me quickly. I'd rather hear you say. You know this is the same Marthy that was always asking, 'What for?' and 'Why' at Skyland. I don't love to wait now Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 23 much better than I did then. I had mighty hard work, and to keep singing, too, while you were gone." ^'Sit down and read that carefully while I give baby his biscuit and put him to sleep, then we will talk it over." Marthy sat down dutifully on the step while her husband passed into the house with his little boy for one of his chief pleasures, "a wock wid papa." But he did not find papa as entertaining as usual. Thoughts would wander, crossing moun- tains, with telegraphic rapidity, and coming back as quickly to search his own heart. This man had firmly grasped twO' principles upon which the happiness of the Christian life is built. Having accepted the Saviour as his divine and personal Redeemer, he recognized that he owed his Lord both obedience and ser- vice. If this was the Lord's call, he must obey it. If this was the service required of him, he must give it. He looked down into the flushed face of his child, around whom clustered some of the bright- est of his hopes and plans for the future good of the mountain people, and thought : all those plans may have to be overturned; that ought 24 Reuben DeUon, Preacher. to show me wliat a mistake it is to look so far ahead, ^^^lo am I to anticipate God's provi- dences, instead of living and serving liim by the day r ^'Papa, w'at oo dot dem long fings up dere for ?" asked Greyson, in a sleepy tone, and stretching his dimpled, half-bared arm to touch the heavy lines of thought on his father's brow. Out of the mouth of his babe he was being chidden for the care that was almost overwhelm- ing him this morning. ^'Papa was thinking too hard, boy, but he'll smile, and they'll all niTi away." He looked down at the beautiful boy and smiled, and the little hand stole up and patted his cheek, the drowsy lids fell, the angel of sleep had come, and in a few moments the little boy was away in Dreamland, and Peuben was free to join Martliy. She had finished reading the let- ter, and it lay open upon her lap. She sat with her head thrown back against the doorj)Ost, and was looking off over the dense forest that cov- ered the mountain side behind the house. She could see no further there than she could bevond the letter lying in her lap. The tears had gath- ered in her eyes, and when she turned to Reuben one fell upon her cheek. He sat do^^m beside her, and said : Reuben Delton, Preacher. 25 "Well, Martliy, what do yon make of this ? Yon always hear the Master's voice qnicker than I do — at least, yon are always qnicker to obey." "Oh ! no, oh ! no,'' she replied hastily. "Don't say that, Renb. Even if I do seem to obey qnicker, it is more becanse I am afraid not to than becanse I am more glad to obey ; bnt oh ! preacher, why — why — why did this call come? I cannot see any f nrther yet than onr dear home, and the work that I have learned to love here." Renben sighed deeply, as he sat patting her hand gently. "The best thing we can do is to take this tronble to God at once." He rose and giving her his hand, lifted her to her feet, and thev knelt together in the qniet of their own room, while he ponred ont his sonl in a prayer for light. "Lead ns in a plain path," was the cry. Re- newing their entire consecration to their Lord, and to his work, they asked for clear convictions of dnty, and for strength to act npon them. When thev rose from their knees there was a light in Marthy's face that Renben conld never forget. Whether they shonld decide to go or stay she had snrrendered her will afresh. "Well, dear," said Renben, looking down into the dear face, dearer and more winsome than ever to him ; "what do yon think ?" 26 Reuben Delton, Preacher. "Do you remember, preacher/' asked Marthy, using lier favorite name for lier husband, '^do you remember how we asked, at the beginning of the year, for more service ? and how we recalled that God's thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways ? I would be afraid to stay, if Presbytery is willing for us to go. That is the wav I feel about it. It would be an awful thing to prevent the answer to our own prayer ! But you've never opened Mr. Munson's letter." Reuben drew it from his pocket, and breaking open the envelope, read the following letter : ^^Dear Beothee Delton : When I was say- ing goodbye to you at Blowing Rock, if you remember, I told vou that I had had a letter from Brother Dolliver, of Asheville Presbytery, and that I would write you about it later. ^^Yesterdav Brother D wrote me that he was about to write to you himself. If you have received that letter, the matter is explained. It has given me some wakeful nights, and much perplexity. God forbid that I should hinder any man whom the Master calls to another part of his vinevard ! "Brother D made some strong points in favor of your going to his help, some that, put- ting myself in your place, I would fear to refuse. Beuben Delton, Preacher. 27 The need for an experienced man avIio is also a native mountaineer, is greater there, because the work is just begun ; but I feel a reluctance that can hardly express to give you up. We have worked together in such perfect harmony, and you have had such an influence for good in your section of the Wautauga field, and your brave wife has been such a power for good, that I can- not see how you can be spared. "But you and I believe that the Spirit has his own way of showing us the way wherein we should walk, and therefore I commend you to his unfailing care and guidance. It was his call that you heeded when you entered the ministry, and he will doubtless lead vou now. "With kindest regards for your wife, and a kiss for your bright boy, "I am, very truly yours, "James Munson.'^ Both Reuben and Marthy were touched by this letter, for there was a cordial tone of inter- est and of confidence in them that was gratify- ing, and which they had reason to believe was perfectly sincere. They knew that their influence had been blessed in the neighborhood, but they gave the credit for their success to whom it was due, and 28 Reuben Delton, Preacher. believed that grace had been given them, accord- ing to promise. ^'Whether we go or stay we must eat dinner, j)reacher,'' Marthj said, as she glanced up at the clock; and in her heart she thanked God anew for those homely, inevitable duties that compel us to act when we feel most overpowered by sorrow or perplexity. ^^We must try to go up to Mandy Snoggs' this afternoon, Marthy; Mrs. Belvin was at the store this morning, and said that she was on her way here to tell us that Mandy was very sick, and wouldn't I go up there." A shadow fell on Marthy's face when Reuben said this. Mandy Snoggs had been one of the greatest trials of her life ever since they had settled here. Coarse, ignorant, with the record of a dark life of sin behind her, she had been a persistent visitor at the manse. Dirty in her dress, inquisitive and prying, almost beyond endurance, she still seemed to recognize what was good and pure and lovely in Reuben and Marthy, and to be drawn to them ; and Marthy dared not repulse her, for was it not such as this woman that they sought to rescue — nay, was it not such sinners that Jesus came to save ? The last visit that she had made them had tried Marthy's patience almost beyond the power Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 29 of endurance, and yet at that time the woman had listened quietly to the reading of the Bible, and had asked her, before leaving, to ^^say over again'' the words of John iii. 16. ^^She is beginning to grope towards the light, I do believe, Reub," Marthy had told Reub after she was gone. There was so much to think of this afternoon, so much to pray over, and yet she had never re- fused to go with Reub anywhere, unless she was sick, or could not take Greyson. "What will we do with baby ?" she asked anx- iously, so anxiously that Reuben, interpreting the shadow on her face, could not but smile, for it was evident Marthy hoped her boy would give her an excuse to stay at home. "Oh ! that will be easy enough ; the Farn- hams are always glad to have him there. I be- lieve he loves Bessie next best to vou. I think that you ought to go dear ; Mandy must need a woman's care and suitable food." "Well," said Marthy, quickly recovering her cheerful tone; "but I do wonder why I should have to go this particular afternoon !" Reuben smiled, and said gently, "My wife is being trained in patience and obedience." With that to reflect on, Reuben left her to prepare their simple midday meal, while he looked after his stock. CHAPTEE II. The Lost Sheep. BY two o'clock they were ready for the visit to the sick woman. Mar thy was inoiinted on ^'Delight/' the noble horse which Reuben counted in as a member of the family. Happy little Greyson was seated on his mother's lap, and Reuben walked beside them, carrying a basket containing such articles as Marthy knew by experience would be needed in the bare cabin of Mandy Snoggs. ^^Baby go Farnha' ; baby go Farnha' !" cried the happy little boy, as they started off in a brisk walk. It was a picture worthy of an artist's brush, this family group ; and how Miss Greyson would have feasted her proud eyes upon it ! Reuben's stalwart, figure, clad in brown jeans, his clear complexions, bright grey eyes, and curly brown hair, gave to him an air of that perfect manhood we read about and strive after, too often in vain. Marthy, in her neat, dark calico dress, with her sweet face shaded by a pretty pink sun- Reuben Delton, Preacher. 31 bonnet, would have caused any passer-by to turn and look again ; and tbe beautiful boy, with his complexion so like his father's, and his mother's brown eyes, and dressed in his simple wool dress, and clean check apron, yet looked the young mountain prince that he was. They had nearly three miles of rough road to travel after they left the beautiful turnpike at Evergreen, so that they had need to make quick time on the good road. '^Whar you-uns goin', preacher ?" called out Mr. Mooney from the door of the store, as they drew near. He was a fat, good-natured old man, who considered it his privilege to be posted as to all the preacher's movements. He had been one of Reuben's earliest converts, and was one of his warmest friends. His long life of sin and self-seeking had made it hard for him to understand all the self-sacrificing care for souls, and bodies too, which the religion of Christ impels his followers to practice, but Reu- ben noted with pleasure that Jim Mooney was beginning to understand this as a motive power. "Well, this boy is going to see his sweetheart, while my wife and I look after Mandy Snoggs." "Humph !" 'Pears like it were a powerful waste uv you-uns time to be goin' up thar. Mandy' s got ter be mighty thick with you-uns — 32 Reuben Delton, Preacher. an' it's j)'incerpally 'case she kin fool you-nns, an' she cain't fool nobody else 'roun' here." ^^Oh ! Mooney, I wish you wouldn't talk that way. What right have we to choose who to save, or to help, or who not ? Don't you believe all things are possible with God ? He can save even Mandy Snoggs." ^'I b'lieve he kin do all things, but I kinder mistrust his savin' Mandy. You'uns don' know Mandv like I do." ''But all things, Mr. Mooney," said Marthy earnestly ; all things." '' Yes'm," said Mooney, slowly ; ''all things is possible, I know; but" — here he gave her a searching look out of his shrewd blue eyes — "but he don' have ter do all things, an' I don' see how he kin elect ter save Mandy." "My thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither are your ways my Avays, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts tlian your thoughts," quoted Reuben, reverently. Mr. Mooney looked at him with a softer ex- pression in his face, and said, "I 'low that's so, preacher, but it's powerful hard to believe he's a goin' ter save Mandy Snoggs, for all that." Reuben smiled, and said patiently, "Well, Reuben Deltorij Preacher. 33 we'll see, and in the meanwhile suppose yon pray for poor Mandy/' They started off towards the Farnhanis', which was only a short distance beyond the store, on the tnrnpike, and there they left Grey- son with his devoted friend, Bessie Farnham, a bright girl of thirteen, retracing their steps im- mediatelv as far as the Evero^reen, where thev turned off into the rough mountain road that led up to the cabin of Mandy Snoggs. In a little Avhile they had plunged into a rho- dodendron thicket, where the soil was constantly damp. This and the fact that the roots had not been cut out, made the climbing hard for '^De- light," as well as for Reuben, whose stout alpen- stock was a friend indeed just now. It was a lovely afternoon ; the heat of the sun, tempered by the cool breezes that blew fresh from the cool ravines they were crossing occa- sionally, made the trip a joy to Marthy. ''De- light" was too well trained to stumble with so precious a load as his mistress, who was, proba- bly, his best friend. For the first half mile both Reub and !Marthy were silent. Perhaps the rough road had some- thing to do with it ; but both were busy thinking. So far, Reuben had no clear light on the momen- tous question he had been called upon to decide. 34 Reuben Delton, Preacher. When tliey reached the first point where the thicket had been cut out enough for them to get a view, they stopt. Looking off through the opening, they got a glimpse of the wondrous sea of mountains that, as it were, bathed the feet of Grandfather, towering near at hand. Away down below the course of the AYestern ^orth Carolina Railroad could be traced, by the long trail of white smoke, left by a train moving westward. Here and there heavy smoke lay above some factory, or some town. To the south, and much nearer, was the straggling settlement of Blowing Rock, hanging, as it were, along the edges of the cliffs that mark the ridge for miles. The cottages, and even the hotels, gleamed like toy houses at this distance. One spot of verdant green, shining out from the blue-green haze that covered the middle distance, was a glimpse of the beautiful valley of the John's river. ^^And there," thought Marthy, as she tenderly gazed towards the valley; ^^there is my home, and there," as she turned her eyes to the gleam- ing cottages ; '^there is where my true life began ; there is where I met Miss Grevson, and I must turn my back on all of that, if we go !" Reuben noted the shadow on Marthy's usually bright face, and looking up from where he had seated himself to rest, he said cheerily, ^^Come, Reuben Delton, Preacher. 35 little woman ; this is one of the times when it is better to work hard than to sit still;" and they pressed on, the road growing steeper and wilder, until 'it reached the edge of a small cleared patch, where stood a rude cabin, surrounded by an attempt at a garden, and with few apple-trees around it, rugged with age, and bearing only a few hard, green apples. A half-starved hound came out, barking feebly, and following him came a young woman, whose appearance there surprised them. It was Linnie Farnham, one of their especial friends and co-workers, but who they had not thought would venture up here. Linnie Farnham, though younger than Mar- thy, was also a graduate of Skyland Institute, and had come home, not only with a mind, but with a heart trained to take her place among those whose wish and purpose it was to uplift their kind. Merry and bright in temperament, she w^as a general favorite, and, as Marthy said, had all the ingredients needed to make a fine preacher's wife some day, if somebody else did not interfere. She met them at the gate, and Marthy ex- claimed, '^'^Why, Linnie, you here ? Why, wdio is with you ? When did you come ?" Linnie smiled at Marthy's eager questions, 36 Reuben Delton, Preacher. and replied, ^^Whj, nobody is with me noAV, but Mrs. Belvin came over here about noon; Bud came up with me ; he had to go up on the moun- tain, and said he would stop by for me as he came down. I knew Mr. Delton would surely come up this afternoon, and was pretty sure you'd come too." All this was said while Reuben was hitching ^'Delight/' and helping Marthy down. ^^And how's your patient ?" asked Reuben as they moved towards the cabin together. ^'^Her fever is very high, and she has been very restless since noon. Oh ! Mr. Delton, I believe she going to die, and I know she isn't ready !" Reub looked into the strong, earnest face of the girl, with profound admiration for the kind and brave heart that had prompted her to spend this day with such a patient as Mandy Snoggs, and he shuddered at the thought of what she must have heard from Mandy' s lips, if she was delirious. He shook his head sadly, but said, ^'Do you know that she asked Marthy to ^say over them words,' referring to John iii. 16, which Marthy had quoted to her the last time she was at our house ?" They entered the hovel, for such it surely Reuben Delton, Preacher. 37 was. The top of tlie cliimney liad crumbled away. The square hole that served as the only window in the house was covered by a faded red cloth. The large fire-place was filled with the debris of all the fires the poor creature had built during the last two months, apparently, and the few pots, and the old kettle, which constituted all her supply of kitchen utensils, were on the hearth. ^N'othing in the way of furniture or comforts were visible any^vhere, if we except the clean sheets which Linnie had brought, and which Mrs. Eelvin had helped her put on the miserable bed, upon which the poor creature was lying. They were probably the first luxuries of the kind that Mandy had ever enjoyed, certainly since she had lived in this neighborhood. She was tossina: and moaning when thev came in. ]\rarthy went immediately to the bedside — perhaps we should say box-side, for it was no- thing more than a box turned down, with an old straw mattress upon it — upon which the woman lay. The air of the room, even after all Linnie^s efforts to purify it, was close and malodorous. A glance at the sick woman revealed to Mar- thy that she was in a desperate condition. Her face, rugged and leather-tinted in health, was 38 Reuben Delton, Preacher. almost pnrple now; her thin grey hair was tossed back from her face, and her eyes were half closed. '^^ow, Linnie, yon and Reub go outside, and get the air. Renb walked all the way and is tired, and he needs to rest." Marthy always assumed the control of things in a sick room so quietly that everybody yielded to her at once. She took a small bowl from her basket, and a soft linen cloth, and getting some water, pro- ceeded to bathe the fevered face and hands. AVhen she first touched the cool cloth to the fevered brow, Mandy struck it aAvay. ^^Git away ! Wat you doin' ter me ?" she cried. "Why, Mandy," said Marthy gently, "don't you know me ? Why this is Marthy Delton, and I'm trying to cool your fever." The heavy lids lifted a moment, and Mandy stared into the face bending over her. "Be you mammie ?" she said with a quiver of the lips. "O mammie !" Marthy humored the fancy, and said, "j^ow let mammie wash your face and hands ;" and, as is so often the case, the patient yielded quietly to the nurse's gentle firmness. Marthy's watchful eyes glanced up from the Reuben Delton, Preaclier. 39 patient to tlie miserable surroundings, which this lonely creature had called home for a time, at least. "^Tio hath made me to differ ?'' she found herself savinff. ^'What is the reason this human soul lies here, while my life has been lived in the sweet mountain manse ?'' Mandy Snoggs had appeared in the neighbor- hood some years before, and at first had pre- tended to w^ant work, but she was ill-favored, and ill-mannered, very reticent about herself, and even about her name, for a long w^hile, and it began to be whispered around that she must be an escaped convict, or jail-bird. She begged for food and for clothes, and when she was sent awav without either, would throw curses behind her like kisses. 'Squire Farnham, who was always ready to help the poor, compassionated the wretched crea- ture, and told her that if she would live up at the cabin she might use it and small patch of ground around it. Things had come to such a pass with her that she had to choose between this offer and the poor-house, and Mandy took possession of the cabin without any apparent appreciation of the kindness, excepting that she was never heard to curse 'Squire Farnham again. She proceeded to beg right and left in order to furnish the bare house. 40 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Most peo^Dle agreed with Jim Mooney, that there was no good in the woman^ and she met with little success. From year to year she had eked out a miser- able living, by fair means or fonl, and she might well have said with the Psalmist, ^']^o man cared for my soul" — at least, she might have said so until Reub and ]Marthy came. She ap]3eared at the manse before they had settled down, and had pried into every part of the house, asking every conceivable question before the day was over. Marthy had met poor and miserable people before, but none of Mandy's type. "Oh ! Reub," she said, after the woman had left, "surely our sincerity and charity are to be put to the test, if we are to entertain this woman. Why, she has asked me a hundred questions, some of which I could not answer if I would." But llarthv never vielded to the feeline; that seemed so natural, and to-day's visit proved it. While we have been introducing Mandy Snoggs to the reader, Reub had been investigat- ing the spring from which she got her water. He found it, as he had feared, choked with leaves, and a drinking place for cattle that were pastured on the mountain in the summer. This accounted for the poor creature's fever. She had not taken the trouble to keep the spring clean. Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 41 A few moments' work with a hoe made a material improvement, but could never bring Mandj Snoggs back to life and health again. lie was relieved to find that Linnie had not been using the water from that spring, her brother having found a clear, clean one higher up, though further away. ^^ Poor Mandy has drunk her death potion from that spring, I fear," said Reuben sadly; ^'yes, and it is such conditions that produce the terrible mortalitv in our beautiful mountains from typhoid fever. God never intended this to be so, and I am waging as relentless a war against impure water and uncleanliness as I am against sin !" Marthy was standing in the doorway listening while he was speaking to Linnie Farnham. ^^Come in and read something from the Bible to her; she may listen and be able to take in some word that vou read.'' Reub glanced at his watch and found that it was a few minutes past four, and reminded Mar- thy that it would take them every bit of three- quarters of an hour to get down the mountain. Then, drawing his testament from his pocket, he went softlv to the bedside, sat down and read the inimitable group of parables found in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, in which our Saviour 42 Reuben Delton, Preacher. sought to help us rightly to estimate the value of a human soul. Marthv lay quiet for a few moments, her attention evidently arrested by Reub's voice. She turned her head slowly, and tried to speak, while a faint smile hovered about her mouth. Marthy, standing behind Eeub's chair, saw that she was trying to say something. She put a spoonful of water into the parched mouth, and Mandy, after swallowing it, said faintly, ^'Preacher — w'at's — dem — words ?" Reuben leaned over and listened, but did not understand her. Marthy, however, whispered to him quickly, "John iii. 16." "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life," repeated Reub, slowly and reverently. She listened evidently, and though she was so weak, her mind was clear, for a few moments later she said, "Me too ?" "Yes, you too, Mandy. 'Wliosoever,' it says. You are a sinner. He is the Saviour. He is willing ; are voii ?" There was a quiver about the hard mouth, but she did not speak. "Pray, Reub !" said Marthy softly, and they knelt beside the dying woman, and Reub plead Reuben Delton^ Preacher. 43 for her, and committed to the mercj of him who died for her. The whole scene stamped itself ineffacably upon ]\rarthy's memory. The dying woman, on her miserable bed, the bare and wretched room in which her life was passing, the afternoon sun- light streaming into the open door, the pure breeze that toyed with the curling hair of Lin- nie, kneeling near the door ; Eeub's earnest, uplifted face ; and, to other eyes, her own sweet face, turned watchfully toward the patient, would have been seized upon as probably the most impressive feature of the whole picture. Eeub uttered but a few short, simple sen- tences, that a little child might have compre- hended ; then they rose, and, as she was lying quiet, they went outside to consult as to who would care for her during the night. "Eeub, I am sure that I ought to stay," said Marthy, quietly ; "you can take care of Greyson. There is plenty of bread in the house, and all you need is to make the coffee, which I know that you can do nicely," she added, with a little pat on his arm. "Oh ! then I can stay," said Linnie, eagerly. "I have wanted to stay all along, but knew nobody would consent unless some one else stayed." 44 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Hevih and Marthj exchanged glances of admi- ration at Linnie's unselfisli offer. Reuben hesitated ; indeed, he was really afraid to leave them here, with no man about. ^^This is the Master's work, preacher; it is what we vowed to do when we came here/' said llarthy earnestly. While thev stood waitins; for Renb's consent, there was a sound of some one approaching on horseback, and soon the doctor came in sight, and hitching his horse, came up to the cabin. He was not surprised to see Reuben here, for he had learned to look for him wherever there was sickness or trouble, and he had often found Marthy, too, but he opened his eyes with aston- ishment when he saw Linnie Farnham. "You here !" he exclaimed, and Marthy^s quick eye noted, not only the blending of pleas- ure and anxiety in his face, but the responsive flush on Linda's cheek. '^Well," he said to Marthy, "your religion takes you all pretty far away from home, Mrs. Delton." "It takes us no further than we ought to go, Dr. Thornly, nor than our Master went to save and to bless." "Doctor," said Reub, "these people are asking Reuben Delton, Preacher. 45 mj consent to stay up here all night; what do you think of it?" ^^Well, somebody ought to stay, and it looks like the willin's ones are the right ones. I tell you ; I've got to go over here on South Fork, but I'll come back some time in the night ; that is, if you can give me a snack for supper/' "We've got meat and bread and coffee enoug'h to give a party," was the hospitable reply. "Well, Marthy, you'll have to stay, I reckon. She's a great little woman. Doctor, if I do say it," he added, as he smiled down at her and patted her shoulder caressingly. Dr. Thornly looked at them earnestly, then glanced at Linnie Farnham, and Marthy thought there was a great deal in that glance. "I might ha' knoAvn you all had been here, even if you'd got away before I came," the doc- tor said as he noted the clean sheets, and the clean clothing on Mandy. "Don't credit me with all that you see ; Lin- nie was here when we came, and had put clean sheets on the bed." "Yes, and Mrs. Belvin had been before me, had burnt up the old mattress, and had made a new one," said Linnie, with a smile and a little toss of her head, that reserved for Dr. Thornly' s special benefit. 4-6 Reuben Delton, Preacher. "So you see, Doctor, there are more of what you call every-day Christians than yon think." "The Lord knows, there's need of 'em !" re- plied the doctor gravely. "I tell yon, Mrs. Del- ton, the sin an' the misery, and the want that I come up with a'most every day of my practice is enough to make a man question what good the church is doin'. An' when somebody comes along an' gets to talkin' about the heathen in foreign parts, I say let's better take care of the heathen at home ; an' if I had time to tell 'em a few things that I know, they'd shut up in a minute, you bet." "That is all true. Doctor, only too true; but I will quote my Master's words to you : "These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." "We cannot escape the Master's command to go, because there is so much to be done at home. There are Christians enough for all the work, if only they would work. The sin of the church lies just here, that we do not believe strongly enough that every saved man ought to be a saver. There are men and women, too, thank God, who are plainly called to go forth to other lands, as there are other men and women, like Marthy and myself, who are as clearly called to stay at home, and work among their own people." Reu- Reuben Delton, Preacher. 47 ben glanced quickly at Martliy when he said this, thinking she might infer that he meant it literally, but he only paused a moment. ^^I think, therefore,'' he continued, ^'^that every Christian man and woman is, or ought to be, a worker; every mountain boy that has found Jesus the ]\Iessiah should be an Andrew to lead his brother to Christ, and every doctor" - — here he fixed his clear grey eyes on Dr. Thornly — "every doctor in the mountains has the grandest opportunities for service that I know of." Dr. Thornlv looked out throuaii the doorwav silently. He knew this was so, and as he felt more and more the stimulating influence of Reub Delton and his wife, and knew that their convictions were sufficiently strong to compel them to live for others in their efforts to be like Christ, he was more and more conscious of a desire to be like them. The greatest difficulty in his way was that he had so long made the in- consistencies of others an excuse that he was now afraid to make a profession which he, too, might not be able to live up to. The tyj)e of church members he had met, and the type of preacher, heretofore, had not, as a rule, been calculated to change his opinions. With most of them religion meant little more 48 Reuben Delton, Preacher. than sectarianism, and the Bible seemed to have much less influence on their lives than the opinions they had themselves formed, and Avere all rooted in the conviction — not, alas ! confined to them — that man's chief end is — to take care of himself !'' "I must be going," said Renb. Greyson will grow sleepy and cross, even with his dear "Betchie." ^ "And I will come down with Linnie in the morning, as soon as Mrs. Belvin comes to relieve us. We have all that we need in the wav of food, and I brought a cup and plate and spoons." Dr. Thornly went once more to the bedside, and laid his hand on Mandy's pulse. She lay as still, almost, as if she was dead, with her eyes half closed and her mouth open. "She is very weak now, for the fever is leav- ing her. She is liable to drop off at any time," he said as he stepped softly towards where Mar- thy and Linnie were standing, near the door. "I will go now, and come back as soon as I can 7? A few minutes later Bob Farnham rode up and called Linnie out. "Come out, sis' ; I didn't mean to keep you waiting so long, but some of the cows had strayed off." Reuben Delton, Preacher. 49 "Why, and I'm going to stay up here to- night. Mrs. Delton is here with me. Mandy is about to die, and we can't leave her. Mr. Delton and Dr. Thornly have just gone." Bob rarnham did not approve of his sister staying. Mandy had so bad a reputation, and some of the worst men in the countv had been known to have been harbored there from time to time, but Bob held the common opinion of the neighborhood, that nothing bad could happen where either of the Delton's were. "Well, I reckon you'll have to stay; but I don't know how pa'll like it, and I am bound to go d0A\Tl." "Why, the doctor said he was coming back sometime in the night," said Linnie trying to look unconcerned. Bob laughed and winked his eye at his sis- ter. "Dr. Thornly's mighty anxious 'bout Mandy, eh ! sis' ?" "Isow, Bob ! you stop your foolishness, and cut us some kindlin' and bring in some wood, too, before you go," was Linnie' s reply, with a pretty toss of her head. "I wonder how she kept in wood, Mrs. Del- ton ?" ^I guess she uses fence rails, sis', for I know ((- 50 Reuben Delton, Preacher. there's a lot of 'em missin'/' was Bob's reply to tlie question. "Poor woman/' said Martliv, "we wouldn't have been any better than she is if we had no bet- ter raising than she had. We oughtn't to forget that, Bob, when we are judging Mandv, and now she is going where there will be no mistaken judgments, and we believe that he who has had compassion on us will pity her too." Bob's face had grown very grave, and ho turned away, and went down the mountain, thinking of what Marthy had said. 1 CHAPTEK III. A Strange Visitor. THAT was a memorable night-watch that Marthy and Linnie Farnham passed in the cabin of the dying woman. The room was really more lighted by the fire than bv the candle, which, for want of a candle- o 7 7 stick, they had set np on a board in the corner of the room, first dropping the hot tallow on the board to make the candle stand steadily. As the night came on, the air grew very cold, and Linnie made a large fire. Then, having first given the kettle and coffee pot a good scrubbing, she proceeded to make the coffee for their snj> per. There was not a table in the house, and only one decent chair. A dingy, heavy chest, about four feet long, which they supposed con- tained clothing, was set on one side the fire place, and had evidently served as the table on which poor Mandy had eaten such meals as she ate at home, for it was greasy, and there were crumbs of mouldy bread on it. There was not a whole plate to be found, nor was there a cup besides the dirty tin cup they 52 Reuben DeUo7i, Preacher. found on the shelf above the fire place, and had scrubbed into something like cleanness. JSTot one of those comfoi-ts, which are found even in some of the barest homes they had en- tered, did these young women find here. "It was well you thoug'ht to bring a cup and saucer, and spoons, Mrs. Delton. Why I never knew anybody could live on so little.'' "And, oh ! dear, just think, she is going out of the world without ever having known the sweetness and the comfort of a clean, pure home — without anything that makes a woman self- respectful, or to help to be what God surely in- tended everv one of his creatures to be V "It was her own fault, I reckon ; wasn't it ?" Linnie did not say this with any lack of pity, or from any scorn of the miserable creature in her heart. "Ah ! there is the terrible thought to me," re- plied Marthy earnestly; ''was it her fault alto- gether? Will God not hold every one of us responsible who might have helped her more, who might have borne more patiently with her trying ways, and who might have led her to Christ ?" Marthy Delton's eyes filled with tears of pity, and of sincere contrition, as she spoke. "Oh ! don't say so, Mrs. Delton, please !" ex- claimed Linnie in low, but earnest, tones. "She Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 53 was so awful bad when she first came into our neighborhood that we children were scared to go near her. She's been better since you came here, and everybody knows that Mr. Delton and you have borne more from her than any one else. I heard pa' talkin' about it when he came back from the store, and told us Mrs. Belvin said she was sick." There was the sound of a moan, and Marthy went quickly to the bedside. Mandy's eyes were open, and bending over her Marthy moistened her lips, and said, "What is it, Mandy ? Here's Marthy Delton come to wait on you." In the flickering firelight Marthy must have seemed an unearthly visitor to the eyes all un- used to a woman's presence near her. Gimme-a-drink," she said feebly. Marthy moved quickly to the fire place, with her finger on her lip by way of caution to Linnie, then motioned for a cup of hot milk. She fed the poor creature with this slowly. "That tastes good ?" asked Marthy. In reply the woman tried to nod her head ; then, rallying her strength, she looked at Marthy earnestly, and said, "How'd-you-git-here ?" "Whv, Mr. Delton and I came as soon as we heard you were sick." "Wat fur ?" 54 Reuhen Delton, Preacher. "Because we wanted to help jow, and to wait on yon." "I ain't wnth helpin'/' she said, Avith a deep sigh. Then, touching the cool, clean sheet that Linnie had put on her bed, she asked, "Wat's this yer on me?" "Why, that is a nice, clean sheet that Mrs. Farnham sent you," answered Marthj^, in her cheery yoice. Mandy lay still a moment, with her eyes closed ; then, opening them suddenly, she asked, "Be I goin' ter die ?" Marthy was startled by the question, and did not know how it might affect the poor creature, in her present condition, to know the truth, and yet she dared not deceiye her. "You are yery sick, Mandy, and the doctor does not think that you can liye." "I ain't fitten ter die," she muniiured, with a groan. "You need not be afraid to die if you will be- lieye that Jesus is your Sayiour, and ask him to saye your soul." "I hain't neyer don' nothin' fur him. I don' 'low he'd hear me; say dem words ag'in." Marthy again repeated slowly the wonderful words of John iii. 16, that haye cheered so many souls, and the poor creature said, faintly, after her, "^ot perish — eyerlastin' life." Reuben Delton, Preacher. 55 "Wat do that mean ?" and Marthv tried to explain again to her poor clouded mind what she had told her when she had been in health. "Oh ! mammie !" she nttered again. "Where is Your mammie ?" asked Marthv, for no one knew where this poor waif had come from, or where her kindred were. "Dead, I reckon." "AVhere was your home?" Marthv bent over her to catch the answer. "Over in Tennessee " she answered restlessly. Evidentlv it disturbed her to talk of her own affairs. Her fever was rising, and ]\Iarthy feared the delirium would come on again, and her last opportunity to turn the eyes of the dying woman to Christ. Some would say. Let her alone ; but Marthy's strong convictions of the necessity of a confes- sion of Christ, and her strong faith in the simple look of faith, made her sure she was right to say once more, "Mandy, Jesus died to save you. Can't you take him for vour Saviour ? Then he has promised to be with you in death." "I kin trust him, but kin he trust me?" she answered, turnino- her eves to Marthv, with more intellioence in her face than she had vet shown. "You don' know me, Marthy Delton ; I 'ain't wuth savin' !" 56 Reuhen Delton, Preacher. "Jesus does not save us because we are worth saving, but just because be loves to save. The best of us can't be saved, except by trusting in bim. Can't vou do tbat?" Mandy tried to smile, and to sj^eak, but only said the word, "Sing !" Marthy laid her hand on the rough, ill-shapen one that was restlessly catching at the covering, and began to sing softly — " I am so glad that our Father in heaven Tells of his love in the Book he has given; Wonderful things in the Bible I see, This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me! "Oh! if there's only one song I can sing. When in his beauty I see the great King; This shall my song in eternity be, Oh! what a wonder that Jesus loves me! I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me!" Mandy lay quietly, and seemed to have fallen asleep, and Marthy rose and went over to the fire place to take the cup of coffee which had been ready for her before she had gone to Mandv's side. She looked at her watch, and found that it was onlv a little after ten o'clock. She was speaking to Linnie in a whisper, when suddenly Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 57 they heard a low growl from the dog, which lay curled in the corner of the fire place. Then there were sounds of stealthy footsteps, and Lin- nie's face blanched with fear, for these sounds were not at the door, hut at the small window not far from where she was sitting. Marthy's heart throbbed wildly for a moment, for she knew all that had been said about Mandy's harboring the worst men in the county, but she sent a swift prayer to heaven, and who doubts that it was heard ? She said aftei^vards that she was conscious of an immediate answer, for the throbbing of her heart subsided, though, when she looked towards the window, she saw the faded curtain lifted cautiously by a rough hand, and directly a wild face looked in. Without a moment's forethought, without a moment's hesitation, she placed her finger on her lips, as a sign to the man to be quiet, just as she would have done to Reub or to the doctor, and said in low tones, and with perfect self- control, ^^Please come 'round to the door, if you want anything. Mandy Snoggs is very sick, and if you startle her, it might kill her." The man was evidently taken aback by this cool and friendly speech, as well as by these unusual guests in Mandy's cabin. 58 Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. He stared at Martliv, and at the top of Liii- nie's head, which was all he could see of her. The poor girl was sitting with her hands clasped in her lap, and her eyes shut tight with fear. The door was partly open for ventilation, but thev had closed the window to keep out the cold mists that came down the mountain. After the unwelcome visitor had looked from the watchers to the bed, and then into the dusky part of the room, he disappeared, and in another moment was at the door. "Don't let liim see that vou are frightened, Linnie, our lives may depend upon our cool- ness," ]\Iarthy had whispered, as he left the window. She went towards the door, as he aj^peared, and said, "What do vou want ? Mandv has typhoid fever, and Ave are nursing her. I am Marthy Delton, the preacher's wife, and that is 'Squire Farnham's daughter, and Dr. Thornly will be here in a little while. I am sorrv," she said, as she saw him lift his foot to come in ; "I am sorry I can't ask you to come in." Marthy even smiled as she said it, Linnie said after- wards ; "but I can give you something to eat and some coffee." In all his wild career, Dan Ruger had never met with such an experience. It actually took Reuben Delton, Preacher. 59 every bit of his braggadocio from him. He was ashamed for the first time in his life ! '^You're a plucky one, sartain/' he said, smil- ing at Marthy. "You-uns's got some kinder weepons that hain't never been turned on me befo'j and' I swar I don' know how ter git even wid ye !" He looked behind him a moment, and lis- tened, then he said, "You're afeerd fur me to come in, but you're too plucky ter say so ; I come here fur grub, an' fur ter git warm, an' ter sleep too, but ef Mandy's do^^m wid ther fever, I don' want ter stay, particklar ef you say true that Thornly's comin'. Xot as I'm afeerd of him," he added quickly, as if Marthy's courage had quickened his own," but he'll set some houn' on my tracks. You-uns give me ther grub an' I'll go, but I'd like mightily ter git warm fust." He looked towards the fire and shivered. "I'm sorry," said Marthy, as she turned to get something for him to eat ; then she looked at him fearlessly out of her pure brown eyes, and said gently, "I'm sorry you have no home to go to. God never meant for any man to be home- less." The light of evil passion and of defiance flashed up in the man's face, but the unseen Presence beside Marthy kept them as effectually 60 Reuben Delton, Preacher. in check as if he had been in chains. His eye drooped before the pure and fearless look in the face before him. Martliy gave him a handful of bread and meat, and a cup of coffee, with an expression of pity in her face that was almost divine. He took the food, almost sullenly ; then said, ^^I was goin' ter say, it's none of your busi- ness, but maybe it is, for you think so. But you're the fust person as has had a kind word fur me in ten years," and he giilped down the coffee, as if to hide some unwonted emo- tion. ^^Whose fault is it?" asked Marthy gently, and then before he could reply, she added, "Come down to our house ; Preacher Helton is everybody's friend, and will give you many a kind word." "ISTo !" he answered bitterly ; "every one of you'd hand me over ter the sheriff if you could git a chance. I never did take no stock in preachin' no how, but your religion's a horse of another color." Just then Mandy's moan made the man start. He bent his head and listened intently, and his keen ear must have detected some sound, for he handed the cup quickly to Marthy, and in an- other minute was gone. Five minutes later Hr. Thornly was hitching Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 61 his liorse at the fence, little dreaming that he had come in answer to prayer. He came quickly to the cabin, more anxions than he would have acknowledged, for the safety of the two brave women there. He tapped softly, but the dog had already given warning of the approach of some one, and both Marthy and Linnie were standing with their faces anxiously turned to the door when he looked in. "Come in !" beckoned Marthy, with a smile of more than ordinary welcome on her face, and to which Linnie Farnham did not hesitate to add her own. "You never were as welcome in your life, Doctor, I know," said Marthy in hearty tones. Dr. Thornly saw that something had occurred of more than ordinary interest, and, looking from one to the other, h© asked, "What's the matter V^ He glanced towards the bed ; a moan proved to him that Mandy was still living. "Go, see how Mandy is first, then sit down and get warm, while we tell you of our adven- ture." When he returned from the bedside, he took the only chair strong enough to bear his power- ful figure, and while Linnie made his coffee (i^ Beuhen Delton, Preacher. Martlij told him in a few words of tlieir ad- venture. He listened with intense interest, glancing up occasionally to the little window behind them. "Xow describe him, please, Mrs. Delton.'' ^'AVell, he was tall and thin, with black hair, and a shaggy beard, and monstache that seemed faded in color, by comparison with his hair. His eyes seemed black. He wore a faded, rag- ged suit of jeans, and over it a curious garment, evidently made bv himself; it seemed just a blanket with holes cut in it for his arms and head. His hat was tied down over his ears with a red handkerchief." ^^Well, well ! I say!" exclaimed Dr. Thornlv; "if you all haven't been interviewing the worst fellow in the country. Why, it was Dan Ruger, sure !" His face actually paled as he said this. "Why, he generally goes armed to the teeth, as the savin' is, and whv he didn't murder both of you, or run off with one of you, God knows." "I think I know why," said Marthy gently. "God surely heard the prayer that went up as quickly as a telegraphic message, when that face looked in at the window. Oh ! Dr. Thornly, don't you believe that?" The doctor looked gravely into the fire when Reuhen Delton, P readier. 6^ MartliY questioned liim so pointedly, tlien an- swered thonghtfully, ^'I surely ought to believe it now, if I never did before. But, Mrs. Delton, I am not sure that it is safe for you all to stay up here the rest of the night, even if I stay w^ith you. There's no telling what Dan Huger may do. He may have just gone off to get some other fellows to return with him." Linnie who was kneeling on the hearth, and pouring the coffee, set down the pot and cup, her hands trembled, and she glanced uneasily at Marthy. "Why, Dr. Thornly ! leave that poor, dying creature alone, and after we came up here to prove our love to the Master, to desert her just from fear I Besides, I have no fear now. I be- lieve that I won his respect; he w411 not harm us. Do not ask us to go." The man looked into Marthv's earnest, brave face, and — as he said afterwards — saw what religion was good for from that time. "Well, we'll all stay and risk it together," he replied, as he took the cup of coffee from Lin- nie's hand. It was fully twelve o'clock when Dr. Thornly finished the lunch they had prepared for him. Mandy Snoggs' life was near its close. Occa- sionally, as the night wore on, the doctor stepped 64 Beiiben Delion, Preacher. to the bedside, testing the dying woman's pulse, and her temperature. Marthy and Linnie had improvised a seat by throwing a shawl over the small pile of wood, and had given the only safe chair to the doctor. The wind had risen, and whistled around the open cabin, as if it was ISTovember. Everv sound from outside cauo'ht Dr. Thorn- ly's attention, so confidently did he expect Dan Ruger with reinforcements ; but he never came, and Marthv's faith was confirmed. A little after day had dawned, poor Mandy passed from the scene of all her sin and wretch- edness. Marthy believed that in her poor, crude way, this woman, who was a sinner, had accepted Jesus as her Saviour. Who can tell what goes on between the soul and its Maker in those hours when the body is under the power of disease ? Once she had roused out of the stupor, and had murmured the words, "Even — me !'' Evi- dentlv she had causrht the last words of the hymn that had been sung to her. A half hour later, as Marthv stood in the door- way of the cabin, and looked out on the glory of the fair summer morning, with the flush of sunrise on its beautiful face, and the songs of birds greeting her ear, while the fresh breeze fanned her face, she could but think the scene Reuben Delton, Preacher. 65 was typical of the exchange Mandy's spirit had made, from its grimed and sin-marred dwelling to the glory and beauty of heaven. Two neighbors came in not long afterwards, and Dr. Thornly urged on Marthy and Linnie to go at once, as they needed rest. '^Everything in the house ought to be burned. This was a bad case of fever from the first." '^Shall we open the chest? There may bo something there worth saving,'' said Marthy. Linnie remembered that when she had put the gown on Mandy, she had seen a string about her neck, and she spoke of it as the doctor doubted whether they could get the box opened. Marthy went to the bed, and touching rever- ently the dead woman, saw the string, and draw- ing it out, found a key. Opening the box with difficulty, because the padlock was so rusty, they found within a few pieces of ragged clothing, and a mixture of little trinkets, Christmas cards, and common rings. A small bag, found inside of an old shoe, con- tained about ten dollars in money. Two faded ferrotypes, one of a good-natured middle-aged man, the other of a rather pretty, round-faced girl, adorned with a bright smile, and an abun- dance of cheap jewelry; had scrawled on their backs, 'Mim" and "Mandy." There was noth- 6(5 Reuben Delton, Preacher. I ^ ing else to tell the woman's story, l^o clue to her home, her name, her people And so ended the life of this lone mountain woman, unwej)t, save for the pitying tears that filled the eyes of Marthy Delton, as she looked on the face for the last time. She went do^Tn the mountain wondering how many such lonely, neglected lives are hidden away in the caves and valleys of the mountains that look so blue and fair, as one gazes at them only as a part of the marvellous summer landscape, but which are really teeming with life and with possibilities of service for God's children ! CHAPTER IV. Kindness Recipkocated. AS Mar thy went down the mountain with Linnie Farnham, tired and worn from the night's vigil and from the excitement of their adventure, there was one thing that wanned her heart as the sunshine now breaking through the fogs warmed her body ; it was the consciousness of having soothed the last hours of poor Mandy Snoggs. She did not allow herself to be troubled as to Mandy's salvation. Reub and herself had tried to lead her to the Savior, and she now committed her to that mercy which is so ready to save. Her heart was full of gratitude for having been allowed the privilege of serving her Master, even through such a sinner as this one. And the trust and peace that comes with service so filled hor mind that she had reached 'Squire Farn- ham's gate before she had given a thought to the momentous question that Reuben and she had been called on to settle. Mrs. Farnham, with the wonted miountain hospitality, would fain have had her ^^come in 68 Reuben Delton, Preacher. and eat and rest awhile." But not only was Greyson at home and Renben obliged to wait for her in order to make the arrangements for Mandy's funeral, but she felt that she must be alone and have time to think of their o^vn af- fairs. It was now late in August, the Presbytery met the last of September, and both Reuben and Marthy felt that they ought to know their own minds as to this suggested change before the meeting of Presb}i:ery. Some one had told them of the plan of the venerable Rev. W. S. Plummer when called upon to decide perplexing questions. It was his custom to take a sheet of paper, and, carefully dividing it into two columns, to write over one "Pros," and over the other "Cons." He then kneeled and devoutly asked for wisdom to de- cide the matter rightly. After this he rose to write down under each head the sensible reasons for and against the step, and invariably decided to adopt that side on which there were most reasons for action. He never allowed himself afterwards to regret the step, or to doubt that he had been divinely guided, even when things seem to turn out unf avorablv. They had been much impressed with the sim- plicity and faith manifested in this plan, and Reuben Delton, Preacher. 69 resolved to try it; so that evening when supper was over and their little boy asleep, Reub drew his chair up by the table near which Marthy was busily knitting and said : "Marthy, don't you think it is time we were studying what the Master means us to do about this call V Marthy looked up with a smile, though there was still a shade of sadness on her bright face. She laid her knitting down, and drawing a writ- ing tablet from under a book that lay near her, she handed it to her husband. The page had already been ruled, and the headings, "Pros" and "Cons" written down. Eeuben smiled, for it was so like Marthy, to get things ready in this quiet manner. Probably Reuben hardly recognized then how great a blessing Marthy's quietness was to him, but in later years he not only felt it, but often spoke of how much he owed to his wife's quiet faith. She never fretted, because she believed so firmly that even the small threads of little worries were woven into the plan of God's providence. He drew the paper to him, and then they knelt, and he asked for that wisdom which God in his wondrous love had promised to those who believe. "Help us not to waver in our faith ! Help us TO Reuben Delton, Preacher. to see thee, and not ourselves and our own com- fort. Make a plain path for our feet, O Lord !" — so lie prayed, and tlie voung preacher and his wife rose from their knees with peace in their hearts, the peace that conies from a surrendered will and the true spirit of obedience. Then with a smiling face Marthy rolled up her work, put it in her basket, and addressed herself to the task of deciding the ^'Pros" and "Cons" of this important question. Here were the reasons they wrote down for and against leaving Wautauga, and they incidentally throw much light on the characters of Reuben Deltoii and of his wife : Pro. 1. The very fact that it is so hard suggests that selfishness is stirred. 2. They need a mountain man with a wife and some experience, both of which I have. 3. Every call to a Chris- tian for harder work and more self-denial is the Mas- ter's call. 4. God calls many men to sow, but does not let all reap what their own hands have sown. 5. We have so few hard- CON. 1. We have not been here long enough to give this work into other hands. 2. There are other moun- tain men in the ministry. Why should they rob Wau- tauga to pay Yancey? 3. Sometimes God tests his children by a call he does not mean them to ac- cept in order to try their spirit. 4. These people love us, and we have more and more influence with them. 5. The visitors help us. Reuben Delton, P readier. 71 and we help tliem, by put- ting them in touch with bhe work. 6. Grey son ought to know the sweetness of a comfortable home. 7. This is our home, our first home. God gave it to us. It is right that we should love it and want to stay here. ships here we may be lack- ing in the spirit of self-de- nial the Master wants. 6. The interruption in our work by the presence of the summer visitors is injurious to us. 7. The work here is God's work. We must not think it would stop because we leave. 8. If God is testing our love and spirit of obedi- ence, we have no right to refuse to stand the test. 9. We are called to en- dure hardness as good sol- diers. We dare not then refuse this call, "Come over and help us!" It is easy to see that Marthy had taken as her work the putting down of the reasons against going away. It was as if the soul and heart were making the record for both. And as Reuben's reasons grew stronger and stronger and multiplied, Marthy could restrain her tears no longer. She put down the tablet, and, lean- ing her head on the table, she burst into a fit of weeping. Reuben putting his ann about her waist, leaned his head on the table beside hers and wept too. They both felt that the reasons for their going 72 Ueuhen Delton, Preacher. were stronger than tlie reasons for staying, thoiigli some people might have differed — people not so alert to restrain self, not so satisfied as they were that '^the Christian life is a life against nature." After a few moments Marthy, always the first to regain control over herself, lifted her head, and, wiping her eyes with her apron, laid her hand gently on Reuben's shoulder and said in a voice tremulous with emotion : '^Preacher, we mustn't forget the covenant we made when we were married, that we Avould never give up any- thing we could do for the Lord because it was too hard, nor that other covenant we made when baby came, that we would never let him be our excuse for nee'lectins: anv work, and that we would teach him obedience and unselfishness as soon as he could understand us. God is surely testing us now !" "That's so, little wife! I feel that this call has more to do with our spiritual life and growth than it has, perhaps, with the work over the mountains. We are God's workers. Maybe he sees that we are going to be spoiled here, though we may not see it. You see, all these summer boarders that knew us, and a good many this season that didn't know us, have praised us and our work, and have helped us, until I reckon Reuben Delton, Preacher. 73 the Lord knew that we were having too easy a time for our good." ^^It depends on where yon stand whether a person's life looks easy or hard," said Marthy, sadly. "From where the summer hoarders see ns we do not seem to have much of an easy time, hut I reckon poor Mandy Snoggs must have thought we lived in clover." "Well, we have looked at the matter the hest we know how, from our standpoint,' Marthy, and if it is left to us, we know how we will de- cide now, I reckon. But you know Presbytery has a voice in the matter, and the best thing for us to do now is to cast our burden on the Lord, and wait to hear what the brethren will say." "O Reub ! what do vou reckon that Miss Greyson '11 say ?" "Something sensible and kind that'll strengthen us for whatever is before us, you may be sure." "Well, I know I need strengthening and cheer- ing, and I mean to write to her to-morrow, but I need sleep more than anything else right now." Marthy rose as she spoke and went to the door, as was her custom, to say good night to the view, as she expressed it. As she ojDened the door a flood of moonlight 74 Reuben Delton, Preacher. fell upon ber. The full moon was well up in the skv, and shone upon a white sea of mist in which the space for a few hundred yards from the house seemed the only land visible. Still- ness reigned every^vbere, save for the occasional tinkle of a distant bell telling of some still wake- ful sheep. From the nasturtiums and pansies under her windows came the delicate fragrance Marthy loved so well, and as she enjoyed it by some subtle association, she found herself reminded of the dreary cabin of Mandy Snoggs — lonely and deserted to-night, for the neighbors had re- moved the bodv to a house a mile further down the mountain, preparatory to the funeral the next day. A pitying thought stole into Marthy's heart for the poor outlaw who had given them such a scare, and then she remembered that she had not vet told Reub of her adventure. tj She turned toAvards her husband and said, "Preacher, were you conscious of praying spe- cially for me last night V^ Reuben looked up from his book. "Why, Marthy ?" Before she could reply, he added, "I felt considerably nervous about you and Lin- nie spendin' the night up there, but I knew Dr. Thornly 'd go back — didn't he ? and I knew Reuben Delton, Preacher. 75 some woman folks ought to stay, and that no- body but my little wife had faith enough to stay with Linnie. "Yes, dear, I prayed very spe- cially for you, but, somehow, about ten o'clock I felt so relieved, so sure that God would pro- tect you, I just quit prayin' and fell asleep." Marthy's face wore a look of triumph as she recounted the story of Dan Ruger's visit, for she felt that she was only illustrating the subject of answered prayer. "N"ot but that I believe that God would have protected me whether you had prayed or not, but I do love to think he wants us to pray just to show our dependence. Reub, I felt just as if I was using one of those 'phones they have over at Blowing Rock when I uttered that quick prayer in my heart, and it seemed to me I could almost hear the answer come back, "I will keep thee." Reuben really looked alarmed when Marthy told of her asking Ruger to come to their house, for he knew better than Marthy what a desper- ado the man was, and how it seemed at times as if he was almost possessed with the devil. But Marthy's faith in Ruger's appreciation of her kindness could not be shaken. The next dav Reuben held the funeral ser- vices of Mandy Snoggs at Evergreen Church, 76 . Reuhen Delton, Preacher. and they laid her awaj in the lonely little grave- yard on the mountain side. He had made it an occasion for preaching of the love of God for sinners. He called atten- tion to the fact that it was God who had put it into the hearts of good women to comfort the dying hours of this poor outcast, and added that she had given them evidences of her re- pentance and faith. ^^But oh ! friends and neighbors," he said, his fine, strong face lighting with a blended expres- sion of intense and tender pleading with a touch of scorn, ^^don't let us wait until the last of lives spent in self-seeking and sin, and then bring to the loving and holy God a few feeble hours or days without a single act of loving service in re- turn for all that he has given us !" ''Suppose you should promise me a bushel of apples, and then should wait until the apples were nearly all rotted before you brought them ? What would I think of you ? what would you think of yourselves ? God is very merciful, and waits a long time on many sinners, but he is calling you to-day, now. Won't you come to him now? Take him as your Redeemer and Savior now. Won't you ?" Reuben's fine grey eyes were full of tender feeling, the color in his cheeks was deepening. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 11 and as his voice, peculiarly full and mellow, rang out in this pleading, in which his very heart was pouring itself out for the salvation of the souls of these people, he little thought that in the rhododendron thicket behind the church it fell upon the ears of the outlaw, Dan Ruger ! The poor fellow had seen the wagon contain- ing Mandy's coffin as it wended its way down the rough mountain road, and had followed, lured by curiosity, as closely as he dared. He knew what Mandy had been better than most people, and he was amazed to find these Christian peo- ple not only had nursed her carefully in her sickness, but were preparing to give her a decent burial. He was familiar with every foot of the moun- tain around Evergreen Church, knew every one of the devious paths that traversed the laurel thickets, through many of which one could only advance on all fours. To-day there was away down in the lonely, wretched heart of Dan Ruger a strange desire to get nearer to Christian people. He wanted to hear what Reub Delton would say of Mandy, and he crept cautiously to the edge of the thicket while the services were going on. "The' ainH a head of 'em — ^men er women — 78 Reuben Delton, Preacher. that wouldii' drop ev'ything ter git a chance at me ef some of them honn' dogs gits a seent." He lay flat, with his pistol cocked, and lis- tened. He expected to hear the preacher tell of the wickedness of Mandj's past life, and of the hell that she had assnredlj gone to. Also of many others who were following her. He would not have been surprised to have heard his o^vn name mentioned in connection with his visit to the cabin of Mandy the previous night, and when the services progressed and he heard only of God's love to sinners, and his long-suffering kindness to them, and at the last Reuben's elo- quent j)leading with those Christ died to save, he began to be filled with surprise. ^'That's a curious fellar. It sounds like he b'lieves what he says, too. I'm gittin' mighty tired of this yere bein' hounded aroun' like an ole cat — out nights an' days, sneaking w'at little grub I eat. Ef I wus ter git a chance I might" — he stopped a moment, and the scowl which had faded from his brow loured once more, and he muttered, ^'Yes, but ther's a price on me right now, an' ef I wus to go near, even this yer preacher, they'd nab me fur ter git ther money." Just then there was the sound of singing — a strangely unfamiliar sound to Dan Ruger. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 79 He heard the words of the simple old hymn that had seemed to comfort Mandy's dying heart — • " I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me!" ^'Even me ! that's ther word as would be hard fur me ter believe. I can't quite swaller that. Hit don mean no sich trash as me, though. Ther only kin words I've heerd sence I wus a baby was ther words that Delton woman said ter me th' other night." There was a strange choking sensation in Dan Ruger's throat, and something in his eyes that made it hard for him to see. The simple service in the church was over, and they were bringing the coffin to lay Mandy Snoggs in her last resting place in the grave- yard on the mountain side. Dan Ruger did not wait to see any more. He knew that he was rimning a desperate risk of being discovered, so he crawled back through the narrow path made by the wild hogs through the laurel thicket until he came out where he was safe, then he took to the mountain torrent that came dashing down a ravine, and, jumping from rock to rock, he ascended the stream to his hiding place two miles above Evergreen Church. 80 Eeuhe7i Delton, Preacher, He ate his rough meal cooked in the cave that had given him shelter for two years, and then, actuated for the first time in many a year by the desire to do a kindness to somebody, he went out on a search for game. "Ef I kin git a good sized gobbler, I'd take it do^vn ter ther preacher's house to-night an' leave it thar fur that little woman to pay her fur say in' them words over at Mandy's. I kin jest slip it down by ther door an' nobody 'd ever know who done it." He laughed to himself as he pushed his way through the laurels to a favorite hunting ground for pheasants. Dan Ruger was a fine shot, and he had not gone far before he had brought do^vn two fine pheasants. He returned to the cave, and, tak- ing from a ledge in the back a sheet of coarse and soiled letter paper, and from his pocket the stub end of a pencil, he sat down outside and scrawled in a large and not very legible hand : Miss Delton. a peksant. This he folded and put into his pocket, and then, having cleaned and loaded his pistol again, he destroyed all signs of the fire he had made for his afternoon meal, and, going to a Eeuben Delton, Preacher. 81 ledge of the rocky precipice just above his cave, he looked around to see what time of the after- noon it was. ^^Sich as rne caint go travellin' by daylight/' he said to himself with bitterness. "We've got to wait like other wil' beasts, to prowl at night." Then he remembered Marthy's speech about his not having a home. Seated on the rocky ledge, and, gazing out over the wide view, he began to think of his life. He could hardly re- member when he began his evil career. He could scarcely remember when he had known what home meant. "Ef I'd a had a mother er a sister er a wife like her, I'd not been a sneakin' roun' waitin' fur night even ter do a good thing." He looked down on a vallev that followed the winding river. The sun was just setting, the light cloud that hung like a canopy above old grandfather was full of golden glory. The sky up to the zenith was of that clear and brilliant blue that seems peculiar to the late afternoon skies of this region. Down in the vallev a little cabin home was visible, and from the chimney curled the pale blue smoke. Peace seemed to reign everyr^^here. Something of it stole into the seared heart of the outlaw, but only for a moment ; then his 82 Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. liaiicl tightened its grasp of his pistol, a des- perate light flashed into his eyes. " 'Tain't no nse fnr me to be wishin' fur a home, nnr thinkin' of livin' hones'-like an' civil. Ther law's arter me, an' I'll never be no jail bird, w'ich I'm bonn' ter be ef I go doT\m frnm here. The bes' thing I kin do is ter blow my brains ont an' be done with it." He drew his pistol from his belt, and for one moment the life of Dan Rnger trembled in the balance, but in the next he thought of Marthy Delton's kind words, and the recollection of his plan to take the pheasants down to her, actually turned the whole course of Dan Ruger's wild life without his ever suspecting it. He put the pistol back and muttered, "One more day won't matter, an' I'm a goin' ter feed Preacher Delton and his wife one time 'fore I leave this yere blasted ole worl !" He turned and climbed down the precipitous cliff and began to follow the stream as far down as he dared go before it w^as dark. He avoided the frequented paths, yet was ever draw- ing nearer the mountain manse. A half mile from the house, just above the small clearing of the Delton farm, there was a spring that Reub and Marthy had found and cleaned out. And by cutting away a few Reuben Delton, Preacher. 83 branches of the laurels thev could get a pretty view of their home. It was a favorite resort on Sunday evenings when Reuben came home from preaching soon enough, and from that spot there often floated down to the valley homes the sounds of sing- ing. ^^That's the preacher and Marthy at ther spring," some one would say as the clear, sweet tones of their voices were borne to them on the evening breeze. To this spring Dan Ruger had made his way. He heard the sound of the water, but could barely see the path that led from it in the direc- tion of the manse. He stood still and listened. It was too late for anyone to be coming to the spring for water, but he was so used to being on the watch that he did not think of it. "Suj^pose the preacher was ter come; I don' 'low that a man that was married ter that woman 'ould be a coward," he thought. "She wouldn' be afeerd, I know, but they might tell on me." Everything was so still that he sat down, but with his hand on the pistol and his ear straining for the sound of approaching footsteps. The valley was filling with mists; the after- 84 Ueiiben Delion, Preacher. glow had faded from the sky, and the stars were coming out rapidly. Ruger listened for the barking of dogs down at the manse. He knew the barking of a dog would betray him as he approached the house, but if they kept a dog, it was in-doors, for every- thing was quiet. He could see the lights in the house, and once or twice there were figures passing between the window and the light. Into that heart which was considered only evil and callous there stole a feeling of loneli- ness, an aspiration after a better life, that is surely to be found at sometime in every human heart. He felt a strange desire to go into a good man's home and to see what religion did for it. But- he was sure that he would be delivered quickly into the sheriff's hands if he attempted such a thing. He stretched himself on the ground, doubling his old blanket about him, for the night was growing chill. When the lights were out and everything quiet, he planned to take the pheas- ants down for Marthy. The only sounds that broke on the stillness now was the droning of the locusts and the oc- casional note of a wakeful cat-bird. He rose Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 85 and went cautiously down the path, to the barn- yard, creeping along the outside of the fence, and yet drawing slowly nearer and nearer to the house. At last he made a dash across the road, now lying in the bright moonlight, and, making his way as deftly as an Indian along the side fence, he crossed in the heavy shadow of the house, approached the back porch cautiously, and laid the pheasants on the floor, sticking the paper on them Avith a thorn he had cut by the way. In another moment he had crossed the fence again, and was just about to cross the road to the barnyard fence when he heard the sound of Avheels and of horses' feet a short distance down the road ! In an instant he was lying flat on the ground in the shadow of the fence. Some belated wagoners returning from Blow- ing Rock or, perhaps, Lenoir had given him this surprise, and little did they dream as they drove sleepily along in the moonlight that in the shadow of Preacher Delton's fence a gam was cocked in the hands of Dan Ruger the outlaw ! When they were entirely out of sight, Ruger rose, dashed quickly across the road, and was soon lost in the laurel thicket beyond the spring. M CHAPTEE V. The Victory of Love. AKTHY! Marthy! look here, won't you r There was such a tone of surprise m Reuben's voice that his wife put down what she was doing and ran to the hack door. There lay the pheasants, and Reuben handed the paper to her with its rude scrawling address. "Who do you suppose did this ? It must have been somebody who came after we were asleep." Reuben said, ''Almost anybody in the neighbor- hood would ha' wanted to own to having killed such a fine pair of birds as these. O Reub ! do you think it might be that wild fellow we saw up at Mandy's." Reuben's brow clouded, and he said, somewhat impatiently, "I'd rather not have him get friendly, Marthy ; he is a dangerous fellow, and I don't want him coming about here. Maybe he's been at some mischief over at the barn- yard and has left these to pay. From all I hear of him, he is dare-devil enough to do just that." He lifted the bucket as he finished speaking and went to the barnyard to do his milking. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 87 Marthy had not replied to him, hut when he came hack and reported everything intact, Marthy said to him, "Preacher, mayhe God means us to try to save this poor fellow hefore we leave Wantnga. I cannot forget how sur- prised and touched he seemed by my speaking kindly to him the other night. Maybe there's some good in him that we are to bring out. Maybe he is to be saved by kindness." She began to sing softly: " Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness. Clouds that were broken will vibrate once more." Marthy did not mean to be dramatic, but the words were just suited to express her thought, and it was as easy to sing them as to say them. But there was something in the rich, full tones of her voice, in the earnestness and enthusiasm in her face that moved her husband profoundly. Her ceaseless desire, and her watchfulness to save souls, gave her a hopefulness that seemed unquenchable, all of which he felt was the re- sult of her child-like faith in the r>romises of God. 'That may be so, little wife," he said, thought- ((' 88 Reuben Delton, Preacher^- fiillv. ^^God grant that it may be. It takes yon to look at things that way. I'm afraid I was only seeing Dan Rnger from the standpoint of a Wantanga citizen." Breakfast over, Reuben addressed himself to the work of replying to the letters he had re- ceived from his brethren. ^'It is one of those things that do not get easier to do for being postponed/' he said to Marthy, as he got his writing materials and pre- pared to finish his letters, and to leave his ploughing till afternoon. When he had finished the letters, and they had read them over together, Renb laid them on the mantel and went out to the field with a light- ness of heart that he could hardly understand himself until he recalled the marginal reading of the fifth verse of the thirty-seventh Psalm. "Roll thy way on the Lord, trust also in him." Yes," he thought, "that is it. I have done my little part, now I just roll this burden on the Lord ; it is too heavy for me, and if I can only Svait on the Lord and be of good courage,' my heart will be strengthened." He was unconscious of what others had often noticed, that he had that power of letting the burdens alone that he had rolled upon the Lord. In a little while Marthy heard his merry Reuben Delton, Preacher. 89 whistle from the home lot, where he was plough- ing, and, catching the contagion, she sang over her wash tuh. So true is it that cheerfulness as well as laughing is catching. By three o'clock he was oif on some of his work among the sick and wretched far back in the coves, where he had found much need, both spiritual and temporal. Homes — ah ! how may one venture to call by that sacred name the miserable hovels where vice and squalor reign ? Where all that makes home attractive is wanting, and where many are born and grow to manhood, and even to age, and die without having heard of God and Christ ! Marthy had often accompanied Reub on his visits to these coves, and had been an object les- son to more than one woman ; but to-day she had work of her own in another direction. She started before Reuben, to hold one of her Moth- ers' Meetings, which had made her such a bless- ing to the neighborhood for miles around. She was mounted on Delight, with little Grey- son on her lap, and a basket containing a mis- cellaneous collection of materials for cooking, as well as some bread of her o^vn making, was hung from the pommel of her saddle. She was going to a house two miles away on 90 Reuben Delton, Preacher. the cross road to Boone, where she had arranged to meet as many mothers as would come. The meetings had been started four years before, and it would have been an interesting study for the dreaming ^philanthropist, as well as for ths socialistic firebrands, could they have looked in on Marthy's beautiful work at the start, and had come again now to see the progress made, and the practical working of a scheme, where the teacher lived up to what she taught. Here was a mountain woman, raised in a log cabin and trained within ten miles of them, living a simple industrious life; neighborly and godly and kind, right here where they could watch her, who could read as well as cook, and make her own clothes ; who was like them, and yet '^different in her ways." ^^Wat's ther reason we never had no sich chances ? Wat's ther reason we can't be so, too?" Such were the questions that greeted Marthy when she first began to visit among these people. To the first question Marthy's quick reply was, ^^Some of you have had the same chances, but you didn't take them. But it isn't too lato now. You can be and do many things that I am and that I do. Let us ask God to help us." And to the astonishment of the crowd of curious Reuben Delton, Preacher. 91 women gathered for the first time, Marthy added, ^Tet us kneel down now." Some responded, but the majority simply sat and gazed at her in apparent stupor. She spoke a few words of prayer so simple that not one there could have failed to under- stand her if she had tried, but many did not try. They were not used to praying, and felt that their curiosity was being defrauded while she prayed. She had come there, they thought, to teach them something, and why didn't she do it? But Marthy prayed, as she had come in faith, and surely her faith had been rewarded, for this afternoon, four years later, as she looked around on the women and girls gathered to meet her, she felt a thrill of pleasure, with which was blended a pang at the thought of how soon she might have to leave them. There were probably fifteen women and girls present. There was fire in the stove, and on the large bare table, which was as well scrubbed asMarthy's own, there were piled plates and cups of various sizes and colors, and spoons and knives and forks. After a general handshaking there was an ex- change of inquiries as the condition of family health, and work, and '^crops," the garden com- ing in for a goodly share of the interest, 92 Beuhen Delton, Preacher. Some one displayed a fine bunch of asters, another a splendid cluster of sweet peas ; a young girl handed Marthy a few superb pan- sies, with a beaming smile thro^vn in. ^^Miss Delton, I bring you the first pansies I picked from my bushes." After reading a few words from the Bible, "something for us to think over and pray over till next meeting," Marthy called on one of the company to pray, and she told Reuben when she went home that her heart was strengthened, and her eyes filled with tears of joy, when she listened to the simple words of that prayer, so eloquent in their simplicity. When they rose from their knees, Marthy said, "E^ow, let's get to work. Mrs. Cauzer, won't vou make the biscuits to-dav while we are getting the materials ready for a new pud- ding I want to try ?" Mrs. Cauzer, thus addressed, blushed like a girl with her first beau, and said, "La, Miss Delton ! You ain't a-goin' ter make me cook for Mothers' fleeting.' " But though she spoke in such a modest tone she rose from her seat away back in the room and bustled to the front. Marthy recalled to mind the appearance of this woman Avhen she had first met her, and Reuben Delton, Preacher. 93 found herself wondering over the change that had taken place in the meanwhile. They had stopped at the house two years be- fore while she was out on a preaching tour with Keub, and she could never forget the forlorn appearance of the house, and of the family, too. The miserable food served on dirty, broken pieces of stoneware ; the blueish half-cooked bis- cuHs; the bacon swimming in oily gravy; the beans and potatoes cooked together, and look- ing like dirty mush ; the chicken stewed in milk, vrhich was probably the most curious dish of which she had ever tasted; and then the coffee, ill tasting and muddy, and sweetened with "long sweetening," or sorghum, and served in small bowls, of which the family only possessed two. "I would look miserable and sour, too. Preacher, if I had to live on such food. We lived poorly enough at home, but things were clean. Ma would have 'em so. While we have digressed to glance back at Mrs. Cauzer's home and table, she had sifted her flour at one end of the long table and was busy preparing her dough. "I^ow let's have some eggs and some butter, too. I found this recipe in a paper, and tried it at home, and we like it because it is so simple." She opened a bit of newspaper as she 94 Ueiihen Delton, Preacher. spoke and spread it out on the table. There was a good deal of talking, and Marthy looked up for a minute, then, knocking on the table with her fist, called out pleasantly, ^^Everybody listen now ; I am going to read our new recipe." In a moment there was silence, and she read dis- tinctly, "One-half pint of milk put into a sauce- pan ; put on the stove, and when milk is hot, add three tablespoons of flour moistened in a little cream. Cook till it thickens ; then add the yolks of four eggs to the mixture. Take from the fire, mix thoroughly, and add the well-beaten whites of the eggs. Put into a greased pan, and bake twenty minutes." The recipe added, "to be eaten with sauce," but even if Marthy had not been a strict temper- ance woman, she knew that the sauce required sugar, and was therefore more of a luxury than any of them could well afford, so that she re- placed that sentence by one recommending that this pudding be eaten with sorghum that had been stewed a short while with a lump of butter in it. "I propose that one of the girls make the coffee. From all that I hear, it is high times some of them were learning, eh, Maggie ?" she asked with a merry wink at a tall handsome girl. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 95 There was a burst of laughter, and many nudges, and, with a face d}ed in rosy color, Maggie came forward and said, pleasantly, "All right, Miss Delton, I can try." In a short while the meal was cooked and set on a neatly spread table. Marthy's beautiful pansies she placed in a bowl in the centre, and there was more than one admiring glance given them. "I do say, them flowers are monstrous fine! I 'low they look good enough ter eat/' was one of the many comments. Each neighbor had brought a plate or a cup, and every one brought her spoon ; and when they sat down around that, the simple table, surely no afternoon tea in all the land was a more en- joyable "function" than this one ! The biscuits were light, and of a dainty broAvn ; the scrambled eggs were all that one could wish ; the coffee clear and hot, and the pudding, with its nice dressing of sorghum stew, was, of course, the dish of the afternoon. "Well! well! Miss Delton. I declare ef it ain't wondeiful how you kin make a thing tas' ! This yer's jest the plumb bes' eatin' I ever done ; en ther ain't one thing in it but w'at ev'y one o' us has got right ter have." "Yes," said another, sententiously ; "arter all, 9G Reuhen Delioii, Preacher. t'ain't things so mucli that makes ther dif- fer'nce ; it's how you handle things." ^'I'low to give my folks ther benefit of one nex' Sunday, ef we don' git ter go ter preachin," was the rtmark of a good-natured woman with a round rosy face. ''La, Miss Buns, d' you think w'en folks has preaehin' they don't need ter have pud- din' ?" That question brought out a general laugh that filled Marthy's heart with joy. She recalled something that she had written to Miss Grey- son just before she left school : ''I want to stay among my own people and to try to help up- lift them, and to help them to be happier. Do you know that many of our people don't know what vou mean by 'beino- hanpv' ? If vou talk to them of happiness, they tell of the o^ood times they had at corn-shucking, or at camp-meeting, where they shout and sing and think they 'get religion.' " And the quiet happiness that shone in the faces of these women gave her that deep satisfac- tion that comes from the fulfilling of our noblest plans for the uplifting of those who are our truest neighbors. When every thing was washed, and the plates and cups sorted, and the ownership of each spoon I J Reuben Delton, Preacher. 97 settled, Marthy said, "I^ow let's look at the sew- ing work done since we met." A fresh ripple of excitement passed over the room, and bundles that had been laid aside when they first came in were searched for and brought forward. There was indeed a variety of garments dis- played. Under clothing, children's dresses, aprons, bonnets, besides some neat specimens of patching and of darning. What Marthy had learned at Skyland Insti- tute had indeed proved a rich investment for her as a pastor's wife in this mountain coiintry. Many who had not known how to make the simplest garments decently had learned to sew neatly, and the latent talents of womanhood and of motherhood were being beautifully developed. After a kind word of su2:gestion and of en- couragement to each one, and the singing of a hymn, they dispersed. Ah ! surely the angels look down on no fairer scenes on God's earth than such as this, where a brave young woman, with her heart set on God's service, and her back resolutely turned on the temptations offered her from time to time, to go out into the world beyond — was spending her best energies and using her best gifts for the uplifting of her own people — people towards OS Reuben Delton, Preacher. whom her sympathies naturally flowed, and who were more ready to understand and to believe in her, because she was of their own class. One Sunday afternoon early in September Eeuben had come home earlier than usual from one of his Sunday-schools up on the mountain, and, after he had put up his horse, he called to Marthy, who was sitting on the front door-step watching her little boy as he played in the yard. ^Xet's go up to the spring, Marthy. It is a wonderful afternoon. There'll be a glorious ffunset, and, you know, we may not have many more evenings up there !" "Baby, go ! baby, go !" cried out the pretty boy, clapping his hands in delight as he ran to his father and caught at his knee to be lifted to his shoulder. Marthy assented by a quick nod and with a bright smile though there was a sigh in her heart at the thought which Reuben had sug- gested. Getting the dipper, and locking the doors, she took her place quickly at her hus- band's side. The sun was over an hour high. The moun- tains were beginning to assume those delicious amethystine tints that they wear in honor of the setting sun. Flecks of cloud tinged with gold hinted at the glory yet to be. Away do^^m in Reuben Delton, Preacher. 99 the south the dull blue-grev of the atmosphere blended with the paler blue of the sky, and near at hand grim, and silent, and solemn, grand- father overshadowed all the nearer peaks. They sauntered through the barn-yard, petting Delight as they passed, and then Moo-moo, the pretty Jersey cow. The pigs at the pen came in for a share of their notice, and the calf in the field beyond. Then Keuben let down the rails, and they took the spring path, which led up through a rough piece of ground sparsely cov- ered with kalmia and dotted with the stumps of trees that had been felled long before. Beyond this the path led into a thicket of rhododendrons, in which several hundred yards further up was the spring. When they reached it Eeuben set his boy down from his shoulder, and they took their seats on the rock which he had fixed with much labor when they had first found the spring. From this point, through an oi^ening that he cut out, they could get a pretty view of the cosy manse and of the barnyard, and, beyond all, of the valley below. They sat silently for a few moments, both hearts doubtless full of the same thoughts ; then Marthy, stifling back her emotion, began to sing, softly at first, but as she sang faith and resolute 100 Reuben Delton, Preacher. purpose gave strength to lier rich voice, and Reuben joined her. " All the way my Saviour leads me, What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace divinest comfort Here by faith in him to dwell. For I know what e'er befalls me, Jesus doeth all things well. " All the way my Saviour leads me, Cheers each winding path I tread; Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living bread; Though my weary steps may falter, And my soul athirst may be, Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo, a spring of joy I see!" The last two lines of each verse were repeated, and they were about to begin the third when ]Marthy suddenly put her hand on Reub's and said quietly, "Keep still, preacher, and let me speak." Her face flushed slightly, and Reuben smiled, not understanding what she meant. The reason was that he was sitting with his face turned to her, while she, looking over his shoul- der, saw the face of Dan Ruger as he peered at them from behind a crag not a hundred yards awav ! The same swift telegraphic call for help in Marthy's heart, as the one she sent up the first Reuben Delton, Preacher. 101 night she saw that face, and then she said quite pleasantly, '^Good evening, Mr. Rnger. Won't you come down and sit here with us awhile ?" It would be hard to say who was the most com- pletely taken by surprise when Marthy spoke — Dan Ruger or Reuben Delton. Reub sprang instantly to his feet, his color fading and his eye flashing, for here he was standing with no way of defending his wife and child, as he thought, from this desperado. Dan Ruger, who had been hirking in the neigh- borhood most of the day, had been attracted by the singing, but had no thought of being seen. His first impulse was to turn and run; the second, which he understood better after a while, was, ^'Stay ! Ef he fools, I kin shoot. I'll see if ther preacher's es game es that little woman !" Marthy's pluck was wonderful to him. We hear much of the fascination of evil, and of beauty, and of eloquence, but not enough of the fascination of simple goodness, and yet who can ever estimate here the company of those who, like Dan Ruger, have been drawn by its power ! In less time than it had taken Reub to rise to his feet and face Ruger he found himself mov- ing towards him with his hand extended and a smile on his face. "Good evening !" he said, cordially. "Do you 102 Reuben Delton, Preacher. like music ? Won't you come and sit down here with us while we sing some more V^ The man's unshaven face w^as pale and hag- gard. His dilapidated slouch hat was set hack on his headj and his long, unkempt hair hung, in tangles ahout his face. His shirt of coarse, dark flannel was but the suggestion of a covering for his bodvj and the bottom of his pants hung in fringes about his bare ankles. His expression was a curious blending of as- tonishment and shame. His hand still rested on his hip, and both Marthy and Reuben knew what that meant, but still they stood smiling. Little Greyson, not naturally a shy child, seemed awed by this wild, strange figure, and had cuddled close to his mother's side, and was clutchino; her dress in his chubbv hand while he gazed with wonder into Ruger's face. "You uns 'pears ter know me," Ruger said at last with a semblance of defiance in his voice. "Yes," answered Marthy, quietly, "I haven't forgotten you; and my husband knows you, be- cause I told him about you coming to Mandy Snoggs' and that I gave you some supper." "You had a might}^ good chance ter stuff you un's pockets ef you'd a jest put them houn' dogs down ter Evergreen on me when you foun' me prowlin' roun' ^landy Snoggs." Reuben Delton, Preacher. 103 ''Yes, but I couldn't have done that. You never did us any harm; besides, I have been hoping for a long time to get a chance to talk with you, and to show you what a different life you might lead." Ruger was now leaning against the rock, his hand still on his hip, and he scowled in such a way that Marthy's heart beat with throbs. " 'Tain't none o' you uns bizness w'at kinder life sich as me lead.'' ''Indeed it is," answered Keub, earnestly. "That's one thing the Bible teaches us plainly. It does matter ; and we are all boun' to help others lead a right life. Let me read you just a few words from the Bible," Reuben added, quickly drawing a small Bible from his breast pocket. "You're tryin' ter keep me here long enough fer some fellar ter come an' help you ketch me," muttered the outlaw, moving a step or two and looking defiantly from Reuben to Marthy. Reuben said with a smile, "Oh ! you don't think that, Ruger. You wouldn't do a mean thing like that, and why should I ? Listen here !" he continued as calmly as if they were sitting together in his room at the manse. He read slowly and earnestly, knowing that Marthy was praying with him that the wonderful words 104 Reuben Delton, P readier. miglit do tlieir work on this apparently stolid man. "God so loved tlie world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him shonld not perish, bnt have everlasting life." "He that hath the son (that is, for his Savior), hath life ; and he that hath not the son (for his Savior), hath not life." Dan Rnger had seated himself sullenly on the ground, with his back to the rock, and was look- ing away off with an eifort not to seem inter- ested. Marthy watched his face anxiously while ■ Reuben continued : "If I loved a man enough to give my little boy's life to save him, it would have to be a mighty good man, and then I would have to be under a mighty obligation to him ; but God didn't wait for us to be any way de- serving, for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Who can doubt that something beyond human power prompted little Greyson just at this mo- ment to drop the dipper which he had been hold- ing, and, slipping down from his mother's lap, to run up to Dan Ruger, and, putting his chubby hands one on either side of the grimy face, to sav in his winsome tones, "Me lub oo !" There was literally nothing to prepare the Reuben Delton, Preacher. 105 minds of any of the spectators for this surpris- ing scene. The child had seemed intimidated by the appearance of the visitor at first. It could onlv have been one of those mvsterious impulses that make us realize everv now and then the ex- istence of the close relation between heaven and the heart of a child. "Their angels do always behold the face of mv Father which is in t/ heaven !" In a moment Dan Ilu£:er's arms were about the child, and with something between a sob and a cry he bowed his head. Both Reuben and Marthv were moved to tears at the sight. Greyson seemed startled at the sound of Ruger's sobs, and, struggling free from his arms, ran back to his mother with a little quiver about his lips, and his face a rosy red. Ruger raised his head after a moment or two and looked towards them with evident emotion. Then he said in a broken voice, "That's the fust chile ever offered to come near me sense I been old enough ter remember, an' the fust person I ever heerd sav, I love vou. Wat's ther use of you uns tryin' ter save me ? Wiy, man, I ain't never done nothin' but sin es fur back es I kin remember." "That's just the kind of soul Jesus came to ((' 106 Reuben Delton, Preacher. save. Oh ! why can't you believe it and trust him. Only he can save you from your sins." Reuben had spoken the last word when Dan Ruger's keen ears detected the sound of horses' feet down on the road. He sprang to his feet, and Reuben rose, too, guessing at once what had startled Ruger. '^Can vou read ?" he asked, hastily, thrustino^ his Bible into Ruger's hand. ^Take this with you. I wish I knew where to meet you. God pity and save you." Dan Ruger was out of sight before Reub had finished his sentence ! CHAPTEK VI. A New Maw. AS they turned their backs on the spring in the clear gloaming, it all seemed as strange as a dream, but they were both deeply impressed bv the interview, and still more by the incident in which little Grey son had been allowed to touch the hidden spring of good which was buried in this wayward heart. ^^I never felt so much impressed before by the power of love, and of the nearness of heaven to a little child's heart," wrote Marthv in her next letter to Miss Grevson. rj ^^Surely mother's baby was God's little messen- ger this evening," said Marthy as she pressed her boy to her heart and laid him in his little bed. They read together the parable of the prodigal son, and both agreed that it had for them a newer and deeper interest than ever now, and they went to sleep feeling that God had put a new opportunity in their way and a new respon- sibility upon them. ^Vithin the next week they received quite a 108 Reuhen Delton, Preacher. budget of letters relating to the call across the mountains. Miss Greyson, among others, wrote that she was deeply concerned. She could not see that it was their duty to go, because she could not see that their work in Wautauga was fin- ished. But she was afraid she was blinded by her own interests. She could not advise; she could only feel. Dr. Doliver wrote Reuben that he could not press him further in the matter, but could only hope that his Presbytery would see the way clear to dismiss him, at least for a vear or two. With a courage born of strong faith Reuben and Marthv determined not to discuss the mat- ter any more just now, but to turn all their thoughts and energies to their present work. ''One thing I do believe, Marthy, and that is what you said about Dan Ruger, that God has a work for us to do for that poor fellow." ''But how can we get at him ? You don't know where to find him, do you V^ asked Marthy. "]^o. I don't know^ that I ought to go up into the cave where I've always heard that he makes his headquarters. There's a desperate gang of 'em up there." "]^o, indeed !" Marthy exclaimed with a shud- der, but she added, quickly, "O Reub ! we both r Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 109 believe in prayer. Let us ask God to give us the opportunity.'^ The beautiful September days were in all their glory now. The air had never seemed more crystal in its clearness, the distant moun- tains had never seemed bluer, nor had old Grand- father ever appeared more regal in the glory of his sunset surroundings. Thousands of ^Tare- wells to summer" greeted the eye on every side, purple and yellow and white. The glossy galax leaves through all the varying shades from green to crimson and brown car- ]Deted the banks of the turnpike for miles. The shining leaves of the Avinter-green and its bright scarlet berries starred the hillsides. And here and there the dark blue bud of the gentian gleamed. Everywhere the landscape was be- ginning to glow with the wondrous color that marks the year's decline. There was sunlight and splendor everywhere, and Marthy's beauty-loving soul rejoiced in it all, and she comforted herself by remembering that she would find God's beauty even when she turned her back on dear old Wautauga. She had called a meeting of the Loving Thought Circle, a band of King's Daughters which she had formed shortlv after her mar- riage, and her object had been to train the 110 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Yoimg to think kind thoiiglits that would blos- som into loving deeds. There are so many — ah ! Marthy, little knew how widely they are scattered over the world — who simply never think of little kindnesses that would gladden the hearts abont them. Of course, then they cannot do them. Some are too busy, they think, some are too poor, but many more are simply too indifferent to the pleasure and comfort of others. And Marthy, who had seen what Miss Grevson had done to make other lives beautiful, and to beautify her own life by lov- ing thoughts and kindly deeds, had resolved to begin her life as a mountain pastor's wife by training all the children she could reach in this way. One of the chief employments of the circle, and surely their chief pleasure was the prepara- tion of Christmas presents. Miss Grevson and other friends had been in the habit for several years past of sending Marthy remnants and scraps of bright colored wool and silk and ribbon, sometimes adding pat- terns of little things to be made from such ma- terials. Then Marthy would gather the young- girls and such of the children as were old enough to learn, and, dividing the materials and plan- ning and cutting for them, would try to arrange Reuben Delton, Preacher. Ill that everv member of the circle should make a present for some one. * It was delightful to see the zest with which they entered on this work, and what a new light of happiness shone in the faces of those, many of whom were tasting for the first time the sweet- ness of giving. There were some among them who had grown to womanhood, yet had never before thought of giving anything to anybody unless it was, per- haps, fruit or food. Generous by nature, this thought of making something just to be pretty and to please for someone else was a novel source of pleasure ! "La, Miss Delton," said one young girl, ^'now who'd a thought I could ha' made a purty thing- like that ? It's plumb grand !" And she held up a gay pincushion stuck with pins that she had made for her mother. This September afternoon that Marthy had called the circle together she had nuts and apples and some small tea cakes ready. She resolved to give them an especially happy afternoon. She dared not hint it, but she feared that she might not meet with them again, and she wanted this to be such a meeting as they would all like to remember as the last one. She fought bravely to hide any shadow of her sadness from her face, 112 Reuben Delton, Preacher. but one bright-faced girl, who was particularly devoted to her, crept to her side while she was basting a piece of work and said, ^^Miss Delton, your face don't look right happy, w'at's the mat- ter r Marthy's eyes filled quickly, the child, with the intuition of love, had peered behind the mask of sixdles and had seen the sadness lurking there. ^^O Mary !" Marthy answered, ^^you are a little witch ! You mustn't put on your spectacles when you look at my face. You'll see a lot o' things that spoil my beauty if you do," and she moved away quickly to escape any further ques- tioning. That circle of girls had made over fifty gifts for the last Christmas. Trifles, all of them were, but they were the expression of love and interest. There were button bags, pincushions, gloves, aprons, bonnets, iron-holders, table covers, mats, scarfs, mufflers, baby shoes ; and along with the heart training in the divine art of giving their eyes were being trained for color seeing and their hands for service. The Boys' Band — for Marthy recognized the supreme importance of training boys as well as girls in this sweet work of giving — the boys Reuben Delton, Preacher. 113 made various articles of rhododendron roots, from cliairs and picture frames to ink stands and sleeve buttons. And some of their work was so clever as to bring the young workmen quit« a nice revenue from tlie summer tourists, and tliis revenue they had been investing in books for a circulating library, which was one of Reuben's ambitions for his people. The last week before the meeting of Presby- tery had come jMarthy had written to her mother that she and Greyson would stay with her while Reuben was aw^ay, and she was busy now making a few necessary preparations for that visit. Early in the week Reuben went away up on the mountain to see a family that was very poor and that he wanted to get moved down nearer to Evergreen before he left for Presbytery. The road scarcely deserved the name. It was cut out roughly through a laurel thicket, and on the return he dismounted, out of compassion to Delight, and w^as leading him by the bridle when he came to a place where the path divided. He was not familiar w^ith the way, and had no idea which was his road. After a moment's hesi- tation, and, we must believe, "led by the Spirit," he plunged down towards the right, saying to 114 Reuben Delton, Preacher. himself, Oh ! well, it's bound to lead somewhere, and I can find ont Svhere I am at' there." Reuben Delton was not a reckless man. He knew that this country was wild, and that there were lawless characters about, but he believed he was about his Father's business, and when urged to carry a ]3istol had always said, "What use has a Christian for a pistol ? When he enlists in the service of his Master it is for peace, and not for w^ar, and he expects to be taken care of." And it certainly had seemed that there was an unseen guard about Reub and Marthy during the four years in which they had lived and worked in this field. Many adventures and remarkable escapes had served to confirm their faith. More than once this afternoon Reub had thought he had heard steps or the crack of a dis- tant gun, but he was busy thinking, and in the path of duty, and had no fear. A sharp turn in the slippery wild pathway brought him suddenly face to face with Dan Ruger ! The man had his pistol cocked and an ugly scowd on his face, which, however, gave place to an awkward smile, and he dropped his gun as surprised as Reuben was. "Why, Ruger, I wasn't looking for you," he Reuben Delton, Preacher. 115 exclaimed, offering his hand as cordially as he would have done to any friend. Enger put his hand out awkwardly and said, "Howdye.'' Poor fellow ! It had been many a long day since any one had offered him such a proof of friendliness. He seemed to recover from his surprise at seeing Delton as soon as he spoke, for in a moment, he asked, ^'Whar you be goin' ?" "Why," said Reuben, laughing; "I thought I was going home. I've been up to the Early's upon Big Ivy, and I thought I was going back the same way I came ; am I in the wrong path ?" "Well, you is ; an' you hadn't orter go down that a way, preacher. I'll put you back in the road," replied Kuger, looking uneasily over his shoulder. "That's very kind of you, I'm sure, and then I'll have a chance for a little talk with you. I was mighty sorry you had to go Sunday even- in'." Instead of replying Ruger put up his hand with a motion to indicate silence, and Reuben silently turned about and moved back up the way he had come, satisfied that the man con- sidered him in danger and was anxious to pro- tect him, for he kept in the rear behind Reuben and his horse. IIG Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. When they had scrambled back to where the roads diverged, Reuben proposed to rest awhile^ but Ruger said, quickly, in a low tone, ^^ISTot yit; when we git do^^Ti yander in the next big laurel thicket," and saying that, he took the lead. They had been walking silently some minutes, when Ruger halted, stooped down, and, bending his head near the groiind, listened intently for a moment, then, rising, he looked overhead to see how high the sun was. Reuben drew out his watch and said, ^^My watch says ten minuter of five.'' ^^Thar's a spring, ef you remember, 'bout a hun dred yards further. I 'low yer beast '11 take a drink, and you ken rest a bit, too." • Reuben threw the reins over his horse's neck and let him drink at the pretty little pool hy the spring, and then sat down with Ruger b;^ the roadside. The man looked confused and frightened, but Reub took no notice of it, and, taking oif liis hat, he wiped his brow quietly and waited for him to speak. "You uns," Ruger said, slowly, "is got a lot more brav'ry than we uns. I wus afeerd ul you t'other evenin', but you don' seem ter'spicion me." "Oh ! well, man," Reuben replied with a smile, Reuben Delton, Preacher. 117 ^'wlien yon trust in God always for yonr help, and when you know, by w^hat lie has done al- ready, what he will do for you, you are just bound to go ahead — if you are trying to do his work and trust him to guard you. That's why I am not afraid. '^ Ruger looked at him steadily for a moment, then, drawing from his pocket the Bible that Reub had handed to him on Sunday, he said, ^'Preacher, I've tried to read this yere book. I foun' ther words you said, for you had black marks 'round 'em, but ef this yer's God's book, 'pears like I hain't got ther right so much es ter tech it with my hand." He held it out as he spoke with emotion in his face that surprised Eeuben. ^^Why, Euger, if God loved sinners enough to send his only Son to die for them, why shouldn't they read in his book all about it, and how to escape from the power of the devil? Why, it's the man that's lost that needs the guide-book and the guide-post, don't you see ?" ^'My God! man, ther's blood on this hand, an' ther's been nothin' but hell in my heart for ten years," exclaimed Euger, holding out his hand and trembling as he spoke. Then there's all the more need for you to (it 118 Reuben Delton, Preacher. come to Jesns and liave it cleansed in liis blood. Only ask liim, only believe liini !" Rnger's head was bowed on his hands now as he sat with his knees drawn np and his elbows on his knees. His half-clad body seemed con- vnlsed with emotion^ which he conld scarcely control. Reuben put his hand out tenderly on the man's arm and said, "Kneel with me now, and let us ask God to show you how to believe he even does that for sinners." It was a strange scene that the afternoon sun- light, flickerins: throuoh loftv hemlocks and rhododendron boughs, fell upon. These two men, types of the saved and the sinner the world over. The one, with his clear, open brow, and fine grey eyes, where spiritual and intellectual light shone, and the other, whose brow was marked by those hard, strong lines wherein the devil had written his ownership; the eyes bleared with long years of dissolute living, and yet it was for this man Reub Delton was plead- ing so earnestly, yea, and for such as this man Jesus died ! Ruger knelt as obediently as a child would have done, and as they rose to kneel Reuben said gently, "Let us take off our hats.'' Only a few strono- words of confession, only a Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 119 swift cry for mercy, only a pleading for the strength and the pardon promised to every re- pentant sinner, and at last, amid sobs, Dan Knger's own cry, ^Tord, have mercy on me. I'm a lost sinner ef you don't." Then they rose, and Reuben said, "^ow, Rnger, you know that repentance means more than just being sorry for tlio sins we have committed; it is quitting those things you are sorry for. This is not easy if a man tries to do it by himself, nor if he stays right where he will be tempted again. What are you going to do now^?" ^'My God ! preacher, that is what I want you to tell me. Do vou know ther law's arter me : fust, fur shootin' with intent ter kill ; secon', fur horse stealin', and agin fur illicit distillin'. I^ow, whar's my chance fur livin' like a Chris- tian man ? How kin I begin ter do right ?" ^^There's just one way for you to show that you do truly repent, and that you love the Lord Avho died for 3'ou, and want to live the rest of your life for him." Reuben looked the poor returning prodigal steadily in the face and said firmly but gently, ^^You must deliver yourself up to meet the full penalty of the law. God will surely be with you and strengthen you for it." May God have mercy on me !" groaned the ('!< 120 Reuben Delton, Preacher. man. "What do that mean fur me ?" "It means certainly to go to jail at first. Did you say you shot a man V "Yes ; we wus in a fuss, an' he got ther better of me, an' I swore ter kill him. I shot him in ther back, an' then I run an' hid out that night an' stole a horse an' come over ther mounting, an' I've been a helpin' ter run two stills up here on ther mounting. I have fit an' stole an' done everything else that's mean till ther night your wife said the fust kin' words I've heerd in years. Wen I carried them birds doA\Ti ter your house I felt like I'd rather die then go back an' live like a beast, an' I did cock ther pistol onct ter take my life, but ther Lord must ha' held me back. Then come las' Sunday. I'd been a skulkin' roun' your farm fur two days a-tryin' ter come near somethin' good an' respectable. You know how your little one come ter me. Preacher," his voice quavered. "Don't you b'lieve ther Lord sent that baby ter me ?" "I certainly do, and so does his mother." "Well, w'en I felt them pure baby arms 'roun' my neck an' heerd that baby sayin' he loved me — me, as ain't never heerd no sich words sence I wus big enough ter ricollect — ther's no tellin' w'at I'd ha' done then ef them soun's down in ther road hadn't ha' startled me." He stopped Reuhen Delton, Preacher, 121 a moment and covered his face with his hands, then suddenly looking np with a terrified ex- pression, he said, ^^O God ! ain't ther no right way for me but ter go ter jail? Ain't I never ter git no chance ter. live like Christian folks do r ^^The first thing for a Christian to do is to be right with God, and the next is to be right with his fellow-men." Rnger sat silently for a moment or two. The sweet sunshine mellowed the cool air ; the ferns around the spring nodded their gentle obedience to nature's laws ; the water rippled onward to the river, and the river to the sea. There was no human eye save that of Reub Del- ton to mark the outward sign of that mighty conflict between the devil" and the Lord's forces for the city of Mansoul, but surely the eye of him who hath been touched with a feeling of our infirmities saw and pitied and strengthened ! "Preacher, would you be willin' ter take me over ter Boone an' deliver me up ter ther sheriff ? I could go with you, an' I could stan' ther thought of your gittin' ther price, but them Evergreen men shan't never take me alive," Reuben's heart throbbed with pity and with admiration for the poor fellow. "Yes, Ruger, I will go with you as your 122 Reuben Delton, Preaclier. friend, but when ? It is growing late ; I must be getting on home." "Where do yon live ?" "E'owhar an' ev'rj'whar/' replied Euger with an expression of ntter dejection in his face; "hnnted like a wild beast fnr two years, sleepin' sometimes on the ground, sometimes in a cave, sometimes at Mandy Snoggs', but always an' ev'rywhar lookin' fur ter be killed by niornin', er taken ter jail." "Poor fellow ! don't you see that the Avages of sin are poor pay ? Why, a life in jail, or at the penitentiary, would be better than the life you have been leading !" "E^o, sir ! no ! This yer life's a free life. I wus my own marster." "Your own master ! Why, don't you see that the devil has been your master, and all the time dragging you down to destruction ?" Ruger groaned and covered his face with his hands for a moment, then he looked earnestly into E/euben's face and said, "You're right. Preacher, but ef Jesus Christ died fur sich as me, an' he'll arive me a trial now, an' you'll len' me a helj)in' han' to keep me straight, I'll bust away from all the Avickedness I've been at, so help me God !" The tears rushed to Reuben's eyes. The pale, Beuben Delton, Preacher. 123 iTiisliaven face of the desperado wore an expres- sion that had never been seen there before, and there was a lio;ht in his eve that had been lit there by a divine power. Eeuben took his hand and said, ^^Come to my house to-morrow night or the next, whichever suits you, and come to the side gate and whistle. I'll have supper and a bed for you, and the next morning I will drive you over to Boone, and we will show that you are a changed man by the love and si'ace of God. Will vou come ?" The man stood speechless for a moment, then, putting his hand out, he grasped Reuben's, and with something like a sob he said. ^^Preacher, you 'uns may look fur me," and he turned away. Reuben's heart was full as he rode do^^^l the mountain. It was after six o'clock when he reached home, and Marthy had begun to wonder Avhat was keeping him, when he rode up to the barn-yard gate. As soon as Marthv saw him she exclaimed, ^^O preacher ! what is it ? Something has hap- pened ! What is it ? You have good news, I'm sure. T\lio about?" It was the ^interrogation point" that was so eagerly looking up into his face, and Reuben smiled as he said to her, ^^Wonderful news in- deed. I have been with Dan Ruger for an hour, 124 Reuben Delton, Preacher. and I believe he is a saved man by the grace of God !'' "I can't tell yon all now," he added, taking the saddle off and tnrning Delight loose in the lot. '^Go on to the honse and hnrry np snpper, little woman, and then I'll tell yon the whole story." Marthy clasped her hands together and nt- tered an exclamation of joy and of surprise. "I wonder why I am surprised," she mur- mured as she crossed the road. ^^It seems like I am never going to learn to take the Lord at his word ! We've been prayin' for this poor fellow, and yet I Avasn't looking for the answer, least- ways, so soon. O God ! forgive me for my want of faith," she added, with uplifted eyes. It wa*s a happy evening for these faithful young servants of the Lord when Reuben told the whole story of the apparently accidental meeting, of Huger's change, and of his request that Reuben would take him to Boone. As the next day wore on Reuben began to be very anxious. ^'What if his courage gives out ! What if he doesn't come ! I feel that this is the crisis of the fellow's life." And many prayers rose from both of their hearts for grace to be given Ruger for this step. Eeuhen DeltoUj Preacher, 125 ^^Yoii know, he must be tried for man- slaug'hter, if not for murder, and for horse steal- ing and illicit distilling. A man must be firm and brave to keep his word when it takes to prison, and, maybe, to death.'' ^'We must just keep on praying and trusting in God's power, preacher. Oh ! couldn't you take some of that monev that Mrs. Boutelle left with us to get him decent clothes and shoes ? Can't we give the j)Oor outcast one happy night to remember, eh, preacher ?" This was said shortly after dinner, and Reuben, after a moment's pause, said, ^'Yes, Marthy, I think it would be right. The poor fellow vrill respect himself more if he looks more respectable. I will saddle Delight right away and look at some suits that Mooney has. I was going up for the mail, anyhow." ]\Ir. Mooney asked no questions of Preacher Delton, strange to say, when he wished to look at clothing. He was used to Keuben's buying clothes for other peoj)le, and knew that he had been to see the Barlys the day before. Besides, he had had his curiosity quietly but firmly checked more than once before. This served Beuben's purpose well. He was not at all sure how the men of the neighborhood 126 Reiiben Delton, Preacher. would take tlie news of the interview with Rnger and its results. He took the suit, as well as a hat and a pair of shoes, with him, and awaited nightfall with no little anxiety. In the meanwhile, filled with a new purpose that never wavered, Ruger had gone to a small distillery, which he had assisted in running for over two years in one of the remotest and wild- est coves of that region. Here he found Job Kane, one of his partners. ^^Job,'^ he said with a steady voice, "I'm about to quit this part of ther country, an' this business, too. I 'low it would be a good thing ef you 'uns wus ter do ther same, but, howsoever that be, I'm done, an' I've got this ter say, ef I had ha' seen things like I do now, I'd ha' never done no sich work from ther fust." Job Kane's face was ashy pale, and he drew his pistol from his belt. Involuntarily Kuger's hand sought his pistol, and then, though he knew that death was staring him in the face, he said, "You think I'm a-goin' ter peach on you 'uns, an' you aim ter git me out of ther way, but you're wrong thar. You kin shoot me, but, so help me God, I'm a-goin' ter give you 'uns a chance ter see things es I do. I don't never ex- pect ter to give in none of you boy's names." Reuben Delton, Preacher. 127 What was it that made Job Kane's hand drop powerless ? We may speculate, and even doubt that there was anything in Knger's speech that could have this effect; all the same God knows such things have happened, and Avill continue to happen to the end of time. God is as true to his covenant with those who have but recently sworn allegiance as to those who have never known any other master. Job looked sullenly at his former accomplice and said, ^'Well, you git outer these parts in a hurry. You must ha' been ter camp meetin' an' got religion," and he broke into a scornful laugh. Time was when Euger would have been roused by this ridicule to shooting. ^^Maybe I have" was all he said as he turned away forever from Job Kane and the Big Rock distillery. About eight o'clock Reuben heard the whistle at the fence, and fairlv bounded to his feet in his relief and eagerness to find that Dan Ruger had really come. "Welcome, and God bless you," said Reuben, cordially, as he grasped the hand of his visitor. The flood of cheerful light that streamed out from the kitchen door seemed to blind Ruger for a moment, and he stopped — he who had had no faith in God or man before seemed to realize 128 Reuben Delton, Preacher, that he was placing his life in the hands of Renben and Marthy, and that there was no go- ing back now. "I ain't fitten tor come in vonr house, nor wliar women folks is/' said Rnger, conscious of his miserable appearance, and shrinking back out of the light. But Reuben, putting his hand on the man's shoulder, said with a laugh, "Oh ! we are used to seeing all kinds of people, and, besides, I'm ffoinfi^ to take you to a room where you can o-et a chance to wash and change your clothes, then you'll feel more like eating supper, I reckon." Dan Euger stared blankly at him, simply OYcrwhelmed by all this kindness. Lons; after- wards, when he had learned to loye the parable of the Prodigal Son more than all others, he said to Reuben, "Surely, you took in the prodi- gal son and clothed him and fed him that night !" He followed Reuben without another word into the kitchen, almost blinded by the bright lamplight, to which his eyes were so unused. Marthy greeted him just as she would haye greeted any guest who had come to pass a night with them, and then Ruger, turning to Reuben, said, "Yere preacher, I surrender ter you 'uns ; your weepons is more powerful then mine," Reuben Delton, Preacher. 129 and he handed Keiiben the pistol that had wrought so much eviL "I set my gun out agin ther fence. I 'lowed as how you 'uns had a right ter mistrust me, an' I thought you mightn't know es how it wasn't loaded. I'll git you ter keep that too. It's a mighty good gun fur varmints." Then he took from his hip pocket a formidable jack-knife, and, handing it to Marthy, said, said, ^^Miss Delton, I'll give you this ter keep. Your words up ter Mandy's that night cut me wus than any knife — but they done me good." Marthy and Reub were quite overcome by the man's unconscious eloquence^ — the eloquence of his manner rather than of his words. Reuben took him into the shed room, and there, laid out on the bed, by Marthy's kind hands, were clean, new clothes and a hat and pair of shoes, while a tub of water and towels suggested to him that in this household ^'the gospel of cleanliness" was believed in. He came out sometime later a very changed person in his appearance but for his unshaven face and shaggy hair. Marthy, with that tact which comes rather from true kindliness than from Avhat is known as ^^good breeding,'^ made no comment on the change, but set before Ruger the supper she 130 Beuben Deltoii, Preacher. had prepared for him. However, the poor fel- low, dazed by all the kindness, and by the sud- den accession of comfort, did but little justice to the meal. "AVe always have what we call family prayers, Ruger," said Reuben, w^hen he found that his guest could not eat. "I will read a few verses from the Bible, and then we will kneel and ask God to take care of us through the night." Reuben read the thirty-second psalm, ex- plaining and bringing out the meaning of those wonderful words which have been the comfort of so many forgiven souls through the ages since they were written. Then they knelt in prayer, and the preacher's heart was poured out in sup- plication for Dan Ruger. Surely it was a sight for angels to rejoice over — the sight of this re- pentant sinner as he rose from his knees with tears in his eyes. There had never been such an excitement in all Wautauga county as there was when it be- came known that Dan Ruger had given himself up to Preacher Delton, and that he had gone to Boone. When Reuben passed the store at Evergreen there were two or three men sitting around as usual, and they noticed that he had a stranger with him. Reuben hoped to drive quietly past, Reuben Delton, Preacher. 131 but Mooney decided that he had a right to know where his preacher was going, even if he could not find out who his companion was. ^^Good morning/' said Eeub, quietly, but without slacking his speed. "Good mornin'. Why, whar you be goin' so early, preacher ?'' asked Jim Mooney, staring earnestly at Ruger while he spoke. Every man of the little group was keeping him company, too, for it was an important matter to have peo- ple passing so soon in the day. "I'm going over to Boone on a little business, and will be back by evening, and will call for my mail then.'' "Won't you 'uns light awhile ?" Mr. Mooney called in a tone in which there was more irrita- tion than cordiality. "1^0, thank you !" called back Reuben, touch- ing Delight with his whip as he spoke, and in a moment more a curve in the road took them out of sight. "Preacher Delton's awful close-mouthed, any- how. I caint see w'at harm 'twould ha' done fur we 'uns ter know'd whar he was goin' an' w'at that feller's name wus," said Mooney in a discontented tone. "Preacher's plumb aggravatin', I say," was the response from a sympathizing loafer. 132 Reuben Delton, Preacher. ^^The preacher bought them close yisterday, an' paid spot cash fur 'em, too, he did." Mooney threw this crust to the hungry crowd of gossips with a complacent twinkle in his eye. If he didn't know Avho the stranger was, and Avhere he came from, or why they were going to Boone, he knew something more than the others ! "Do say ! Well, it monght be a feller that was a-goin' ter be marr'ed," suggested a young fellow whose thoughts lightly turned to love. "That fellar ain't foolin' with marryin' now, you bet !" said Mooney, who prided himself on his shrewdness. And so for the next hour, until a party of tourists diverted their thoughts, the group of men speculated on the subject of Reub Delton's companion. CHAPTEE VII. Sustainijstg Gkace. As tliey drove slowly along, Riiger was tell- ing Reuben the story of his life of sin and crime. Making confession of sins that he seemed truly to repent of and asking many ques- tions — questions that had reference to the new life the poor fellow w^as entering on. It w^as about noon when they turned into the lovely v\dnding valley road that leads into this quaint little town, and Delton drove up to the sheriff's office without attracting attention. "Sheriff !" he called out. A small girl ran out from a gate beside the office and called in a very loud voice, "O par ! par ! Yere's a man wants ter see you, an' he looks like Preacher Delton, he does." When the sheriff appeared, his face w^as a study. It was one of those faces that seemed marked all over with interrogation points. How much his life as a sheriff had to do with the singular expression, w^e cannot say. "^^Good evenin', preacher. Why, won't you 134 Reuben Delton, Preacher. 'luis light ?" He glanced at Ruger from under a ^aiv of shaggy grey eyebrows with a keen pro- fessional stare. Dan Ruger declared afterwards that it gave him shivers. ^'Sheriff, we want to see yon privately in your office as soon as I hitch my horse.'' "Suttenly ! suttenly !" was the quick reply. Reuben hitched Delight, while Dan Ruger stood by quietly, astonished, as he afterwards declared, at himself. Then they went into the bare, dirty room dignified by the title of ^'^office." ^^Sheriff,'' said Reuben after the door was closed, and laying his hand gently on the arm of Ruger, ^^this man is Dan Ruger, and he has voluntarily surrendered to me. He comes here to answer for the violation of the law because he feels that it is the right thing for a Christian man to do. He is my friend, and I ask you to be as merciful to him as you would be to me." To say that Sheriff Clapp was astonished is putting it mildly. His small black eyes snapped violently, his round, red face grew redder; he stood, first on one foot and then on the other, staring all the while at Ruger. He would start suddenly to- wards the man then, just as suddenly, start back. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 135 ^'Dan Ruger! Dan Riiger! give himself up voluntary! Your friend? Like a Christian man should. Grandfather Mountain! Man, what d' ye mean ?" He looked at Eeuben now, and the question was evidently for him. "I mean simply/' said Reuben in a quiet, firm tone, ''that by the grace of God Dan Ruger is a changed man. He wants to do right now. He is my friend, and I ask you to be as kind to him as the law will allow." "Well! well! I say, whar d'ye ketch him, preacher?" exclaimed Clapp, eyeing his gun that hung on the wall. Dan Ruger in the meanwhile stood with his head down, motionless but for the nervous clutching of his clasped hands. ''I didn't catch him. I told you he gave him- self up to me, and asked me to bring him to Boone." "Well ! well !" muttered the sheriff, nodding his head slowly in a very reflective manner, and interspersing these nods with shrewd searching glances at the prisoner. Reuben resolved not to tell anything more about his intercourse with Ruger than he could possibly avoid. It might have savored of self- praise — the story of Ruger's conversion — to 136 Reuhen Delton, Preacher. those who are always so quick to turn the small weapon of ridicule on everything pertaining to religion. ^^Well ! well V uttered Sheriff Clapp for the third time. ^'This do beat ther nation. Well, I hain't never heerd nothin' like this sence I was a boy. Come 'long then, prisoner. Ther law's after you on three counts, and the sooner you're behin' the bars, ther better fur the county, an' fur ther preacher, too, for he's a-ffoin' ter ait the fiftv dollars reeward." For the first time Ruger's lips quivered, and he gave sign of hearing what was said. Before that he seemed to Reuben to have withdrawn his attention to that inner battle-ground where a man's bitterest conflicts are often waged. The sheriff took down his gun, and, turning to Reuben, said, ^^Preacher, you'll go over with me." He evidently expected the prisoner to make some resistance. Reuben placed himself quietly by Ruger without a reply, and they went out and crossed the street to the jail. The jailor seemed as surprised as the sheriff, though, being a man of fewer words, he vented his feelings by stares and an occasional whistle. He was inclined to be rough when he put on the handcuffs. Ruger's face turned ashy pale when they were Reuben Delton, Preaclier, 137 put on, and if anything had been needed to prove that he was a changed man, it was his sub- mission without a sign of resistance to what would have probably cost a death-struggle a month before ! He had already unconsciously become an ob- ject lesson in proof of the power of religion to recast the soul of man. When they reached the door of the cell, Ruger turned and said in a low tone, ^^Prcacher, would you min' comin' in an' prayin' with me before you go?'' ^^Do you think I could go home without a prayer Avith you ?" Then he turned and asked to be locked in the cell with the prisoner for a little while. The men were too amazed to deny anything to the man who had captured the notorious out- law, and they knew Reub Delton's life too well to fear any collusion with their prisoner. They locked the two men in, but lingered outside, hoping to overhear some confession from the prisoner. But, as we know, Euger had made all his confessions on the road. Reuben sat down beside him on the cot Avhich furnished the only se^t in the cell, and, taking out a Bible, he read several passages, the par- able of the Prodigal Son among others. 138 Reuben Delton, Preacher. ^^Let ITS pray now, Dan/' and together they knelt, while he poured out what to the ears out- side must have seemed a strange torrent of thanksgiving ! But was it not true that Dan Ruger, hand- cuffed and locked in jail, was yet freer than he had ever heen ? It was for his escape from the bondage and power of a sinful life that Reuben Delton gave thanks, and commending him to the care of the God who he was now resolved to serve, and pray- ing that if it was God's will, he might yet live to tell many others the story of the cross, the young preacher rose from his knees, and, hand- ing Ruger the Bible, he said, ^^Dan, I have writ- ten vour name and mine here, and I have marked some passages that I wanted you to read right away. But, my friend, this book is a mine — an inexhaustible mine — and the treas- ures that are there must be dug for and laid up in your heart. Maybe God has shut you in here to give you time for this very study that you need. Keep a brave heart. I mean to do all I can to save your life. In the meanwhile pray hard, and keep your temper when people ply you with questions. God bless you, God bless you v> Reuhe7i Delton, Preacher. 139 Eeiib grasped the hand of Euger, who brushed the tears from his eyes as he gave his hand. "Preacher, you're goin' ter come agin ?" "Certainly/' replied Reuben as he went to the door and called for the jailor. The sheriff, who had lingered in the hall with the jailor in the hope of gaining some further information, joined him and eagerly demanded to know "all about the capture," as he persisted in calling it. It had become generally known by this time that the notorious outlaw was in the jail, and when Reuben went out to his buggy he found quite a crowd gathered in the street, and all clamorous for the story. His indignation was strong when he saw men and women so eager for details of the affair, and his eyes flashed, and his color deepened, as he stood on the steps and said, "My friends, you all know that Dan Ruger has been a desperate outlaw. He says so him- self, but by the grace of God he is a saved man, and a changed man. That is what God's grace can and does do. I have not time to tell you the story of his conversion, but I want you to know that I did not capture him ; he gave himself up to me willingly, and wants to abide by the law. Let us try to think how we would feel in his place. We surely would not want to be stared 140 Reuben Delion, Preacher. at like caged animals. E"eitlieT does lie. Fol- low tlie golden rule, friends. I consider Dan Ruger a friend of mine, therefore treat liim kindly for my sake. But he is more, he is a sinner saved by Jesns Christ, jnst as I hope yon are. Treat him as our Master would have you treat him. I expect to come back to see him, and then I will tell you about his conversion. You especially, Mr. Simpson,'' he said, turning to the jailor. ^^I beg you to be kind. I do not believe your prisoner will give you any trouble. Good-bye to you all." Eeuben Delton bowed, and, getting into his buggy, drove off, and the crowd quietly dis- persed, but as Reub drove away one man's en- thusiasm got the better of him, and he called out, ^'Bullv fur Preacher Delton ! Come back an' tell us w'at kinder spell you used to git a hold on that feller." Reuben's ride home gave him opportunity for reflection, and for once the sylvan beauty of the famous Boone Turnpike was lost on him. Back to the prisoner his thoughts would turn, not once, but many times. Then they flashed across the far Blue Eidge Mountains shut out from view now to the field to which he had been called. "^^How can I leave that poor fellow now? Reuben Delton, Preacher. 141 God surely has given him to me as a charge. I must begin right aAvay to interest people in him. I shall write to the governor myself. The story of Dan Kuger will touch any Christian heart.'' He only stopped a few moments at Ever- green. He knew hoAV anxiously Marthy would await his return. When Mooney handed him his mail there was quite a group of loafers around the door. "Well, friends/' said Reuben, "I have some wonderful news for you. The man that I drove over to Boone this morning was Dan Ruger, whose name we've all known for years as that of an outlaw, a horse stealer, perhaps a mur- derer, an illicit distiller, but by the grace of God now a changed man, a saved sinner ! He gave himself up to me, and left both his gun and his pistol at my house last night." The effect was electrical. The men sprang to their feet, excepting one man, who seemed too surprised to move. ^Dan Ruger ! I do say !" Well, well, that's plumb pas' believin' !" "Well ! did you ever ?" Such were some of the exclamations that greeted Reub's ears. "Well, preacher," said Mooney, admiration "] CO 142 Reuben Delton, Preacher. and disgust blended curiously in his tones, "you do beat all fur bein' tlie sliuttest-mouthed man, an' Tm boun' ter say, fur brav'ry, too." "Why, man alive ! he druv all ther way from his house clean ter Boone a sittin' by that feller an'not so much as a string aroun' his wrists, an' I'll bet nary a gun nur pistil along! Well, well !" Keuben laughed heartily at the man's way of expressing his praise. It had never once oc- curred to him that he was doing a brave thing. Then looking gravely around on them all, he said, "Mooney, I would trust that man any- where now. If vou could have seen him, and heard his humble confession to me of his past sins, and then have seen him kneel down with me to ask God's forgiveness, you would be obliged to believ^ in him now. He is a saved man, and I will never doubt the power of God again, so help me God!" He ended solemnly, and a hush fell on the crowd. "I will tell his story next Sunday, and shall look for all of you to be at church." Keuben touched Delight gently with his whip and drove off. When the story of Dan Huger's conversion was known, it endeared the Deltons more strongly than ever to the people among whom Beuhen Belton, Preacher. 143 they lived, and seemed to make it more doubt- ful whether they should leave or not. But when Presbytery reluctantly consented to their going, it seemed that the matter had been taken out of their hands, and the dear young people, with swelling hearts and tear- stained eyes, submitted to the decision, and be- gan the painful task of preparing the people for their going, and to dismantle the sweet cabin home thev had loved so well. We will draw the veil before the sad picture, extending our con- dolence to the people who were giving them up, and congratulating ourselves that we are to fol- low them to their new home. 4 i Book 11. CHAPTEK I. Into the IJNKNOWisr. FULLY seventy miles west of the scene where the first chapters of this story were laid is a small settlement composed chiefly of the families of men employed in the adjacent mica mines. A small valley of several hundred acres runs np hetween two spurs of a high range of moun- tains — a fertile valley watered by a limpid stream that abounds in the famous speckled trout, and lying quite three thousand feet above the level of the sea. And it is in this valley that the settlement of Mineville lies. There are numerous coves indented in the mountains about the settlement, inhabited bv men whose sole vocation seems to be a little fish- ing in summer, hunting in the fall, and loafing in the winter, while the women cook for them, gathering their own wood and living lives of lit- tle more industry than the men, saving in this particular branch. 148 Reuben Delton, Preacher. They catcli no inspiration from the march of science into their mountains, nor from the men in their neighborhood who have come there to work. Their highest ambition is no higher than the ownership of a mountain mule, which they would be too poor to keep, or the possession of a banjo, which they would never be able to keep in tune if thev owned. There is this one thing to be said for them. They are certainly not worse than their fathers or grandfathers before them. They never knew anyone in their neighbor- hood who lived any better than themselves, and it must be a rare occasion that would inspire them with sufficient energy to go to the county seat for court week. On such occasions they hitch up the oxen, if they own one, or, maybe, "borry" from some neighbor who is too indifferent to go himself, and then, if it be summer time, they gather a bushel or two of the fine apples or peaches that thrive so well in those sheltered coves, and with the addition of several pones of corn bread, and of the inevitable jug of peach or apple brandy, they start off fully equipped for the journey and for the sights of the town. As one may readily imagine, these men are Eeuhen Dclton, Preacher. 149 not athletic, nor are the women reared in these coves Ilebes, though one may occasionally meet with wonderfully pretty and bright-faced chil- dren among them. We all know how much environment tells. We read much of the simple food that charac- terized the fare of the hardy Scotch, and that was supposed to nourish the splendid brains of that land, but a simple diet of oatmeal and good milk was very different from that upon which the dwellers in hundreds of these mountain coves in the mountain ranges of the South live. How can one expect either bodily or mental development from a class that live on a diet of ill-fed i^ovh with only the coarsest corn bread ? If you question this, reader, ask some of the brave souls who have heard the Master's call and are now seeking to redeem these lost sheep, and to bring them to Christ and to civilization. It was court week at the county town nearest to Mineville, and one evening just as the sun was setting behind the high spur of the Blue Ridge, at the foot of which the village nestled, a neat, new-covered wagon drove do^\Ti to the clear stream that ran not five hundred yards away. There was a good camping place on the banks, but there were already two small two-wheeled 150 Reuben Delton, Preacher. ox-carts on the spot ; and it was evident tliat the occupants proposed to spend the night, for they were quite leisurely taking off the ropes which served as the onlv harness on the oxen. The men were rough and unkempt, and while they might have been very harmless, certainly did not have that appearance. Reuben Delton — for, of course, it is Reuben and Martliy who we have caught up with at last — Reuben was no coward, as we know, but he did not feel that he had any right to subject Marthy to the possibility of any rudeness these men might show. He addressed the men pleasantly. ^^Good evening, strangers !" "Evenin' !" one man responded, the other gave an indifferent nod, and followed it up by a hard stare at each of them in turn. "Is there any good stopping house near where I can ffet lodeino; for mv wife and little bov ?" "Yas," the spokesman replied. "I 'low they'll take you' ims in up at Kinley's. Whar you 'uns stay w^'en you stay at home? An' whar you 'uns ffoin' ?" These questions followed so quickly on the in- formation given in reference to a stopping place that Reuben felt compelled to gratify their curi- osity before asking where the house was. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 151 ^'WeVe come from over in Waiitauga county, and are going to settle about thirty miles beyond here." By this time both the men were examining the harness, and every part of the wagon, and peering curiously inside, where Marthy sat, and from whence little Greyson was staring at them with a doubtful expression of pleasure on his face. ^'This you 'uns wagon, I 'low. Hit must ha' cost a sight ! That be your woman in thar ? How old's yer little un ?" There is no telling how many more questions Keuben would have been plied with if he had not learned how to put a stop to this sort of thing. He looked at them quite pleasantly, and then getting up into the wagon and taking the reins from ]\Iarthy, said, ^^Yes, friends, this is my wagon, and this is my wife, and that's my little boy, and now I must say good-bye, for it is late. Good evening." ^^Evenin' " thev called after him as he drove into the ford of the pretty stream. ^'Preacher," said ^Earthy, softly, laying her hand on Tteuben's arm, ^^it hurts me worse to cross a river than to cross a mountain; water seems to separate you so from what's behind vou." 152 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Reuben laid his unemployed hand on her's affectionately and said, with a smile, ^^Oh ! I don't think so, little woman. It's just like you to have a different ^think' about it from other people. Water is a lot easier to cross than moun- tains." Marthy brushed a tear away furtively. She had tried so hard to be brave, and had stood the ordeal of the grief of the people, and of saying good-bye, and of packing and turning her back on the mountain manse with a courage that Eeuben was proud of, but when they reached their camping j^lace the first night, and had fin- ished supper and prayers, and had laid down on their pallet, and both Reuben and little Grey- son were asleep, she had given way for the first time to her grief, and with the child-like sim- plicity of the little Marthy we used to know, had cried with deep sobs : ^^O God ! please for- give me. I mean to do thy will, but I must cry a little bit. Please give me strength to be cheer- ful and to help my husband as a true wife should." She cried herself to sleep, and waked in the morning strengthened and refreshed and satisfied that her prayer had been heard. A long rocky hill road led up from the ford of the river into Farmville, and at the summit of the hill, and the first house in the village, stood Reuben Delton, Preacher. 153 "Kinley's/' as the men had called the village hotel, with its pretentious sign, ^The Famiville Hotel.'' It was a long, two-storied house, with a piazza running the length of the house, shaded by four or five splendid hemlock trees. Eeuben had decided that Marthy and Greyson should spend the night here, while he slept in the wagon to guard their baggage. It was an exciting thing to the simple-hearted preacher's wife to sleep in even such a hotel as this was, and they had more than one laugh over her questions. She did not remember ever hav- ing done so, excepting the time when Miss Greyson had taken her to Asheville while she was a school 2;irl. "Preacher, what do you say when you go in ? Must you sit down a while or ask for your room ? There'll be some summer boarders there, I know; they are everywhere now-a-days. I won- der what they'll say to us ? I wonder if we'll get a good supper ? Must I put a clean dress on baby ?" Reuben was much amused, but his reply was so sensible that Marthy found her nervousness allayed by it, and admired her husband more than ever. • "Just be yourself, little woman. Don't try to appear what you are not. I think you are 154 Reuben Delton, Preacher. hard to beat, and ^vill be glad to show my wife to any snmmer boarders we may find here. I donbt if you get sncli a supper as you can cook, but don't make out that you can't eat. Put a clean apron on the boy, for, whatever we do, or don't do, we want to look like respectable folks. We owe that to the Master." They drove up to the gate, and the landlord came out, and Reuben explained the situation and helped Marthy and the little boy out. Greyson's big brown eyes were wide open Avith wonder. "Mummie, vere dis ? Vat ve dittin' out for ?" Just in front of the entrance there was a group consisting of the judge and several lawyers and a few summer giiests ; at the other end of the long piazza several ladies were gathered. The young couple attracted attention at once. ^'That's a fine-looking fellow," said the judge to one on the lawvers sittins: bv him. ^'He is to the manner born, too, I reckon ; and the little wife — look how well she carries herself ! The boy is just such a lookino- child as vou would expect to hear call that fellow papa ! I say, Kinley !" he called to the landlord after they had disappeared in the house, ^Svho are your friends ?" ^T don't know them, judge, but they regis- Reuben Delton, Preacher. 155 tered as Reuben Delton, wife and child, Wau- ?j tanga While this conversation was going on Marthy had been taken to a room and Eeuben had gone out to lT>ok after Deliaht and Jobo. He came in, and after liavino; done his share of washing and hair brushing, they went down to supper, which they took in company with several sum- mer boarders who had just returned from a mountain scramble and were seated at the ex- treme end of the table from them. The first glance at our friends left the im- pression on at least one of the company that they were ^^just mountain people," and she turned her attention to the fried chicken and hot biscuits, for which she seemed to have an un- limited capacity ; but there were two others pres- ent who were better students of physiognomy, and as we are privileged, reader, let us listen to them while the Deltons finish their supper. "Madge, look at that young man's face ; he is better than handsome; and notice how he car- ries himself." "Yes, he is fine looking. His eyes especially so, and his broAv is good," replied the younger woman, criticallv. "Why, my dear, he is a prince in Jeans ! And his wife is nice looking, too ; quite pretty when 156 Reiihen Delton, Preacher. ?? she smiles. The boy is a splendid little fellow. "They can't be common people, Tante, for see what nice table manners. Let's try to inter- view them after supper." All this was said in tones too low to be heard by the Deltons, who left the table before the others. While they were standing at the end of the nnr ailed porch, and Reuben was pointing to Marthy where the last view of the Wautauga mountains could be seen, the ladies who had commented on them at table drew near and politely asked some questions by way of making acquaintance. Then they stooped to notice Greyson, but the child was tired and clune: shvlv to his mother's dress. "S]Deak to the ladies, Greyson," said Marthy, taking his hand up suggestively. "How d'ye, ladies," said the little man, and oifering his hand, though the tears welled up in his lovelv eves. "Tell the ladies your name now," said Marthy with a quick perception that this would be the pleasantest way to introduce herself. "Geysie Delton ; Preacher Deltons' boy." "This is Mrs. Delton then," said the elder lady, cordially, "and I am Mrs. Thurston, and this is my niece, Miss Traymor. We are glad Reuben Delton, Preacher. 157 to meet yon. Have you made a long trip to- day V Keiiben had joined the crowd of men at the other end of the porch after he had answered the questions put to him, for he wanted Marthy to be thrown upon herself, feeling sure that she would in this way best overcome her shyness. "^o'm/' said Marthy in reply to Mrs. Thurs- ton's question. "We have only come about thirty miles to- day, but that is good travelling over mountain roads, and with a heavy load." Miss Traymor had brought some chairs, and Marthy, thanking her, accepted one ^nd took her little boy on her lap. In a few moments she found herself talk- ing quite freely to these cordial people. She told them when they had left home, and that they were moving away, at least for a while. "And may I ask how much further you are going V^ asked the younger lady in a tone of in- terest. "I think my husband said it is about thirty miles farther." "And so you are going to a new home ?" asked Mrs. Thurston. Both watched Marthy with in- terest. "Yes," said Marthy, a shadow falling on her 158 Reiiben Delton, Preacher. bright face as she spoke. ''My husband is a preacher, and Ave are going over about thirty miles from here to a mining settlement." Mar thy found herself telling in her simple, earnest way the story of their mountain work, and of their strong conviction that it was the dutv of everv educated Christian mountaineer to uplift those about him. These people from another And distant place, with verv crude notions as to the mountain whites of the South, looked into the earnest and refined face of this young mountain woman w^ith a new interest. And thev found themselves looking Tip, and not down, though, according to the world's estimate, they occupied a much higher social elevation. The air was growing chill, the little boy had cuddled up in his mother's arms and was almost asleep. "I must get you to excuse me, ladies," Marthy said with a smile. ''This boy ought to be in bed, for we must make an early start in the morning." "Are you going so soon ? ^Vhy, we are sorry," said Miss Travmor, who felt sure that she had come upon a new and very interesting phase of mountain character. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 159 ''Yes, we must be off as soon after dayliglit as my husband can get bis team fed and bitched up. We will not wait for breakfast. I will cook that at tbe first good spring we come to." ''Good-bye tben ! I wisb yon all prosperity and success in your new bome," said Mrs. Thurs- ton, cordially. "Good-bye," returned Marthy, and added, cordially, "If in some of your mountain tramps you should come near Peach Cove, we will be glad to see you." Miss Trajmior stood silently for a few mo- ments watching Marthy's retreating figure, and a strange new pang of envy filled her heart for a moment. "She is living ; living means growth, it means fruitfulness. What have I ever done to prove that I am truly living ?" At breakfast table the next morning, as the ladies began to assemble, the judge called out, "Who made the acquaintance of the preacher's nice little wife? If she is as bright and as clever in her way as her husband, she was worth cultivating." "Ask Auntie," replied Miss Traymor, "if you want to hear from an enthusiastic admir- er !" and she glanced smilingly at Mrs. Thurs- ton. 160 Reuben Delton, Preacher. ^^She was certainly an extremely attractive woman, and talks well; and if her husband is as brave and earnest as she is, they will do a grand work.'' "Well, he is a fine fellow. What a specimen of manhood he is ! Erect, with well-knit limbs, with not a siiperfluons ponnd of flesh, and a light in his eye of healthy, intelligent purpose that is perfectly refreshing to see." It was Judge Carroman who spoke, and doubtless he would have been glad if Reuben Delton could have returned the compliment. His own figure being small and slender, and his Avhole appearance indicating that he was reap- ing now what was left of the wild oats crop of his vouth. "He uses good, strong English, too," re- marked the professor, approvingly. "Educated away from this region, I guess ?" asked some one. "^ot until after he entered the Theological Seminary, he told me," said the judge. "I am very glad to know that the schools throughout this part of our State are being taken in hand as a part of the church's work. Religion and education ought to go hand in hand," he added, sententiously. "How can they?" asked a young man who I Reuben Delton, Preacher. 161 had just taken his place at the table. He asked in such a contemptuons tpne that Judge Carro man felt the sluggish blood mount to his cheeks. Somehow, the question seemed to lay bare his inconsistency, for he knew how far ahead his intellectual attainments were in comparison with the spiritual gifts that should be possessed by a man holding such an opinion. He did not reply, indeed, he had not time, for Mrs. Thurs- ton said quietly, ^'You speak doubtingly, Mr. Seymour, but you will find happily that many wise and brioiit men believe this consistentlv." !Now the young man had no idea of entering into an argument on this tiresome subject, least of all, with a woman ; and then he did not wish to irritate Mrs. Thurston, for she was really the least boring to him of all the women in the house, so that he only replied by bowing his haughty, handsome head and shrugging his shoulders. ^^It takes all my energy to discuss the steak this morning, Mrs. Thurston, so you will surely excuse my replying," and he began to exert his energy at once. While this conversation was going on Reuben and Marthy were wending their way slowly over roads that seemed to ffrow more rockv as they advanced. 162 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Thej had started at five o'clock, and had reached the spring, where they had been ad- vised to breakfast, by seven. Reuben had made Marthy's fir© for their simple meal, reqiTiring only heat enough to boil the water for their coffee, and coals upon which to broil the meat, for they were well sup- plied with cold bread. ^'We did well when we set the stove in that box, didn't we, preacher ? It has not jostled one bit. But won't we be glad when we can set it up and have a good meal of hot food once more ?" "Yes'h, mummie, an' hot bisky, too!" re- marked Greyson, taking part unexpectedly in the conversation, greatly to the amusement of his parents. This day's journey took them through some beautiful countrv, but what both missed out of the landscape, more than they could tell, were those distant views, those glimpses of ethereal beauty that seemed to link heaven and earth so closely over in Wautauga. Marthy thought, with swelling heart, that it was like a house would be w^ithout a mother in it, and she stifled a sob as she wondered how she could live without this constant reminder of heaven. The valleys were rich, the meadows showed Reuben Delton, Preacher. 163 that the crops had been fine, the high wooded hills that shut them like giant hedges were gor- o-eoiis with thousands of tints, for there was a wonderful variety of forest trees, and every family carefully preserved its own shade of color. The beautiful stream by which the road wound, or occasionally crossed, added the charm of its limj)id water to the scene. There were farm houses every few miles along this fertile valley, many of them comfortable homes. At one where they stopped to water they were greeted with especial cordiality. "Come in an' eat dinner, strangers, "an' tell whar you 'uns is goin'" said the hospitable old man. "ISTervy !" he called to his wife, "come out yere an' tell w'at yer got fur dinner, an' mebby ther strangers'll stop over." "isTervy" came to the door, folloAved by two young women, two small boys, and, lastly and very slowly, by a decrepit old woman. The wife had a kindly pleasant face, and fol- lowed up her husband's invitation by saying, "Won't you 'light, stranger, an' take ther bes' we 'uns kin give you ? Your little b'y an' yer crit- ters'll be ther better fur it." After a moment's consultation, Eeuben de- 164 Reuben Delton, Preacher. cided that it might be well to stop, though they had fifteen miles of rough road to travel yet. ^^We ought to know all the people Avithin twenty miles of our cove, I think, Marthy.'' Then he turned and said, ^'Well, sir, I believe we will stop with you, as you are so kind. We were going to take dinner by the roadside to-day, but won't be sorrv to ffet a hot one." ^^That's it ! that's it ! 'lioiit an' come in ! An' w'at mought yer name be, an' whar d' you come f rum ?" ^'My name is Reuben Delton. I am a preacher, and I'm going over in the neighborhood of Peach Cove to settle for a while and do mv Mas- ter's work. We come from Wautauga, between Blowing Rock and Linville, where I have worked for four vears." ^'Well ! well ! Do say ! I'm monst'ous glad ter feed a preacher ; so is jSTervy. Come in ! come in !" he repeated as Marthy, putting little Greyson in his father's arms, got dow^n from the wagon. 1^0 princely owner of one of the country's palatial homes could have offered more cordial welcome than he did as he held open the gate heavilv leaded with old iron to make it shut to. They passed through and up into the porch, shaking hands with the old woman, whose Eeuhen DeUon, Preacher. 165 wrinkled, loatlierv face had caught some of the glow of her son's hospitality. There was a great commotion, not only in the house, hut in the hack yard, by this time, and as the chickens were making decided demonstra- tions of disapproval, it was reasonable to sup- pose that they w^ere to have fried chicken for dinner ! As she stepped on to the piazza, Marthy said, ''We will just sit here. It is so nice and cool, and my little boy can run around out doors." ''Well," said old Mrs. Curder, "but you mus' rest your hat a while an' make yerself gen' ally comfortable. l\Iy name is Curder ; w'at mought vourn be ?" She had not heard Eeuben give his name to ^^Fr. Curder. "I do sav !" she exclaimed in tones of great delight when Marthy gave her name and told her that her husband was a preacher. Reuben had unharnessed Delight and Jobo, the fine little mule, and had taken them to the stable yard, where his host was probably putting him through a catechism as to his past life and future plans. And Marthy, on the porch, with a patient consideration born partly of her sym- pathy with all innocent curiosity, and partly of her understanding of these lives shut in to the 166 Reuben Delton, Preacher. monotonous living where tlie windows of books and papers never open to give them glimpses of the world beyond — Marthy was telling of her home, of her school days, and of her friend, Miss Grey son; of her marriage, and of her life at the mountain manse. " 'Pears like it were a monst'ons pity yon 'nns tu'nned yer backs on yer people an' yer honse to come so far. Whar you 'uns be go- in' ?" ^^Oh ! but there's so much to do for people, and so many worse off than we are, and we are going to try to find some and help them. We are going over to Peach Cove. You know that new mining settlement, Mineville ?" Mrs. Curder stepped to the door just in time to hear Marthv's last remark. "Peach Cove! Lors, honey, you 'uns don' know whar you're goin' ! Wy, Tim Curder kin tell vou ther ain't no sich a God-forsaken neighborhood no whar in ^orth Caliny, I reckon !" Marthv shuddered when she heard this, but replied almost instantly, "That makes it all the more necessary for us to go. And it was for such sinners that Jesus died. Don't you believe that, Mrs. Curder ?" "Well, honey, it do say so, but it do 'pear Reuben Delton, Preacher. 167 migiitv hard ter b'lieve it wiis sich as Peach Cove folks !'' Just then one of the yoimg women came to the door and said, ^^Mar, ther dinner is sot/' which Mrs. Cnrder followed np by rising and saying, ^^Come in, Miss Delton, an' welcome." From the porch the men were summoned by a horn, and in a few moments Reuben followed Marthy to the table where Mr. Curder asked him to ^^make a beginnin'." This being the old man's quaint way of requesting him to ask a blessing, which Reuben did reverently, asking a blessing for the f amilj^ as well as for the food. "An' now you see w'ats befo' you, an' you 'uns is welcome to all you 'uns kin eat, an' if yer caint fin' nothin' ter please ye, w'y, you kin jest set back yer chair an' leave." He rubbed his hands together in deep satis- faction, and was evidently highly pleased with the appearance of the table, which was abund- antly supplied with everything they could fur- nish on such short notice. Reuben and Marthv, accustomed to these kindly mountain hospitalities, knew how to as- sure them that they would find no trouble mak- ing a hearty meal. Dinner, even where there is such an abund- ant "spread" as the generous hospitality of the 168 Reiihen Delton, Preacher. Cnrders had provided, is not a very long meal with the mountaineers, and the Deltons had soon finished dinner and were on the porch again. "Well, preacher, I wish yon 'nns didn't feel called on ter c;o on this evenin'. We'd trv ter fin' ye a place ter sleep." "We are sure of that, ^Er. Cnrder, but we must get on as far as we can. We hope, though, to come to see you again some day. This boy seems to be pretty well satisfied here." Reuben turned to look at Greyson, who was walking about with a boy on either side. "Mr. Cnrder," added Eeuben, ^^you and Mrs. Curder have put yourselves to a lot of trouble for us. I wish you would let me pay you." "Well ! well I do you 'uns over in Wautauga let your frien's pay Av'en they come to see you ? Iso, sir ! Tim Curder ain't no great shakes in religion, but he counts it a mighty good day w'en he gits a chance ter feed a sure 'nough preacher an' his wife an' chile." And he shook his head so positively that Reuben put up his pocket book, and after good- byes had been said, and promises to come again had been made, thev drove off. Late in the afternoon thev reached the Cross Roads, where they had been advised to stop for Eeiihen DeJton, Preacher. 169 at least the last night of their journey. It was two miles over rough roads to Mineville, and Reuben had been told that it would not be pos- sible for them to find a stopping place there. The house was a dingy, unpainted two-storied buikling, altogether unattractive in appearance. When they stopped in front of the house there were two rough-looking men smoking on the porch. "Good evening/' said Reuben; "is this Measons ?" "Wa-al, mabby so/' replied one in a tone of perfect indifference. The other, however, roused up^ and, taking his pipe from his mouth, said, "Ef you 'uns is summer boarders, we 'uns caint take vou 'uns in. It takes nio'li on ter half a dav to oit thing's fixed, an' then thev don' suit ther fool notions of sich." Reuben laughed out in such a good-natured, contagious way that a sour smile crept about the man's mouth. "Why, no ! We are just Wautauga countv people, and we are bound for ^Mineville, but I was told we had better stop with you to-night if vou could take us in." *j "W'at moufi'ht be ver name ?" asked the first man, showing considerably more interest than at first. 170 Reuben Delton, Preacher. ^'My name is Delton, and tliis is my wife, and this is my little boy/' lie added, laying his hand on the head of the sleeping child. By this time a tall, thin, sour-faced woman, with a baby in her arms, had come to the door, and a yonng girl was peeping round the corner of the house. ^'Be you ther preacher I heerd wus a-comin' over ter Peach Gove neighborhood ?" They seemed actually to have forgotten Reuben's questions as to lodgings, but it was only seeming forgetfulness. They were really trying to satisfy themselves that these were really mountain j)eople. And Reuben and Marthy said afterwards that they had never come nearer disoAvning their work than they did that evening, for they saw that there was a strong prejudice against summer boarders, and feared that it might extend to preachers and their wives. It was not that the house appeared very inviting, but that, from all accounts, they might go further and fare worse. ^'Yes'm, I am the man, and I hoj)e that I am going to find as many friends over here as we left behind us in Wautauga. My wife and I were both raised over there." A scowl lowered on the face of the first man to w]iom Reuben had spoken, and he turned away. Reuben Delton, Preacher. Ill The other one said, '''Well, yon 'nns kin 'light ef ther ole woman's willin' ter git ye a bite o' snpper. AYe 'nns ate an honr ago." He tnrned and looked over his shonlder at his wife, and she responded with a nod, for she saw an opportnnity for mnch investigation and mncli gossip. "We 'nns don' set no store particklar by preachers. The meanest man in this connty calls himself a preacher, an' ther ain't no man kin beat him in a hoss trade, bnt," he added with a feeble smile, "von don' look that aways." Renben was on his gnard, and made no reply to the last remark, bnt took Grevson in his arms and helped !Marthy to the gronnd. As they passed throngh the gateway, the woman stepped down from the door-sill and gave a little nod in response to jMarthy's "good evening." She led the wav to a room at the other end of the porch, and, opening the door, said, "Yon kin iest lay vonr baby donn till ve s^it readv ter tnrn in yerself." There were three beds in the room, all cov- ered with dirty homespnn spreads. The floor was dirty. On the walls himg several snits of clothing in various degrees of shabbiness, with hats to match. The air was foul with the odors 172 Reuben Delton, Preacher. of tobacco smoke and wliiskey that had been con- fined there, nobody knows how long, for every window was do^^Ti. Marthy shnddered at the idea of laving her sweet, clean boy on snch a bed, and, standing at the door, she made an excnse to get something out of the wagon, still holding Greyson in her arms. "I think," she said, ^'T will get a shawl to wrap him in. Can I have a fire ?" "La ! yes. Yon Ma'y Jane, you Liny ! come ver some o' von 'uns an' ketch up a fire. Ther b'ys mos' alters make it w^'en they come in. You need'n bother ter git you a shawl, jes double ther kiver over him." "I'll need the shawl," Marthy replied very firmly, and she went out to the wagon, followed by Mrs. ]\Ieason, who was evidently intent upon seeing all she could of Marthy's belongings. There was little sleep that night for the Del- tons, even after thev had aired the room and had provided themselves surreptitiously with sheets from the wagon. It was not a new expe- rience for Reuben, who had spent many nights away up in the mountains in cabins where the whole family occupied the same room and slept on the floor, but it was certainly a new expe- rience for Marthy. LTer people were very poor, Reiiben Delton, Preacher. 173 but they had preserved the traditions of a re- spectable ancestry, and had been aided in keep- ing them by association with a class of people who were sufficiently well-to-do to afford many of the comforts the Lesters did not possess. For months after that first night spent at !A[eason's Cross Eoads, Ifarthv was moved to lauohter and to tears by the recollection of her experiences. ^^They called me a ^living interrogation point' at school, preacher, but all the questions I ever asked would hardly count up to the questions Mrs. Meason put to me that night before you came in, and such questions !" Before thev retired Reuben said, "Mr. Meason, at home we always read a few verses from the Bible, and pray to God to keep us safely through the ni^ht. Would you let me have family prayers here ?" "Well, ve kin if you're a min' to. I don' take no stock in any sich myself." He lighted his pipe and tilted his chair against the side of the chimney with a defiant air. "I'm sorry for vou then," said Reuben quietly. "I've never seen a man vet who tried to serve God, and who read his Bible and prayed, but was a better citizen and a happier man. I 174: Reuben Delton, Preacher. hope I shall be able to make you think so too some day. Just listen to this," he added, open- ing his Bible quickly and reading a short passage from the gospel of Matthew, explain- ing as he read. Mrs. Meason had gone to the water bucket and was getting a drink, when Reuben said firmly but gently, ^'Mrs. Meason, this is God's book ; won't vou sit down while I read ? I think we ought to respect our Bibles as if they were living messengers from God." Mrs. Meason sat down in utter astonishment. This man was different from any preacher she had yet seen. ^^I\^ow let us kneel down while I pray." It is doubtful if Mr. Meason had ever bent his knees in prayer before, but there was that in Reuben's manner that compelled not only re- spect, but acquiescence, so that he took his pipe from his mouth and kneeled down. His wife did so too, but the two girls, who had just come into the room, leaned up against the wall and tittered in a silly way. When they rose from their knees, Meason said in a half-serious manner, "Well, now, who writ that book, anvwavs? That's w'at I been a-tryin' ter git at. These yer preachers w'at come 'long yere, they don' fool wid it long Reuben Delton, Preacher. 175 ernough. ter know. Ther's one over yander in Hickry Cove — well, he don' own a Bible ter his name. He 'lows ter fin' one in ther pulpit, an' liaint no use fur 'em nowhar else." Reuben did not know of this particular case, but, alas ! he knew it to be only too true in many other instances. He sat down patiently to ex- plain to this illiterate skeptic how the Bible had been given to man, and to show him, if possible, how it had influenced men, directly or indi- rectly, ever since it had been written; and he did it with all the more hopefulness the man had no unused opportunities to look back on, as have so many of the educated skeptics and hypercritics of to-day. The man, although he listened attentively, seemed more interested in the "differ'nce," as he called it, between Reuben and the other preachers of his acquaintance than in the au- thenticity of the scriptures. "Well, I do say! You beats all!" he ex- claimed, surveying Reuben critically, with his head on one side. "You're ther fust preacher ever I seed that took time ter preach o' week days, an' that ter jest two or three folks ! An' you in jeans jest like ther rest of us, too !" CHAPTER II. The Friends They Left Behin^d. WHILE Eeiiben and Martliy Helton are settling down in their new quarters let US go back awhile to look np our friends in the Evergreen neighborhood, and in the jail at Boone. The decision of the Heltons to go away had produced a wonderful amount of feeling in the hearts of the people among whom they had lab- ored so faithfully; but the very power that Heuben had gained over them helped to recon- cile them, at least in a measure, to the move. ^'Preacher Helton feels called to go. He never did feel called to do nothin' wrong since I've knoAvd him,'' said 'Squire Farnham to the congregation when the matter was first brought before them. ^'He has taught us to believe that ther bes' way ter serve God is to obey him, an' I reckon we aire jest as much called on ter give him up es he is ter go." The 'squire passed his hand across his eves where there was a sus- picious film. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 177 There were distinct sobs from various parts of the little building. Mr. Mooney rose to his feet and said, "Well, I don' wanter question no providentil dealings, ther all wise, but I do say thet, ter my min', ther man thet has brimg Evergreen church ter w'at it is at now, w'y, he's ther man ter stay thar! That's plumb sure?" he added, with a violent gesture and a stamp of his foot that car- ried conviction to some at least, for there were cries of "That's so!" "Amen!" "You hit it thar !" and other expressive remarks. "Squire Farnham, who was a devoted friend of Eeuben's and a most sensible man, saw that Mooney's remarks were only adding fuel to the fire of discontent, and he rose to his feet and re- plied, "IsTow, brother Mooney, you jest set down an' listen to me a minute. An' le' me call your attention, brethren an' sisters, ter two things. Fust, both Preacher Delton an' ther Presbytery sees differ'nt from you 'uns, an' we've got ter be I'yal ter ther powers that be in church as well as State. Second, it don't faller thet Preacher Delton's a-goin' away fur good an' all. Don't ye 'low we kin afford ter be gin'rous ter our neighbors fur a while ? Ef ther wus some one mighty bad off over t' your house, an' I wus jest merely po'ly, you'd think powerful strange 178 Reuben Delton, Preacher. of me ef I wouldn' want ther doctor to 'tend ter YOU, wouldn't you ?" The old man said all this with a persuasive tone that was truly eloquent, and the effect was jolainly perceptible. Some one called out, ^^Well, see here, 'squire, we 'uns caint spare our doctor too long. Wen's he a-comin' back ?" "Oh! I don' know," the 'squire responded quickly ; "that's fur ther Lord ter decide. Wat we've got ter do is ter go ahead an' open our hearts ter this young preacher that's comin', an' ter do our level bes' ter uphol' him in all he does. The preacher tole us that that 'us w'at he was a-goin' ter expect of us, an' we don' wanter disapp'int him." The last remark was a master stroke of policy. The women especially were stimulated by the thought that Preacher Delton was expecting good things of them, and the congregational meeting broke up in harmony, and with the peo- ple resolved to bear the burden of their grief in hope, and to stand by the new preacher. It had been known shortlv after the news of the Deltons o^oins; awav had o'otten out that Dr. Thornlev wanted to rent the mountain manse, and it had surprised people, but only for a little while, for just the week before the Deltons left Reuben Delton, Preacher. 179 the doctor had called at the gate and asked Reuben if he and Marthy would not come over to 'Squire Farnham's the next afternoon. Some- thing in the expression of his face told on him, and Reuben broke into a hearty laugh, exclaim- ing, ^^Why, Thornley, I do believe that you are inviting us to your marriage !" Whereupon the doctor, blushing and laughing himself, said, "You are right, Delton, as you 'most always are. I tried to get Linnie to tell Mrs. Delton Sunday, but she was as bashful as I am. We got engaged the day after Mandy Snoggs' fune- ral, and did not expect to get married yet awhile, but neither one of us wanted anybody but you to marry us, and so we are hurrying things up." "Well, you have found a treasure, and ought to thank God for giving you the love of such a girl. And, my friend, the best expression of your gratitude would be for you to pledge your- self henceforth to live for him," added Reuben as he grasped the doctor's hand warmly. Dr. Thornley replied, earnestly, "You're right, preacher, I made up my mind that night that T spent up at Handy' s with your wife and Linnie that there was just one way to be a true man or a true woman, and that was by the grace 180 Reuben Belton, Preacher. of God. I don't doubt but what that's the secret of your religion and tlieir's too." And so before Reuben Delton left Wautauga he had the happiness of receiving Dr. Thornley into Evergreen church, and of marrying him to Linnie Famham. And as if all that could be done to soothe the pain of their leaving was done, Dr. Thornley, as we have said, rented the manse, bought Moo Moo, the pet cow, and had promised to take the young preacher, who was coming within a month, to board. And now let us turn to Dan Euger's story since the day he had been locked up in the Boone jail. After Keuben Delton said good-bye to the poor fellow, and he heard the men go down the long passage, and then down stairs, it suddenly seemed that Ruger realized all that had come upon him, and all that was before him, and the old Dan Ptuger seemed to wake to life again. lie sprang to the door and strove to burst it open ; he rushed to the window and vainly strove to break the iron bars. Foul words burst forth ; he threw himself on the dirty floor and writhed there in a mortal struirde. He cursed Reub Delton, and then cursed himself for surrendering. The thought Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 181 of being caged here was worse than the thought of death. Accustomed as he had been for years to the freedom of a wild life, sleeping most of the time either on the ground, or in some cave, the narrow, pent-up cell seemed like a coffin. ^^An' I don' know how long I've got ter stan' it! I'll kill myself, that's w'at!" he thought, and thrust his hand into his pocket for his knife. Eolling over as he did so, his eyes rested on the Bible that Keuben had left him. If he had suddenlv found himself confronted by a living person, he could not have been more startled or impressed. ^'0 God !" he cried, ^^O God ! have mercy on me. I cain't stan' this; I'll kill myself ef you don' help me! Ther's somethin' inside o' me that feels like the devil had me." He got up from the floor "all of a tremble," as he expressed it when telling Reuben about it, and taking the Bible, he held it pressed against him, as if there was some power in the very book itself to ward off the assault of the devil. And who can doubt that in that very impression God was answering his prayer for help ? Certain it was that he quieted down in a little while, and opening the Bible where a page was tiirned doAvn, he began to read. The verses marked 182 Reuben Delton, Preacher. were the first four verses of tlie fifty-first Psalm. He sat on the edge of his cot bed, the only seat the cell afforded, and read slowly, in the waning afternoon light, the words that have been the expression of penitent hearts for so many ages. And he said to himself, ^^He never knoAved nothin' 'bont John iii. 16 that the preacher kep' a tellin' me about; but he jes' comed ter God like he knowed he would forgive him, an' love him, too." He turned his leaves slowly. He was not familiar with it, but he knew that Reuben had surely marked that place, and he wanted to read it again, and to get the comfort of it. He re- membered what Reuben had said about God's having put him here, so that he would have time to study the Bible and to pray. The thought of Reuben Delton from that time on became balm for the poor fellow's spirit, and he thought with shame and almost fear, ^^Wat would ther preacher have thought ef he could ha' heard all I wus sayin' awhile ago !" The tears streamed from the eves so unused to them, and before he knew it he was on his knees. He had few words on his lips, but, as he told Reuben when he made his last visit to the jail before leaving, "I jest staid thar. It 'peared Reuben Delton, Preacher. 183 like I felt nearer ter God, an' that he wus know- in' w'at I wanted, an' how I felt 'thout my talk- in'. Wus I right, preacher ?" "Yes, you surely were right," said Reuben, deeply touched by this simple and graphic de- scription of true prayer. That farewell visit was a sorrowful one to Ruger, for it seemed to him that it would be impossible for him to live a Christian life with- out Reuben's friendship and help. "Ah, Ruger !" said Delton, when the poor fellow expressed his fear and his distress, "it is a blessed thing to know that you have a better Hel2>er than ever I could be," and he turned to John xiv. and read Christ's promise concern- ing the Holy Spirit. "He who has convinced you of sin, and of a judgment to come, will also teach you how to read and how to live. But I will write to you. I do not mean to forget you, my friend, and I shall do all I can to help you. I have already written to one of the best lawyers in this dis- trict, and will also write to the governor. But you must be patient, and gentle and cheerful, and keep asking for grace to prove that you are a changed man." "One thing I want to ask you, Where was it that you shot the man ? Over in Tennessee ?" 184 Reuben Delton, Preacher. "^o, it were jest this side o' tlier l^orth Calinv line/' replied Riiger, struggling with the emotion that Reuben's thoughtful kindness had awakened. "That makes it all easier, and now let me read you a few verses and pray with you, for I must be going." linger brushed his sleeve across his eyes and handed his Bible to Reuben. "Take my Bible, preacher. I like ter have you han'le it ; and I wisht you'd mark some more." He had told Reuben of the terrible conflict he had endured the first afternoon that he was in jail. "Preacher, you never had ter fight ther devil an' verself , too, that-a-wav, did you ? AVhv, I jest cussed you, and cussed myself, too, for givin' up ter you !" "Ah ! vou don't know how manv fio^hts I have too. But there's where the comfort of religion comes in. The Bible tells us we are to fight sin, but it tells us how, and that God is on our side, and so we are -more than conquerors through him that loved us." After he had prayed with him, Reuben, ris- ing to go, took Ruger's hand and said, "]^^ow, Ruger, when your heart and your faith fail you. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 185 pray! Talk to God just as you would talk to me. Study your Bible if you want to know how to serye God. I haye marked some of the letters Paul wrote while he was in jail. You can see what God's grace did for him. I am going to send you some books to read. If you keep your mind busy, you can stand this life better. Re- member you haye pleased God by confessing your sins and giying yourself up, and that will be in your f ayor when you come to be tried. As soon as I hear that your case is coming up for trialj please God, I will come oyer and stand by you." Ruger tried to speak, but the words seemed to choke him. He could only place his other hand oyer Reuben's for a moment, then, turning his back, as he heard Simpson coming, he leaned his head against the window and sobbed. Reuben Delton stopped in the doorway of the jail and said, "l^h\ Simpson, you know I am going to leaye Wautauga soon. I haye a fayor to ask of you before I go. It is that you will treat Dan Ruger kindly. He has been a great sinner; he knows it, but he has been sayed by a great Sayior, and I belieye that under God he was sayed by kind words." In a few sentences Reuben told the story of Marthy's first meeting with Ruger, then of the 186 Reuben Delton, Preacher. scene at tlie spring, wlien little Greyson had softened liis heart by love. Simpson had begun to listen with something of indifference, if not of scorn, for the friendly interest manifested by the preacher in this out- cast, but as, in his quiet, forceful way, Keuben told the story of Kuger's conversion, the man's head drooped, and he leaned up against the door post, evidently much moved. Several other men had gathered around the steps and were listening, a gaping curiosity quite in contrast to the feeling shown by the jailor. Simpson looked up when Eeuben finished speaking, and said in a tone of real penitence, ^'Preacher Delton, I never heard nothin' like that before in my life. I don't wonder you feel like vou do 'bout Dan Euo-er. I own I didn' have much faith in him nur his perfessions. I b'lieved he wus a foolin' you, but I hain't got nuthin' furder ter say; an' I'm plumb 'shamed of not treatin' you an' him no better." He shook Delton's hand cordially, and the latter o^ot into his bui>:2;y and drove off. There had never been seen a larger crowd gathered at Evergreen church than collected on the last Sunday that Eeub Delton preached there. And it was quite a curiously mixed crowd. Reuben Delton, Preacher. 187 for, in addition to the regular attendants, there were many mountain people lured there by cu- riosity, and also quite a sprinkling of ^ ^summer boarders." Among others, there was a party of gentlemen who had been fishing in the neighbor- hood of Yalle Crucis for some days. There was a little stir in the large congrega- tion when Reuben announced his text: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'' Many had never been to church before. Reuben had tried in vain to induce them to come. They had come only to hear the story of ^^Dan Ruger's takin." And there were strangers there who he would probably never see again, and he dared not, as he had told Marthy the night before — "he dared not let the opportunity pass to preach Christ and him crucified." There was something of quiet dignity and of reverence in Reuben Delton's pulpit man- ner, entirely independent of broadcloth and clerical dress, that impressed the strangers at once. The key-note of his sermon was that wonder- ful "whosoever." After dwelling on who it was that sent, and who it was that came, and 188 • Reuben Delton, Preacher. why, lie showed the contrast between the broad- ness of God's invitations and the limitations of onrs. Then suddenly he began to tell the story of Dan Rnger. Told of his white, haggard face at Mandy Snoggs' window ; told of the swift prayer of Marthy, and of the first kind words spoken to him. And with vivid simplicity told of the scene at the spring, their singing, the stealthy approach of the outlaw, the loving baby arms put 'round his neck ; and then he told the story of their meeting on the mountain, of Ruger's confession and conversion, and of his voluntary surrender of his arms and of himself, and of his taking him to jail. There was a Avonderful eifectiveness in this simple narrative illustrating God's love to sin- ners. All allusions to his own part in the story were made briefly, and when he told of his prayer with the outlaw, the intense stillness was broken by sobs, and there were tears on many faces. "Dear friends," said Reuben, with his arms outstretched in that tender winning way that was especially attractive in him, "that same love is for you ! That whosoever means you ! It was love that won Dan Ruger, and Dan Ruger in Reuben Delton, Preacher. 189 jail to-day is a free man for tlie first time in his life, and the truth hath made him free.'' The simple services closed with a hymn, which Reuben announced as ^^the h}Tiin Euger is so fond of." " I am so glad that my Father in heaven." After a recess for dinner Reuben Delton preached his farewell sermon from 2 Corin- thians xiii. 11. 'Squire Farnham said after it was over, "Ef you never had known Preacher Delton before, you'd ha' known w'at manner of man he wus from that sermon. I hadn' but one fault to fin' with it. I never did love ter do my weepin' in public, but I jest cried to-day along with the women folks !" Wesley Conway, the young man who was to follow Reuben Delton as pastor of Evergreen church, was a mountaineer too, though from an- other State. And he w^as also a classmate of Reuben's at the Seminary, and spent a part of a summer with him in evangelistic work, so that he was not an entire stranger to the people. And now, with this peep at the friends the Delton's had left behind them, let us return to Meason's Cross Roads and see what had become of them. CHAPTEK III. -, " " 'Tis home where're the heart is. IT was now the second week of October. The weather was lovelv, bnt the air was siiffi- cientlj frosty to remind Keiiben that he had no time to lose in bnilding. He had found a place about a mile beyond Mineville that seemed just the situation he wanted. It was a small farm Iving in the nar- row but fertile valley of Peach Creek, not far from the ford where the roads forked for Upper Peach Cove and Cherry Cove. After much dillv-dallYino* and reflection the old man who owned the land consented to sell a small tract, but he was evidently very cautious, fearing that this preacher, like some others he had met, would get the better of him in the bar- gain. Something, however, in Delton's face and manner gave him confidence, and the purchase was made. It was no sooner knovm. that the new preacher had bought a farm than the neighbors at once gathered about Reub and manifested their in- Reuben Delton, Preacher. 191 terest. With some, of course, it was idle curi- osity — ^^tliere's much of a muchness" in human nature — but there were many who came from honest, neighborly interest ; and Reuben ac- cepted all the help offered, not only because he was so anxious to get through before cold weather set in, but because he had learned the art of winning people by accepting kindnesses, as well as bv doino; them. Then, too, he wanted to show these people that he was an industrious man, and to afford them an object lesson of what he hoped to teach them. He had abundant help every day in cutting out and clearing up what ground was needed for the house-lot and barn-yard. I^othing like his energy had been seen in this neighborhood before. He had not been among these people two weeks, and yet he had bought his land, had made the contract for the lumber for his house, and was at work with from five to eight men clearing off the ground. It was no little trial to Marthy that at first they had to stay at iVIeason's, but she was not only well supplied with common sense, but it was consecrated common sense. ^^I have to stay here because there isn't any- where else that we can stay even as comfortably 192 Reuben Delton, Preacher. as here until the house is built ; and maybe the Lord has something for me to do for these peo- ple that I must do right now." And so she saw Eeuben ride off day by day with a brave heart and cheerful face. She spent her first morning there at her wash tub at the spring, much to the astonishment of Mrs. Meason, who could not understand any one bothering herself with work who had so good an excuse as Mar thy had just then. Marthv had taken out her o^m tubs from the wagon and a jar of soft soap. One of the girls had led the way to the spring, a few hundred vards in the rear of the house. As Marthv set down her tubs she said, ^^Are vou going to wash, too?'' She asked this more be- cause of the pressing need she had discovered than from any indications of such a j)urpose on the part of Liny Meason. "Well, no; I cain't say as I ^^^,ls. We-uns run out o' soap awhile back, an' we hain't never thought ter make up no mo." "Oh ! well ; I'll let vou have some of mine. I have a whole jar full," said Marthy, eager to get the girl's energy stirred. "Well, I could wash some, an' I 'low it wouldn' hurt nobody, but we-uns does things mighty slow." Then she added slowly, as if re- Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 193 fleeting on the possibility, "I reckon I kin git a tub ef par hain't tuck 'em all off ter ther cider press." She turned away, moving with a little more vim than ordinary under the influence of a new impulse, and left Marthy inwardly resolving that she would not drink cider while she was at the Mea sons' ! Liny brought the tub in a little while, and Marthv had the satisfaction that evening of knowing that there were more clean, clothes in the house than had been there for many a day ! This young girl was the brightest of the Meason family. She w^as about sixteen years old, and had never been to school but a part of a year, the excuse being that she couldn't be spared ^^fur goin' en comin', w'ich tuck her nigh the whol' day. An', arter all, w'at good were it ?" added Mrs. Meason in a lazy tone. Long afterwards, when Liny was redeemed from unbelief and ignorance, she said to Marthy, ^^Miss Delton, when I come back ter ther spring that fust mornin' you staid to our house an' heerd you a singin' over your wash tub so happy like an' differ'nt from us, I jest said I'm a-goin' ter be es much like her as I kin', an' ef it's re- ligion w'at does it, well, then that's w'at I want." During the beautiful last days of October, 194 Reuben Delton, Preacher. and the early days of ISTovember, while Reuben was bnsy clearing off his land preparatory to building, he decided, to Marthy's great delight, that they might camp out while the weather per- mitted on the other side of Mineville, and about a mile from where he was building. It was so much more convenient to his work, and he wanted Marthy's sus^orestions, and, too, he thought that she might become better ac- quainted with the women of the yillage, and begin the work of uplifting them. The superintendent of the mines had kindly offered to lend them a tent, and Mar thy sug- gested that if it should be damp, they could sleep in the wagon at night. And so reluctantly the Measons saw them go oif; Liny especially manifesting her distress. She had had a glimpse into another world, where, as she expressed it, "they wus like we- uns, an' wusn't neither.'' "Preacher," said Marthy, as they drove off from Measons, "there's something in that girl that makes me think of a wild bird fastened in a cage and struggling to be free, and I hope we will be permitted to set her free." In spite of all sorts of discomforts and funny accidents, they were a happy little family during the bright days spent in camp. Hearty and Reuben Delton, Preacher. 195 happy-hearted, used to roughing, and perfectly willing to "put up with things/' they really en- joyed the life. The people of the village were curious, and even prying sometimes, but the Deltons bore all with a courage and patience born of their in- tense love for the souls of these people. Before they had been a week in camp at the ford Marthy invited all those who would help her start a Mothers' Meeting to come out to the camp at three o'clock one afternoon. She made some tea cakes and had a pot of coffee ready, and waited with a prayer in her heart for success in this beginning of her work. Among those who accepted Marthy's invita- tion was a young woman, apparently about twentv vears old, who was a 2:ood deal more 1/1/ / o dressed than the others, and who carried herself in a way that indicated her conscious superi- ority to them. Sbe was a handsome woman, with really beau- tiful dark auburn hair and fine brown eyes, and had a much better figure than the average woman of the class to which she seemed to be- long. Her dress was extremely gaudy. She wore a soiled, draggled lawn skirt, with flowers of a large pattern in gay colors ; a shirt waist made of solid yellow cheese cloth, and a hat woman. 196 Reuben Delton, Preacher. quite gay with red roses and cro^^Tied with a large bow of yellow ribbon. The other women — there were nine alto- gether — were most of them in plain dark dresses and snnbonnets, or broad straw hats, which made the contrast very striking. As Mar thy passed from one to another shak- ing hands and asking for names in her winsome way, she approached the handsome young nan. And yours ?" she asked, as she held her hand out. "Baxter's my name — Miss Tim Baxter" — w^as the reply, with a broad smile and a toss of the head. Marthy made a mental resolution to per- suade jMrs. Tim Baxter that quieter costumes were more fashionable and in better taste than hers. There were several children, two or three of them being babies, so that the scene was not lacking in animation, despite the silence of the guests at first. Beuben had bought some chairs the day be- fore, and these, with the two they had in the wagon and a box turned oyer, seated the audi- ence under the beautiful birch tree that Marthy called her parlor. Reuben DeUon, Preacher, 197 She had a table bv her, which had been an- other of their purchases of the day before, and on it was a dainty white cloth. Her Bible lay on it, and a hymn book, and beside them was a pitcher filled with wild flowers. It was a lovely afternoon. The warm sun- light left its mellow glow on everything. The river rippled by peacefully over the pretty red- brown pebbles and eddied around the large lichened rocks nearer the banks. The soft white clouds floated above all, as God's blessings hang above us, thoua'ht Martbv. As she looked about her on the stolid faces there was a conflict in her heart between pity and despair. Every woman was provided with a snuff-brush, and the tin snuff-boxes were be- ing passed around apparently by way of refresh- ments ! ^'I must do something to get that blank, ani- mal look out of these faces,'' thought Marthy, ^'but how can it be done ?" sua'ffested some evil spirit that seemed haunting her. The promise came quickly to mind : ^'My grace is sufficient for thee !" Those thoughts flashed upon her in the first moment or two that she stood up. In another she was explaining quite pleasantly what a Mothers' Meeting was, and telling them of the 198 Reuben Delton, Preacher. meetings over in Waiitauga, and of all the good and the pleasure that had come of them. "ISTow let lis ask God to bless these meetings, because nnless he does thej will do ns no good. Let us praj," she said, reverently, and to the as- tonishment of the company, she knelt down. Two or three followed her example, Mrs. Tim Baxter, among others, thongh she seemed to re- gard it as very entertaining, as she snickered and whispered most of the time. Marthy's prayer, simple enough for a child to understand, was only a cry for help to live as wives and mothers should, and to be able to make home happy for husbands and children. Before she had finished, the silly smile had faded from Mrs. Baxter's face, and she said afterwards to some one, ^^Miss Delton makes me feel cur'ons. I never had no preacher to make me feel that-a- way." After singing a familiar hymn in which two or three joined her in feeble, cracked voices, Marthv read a few verses from the Bible, ex- jDlaining them as she read. Then she did a very wise thing. She told them something of her own story. How Miss Greyson had helped her, and how she felt that she must help others to show her gratitude. ^^That is what has brought my husband and Reuben DeltoUj Preacher. 199 me here, ^ot just for him to preach to you all Sundays, but for both of us to try to help you to come to God, and to live better and hap- pier lives every way." "And now/' she said, smiling, "I want you all to eat with me. People never get real friendly until they eat together. I will make some coffee now," she added as she went over to where she had built a fire. Her kettle was already on, and in a few moments she had the coffee made. Marthy brought from the tent her dishes of tea cakes, and the cups and saucers, and sugar and cream. The faces of her guests wore an expression that indicated both pleasure and surprise. This was not like anvthino- thev had ever seen or imagined before ! This first Mothers' lleeting was a complete success. As one and another gathered courage to speak, their comments not only amused but gratified Marthy. "Well, Miss Delton, this is j^li^mb fine! We never had no sich a woman in our parts befo! You're as good as a preacher, an' yit ye kin cook fine, too !" "How' dye make these yer ? I hain't never put nothin' like this inter my mouth befo', sar- tain !" 200 Reuben Delton, Preacher. "Well ! well ! she's got pvo (pure) sugah in her coffee, an' it's cler as water ! Well !" "It's better'n' a circns," remarked Mrs. Bax- ter in a tone that made IMarthy wonder if she was in earnest or trying to ridicule things. Such were some of the comments, and Ifarthy, seizing a quiet minute, said, "l^ow, I would like to have another meeting two weeks from to-daj, but I want somebody else to give us an invitation. Over in Wautauga we met at a different house every time. Our house will not be finished for a month, I reckon." There was silence for a while, then, after some whispering, one woman said, "Well, I 'low we kin have it at our house, but I don' know how to begin." "Oh ! never mind about that," answered Marthv, auicklv. "I'll do all that, and if each one will furnish a cup and saucer and spoon, and each one bring a cup of flour, and some- body'll furnish the lard, and somebody else sorg- hum, I'll teach you how to make tea cakes my wav !" "Well ! well !" was the general exclamation, in tones of evident satisfaction. Then, as Marthv had learned by experience was neces- sary, she said, "E^ow I guess we had better break up. We don't want the men folks to fuss Reuhen Delton, Preaclier. 201 about our not being at home to get snpper in time.'' With hearty handshakings Marthj's first ^[others' fleeting in Peach Creek valley closed. The size of Renben Delton's house was a mat- ter of mnch comment to some of his friends. ^'Yon-nns inns' 'low ter take summer board- ers, preacher," said one man when he found that tliere were to be four rooms beside the din- ins; room and kitchen. "Why, no, that's not the reason. You see, we don't believe it is good for people to live so crowded. You can't keep healthy and clean when you do. Then, we like to have a spare room, where we can ask ]:>eople to sit when they come to see us, and Avliere I can get away from the noise my boy makes when I'm getting ready to preach. We would rather not eat in our kitchen if we can help it, so you see I have just a little room to cook in, and we will eat in this room," pointing to where the dining room was going to be. '^'Xow, tlie next one of you that's goins: to build, trv it for vourself. Lumber is plentiful and cheap, and I'll help any of you. You'll see that it makes a man feel better to have a clean, comfortable, roomy house." "Yer goin' ter be mighty fine w'en ye git yer glass mnders, too." 202 Reuben Delton, Preacher. ^'Well, not so fine as so comfortable, for when the dark days come in winter, yon can't see in- doors nnless yoii have good light." ^^Wa-al, bnt ther ain't nothin' ter see fur," drawled one man not over twenty-five years of age. "Nothing to see for ! Why, man, the win- ter's the time for yon and me to try to read and know something ahont what's going on in the world. Yon can read, can't yon ?" "Ya-as, I kin make ont ter read some, bnt ther ain't nothin' fnr me ter read. I hain't got money ter spen' on books." '^You've got it to buy tobacco and poor whis- key. Save some of that. And, let me tell you, I've got some books that a good woman gave to me to lend to people who couldn't afford to buy 'em. When the bad weather sets in, come to me and I will always give you something to read." When the time came for Reuben's first reg- ular Sunday preaching service, the weather was so fine that he decided to have preaching out of doors. There was no church building within five miles, and the school house in Mineville was not onl}^ much out of repair, but entirely too small for the crowd that he hoped would attend. Both Marthy and Reuben realized the im- Reuben Delton, Preacher. 203 portance of that first regular service. They knew, not only from what they had heard since thev came, but from what thev had knowm else- where, of the kind of preachers and preaching these people had been nsed to, therefore they spent much time in prayer, asking that Reuben might be directed as to what to preach about, and even that the right words might be given him. He had had some of the neighbors to help him with several loads of lumber with which they arranged seats in a fine grove just on the edge of the village. These rude benches and the chairs brought by the village people fur- nished seats for a good-sized crowd. The people began to gather by nine o'clock, and for an hour or more they continued to ar- rive. There were many more than Reuben had expected, and some of them were pretty wild- looking fellows, and several appeared to be un- der the infiuence of drink. Just before time for the services to begin Superintendent Laxley beckoned to Reuben, and when he came dowm from the stand, said in a whisper, ^^Mr. Delton, some of these fellows are from away up in Peach Cove, and are pretty rough cases. Did you leave anything out at your camp that they could carry off or injure V^ 204 Beiihen Delton, Preacher. Reuben smiled. ^^Wliv, captain, I had to leave a 2:aod many tiling's in tlie wa2:on, bnt they were mostly packed np ; and I have left them in God's care. I am in his seryice, and he has covenanted to keep me and mine." Captain Laxley's face flushed, and he said with a gleam of scorn in his bright blue eyes, ^^All riaht, if you are satisfied. I was fi^oing to offer to send two of my men over to guard your things. I am like Cromwell : I believe in trust- ing in God and keeping the powder dry — es- pecially in keeping the powder dry." He turned awav as he said this, and Reuben returned to the rude platform he had fixed for the services. After singing, which llarthv led, and a short prayer Reuben told the people why he had come, and what he hoped to do here; and then after reading and expounding the Scripture, he took for his text the words : Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. If he had been speaking only to little chil- dren, he could not have told more simply the story of God's love or of Christ's death on the cross. He judged rightly that there were some here on whose ears the story fell for the first time, and many who had never heard the gosjDcl really preached before. We are all familiar with the stories of the Reuben Delton, Preacher. 205 ignorant preachers who are to be found among the negroes of the South, and too often are made to laugh at rather than pity their ignorance ; but few understand how many so-called preach- ers scattered far and wide through the moun- tain country are no better. Men of immoral lives, many of them content to live without Bibles in their homes, it cannot be surprising that they so often fail to win the confidence of the people, or to bring souls to Christ. For, no matter how wicked a man may be himself, he expects the life of the man who preaches to him to be correct, and to add its testimony to the re- ligion he preaches. There was some disturbance on the edge of the crowd ^^^lile Reuben was speaking. He stopped a moment; then he called out, "My friends, there is just one thing that I cannot do; that is, preach while people are laughing and talking. You need not come to hear me preach ; but if you do, you must keep quiet. This is God's work I am doing. Other people are trying to listen. You can go away now if you want to." He stopped speaking, and, much to his relief, the men who had been noisy left, and the service proceeded quietly. The second service after dinner was chiefly a song service, and the younger people seemed 206 Reuben Delton, Preacher. especially to enjov it, and one after another voice joined in with Eeuben and Martliy. After an- nouncing that there would be preaching at this place the next Sunday, if the weather permitted, the services closed. On their way home Marthy and Reuben were ioined bv several men from the other side of Peach Creek. Thev had e'one onlv a short dis- tance from Mineville when Keuben was accosted bv a drunken stranger. ^^So you are a preacher, are you ? I thought vou was, or a doctor, bv vour dress. One is as bad as th'other ; both deserve torment. You're both workin' for monev.'' "Yes, stranger, that is true," replied Reuben. "I am a preacher, and preach for money. My denomination is not very large in this State, but we have preached for money enough to es- tablish a home to care for the children of such as you — drunken parents who neglect their fam- ilies. Have you any child you want to give to us V * "Thar, now, preacher. YouVe salted him sure! He ain't srot nothin' further to sav to you just now !" exclaimed Reuben's compan- ions. * True incident. u Reuben Delton, Preacher. 207 The man rode past tliem, then wheeling his mnle about, turned back to town. Reuben had won the respect and confidence of the farmers who had heard his sharp and just retortj and in the years of his ministry in Peach Creek Yallev found no warmer friends than the Little Peach Creek people. As they parted at the ford one of them said, '^Come up and see us, preacher, and bring yer wife an' boy. We-uns lives po', but ther door's always a swingin' fur sich as you-uns. I wisht my woman had ha' come ter preachin'. AVe-uns ain't used ter hear in' sich preachin', nur sich sinffin' neither." "Thank you !" said both Peuben and Marthy. "We will come; how far do you live beyond here ?" "Wy, jest a little piece up yer in ther fork of Little Peach Creek; nigh outer two miles er thar about. Cain't vou-uns come to-morrow?" "I'm sorry, but I don't see how we can. You see, I'm building and want to get done before cold weather sets in, but you may look for us sure. And you come to see us. God willing, we'll be in our house bv the end of next week, and then we want to see all our friends. Good- bye, and God bless you !" The men crossed the ford just in sight of the 208 Reuben Delton, Preacher. camp, and as tliey rode along tliey talked of Renben and of the preaching and the singing. "Well," said the older one, "we-uns hain't never had no sich preachin' in these parts be- fo' ! That ere feller's jes' plumb grand. He's differ'nt, that's it !" "Well, thar you're ria'ht now. You hit ther nail plumb on ther head then, Mac, sartain ! Ef a man ain't differ'nt hisself, an' a-lookin' like he knowd what he were a-talkin' 'bout, hit ain't no use fur him ter git up an' tell folks how they oughter live. Hopper, he says as how Delton's jes' tunned in an' been a-workin' like a boss cleanin' up an' a raisin' his house." They -rode on, talking, perhaps, less of Reu- ben's sermon than he could have wished, but they had a new proof of the power of upright living — an object lesson much needed in that reo-ion. CHAPTER IV. Some Sad Sights. " A man he seems of cheerful yesterdays, And bright to-morrows." THERE is no characteristic that so qualifies a man or a woman for the work of the Home Mission field — always, of course, ex- cepting a constraining love for the Master — as a spirit of dauntless cheerfulness. This trait both Reuben and Marthy Delton possessed in a very marked degree. And well it was for them that they did. When the severe winter weather set in, as it did about the last of xs'ovember, they were in their new home. And very thankful they were to be able to say so, though there was yet work to be done on the interior ; their bed rooms and kitchen, or stove room, were finished. Used as they had been to living on the turn- pike for the four years of their married life, this seemed a very lonely place. It w^as on the road leading to Upper Peach Creek Cove, but few people travelled that road in winter. It was almost in sight of Peach Creek Eord, where 210 Reuben Delton, Preacher. the trees were bare, but even that road was com- paratively little travelled. Thev had had company enough while the honse was in process of bnilding, and for a while after thev moved in. Both men and women had come to inspect the home, and thev did so tlior- onffhlv. Marthy had more than once fonnd men at her cupboard or stove in the kitchen when she came in from the spring, but it proved that they were there for no more harmful purpose than "Jest a lookin' at all vou-uns is ffot." But when the rainy sj^ell began and days passed without any visitors, Marthy was glad to be verv busv. The first day that he could spare after they were reallv settled in the manse, Reuben had gone to Upper Peach Cove ; and he had gone un- der protest from the better class of people in Mineville. When Captain Laxley had heard that he was going he said, "He'd better make his will, and take his gun along, too," but Reuben only smiled and said to him, "I never carry a gun for pro- tection, captain. I dare not.'' When he did start off he looked much more like a mountain hunter than a preacher, so far as costume was concerned, for his heavy cloth- Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 211 ing was of home-made jeans. He wore his stout boots outside liis trousers, and his wool cap and his muffler were both Marthy's work. When he reached home in the afternoon Marthy, who welcomed him at the door, missed his merry whistle, and was struck with the look of sadness that was not dispelled even by the smile with which he always greeted her and Greyson. He passed into the kitchen, where there was warmth and comfort and cleanliness, and the appetizing odors of the early supper Marthy al- ways had ready for him after one of his tramps. When he sat down to remove his heavy boots, she came near, and taking off his cap and muffler, stooped and kissed his brow. ^Are you very tired, preacher V "Oh ! it is not that, Marthy, but the sights I have seen to-day. Why, we don't know any- thing of the misery and squalor of some of the mountain people. ^^Some of the homes I found are nothing but shanties. One room each, in wdiich whole fam- ilies eat and sleep and live like animals ! ex- cepting that animals are not profane. One woman cursed the children before me again and again, apparently just to let me see that she could. Most of them were in rags, and this in 212 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Decembei ! O Marthy ! dear, Avho hath made us to differ ? What can we render to the Lord for all his benefits to ns ? Two of the men I saw had been doAvn to my first preaching service, and they treated me better than others. One man said he didn't know who I was, and when I told him I was Preacher Delton he said then he had no use for me. Preachers were all alike ; thev cheated and lied all week, and then talked religion on Sundays. I tried to get him to let me read a few words from the Bible, but he cursed me and told me he would shoot me if I didn't begone !" Marthy shuddered. ^ Were you frightened, preacher ?'' ^^^N'o ; I was too sorry for him to think of be- ing in danger, and, you know, I was about my Father's business, and so was safe.' "At one house they were more friendly. They were eating dinner when I arrived and would have me go in." Reuben drew up his shoulders, and his face expressed the deepest disgust. "There was some dirty-looking com bread on a broken, greasy dish," he continued. "In a cracked bowl there was some boiled bacon. As far as I could see, there were no table knives and forks, and but one spoon. The father and Reuben Delton, Preacher. 213 two older boys were using their pocket knives ; the rest of the family ate with their hands. I told them what was perfectly true, that I was not hungry. Yon know, I carried some biscuits in my pocket. I tried to talk to the children. N^one of them had ever been to school, nor had any but the two older boys ever been to Mine- ville, only six or seven miles away ! These chil- dren did not know who made them, or who Jesus Christ was. Indeed, even one of the women asked ^ef that wus the man Tib McCoy heerd about do^\Ti at preachin' V " ^^Preacher, it is all terrible," said Marthy, ^^but w^e must not take it so hard as to be impa- tient about bettering their lives, but just give ourselves more wholly to the work from this time on. We can't hope to do much actual work among them in the winter, but we can do a lot of praying for them. Don't you think so?" Marthy was at the stove making the coffee w^hile she was talking, and Reuben came and stood by her, then he kissed her and said by way of reply, ^^Thank God for my wife !" That evening Reuben w^rote a long letter to Dan Ruger, not the first since he had come to Peach Creek Valley. He had only heard once from Puger, for waiting was a slow process, with him, as he de- 214: Reuben Delton, Preacher, clared in his letter, but he was ^^practicing every day/' he said. After little Greyson was asleep, his mother set herself to the pleasant work of writing to Miss Greyson, and as her letter is characteris- tic and contains her impressions of her new home, we will give it. It also gives an insight into the plans and purposes of the young mis- sionaries. Peach Valley ]\Iaxse, December — , 18 — . ^'My Dear Best FraEXD : ^^If it has seemed a long time since I wrote you, there have been two reasons that I hope you will think good, l^irst, of course, I have been busy, and have done a little of almost every kind of work, excepting preaching and shing- ling ! Second, I thought by waiting I would have more to tell. ^^Well, we are in our new home at last, and I would never have appreciated it properly if I had not had to spend two Aveeks at Meason's Cross Roads and ten days camping out. But the camping was really pleasant, for, you know, we had a good tent and the wagon, and the weather was beautiful. Greyson enjoyed it as much as we did, and generally woke up saying, '^Mummie, dis our funnv houshe, ain't it V Reuben Delton, Preacher. 215 ^'\Ye moved liere the day before Thanksgiv- ing Dav, and lieub asked some of the friends tliat had been so kind to ns to come to a Thanks- giving service. We had prayers and sang some hvmns, and then I handed aronnd coffee and molasses cake. Reub didn't want me to have anytliing more for fear the people might think we were pntting on airs ! But they seamed to enjoy it. These people are all friendly and hos- pitable, and they like us to be the same. ^'Oh ! my dear friend, there is a great work to do here, and when Reub comes in and tells me what he sees up in the coves, I feel reconciled to leaving our dear home in Wautauga. ^^Reub has had two preaching services out doors, and there were large crowds present. Since the weather has been cold, we feel the need of a comfortable building, and are praying now that God will put it into the hearts of some of his people with means to help us. Just think ! lumber is so plentiful a few hundred dollars would build a church and a schoolhouse too. We need that as well as a church. There is a school building near the village, but it is so small there is not room for more than half the people that come, and the stove smokes, and the glass is broken out of all the windows but one. 216 Reuben Delton, Preacher. "I have had two Mothers' Meetings, and they s&emed to be very much enjoyed. I want to have one here next week if the weather suits. I think it would do them good to see my stove room and all the little conveniences that my good hus- band has fixed for me. Keub said I had better invite the husbands too. "I have not told you yet how the house looks. It is built of logs, just as Mountain Manse was, and ceiled inside. We have four rooms besides the stove room and the attic, which is unfin- ished yet. There is a porch in front, and a broad porch at the stove room, where my wood is piled ready for use. The windows are all glazed, and have board shutters too. It is more convenient in some respects than Mountain Manse, but that is mv first love, and no other can take its place, and, oh ! dear Miss Greyson, how we miss the beautiful view. Sometimes I think I understand how the Swiss could die of homesickness. But do not think I am not happy or willing to stay. Reub and I both feel satis- fied that God called us here, and are glad to do his will, but I 'am Marthy still, you know, and so I often wonder whv I could not have served him and lived for him there ! "We have had several letters from ladies who want to come here to teach, but so far only two Reuben Delton, Preacher. 217 seemed at all suitable. Reub thinks it very im- portant to have the right kind of woman, and have her right away. You see, if the teacher comes by April, she will get the benefit of the Public School Fund for three months. ^What we need is an earnest Christian woman who comes to do the Master's work not for the money or for the fun of the thing. ^'^One young lady wrote to know if many sum- mer boarders come here, and if they dressed much ! ^'It seemed a very funny question, and we laughed heartily, for to both of us it seems as far away from the resorts of summer boarders as the Klondyke ! You know how we feel about this work being in the hands of educated and consecrated mountain men and women. ^ot that others are not earnest and capable, but these mountain people, even the dullest of them, know what they call the '^differ'nce' between those who were raised in the mountains and those from do^^m below, and it seems that we can get nearer to them. "Reub tries every way to keep up what he calls ^the look of a mountain man.' He never wears anything but jeans and heavy brogans, and he doesn't want me to wear anything but calico dresses, excepting, of course, in the win- 218 Reuben Delton, Preacher. ter, when, for comfort's sake, I put on woolen; but my best dress now is a linsev — ves, and it looks right nicely, too ! ^'AYe believe, more than ever, that if we take the same materials thev have, and make our- selves and our home comfortable with them, Ave can do more good and help them better. Don't jon think so ? ^^A man who helped to raise the house came in the other day and said to Reub, ^I'm a-goin' ter build another room to my house, mebby two, for it do seem like you-uns live more respecter- ble like than we-uns, an' mebbj that's ther rea- son.' ^^I did want to sav : and mavbe if vou would make some soaj) and use it on yourselves and your clothes, you would certainly feel more ^re- specterble like.' "I wrote you about the young girl Liny ^^feason ? Well, her mother is going to let her stay with me to help me this winter — that is what they say — but I hope to help her. I want to teach her to sew and to cook, too, as well as how to read. And Keub will feel so much better satisfied when he s'oes off to stav all day. ^^We have had an interesting letter from Dan Euger lately. You would be surprised to see Beuhen Delton, Preacher. 219 how lie is improving in spelling and grammar too. Instead of the terrible restlessness he had to suffer from at first, he savs he don't mind it so much now. He reads and writes every day, and tries to memorize some from the Bible. He says his best friend there is the jailer's little daughter, who comes to see him every day, talk- ing to him through the grating. ^^^fr. Conway, the preacher at Evergreen, wrote to Reub that he never saw a man who gave better evidence of being a changed man. "Somebody heard Reub telling about him, and said, ^Hem ! just wait till he gets out ! It's easy enough for him to be good when he hasn't any temptations.' Reuben never answered him, for, as he said to me afterwards, 'People who have never known how God helps you, nor how many kinds of temptations beset a Christian, don't understand what we sav anv more than I would understand German.' "He is to be tried at the spring temi of Wau- tauga Court, and Reub has promised to go over, even if he isn't called as a witness. "Reub has great hopes of the governor par- donins: him, and he wrote to Ruffer and told him so, and he answered, 'Well, preacher, if God sets me free from this jail, I'll make a bee line fur you, and vou must let me work for vou and with 220 Beuhen Delton, Preacher. you the rest of inj life.' Wasn't that right touching ? He surely is grateful to Reub. ^^Good-bye. It's late and Reub wants break- fast earlier than usual to-morrow, but I must thank you for the papers and magazines. We read together every night after baby is asleep. Thank you for the pictures too. Get the chil- dren interested in collecting all sorts of Bible pictures. We take them up to the cove people. At Christmas we want to have a tree for all the children in the neighborhood. ^^Write to us soon. ^N^obodv but God knows how your letters cheer and strengthen us. Reub sends much love." "Faithfully yours, "JMarthy Lester Delton." As the long dreary winter wore to an end, Marthy was stout and brave enough to have gone on manj^ a trip with Reuben, but even after Liny ^leason came she did not feel that both of them ought to be absent from little Grey- son at once. Liny Meason proved a bright scholar in the kitchen, as well as at her books, and Marthy's love for Miss Grevson had not been more wor- shipful than Avas hers for Marthy. She was will- ing to learn to cook and to sew just because she Reuben Delton, Preacher. 221 wanted to be like Marthy, and for tlie same rea- son she wanted to study the Bible and to be a Christian. It was a source of grief to Marthy that Liny had no higher motive than this, but Reuben eon- soled her by reminding her that some people naturally accept the truth more slowly than others. The man who at first only saw men as trees walking ended by seeing them as they were. "It is another of those lessons in patience that God has been setting us lately, little woman. Let us try to learn them perfectly." CHAP TEE V. Preacher Delton iist a ITew Roee. TI^ME flies swiftly even away from the biis^' liaiints of men when one leads a busy life, and it seemed to Reuben and ]\Iartliy Delton that it had never flown so fast as during the first six months of their stav at Peach Valley ii I- Manse. It was not onlv that there was so much to do, but so much to discover. The doing seemed at first only for themselves, for it consisted chieflv in making their new home comfortable and neat, but these young people were not selfish in this effort. It seemed to those who watched and studied them as did Miss Grevson and some of their fel- low-workers as if they never lost sight of the fact that they were to witness by their lives and homes to the uplifting and beautifying power of religion. If they could, in a simple way and out «if the material at hand, make their home more com- fortable 01 more attractive, then at once it be- Reuben Delton, Preacher, 223 came the Master's work for tliem as an object lesson to many who had never had an idea of what home was intended to be. But besides this doing, as we have said, there was the discovering of people to be helped, and of ways of helping them. It would have been easy enough, with the assistance of outside friends who had abundant means, to have gone around like good fairies, and have dropped com- forts d.r\.(l attractions in the wretched I.jvlIs where generations of miserable lives had been lived, but to discover the points of contact, and to show t]:8 sympathy that welled up in theif Jjearts; to preach the gospel of hope and cheer to people Avho had yet to learn the meaning of tliose Avords was a nobler work and a truer test of their interest. The spring, though late, had been wonder- fullv beautiful. 'Hie valley of Peach Cove, shut in on eYQvy side bv the mountains, furnished a veritable hot- bed for lature, and there was such a wealth of lovely r.zalias of every shade from orange to pure white, and such myriads of kalmias, as well as acres of the smaller flowers that love the sunnv meadow lands that the fields bordering the creek seemed like some beautiful piece of tapestry spread out in the spring sunlight. 224 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Then ^vhen tlie rhododendrons came on, glori- fvinG" the dark monntain sides, and occasionallv adding their delicate color to the pale greens along the creek, Marthy's heart was full of joy, and she cried ont to Renben, as thev came in from a round of visits one afternoon in May, ^^O preacher ! this is almost as good as Wau- tauga. But can't you find me one place where I can see far off ? Those pale blue mountains al- ways made me feel nearer to heaven." Late in March the teacher. Miss Grace Fields, arrived, and as it was necessary for her to be near the schoolhouse, she boarded in Mineville. The Deltons were sorry for her sake, and for Marthy too, that she could not have made her home with them, but if she was to be influential in the families as well as with her scholars, it was all important that she should live among them. Marthy called on her promptly and greeted her cordially. She also gave her a standing in- vitation to spend every other Friday night at the manse. An invitation which Miss Fields accepted rather as if she must than because she was really pleased to go. "She's not a mountain woman. Reub, she don't know how to treat us any more than the people in the village, and I'm afraid it makes Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. 225 her feel very lonely; and tliat will make her ^act differ'nt/ as these people say. She's ^awfnl shnt-montherl,' as Mr. Moonev would sav. I wish we conld draw her out some way. She looks so dazed, like she didn't know where she was, and wasn't quite awake." Reuben laughed. ^'Yes, she's ^shut-mouthed', hut we are strangers to her, and, you know, if slie feels different from the rest of us, it is very well she is silent, because nothing riles those peo- ple more than for somebody to come along and bco'in to tell 'em about how thev had thin2;s at home. It is 'most as bad as for a man to be2:in telling how his mother always does, eh, little woman 9V I don't pretend to know about that sort of thing. I am a highly-favored woman, whose husband always likes her way the best," said ^Farthy, with a pretty little flirt of her head and a beaming smile. Miss Fields was really studying Reuben and ^tarthv with much interest. She watched them closelv when thev talked, and wondered at the very correct English they spoke compared with others around her. She seemed timid about visiting them at first, but when two or three successive Fridavs, either Reuben or Marthv had driven in for her, she 226 Beuhen Delton, Preacher, gave herself up to their cordiality, and, while her reserve continued, it had more to do with her past life than her present opinions. ^^Such a queer mixture of simplicity of dress and living, with refinement of manner and culti- vation of mind, I have never seem before! Such deliciously prepared and perfectly cooked food served in such plain ware. Such coarse vet daintilv clean table cloths. Yet everything 1/1/ .7 l-J tasting as well as if served on Sevres China to a woman who lives as I have to from dav to dav." So wrote Miss Fields to a friend after one of her visits to Valley Manse. One afternoon early in July, while Reuben was off in Crab Tree Cove, Marthy got Grey- son readv and drove over to Mineville for Miss Fields. She took Liny Meason that far on her wav home, as her mother had sent her word she must come for a day or two. lany was beginning to show a decided re^ luctance to go back home, and this was a matter of concern to Marthy. "Liny," she said, "when I first saw how dif- ferent my home was from the school home at Skyland, right then, though I was a child, I made up my mind I was going to make it nice and pretty if I could, but I wouldn't have done it if I had stayed away. It makes me happy u Reuben Delton, Preacher. 227 whenever I think about it now. God helped me, and he will help you.'' It was a lovely afternoon^ with the warm sun- light and the cool breeze that nearly always characterize the mountain summers. Miss Fields was ready when Marthy drove up, and as it was still early, she proposed that they should drive out on Crab Tree Cove road. Maybe we will meet my husband,'' she said. He has been up in the cove all day." Anywhere ! anywhere ! where I can see only trees and sky and water !" exclaimed Miss Fields as she stepped into the buggy and took little Greyson on her lap. "Have things been running smoothly at school this week ?" asked Marthy, anxious to show her interest in her companion's work. "Oh ! don't ask me. Help me to forget the school if I can for the next two days !" Marthy might have been willing to have granted the re<]uest if she had not turned just then and seen the tears in Miss Fields' eyes and the look of disgust in her face. "Something has been worrying you," she re- plied quickly ; "and, Miss Fields, you must tell me what it is. You must let my husband and myself sympathize with you, and help you when wo can. We regard it as a part of our work here 228 Reuben Delton, Preacher. to support yoii in your capacity as teacher, and to do all we can to make you comfortable and happy/' The flood gates were opened now, and the tears that had been so long pent up flowed freely. After a few moments she wiped her eyes, and said, ^^Mrs. Delton, I am reaping the reward of mv own wrono'-doinffs. Since I have come here t/ o o and have seen the unselfish work that Mr. Del- ton and you are doing, I see what a sham I have been. I am not really qualified to teach any- where, especially here, where one teaches by life as well by word of mouth. I only came to get as far awav from home and the world I had lived in as I could. I thought that anybody could teach a moimtain school. It is a great mistake, and the scholars found it out sooner than I did. Do you know who Billy Whitley is ?" she added. ^^I know the family, and think I know him by sight. He is nearly grown, isn't he ?" "Yes, and he is the hardest boy in the school to manage. Tie knows that I cannot whip him, and when I set him a task for punishment, he simply looks me in the face and says, ^I'll not do it.' To-day he didn't know a single lesson, and I told him to stav in after school, but he had made other plans, and he just broke into a Beuben Delton, Preacher. 229 rude laugii and said, 'I'm a-goin' a-fishin' this evenin', an' I'd like ter see any little woman like Yon keep me from it !' i^Tow, what conld I do ? I thonght of sending np town for some- body to whip him, hnt do yon tliink I conld get a hoy or girl to go 1 ^ot one ! They're, every one, afraid of him, and I had to see him walk off before school was ont and never say a word." Marthy's eyes flashed, thongh she felt that perhaps Miss Fields had begnn wrong, bnt here was an ontrageons act of disobedience and de- fiance, and it had to be stopped. 'Mnst wait till my hnsband hears of it," she said, warmly. '^I am hoping to see him com- ing at every tnrn in the road." She had hardly finished speaking before the sonnd of a merry whistle greeted their ears. ''There he is !" exclaimed Marthy, laughing. "He may not have rings on his fingers and bells on his toes, bnt he surelv has music wherever he goes !" "Heyo, f ardie ! See me ?" cried out little Greyson, as Reuben approached, mounted on Jobo, the pretty little mule. ''Well! this is nice! I didn't know I was to have an escort home. I feel like a conquer- ing hero," Reuben said, lifting his hat to Miss 230 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Fields and coming near enough to tlie buggy to lift his baby from her lap to a seat in front of him. It was not long before Mar thy had told him the story of Billy Whitley's insolence. "Don't worry^ Miss Fields," he said quietly, "I'll come in on Mondav and settle that matter." Then he changed the subject and began to tell her the story of Cripple Benny. "Away up in the wildest part of Crab Tree Cove there is a miserable cabin occupied by a family of nine bv the name of McCune. About three months ago I found the place. I say I found it, but I believe God led me there. When I stopped at the door, the mother come out with a child about a year old in her arms, and after her trooped six others of various sizes. " ^Good evening !' I said. " ^Evenin' ' " ^You have a house full of children,' I said. 'How many are there V " 'Eight. Jim, he's off wid his par. Ther's another, but he ain't got no sense.' "I asked to see him. She hesitated a min- ute, then said in a perfectly indifferent tone, 'Thar he is.' She pointed to a wretched bed in the corner of the room, and there lay a pale, emaciated boy whose age it was impossible to ii Reuben Delton, Preacher, 231 determine. His large eves rested on me with evident surprise. I spoke to liim. " ^He ain't got no sense ; he cain't talk.' said the mother J who was moving ahont the room. '' ^Tow old is he V 'He's nigh on ter eighteen.' ^Oh !' I said, 'poor fellow !' My heart cried ont to God for the poor boy. I took his wasted hand and asked what his name was. " ^Benny, his par calls him, hut/ she added with a brutal laugh, ^ 'tain't no use ter call him nothin' ; he ain't got no sense.' ^^\11 the while those large patient eyes fol- lowed me, filled with all the pathos for me that one often sees in the eyes of a dumb animal. " ^Benny,' I said gently, 'I am Preacher Del- ton. I am coming to see you again.' He moved his lips and evidently wanted to speak, but ut- tered no sound. " ^ Do say ! be you ther new preacher down ter Mineville ? Well, I've heerd tell o' you-uns, an' they do say you cain't mek a hoss trade, nur don' tech a drap o' w'iskey no time.' ^^The woman's face had brightened consider- ablv, but it still wore an almost animal look of hardness. She turned from speaking to me and cuffed one of the children about his face. I could not see what for, unless it was her way of 232 Reuben Delton, Preacher. expressing lier contempt for a preacher who conldn't make a good horse trade and never drank ! "All the time I kept my eyes on that face on the dirty bed. The boy's eyes were fixed on me. I patted his hand, and at first he was startled, but after he fonnd that it meant only friendli- ness, he seemed to like it. I cannot tell yon Avhat prompted me to take ont my knife and begin to whittle a chip that I j)icked np from the floor. Benny's eyes followed my movements in- tently. Then I pnt my knife in one of his hands and the chip in the other. The effect was startling. He made an effort to smile. Of course, he had no control over his hand, but when he dropped the knife I gave it back to him, and he took it and tried again. Turning round, I said in a positive voice, ^Benny has sense, and you must never tell me or anyone else again that he has not. I believe I can teach him to cut so as to amuse himself, Mrs. Mc- Cune. What would you be if for nearly eigh- teen years people had said you had no sense, and had treated you so ? Do you know God will bring you to judgment for treating your child this way V She seemed frightened, and lost the defiant look she had worn. I asked her if she had a Bible. She actually didn't know what I Reuben Delton, Preacher. 233 meant at first. Then she asked in a sullen tone, '^0, ef ye mean one o' them books ther preacher reads.' " ^Can yon read V ^]^o.' ^Can yonr husband read V ^jSTo.' ^Have any of your children been to school?' ^N'o.' ^^I drew my Bible from my pocket, and read of how the father brou^iit his demoniac boy to Jesus to cure. She Vv^as making an effort to clean up some of the dirt that lay in heaps about the room, but stopped a moment, and asked, 'Whar is he V I tried to make the story of the Christ plain to this poor benighted mind, and then I knelt down by the boy and prayed. I do not remember in my life before to have prayed for another as I prayed for him — for all of them. That was the first of many visits. I go there of tener than to any other home, for the need is greater, and now, look here. Miss Fields !" Reuben held up a rudely-carved knife of rho- dodendron root; even the roughness of the handle had been imitated. "This is Benny McCune's work. But that is not the best news I have to tell. He has learned to read, yes, and learned in three months ! And his delight is something that it is worth half a lifetime to witness. I took him some pictures 234: Reuben Delton, Preacher. to-day, and some sand paper, and he just lay and cried for joy over the latter. And I do believe that the change in the boy has resulted in the conversion of the mother; certainly she is not the savage creatnre that I first met." ^ While Kenben had been telling this interest- ing story, they had driven by a short route to the manse. Miss Fields entered that simple log-cabin home with a feeling of reverence which, as she wrote a friend, was deeper than any she had ever experienced beneath the fretted vault of anv citv church. "For it is the centre of an in- fluence so holy and so powerful that it will never be fully estimated this side of eternity. I have only begmn to see the possibilities in life since I began to know these people.'' Before we pass to the more eventful scenes of this summer, we must tell how Reuben dealt with Miss Fields' obstreperous pupil, Billy Whitley. Having first charged her not to mention to anv one that she had told him of her trouble, I or that anv one was comino; to settle it for her, ft/ O ■'J he went into Mineville on Monday, and, pro- ♦ viding himself with a stout horsewhip, went over to the schoolhouse at dinner recess. The boys. v ^ This incident is founded on fact. Beuben Delton, Preacher. 235 were playing ball as Reuben drew near, and he called to tliem in liis usual cordial manner. Billy Whitley did not speak, but stopped playing, and seemed somewhat surprised to see the preacher. He had had the audacity to come back to school, though he had not prepared a lesson, because he wanted to play ball, baseball beins; his favorite amusement. Keuben saw his opportunity, and quickened his step. His self-control was complete, and he was talking to the boys as he approached. Sud- denly, seizing Whitley by his shirt collar, he raised his whip, his eyes fairly blazing with in- di'o'nation. ^'You big coward ! You comtemptible bully ! You don't know how to treat a lady, but I'll show you !" He laid on the whip across the boy's shoul- ders and hips, and Billy Whitley was too dimnb- founded to do anything but utter the most frightful howls. a Miss Fields, attracted by these unusual sounds, came to the door in time to see him turn on her gallant defender and try to throw him. But Billy Whitley had mistaken his man. Reuben was prepared for his antagonist. His splendid physique, his abiding self-control, gave him the advantage, though Billy was as tall as 236 Reuben Delton, Preacher. he was. He laid the bay on the ground as easily as he would have laid a boy of ten, and there he whipped him again. Then, raising him by his suspenders, he pushed him forward to the school- room door, and said, ^'E^ow, sir, you beg Miss Fields' pardon, and then get your books and go home with me." Billy ^Miitley, thoroughly cowed, sobbed out, ^^I beg — you're — pardon," with his big fists in his eyes like a child of ten. "jSTow gather up your books," said Reuben, quietly. He concluded that the wisest thing he could do was to accompany the boy home, and to make the necessary explanations to his father. The deep spots of color on the cheeks of Miss Fields showed her excitement, and the light that shone in her eyes testified her gratitude and ad- miration. ^'^ow, boys and girls," said Eeuben, as he turned towards the scholars who had gathered outside, ^Vou see that you must obey your teacher. !Nobodv but a coward ever takes ad- vantage of a person he knows can't whip him." He raised his hat and said good morning to Miss Fields. Billy Whitley did not fancy the idea of go- ing off in company with the man who had just conquered him, and started to run as soon as Reuhe7i Deltoii, Preacher. 237 his feet touched the ground, but Reuben Delton had other plans, and with a few strides was up with him. "TTold on, Billy !" he said in a firm but friendly tone ; ^^I am going with you." He laid his hand on Billy's arm. The boy turned a frightened face to him, and said, "Preacher, don't you go home. I'm a-goin' ter do better. Don't yer go; ef par sees you, he'll lay on ter me, sartain, an' he kin beat you even fur whopin all holler !" His earnestness was so ludicrous that Reuben's gravity was sorely tried, but he had no wish to break the boy's spirit entirely. '^^I'd rather go, Billy. I want your father to understand just how I came to whip you. I'll not let him hurt you. You see, if you take time to think about it, you did a low-do^^^l, mean thing when you defied a woman that couldn't whip you. The school was going to suffer for it. The thing had to stop, and there wasn't any- body that could do it as well as I could." The boy hung his head and walked quietly by Reuben's side. His father had a blacksmith's shop on the other side of toA^m, and as they turned into the one village street, Billy began to feel more and more uncomfortable. Reuben talked with him to put him at ease; talked of fishing and farm work, and though everybody 238 Reuben Delton, Preacher. they met turned and looked at this rather ill- sorted couple, nobody ventured to ask what it meant, and Billy assumed a more swaggering air as he neared the one store. Somebody called out, ^Treacher, I wisht you'd stop jest a minute,'' but Reuben never halted, only, looking over his shoulder, said with a smile, ^^I'll be back in a few minutes. I have to see Whitlev on a little business." In a few words he explained to the boy's father what he had done and why, and added, ^^Billy understands why I whipped him. He has apologized, and he has to behave or stay away from school." ^^He got w'at he deserved, an' I'm glad of it," said Whitley, ^Vho was a sensible man, but had a pretty high temper, as Billy knew. But Reuben Delton's quiet manner soothed that, and when he left them there was planted in the heart of Billy Whitley the germ of an un- bounded admiration for the man who had just given him a thrashing. And as the story spread, for, of course, it did spread, Reuben won more and more the respect of the community. If it is true that ^^all the world loves a lover," it is equally true that all the world admires a man of physical courage. Probably because in this case the results are seen, whereas those of moral courage are knoT\Ti only to God ! % f ^ CHAPTEK VI. The Deltois^s as Psychological Studies. O^E of the discouragements that Peiiben Delton had to fight in his work in Peach Creek Vallej was the infatuation that mica mining possessed for some of the better class of farmers, especially the younger men. A few years before some outside parties had leased the mica interests on two or three farms, and it was these men who employed Laxley and Daring as superintendents. But many of the young farmers now were digging for themselves, presenting often to those who looked on the same melancholy spectacle that the gambler does. They were trying to get sometTiing for noth- ing, and in these efforts, oftener vain than not, time that ought to have been spent in putting in their crops was used in searching for mica. Every now and then some one would dig into a rich place, getting out maybe thirty or forty dollars' worth of mica in a few hours, and then the whole neighborhood would be thrown into such a craze for mica that in the demoralization 240 Reuhen Delton, Preacher. tliat follows families were often reduced to suf- fering. Many were the hours that Reuhen Delton studied the prohlem of how to hreak up this de- moralizing state of things; and many were the times that he and Marthj prayed over it. He recognized perfectly well that mica min- ing in itself might be as legitimate as any other business, and vet there were attendant circum- l stances that made it wonderfully like gam- i. bling. I A man would spend days digging in a fever- | ish restlessness that unfitted him for anything else without once striking a mica vein, and all because somebody at some time had dug up a little fortune in a few hours ! Eeuben had made most careful inquiries from reliable parties, and had found that almost every mountain man that had followed mica digging was a poorer man than if he had worked his farm, and the saddest part of it was that no- body ever wanted to stop. They were always hoping that the next time they would find the mica. The farm lands in the valley were fine, the corn crops often magnificent. Up in the coves comfortable incomes were hid in the possibilities of the fruit crops, especially peaches, and yet Reuben Delton, Preacher. 241 the sillj haste to get rich, on the part of some, and the laziness, on the part of others, was actu- ally keeping back God's blessing from field and cove ! One night Reuben said to Marthy, ^^Little woman, I believe the best thing I can do to stop the mica digging is to show these people what can be done with the lands by faithful, patient labor. I am going to do my level best on my farm this year, and I'm going to try a peach orchard over in that sheltered field bevond the bam." "I believe you are right, preacher. It is just as much the Master's work to help them do jus- tice to their families and live industrious lives as it is to j)i'each and pray. And I want to show the women up in the cove how they can work." During the month of xiugnist Valley Manse presented a busy scene. The fruit season had been unusually plentiful, and Marthy, at the suggestion of Miss Greyson, had been putting up some of the magnificent Indian peaches from Peach Cove. Miss Greyson thought that the fiTiit was so fine that if it was carefully put up. there might be found a market for it. Marthv, who was al- ways on a look-out for some way to make money 242 Reuben Delton, Preacher. for the churcli thej were going to build, had her enthusiasm fired at once. Reuben smiled at her eagerness, but too good- naturedlv to dishearten her. €,■■ "The chief good that I see from you doing this, Marthv, is that it will be a lesson to the cove people who let bushels of splendid peaches rot every season because tliej do not know what to do with them. If you can onlv arouse their interest and ambition about anvthino; you will have done a 2:reat work, even if you don't fill your church coffer.'' Occasionally the quiet of the sleepy little ham- let was broken by the arrival of a mica buyer, maybe several of them ; and about the middle of the month Eeuben received a letter from his friend Lesley Conway, written at the request of a party that was in search of new fishing resorts. Could he recommend any stream over his way ? Wliat route was best, and so on. Reuben, who was always on the alert for pos- sible friends for his work, was glad to reply by the return mail, giving information and telling in glowing terms of the fine trout to be found in Little Peach Creek. "But you will find no ^inns', nor ^tourists' hotels.' Advise them to bring their tents and cooks, and to enjoy the delights of camp life. Reuben Delton, Preaclier. 243 There can be no finer climate tlian this, and we are snre they will be rewarded for coming." After the letter w^as posted, the matter passed ont of their minds. There was a good deal of sickness np in Peach Cove. Marthy had spent parts of several days going around in Reuben's place with one of her neighbors cleaning up and bathing in homes where such things were almost unknown, teaching mothers how to cook palatable food for the sick, and trying at the same timv. to speak a word for the Master, and meeting everywhere with hearty greetings from people who had learned to look on both Keuben and herself as little lower than angels. Late one afternoon in the first week of Sep- tember, Marthy w^as resting after a day's w^ork of cleaning up, prej)aratory to Miss Fields' usual fortniHitlv visit. She had brought a rocker to the porch, and sat there reading, making, all unconsciously, a very attractive picture amid her flowers. She was still the bri2:ht-eved, rosv-cheeked, trim Marthy of her early married life, for these are qualities that grow with the growth of happi- ness and become an essential part of a true woman's being. In her hands Marthy had a magazine, which she was reading so intently that she did not 244 Ueuhen Delion, Preacher. hear the approacli of any one until the lifting ^ of the gate latch caught her ear. ^^ A stranger tonched his hat politely. ': "Is this Preacher Delton's ?" he asked^ with a pleasant smile and in a way that made Marthy ^ feel he was thinking quotation marks. | "Yes," she answered, rising from her seat. "Won't you come in ?'' "Is this Mrs. Delton?" he asked, coming to- wards the porch with his hat in hand and ' therehy displaying a very shapely head. "Yes," again said Marthy, with a pretty touch of pride in her manner. "My name," said the stranger, "is Seymore, Peyton Seymore. I belong to the fishing party of whom Mr. Conway wrote Mr. Delton. I have come, somewhat in advance of the party, to see your husband and to get his advice about a camp. Is he at home ?" "He is out on the farm, but I can call him in," replied Marthy, offering a chair to the visi- tor. "Let me get you a glass of fresh water," she added, with the wonted mountain hospitality. He bowed his thanks, glancing down at the mag- azine that lay open beside her chair. He was surprised to find that it was the Review of Re- vieios. Eeuhen Delton, Preacher. 245 Around him was a wealth of flowers — nastur- tiums, pansies, and asters, and above them was poised a humming bird taking its supper with that tremulous grace that is so wonderful. Everything bespoke peace and comfort, and there was an air of refinement about the house and its mistress. ^^N^ow/' said Marthy, as she handed the water, ^^if you will excuse me, I will call Mr. Del- ton.'' ^^Could not I find him ? I do not like to put you to so much trouble," replied Mr. Seymore, as deferentially as if he had been addressing a city belle. ^^Oh ! ves, vou could find him, but it is not necessary. I will just call him up from the barn-yard," she said with a laugh. She disappeared, and he heard her pass through the house. In a few moments there rang out on the stillness of the afternoon air in clear sweet tones a call that delighted the music- loving ear of Peyton Seymore. He sat charmed for a moment by a voice as rich as any he had ever heard, then, impelled by his curiosity, he sprang to his feet and ran out into the yard and around the comer of the house nearest the barn, where Mrs. Delton had said she was going. His search was rewarded, for, standing on the top 246 Beuhen Delton, Preacher. step of the stile between the barn-yarcl and t^ie field, stood lEarthy, her eves shielded from the glare of the snn by one hand and she singing a strain like this : " Oreola ! oreola ! oreola, Oh — la. ! Oreola, oreola, oreola, oh — ee!" She had paused between the two strains, and now she stood with her head bent in a channing pose of attention. In another moment came the response in a mellow tone : "Oreola, oreola, oreola, oh — ah!" Then Mar thy sprang lightly down and hurried back to the house. She lausiied when she found her guest standing in the yard, and said, '^I should have j^repared you for my 'phone. You see that it is wireless !" ^^It served its j)urpose, I noted, and surely one does not hear such musical 'phones often !" "My husband and myself are often situated just as now," Marthy replied, simply, '^^and w^e find it necessary to have some way of communi- cating." In a few moments Reuben's step was heard in the yard, and the sound of little Greyson'a merry chatter. By the repetition and the last line ending in E, he had understood that he was wanted by a stranger at once. Beuben Delton, Preacher. 247 ii^ 'Why, I am sure I had the pleasure of meet- ing yoii last summer at Farmville !" exclaimed Heuben, shakino; hands cordially with Peyton Seymore. "Yes; I was there. I haye been at Blowing Rock this Slimmer, and belong to the fishing party of which Mr. Conway wrote yon." In a little while he made known his errand. The party, consisting of six, wanted information as to the best places to fish; also, if they might make their headquarters near the manse, and lastly, and by no means the least important re- quest was, if ^Irs. Delton would furnish them with bread and with milk. While the two men discussed the placing of the camp and other matters concerning the fish- ing, llarthy took time to obserye their gaiest, and perhaps the elegant and accomplished Mr. Sey- more would haye been surprised to know that, in her estimation, he suffered by comparison with her husband ! Reuben, still in his shirt sleeves and blue over- alls, his face flushed with health and toil, his brown hair clinging in moist rings about his fine white brow, his grey eyes bright with intel- ligence and habitual kindliness, and the smile that continually played about his mouth, spoke unmistakably of happiness and peace within. 248 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Peyton Sejanore, in liis stylish knickerbock- ers, with his pale and aristocratic features, his fine brown eves, and his handsome month marred by its cynical expression, and where the smiles did not seem entirely at home to Marthy's searching eye, gave evidence of not having at- tained to that condition which she knew that Kenben enjoyed. "Marthy, I have answered my part of Mr. Seymore's questions ; now what have you to say V Mr. Seymore turned smilingly to Marthy and said, ^^If your bread is as fine as the ^^odel you called 3'our husband with, we will esteem our- selves fortunate men, Mrs. Delton.'' Marthy laughed. "Oh ! you must not expect much of a woman just because she can sing ; besides, Mr. Seymore, "I pipe just as the robins do, And sing because I must." Peyton Sevmore stared at the little mountain Avoman who quoted Tennyson so prettily. He had not been so interested in anv man or woman in a long while as he found himself beginning to be in the Deltons. "But T am not talking business,'' added Marthy, quickly. "As to making the bread, I can make light bread for you twice a week. Will Reuben Delton, Preacher. 249 tliat do ? Or did you mean that jou would like fresh bread every day ?" "As your famous Governor Vance said on one occasion^ I think I will take a little of both/' he answered with a droll expression that conveyed the impression that he was very dubi- ous about the cuisine of the camp. "Well, I will help you all I can/' said Marthy, pleasantly. "I will put on my coat and go with you if you will excuse me a moment/' said Reuben. He was in favor of their camping at the ford, and was anxious to j)resent the arguments, if neces- sary, before they came any nearer the manse. He knew nothing of these men, and remembered some experiences over in Wautauga when Marthy had been very much annoyed. Fortunately, they had stopped at the ford as it had been su2:.2:ested to them in Mineville, and Reuben found them just discussing the proper placing of the tents when he drew near. Among the gentlmen was one whose face he recognized at once. "Major Burnby," said Seymore, introducing Reuben. "Oh ! I recognize Mr. Helton, though he may not recall my face. I was present last summer when you told the story of the converted out- 250 Reuben Delton, Preacher. laWj and it made quite an impression on me, sir — quite an impression ! Does lie hold out ?" The question Avas asked in a jocular tone, and Reuben noticed also a shade of contempt on the face of Pevton Sevmore as he turned to intro- duce the rest of the party. After shaking hands cordially all round, Reuben turned back to Major Burnby and said, "I am glad to be able to give a good account of my friend Dan Ruger. I have in my pocket a letter I received from him. vesterdav, of which I think I am justly proud, not for my own sake, but for his. He is not only a changed man morallv, but there has come an intellectual awakenins; that is trulv remarkable. I would like," continued Reuben, raising his voice so as to arrest the attention of all the party — ^^I would like to lav before vou this letter, and the first that I received from him, and let you see for vourselves the difference." "To what do you attribute this intellectual change ?" asked some one, and Reuben reiuarked the expression of amusement and derision in Sejmiore's eyes. "Perhaps I would best call it the reward of virtue," answered Reuben, fixing his eyes fear- lesslv on Pevton Sevmore. "I believe in the di- tj t.' t' vine law of compensation, gentlemen. This Reuben Deltoiij Preacher. 251 poor fellow, with an entire lack of those en- vironments whicli influence most of ns to be Christians and gentlemen, grew up in ignorance and vice. He had barely learned to read, but it did not help him, for he had no books to read. By what yon may call accident, but ^\^hat I call a providential interference, he is brought to be- lieve in Christ, to repent of his sins, to an hon- orable surrender of himself to the law for past offences, and now, in what most people would call the hour of his darkest disgrace, God is giv- ing him time to think, opportunity to study, and has awakened in him a desire for knowledge. "If, as I pray and confidently believe, the governor will pardon him, he will come out of jail a useful citizen as well as a Christian man." What was it that gave to this young moun- taineer clad in jeans a certain power over his hearers that was felt, even if it was not always openly acknowledged ? Major Eurnby spoke of it after Eeuben left them, and asked if anybody could explain it. "Personal magnetism !" called out one. "The power of the unexpected,'' suggested another. "I'll tell you what I believe it is," said the pro- fessor, who had been absorbed in getting the tents stretched. "The fellow has strong convic- 252 Reuben Deltoii, Preacher. tionSj and lie lives up to them. I never remem- ber to have seen any man who believed any- thing very positively who did not influence others by the very sincerity of his purpose." '^That is so/' answered Major Burnby thought- fully. ^ While the fishing party were discussing Iteuben Delton and his power, Reuben had re- turned to the manse, and was making merry over Marthy's excitement at the prospect of in- creasing her church building fund. She was untiring in her efforts, and met with the usual reward of such brave spirits. She had put away about fifty dollars, the earnings of her- self and a few others, and Miss Greyson and Miss Boutelle had cheered her by the promise of at least one hundred more by October, and she was beginning to dream of plans, and even of furnishings. ^^Reub, I think it would be nice for me to send a pat of butter when I send over the milk and bread tomoiiow morning, don't you?" Reuben 02>ened, his eyes w^ide, and said "What ! give it to them ? Why, little woman, I never dreamed you would be so generous !" "Oh ! what a goose you are, preacher. Don't you see that if they once get a taste of my butter, they will want it all the time ?" Reuben Delton, Preacher. 25 Q ^^Oh ! you wily little woman. I did not give yon credit for being so artful." Martliy fell asleep with a happy smile on her face and with visions of the little church of which she had alreadv drawn more than one plan. Reuben took over the basket himself the next morning, and was met with a welcome^ all the more cordial when the beautiful rolls and rich milk and butter were lifted out, and a pitcher filled with some of Marthy's handsomest flow- ers beside. ^^Will you not breakfast with us?" Reuben was asked. "Thank you, but I breakfasted two hours ago. TTe mountain people love early hours, you know. I am going up to see some of my people in Little Peach Greek Cove, and I thought if you gentlemen had no plan for to-day, you might go with me and explore the cove. The fishing is fine at two or three points. You can go up to McGutchen's with me, and will get a warm welcome that will season the plain fare, or you can stop about three miles up and come back to camp for your dinner." "Camp Idlewiki, it is, Mr. Delton ?" Reuben bowed and complimented the name. The party was in for anything new, and 254 Reuben Delton, Preacher. gladly accepted the invitation to go a part of the way with Reuben. "Jnst ride on, Mr. Delton, and we will catch lip in tJie course of a half hour if that will suit you ?" "All right. I have to stop at the first farm house on the other side of the creek, and will wait there for you." "Even if we do not catch many fish we will enjoy the tramp and this interesting psycologi- cal study that we have stumbled on/' said the professor, pointing to Reuben Delton, who was still in sight on the other side of the stream. "That's certainly so about the young preach- er," said one, and they all agreed that the invi- tation was just what they wanted. When they neared the farmhouse, the sound of singing in a clear, strong tenor voice caused them to halt before inquiring for Delton. Peyton Seymore guessed at once that it was Reuben's voice. "Do you suppose he is having some kind of religious service?" he asked. "Well, maybe so, but we were not asked, and I think we will not go in," replied Major Burnby, who was more intent on fishing than religious services. They moved nearer to the gate to hear the Reuben Delton, Preacher. 255 singing, which was really very good, and in do- ing so attracted the attention of some one in the house, and soon all the family but the sick man and Reuben were at the door to see the very un- usual si2:ht of ^^summer boarders" in Little Peach Creek Cove. The singing ceased and Reuben appeared. ^^Whv, here vou are, gentlemen ! You must be good walkers. Mr. Mackey, these are the fishermen I told vou about." ^^Won't you-uns come in an' rest yer hats a while ? I kin give you some plumb good milk an' fust-rate peaches, ef w'at ther preacher says * ?> IS so. Old man Mackey came do^^m the steps and opened the gate cordially as he spoke, but the fishermen had so recently breakfasted, and were so eager to go forward, they begged off and promised to come back. After they had started off the professor said, ^^Why, Mr. Delton, you ought to give up preaching and take to singing to make your liv- ing ! That voice of yours would be worth a small fortune to vou in the cities." ^^Oh ! my wife ought to hear that," said Reuben, with a hearty laugh. "She is a crank just now on the subject of a church we want to build, and would ship me to ^ew York at once 256' Reuben Delton, Preacher. if she thoiiglit there was any prospect of my be- ing so profitable." Then he adcledj with a shade of gravity on his bright face, ^^^o applause of large audiences could compensate me as the look of relief and peace that I have watched stealing into the face of the poor young fellow in there. He has some form of hip disease, and suffers in- tensely at times. I found out that he loves music, and I almost always stop and sing for him. My wife and I love to come together when we can, and it is astonishing how quickly our singing seems to soothe him.'' About two miles beyond Mackey's they came to the first place that Reuben had recommended to the fishermen, and he stopped, gave them a few directions, and then mounted his mule, which he had led thus far from Mackev's. ^^What an egregious mistake for a man like that to waste his life in a thankless job like this in these little mountain coves !" exclaimed Pey- ton Seymore, as Keuben rode out of sight up the rough mountain road. "He has certainly very attractive manners, and uses remarkably good English, too, as I noted last summer," said the professor. "He gives one the impression of unusual mental power !" ^Yes, indeed, and he seems well posted too on cr Reuben. Delton, Preacher 257 the events of the day, a very companionable man, sir— very ! Pity he should share that mis- taken notion of so manv of these relio-ious cranks, and feel called npon to arrest the de- velopment of his o^\ai powers in order to en- lighten a few of these dolts who might just as well live out their stupid lives as the genera- tions before them have done !" This remark was made bv Fred Linton, a young man who was cultivating cynicism along with other isms at one of the "intellectual cen- tres" of the country. "You seem to forget," said Dr. IN^eilson, ad- dressing the party, "that Mr. Delton himself is one of ^these dolts.' He tells me he is a moun- tain man, born and reared over near Blowing Rock, and had never been bevond the mountains until he went to the Seminarv. And he cer- tainly is not only a fine specimen of manhood, but a very strong argument in favor of develop- ing the intellectual powers of a portion of our country that has given us such men as Cyrus B. llcCormick, Zebulon Yance, Stonewall Jack- son, and a host of other distinguished men." "But those men were exceptions, doctor." "True, but how are you going to find the ex- ceptions ? There must be help given to all. More's the pity that it has not been given be- 258 Reuben Delton, Preacher. fore ! I heard an intelligent Christian worker say that from one of his mountain schools had gone out three fellows^ apparently ordinary mountain boys, who were not only ffood Latin scholars when they left him, but who within a year afterwards were earning good salaries as stenographers, ^o, no, Seymore, all mountain- eers are not dolts, and there are no nobler men on God's earth to-day than the men, like Delton, of bright parts, who are trying to uplift those Svho have been reduced to their present condition of poverty and ignorance by the strenuous condi- tions under which they have been compelled to 1 ? 7> ive ^'^This is an interesting subject," remarked Major Burnby, just here, ^^but we cannot talk and fish too. I move that this meeting be ad- journed until we get back to camp.'' The motion was carried, and the fishermen gave themselves up to the delightful pursuit of speckled trout. Wishing them all success, let us return to the manse. It was the afternoon for Miss Fields' regular fortnight visit, and Marthy always enjoyed pre- paring for her. There was somethino; in Grace Fields that had called out her very deepest compassion, but it was only from what she had learned inci- Reuben Delton, Preacher. 259 dentally, for tliere never was a more reticent person than this lonely yonng woman who had so much need for sympathy. And poor Marthy, who had bv no means entirely ontoTo^vn her childish inclination to know^ the reasons of thingSj was often sorely tried by this reti- cence. She knew that Miss Fields had been raised in a city in a neighboring State ; that her parents were dead ; that something had happened in her past life to embitter and change its whole tenor, but there all knowledge of Miss Fields' story stopped off, as Marthy told Reuben, "as ab- ruptly as Short Off Mountain." ^¥hat ? Why ? Where ? Who ? these questions often assaulted Marthy, and as she had learned not to ask questions, she suffered the more. Miss Fields had decided to keep the school for another year, though six months before she would have been amazed if anybody had sug- gested such a thing. Strange as it may seem to any one whose heart is not in sympathy with the unrest of this young woman's soul and mind, she was beginning, un- der the influence of wholesome work, and the equally strong influence of genuine religious en- thusiasm as exhibited in the Deltons, to see pos- sibilities of peace and of happiness in life of 260 Reuben Delton, Preacher. wliicli she had never dreamed before, and uncon- sciously she was developing strength that she had not seemed to possess even in embryo when she first came. As Marthy drove her up to the gate at the manse, she looked around her and gave a deep inhalation that expressed her intense satisfac- tion at being at the ^^House of Rest" once more. ^^I shall not go in-doors until the night air forces me in !" she exclaimed, as she looked about her on the beautv that clothed the scene as a garment. The yard was ablaze with dahlias, asters, nasturtiums and pansies, flowers that adorn the countrv well at this time, scarcelv more than memories of summer gone. "Don't you want any hot rolls or cream cheese then ?" asked Marthv in a tone of much horror. She was always so pleased with Miss Fields' keen enjopnent of her home. "Oh ! — yes, that's a fact. I can't afford to give up your rolls and cream cheese even for this." She spread her arms out as if she would fain embrace the whole landscape. "But I shall eat just as I do at the railway stations when thev call out, ^twentv minutes for supper !' " "TTell, you will have some time to enjoy it yet, for we will wait for Reub, and I must go Reuben Delton, Preacher. 261 now and prepare tlie biscuits and milk I am to send to the fishing party.'' Grace Fields seated herself in a low rocker, and, taking off her hat and throwing her arms np behind her head in a favorite pose, prepared to feast on the sunlit beauty spread out before her. She had never known until she came to this beautiful region the strength of her sensu- ous nature — had never before lived near enough to JSTature's heart to hear its throbs and to feel its soothing influence. She began her life here by being amused and diverted by the people she met, then when she began to study them closer, she found a sturdy worth in some, quick mental capacity in many, and everything to look up to and admire in the Deltons. There was a power ruling in their lives which she had never felt — something that made life worth living right here in this mountain valley. What was it ? That question haunted her until she discovered that the key to all w^as, the con- straining power of love — love to God and love to others. And from that day she sought to re- model her own life. ^^If I could always live near them, maybe I would grow like them," she thought. She did not yet understand that she needed to make the •i 262 Reuben Delton, Preacher. same surrender tliat tliey had made. But surely she took a step in the right direction when she began to feel the need for the same power. Just one thing marred her pleasure this af- ternoon. It was the thought of the possibility of meeting the fishing party. She had lived so peacefuly, so independently without associa- tion with men from the outside world, she shrank with something akin to timidity from meeting them. ^^I hope the fishers will not invade our quiet, Mrs. Delton ?'' she had asked when Mar thy had told of their arrival and camp at the ford. Marthy laughed heartily, and replied, ^'Why, they will not hurt us if they do come. Reub says they are very clever gentlmen, and the one that came here yesterday afternoon was a hand- some fellows" "That is the very kind I do not wish to meet," was Miss Fields' ansAver, and then she adroitly changed the subject. CHAPTEK VII. A Fisher of Meist. A MORE beautiful Sabbath morning never dawned than that which broke in all Sep- tember's glory the next day. The crispness of early autumn air was tempered by the simshine that flooded Peach Creek Valley. The flower beds at Valley Manse were not only arrayed in all the splendor of Solomon, but the air was redolent with the spicy perfume of nas- turtiums, pansies, and old-fashioned pinks. Occasionally the note of a thrush or of a cat- bird was heard, but above them soared the voice of Marthy singing at her w^ork in the kitchen. Miss Fields was waked by the singing, and sprang up and dressed quickly with a feeling that she was missing something, and she was right, for every one is a loser who misses the charm of the early September mornings in the mountains. By ten o'clock they were off for preaching. Peuben expected to hold the services out of doors, as the weather w^as fine. Marthy and Miss Fields, with little Greyson, 2G4 Reuben Delton, Preacher. occupied the buggy, and Reuben was mounted on Jobo. As they drove near the camp, the scene Avas quite picturesque. There were two large tents, and the wagon with the horse tethered near. There was the fire where the breakfast had been prepared, and two or three gentlemen strolling around, while one lay smoking in his hammock. Grace Fields glanced carelessly towards them. She felt no special interest in them, excepting for the financial profit that was to accrue to Marthy's church fund by their presence in the neighborhood. Major Burnby called out a courteous ^^Good morning" as they passed, and the others lifted their hats. "Drive on, ^larthy,'' said Reuben ; "I will catch up in a few moments. I am going to in- vite them to preaching. '^ He checked his horse and said, "Gentlemen, I would be very glad to have you come to our preaching services if you feel inclined. There will be a spice of novelty about them for some of you i3robably." He gave the invitation simply and w^ithout any apologetic words. He knew these were city men, one of them a professor, and all of them men of education, and possibly of culture. To Reuben Delton, Preacher. 265 fear tlieir criticism never occurred to Keubeii Delton, for, while lie was snfficientlv cultivated himself to appreciate culture in others, this mat- ter of delivering a message to men's souls was not to be regarded from a literary standpoint. In his opinion, it was lifted on a plane as much higher than mere literary excellence, as the spirit of man is above his intellect. In his judgment, for one to spend his time criticising the literarv stvle of the man who brings him a message of life and death import was worse than follv, and vet there are scores of people in every congregation, many of them nominal Christians, who indulge in this folly habitually ! ''We were just discussing the matter as you drove up, Mr. Delton," said Major Burnby, who generally acted as spokesman, ''Dr. [N^eilson dis- covered your notice posted on the elm a while be- fore breakfast." "Some of us will certainlv 2:0," said Dr. ^eil- son, and Reuben, smiling his reply and touching his hat, rode away. Pevton Sevmore found himself really inter- ested in this mountain missionary. He was conscious that Reuben Delton possessed a strength of character that he did not have. He was even conscious of being less satisfied with 2GG Eeuben Delton, Preacher. liis own intellectiTality, aud even Lis acquire- ments, in the man's presence, and he resolved to gratify the curiosity to hear him preach. When the party arrived at the large shed or "arbor/' as it was called, where the services were to be held, their presence created quite a stir. Mineville was too remote as yet from the high- ways of the State to have attracted many visi- tors, excepting the occasional mica buyers and other prospectors for minerals who appeared at intervals, and it was therefore quite an event to have a party of "sure-enough summer boarders" in their midst. Services had not yet begun when they drove up, and as soon as he saw them Reuben beck- oned to some one and said, "Give those men seats, please. They are strangers, and as I in- vited them, I want them to be comfortable." Upon the rostrum or stand where Reuben sat there was a small table, and on it was his Bible and hymn book and a large pitcher filled with magnificent asters and ferns. Marthy led the singing, playing the accom- paniments on a small organ, assisted by Miss Fields and several other yoimg people. The simple hymns were well selected and in- spiring, and the visitors were surprised at the spirited singing. Reiiben Belt on, Preacher. 267 When Eeuben Delton stood up and, with out- stretched arms, said, ^'Let ns pray," there was no one there who rose to his feet more promptly, nor assumed a more reverent posture, than Pey- ton Seymore, though he was professedly a skeptic as to prayer. After reading and expounding a chapter in a very simple yet attractive way, another hymn was sung, and then Eeuben began to preach, tak- ing as his text 2 Tim. i. 12, "For I know in whom I have believed.'' Pevton Sevmore's attention was all the more fixed because he recalled the remark of the pro- fessor, that Reuben was "a man of strong con- victions." It was so it seemed, and now there was an opportunity to hear him define them. Reuben's language, while perfectly correct, was absolutely simple ; his audience was com- posed chiefly of uneducated and ignorant men and women. The presence of these educated men never made him swerve for one moment from his purpose to speak so that every one there might understand hiiu. We cannot reproduce his whole sermon, nor can we convey to the reader the force of his earnestness. It flashed in his fine grey eyes, it thrilled in the tones of his noble voice, and spoke in every gesture. 2G8 Eeiihen Delton, Preacher. He began with an illustration something like this: ^^If YOU were ffoiria; awav, and wanted to leave vour wife and children in the care of some one, YOU would want to know him. If you had not known him all Your life, you would take the trouble to inquire of eYerybody all about him. His life, his work, his disposition — everything concerning him. Is he kind ? is he sensible ? is he willing to help others ? All these questions YOU would do well to ask. Then if you tried him and found that he was alwavs kind and wise and willing to help you, you would say what this man Paul, whose words I have just repeated, said, 'I know in whom I have be- lieved.' "There are so many people that profess to be Christians, yet are not certain about their Savior or themselves. They do not know in whom they have believed ; they are not persuaded, or sure, that he is able to keep that which they have com- mitted to him. They spend more time in watch- ing the people around them to see how many wrong things they do than they spend in learn- ing more about the Redeemer that died for them. "^ow, mavbe you sav, ^Yes, but God is not here. I never have seen him. I don't know for certain that he likes me well enough to save Reuben Delton, Preacher. 269 me. How can I know him ? Some people say it is foolish to believe in a person you have never seen.' ''Yes, I know there are people who talk that wav. Sometimes I can feel sorrv for them, but most of the time I have not patience enough with them to be sorry, for, oh ! my friends, they are acting as if it did not matter very much one way or another what they believe ; and yet it is not a little thing not to believe in God. It means either heaven or hell hereafter ! And even in this world it means peace and happi- ness and safety, for God has promised to take care of those who trust in him, and he does it, too ! Thank God some of us know that." There was a flash of triumph in Reuben Del- ton's eye that was a powerful argument in it- self. "But some of vou will sav, 'How am I to know God so that I mav believe in him V Read the Bible; that is God's letter he has written for us. He meant us to search there for all he promises to do for us, and all that he w^ants us to do. "You have never seen the governor, but if you were in jail and I should bring you a letter pardoning you, would you say, 'I never saw the governor. I don't know whether he wrote it or 270 Reuben Delton, Preacher. not V ISTo ; you would see the governor's stamp and seal on it, and you would believe and come out of that jail. ^'But God did more to prove his love to you than giving his Bible. He gave you a Savior, his onlv Son, who came to suffer shame and death on the cross for your sins, and in your place. Did you ever see a man you would die for ? 'Not just die in an open fight, but die a disgraceful death for ? Xo ; you would not do that for the best man you ever knew, but Jesus Christ did that for sinners ; and, oh ! my friends, God was willing ! God was willing ! That is the most wonderful thing that you ever heard. You, sinning against him, unbelieving, ungrateful, breaking all his laws, and worthy to suffer the full penalty the law demands, and God willing to save YOU ! 'For God so loved the world that he o'ave his onlv be2:otten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life !' ^'Oh 1 don't you see that Paul, who had been such a sinner, and who had found such a Savior, could say, '1 know in whom I have believed' ? Life is short. We mav some of us be dead before another Sundav, but if we can sav with Paul, 'I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him unto Reuben Delton, Preacher. 271 that day/ what will it matter ? what will it mat- ter V Keuben stood silently for a moment after ask- ing that question. His earnest eyes glanced rapidly over the large audience and fell on the white face of Peyton Seymore in passing. Then he said reverently, ^^Let us pray." It was a prayer that made an indelible im- pression on more than one of his hearers, but upon none more than upon the man who for vears had turned his back on God's word and had refused to believe in prayer. "O God ! give us strong convictions of our own sinfulness, and of thy holiness and truth. Let us be ashamed to insult thee by neglecting to know thee as thou hast revealed thyself in thy word, or by half-way knowing and serving thee." He closed with an earnest prayer for ^^the strangers that are in our midst." When the singing began, Marthy's voice sounded unusually sweet and tender. She sang as if inspired, and Peyton Seymore leaned for- ward to see her face. In doing so he looked full into the eyes of Grace Fields. For a moment the eifect on him was startling. He uttered a low exclamation, unintelligible even to the pro- fessor, who was sitting next to him, who only saw that Seymore appeared excited and sur- 272 Reuben Delton, Preacher. l^rised. Then by a powerful effort he controlled himself and resumed a position that hid him from the singers. As soon as the hymn was over he slipj^ed out ; he could hardly have told why, except that he felt the need of fresh air. As for Grace Fields, she sustained the woman's reputation by recovering her self-control more promptly than Mr. Seymore. By the time she boffan the last verse of the hvmn there was scarcelv a tremor in her voice, though her heart Avas still beating wildly. She was perfectly sure that Peyton Seyinore was in the audience while he was trying to con- vince himself that somebody in this far-away mountain assemblage resembled Grace Fields, the woman that he had loved and hated by turns for five years ! The questions that were perplexing him as he walked awav from the arbor was, How can I find out whether it is really Grace, and How will she treat me if I attempt to speak to her? "If it should prove to be Grace Fields, in- deed,'' he said to himself, "I shall be inclined to believe in what they call providential dealings, but what is she doing here !" But the unexpected sight of Grace Fields was not the only thing that stirred Peyton Seymore s i Reuben Delton, Preacher. 273 to-day. There had come to him while Reuhen Delton was preaching such a sense of his own vacillation in reference to the supreme interests of his sonl, such a consciousness of trifling and ignorance concerning those things of which this fearless, happy-hearted mountaineer spoke so earnestly that he acknowledged to himself that, weighing all of his so-called successes and pros- perity in life against Reuben Delton's strong convictions, and their outcome in his beautiful life for his fellows, his own life was but a barren failure in comparison. While these thoughts swept rapidly through his mind the crowd was dispersing for dinner, which was to be eaten in the adjoining grove. ^^Where is Mr. Sevmore ?" asked Reuben when he extended a courteous invitation to the fishing party to take dinner with him. ^^I guess that you ran him off by your plain speaking," said the professor. The party declined remaining, giving as their excuse the fact that dinner would be prepared at Camp Idlewild, and nobody would be there to eat it but Fred Linton. When Reuben found Seymore, he renewed his invitation to him, but it was courteously de- clined. "I cannot go without telling you, Delton, that 274 Reiihen Delton, Preaclier. YOiir sermon lias moved me profoundly. You have showed me the shallo^^^less of my own mind and heart and the cowardliness of my judgments." ^'Let me do more than that if I can/' replied Reuben, earnestly. "I would like to have a quiet talk with you/' said Seymore. ^^Can I ?" ^'^Certainly. Suppose you come over this af- ternooUj and I wdll take you to Buena Vista, my wife's mountain view. Come about four." Pevton Sevmore hesitated for a moment, then he said, ^'May I ask you a question first ? It is not so irrelevant as it may seem." "Ask any number/' responded Reuben, pleas- antlv. "Who was the lady sitting next to Mrs. Del- ton during service ?" "That was Miss Fields, our teacher and spe- cial friend. Do vou know her ?" "Fields ! a teacher ! I knew one Miss Fields, but it is impossible that she could be here as a teacher, and yet," he added, "the resemblance is very striking." "This is Miss Grace Fields," said Reuben. The others of the party w^ere drawing near, and Seymore had onlv time to say in a low tone, "I do not care to meet her until after I have Reuben Delton, Preacher. 275 talked with yoii. Can I join you without hav- ing to meet her ?" ^'Yes/' replied Reuben, much surprised, but too polite to ask questions ; "cross the fence be- low the garden, and go to the barn-yard. I will meet you there at the stile." The wagon was ready by this time, and the party drove away, all speaking in high terms of preaching and preacher. The hours passed slowdy for Peyton Sey- more between one and four o'clock. Fred Linton had asked him to go fishing, and was surprised when the invitation was declined because of an engagement with Reuben Delton. "Whew! You are really getting quite re- ligious, Seymore ! Preaching in the morning and preacher in the afternoon !'' The surprise of Fred Linton was still greater when Seymore quietly replied, "It would not hurt either of us to be more religious than we are. I would give half of the filthy lucre that I possess to be anything like the man Delton is," and he walked away. Reuben Delton was waiting at the barn-yard stile when he arrived, and they had passed through the fields beyond, probably a quarter of a mile, when, suddenly, a turn in the pretty valley brought them to the view that Marthy 276 Reuben Delton, Preacher. had named Buena Vista. There Reuben halted and pointed to the gn-p in the hills where the only view of the distant mountains could be seen. The valley narrowed here, and from a wooden hillside on the right jutted a cliff. At its foot gurgled a fine spring of delightful water. Here the Deltons had arranged a seat, and pointing to it, Reuben said, ^^Let us sit here, Mr. Seymore. It is one of our favorite Sunday afternoon resorts, but we will be safe from in- trusion to-day." Peyton Seymore sat down, and taking his hat off, leaned back against the fine birch tree behind him. "Mr. Delton," he began, "you are not more surprised at my seeking this interview than I am. A month — a week ago even — I should have hooted the idea of airing my opinions, es- pecially my doubts on religious subjects, for your benefit. But you satisfied me this morn- ing that you are a man of clear perceptions and strong convictions, therefore it may be that you can help one who has groped for years, not knowing what he believes and trying to think that he believes nothing. You seem to be in earnest, seem to be happy, and your convictions make you live for other people." Reuben Delton, Preacher. 217 Reuben smiled brightly. "I certainly do know in whom I believe, and I certainly am happy, and I shall be happier still if I can be of any ser- vice to yon. I can hardly imagine anything worse than for a man to live in doubt where his soul is concerned.'^ "Mr. Seymore, you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God ? I ask this question because all I know and can tell you is based on this belief.'' Peyton Seymore was startled at the question, because it touched the very root of his diflSculty. During his college life he had been thrown with a brilliant man who was a skeptic, and not hav- ing been early taught a simple faith in God and his word, Seymore fell a victim to the folly of not believing what he could not understand. "I am afraid I have not believed it. The truth is, that I have doubted everything that a man can doubt. Did you never pass through this phase of mental development ?" "1^0 ; thank God !" replied Reuben. "I began by believing in my mother. She believed in God and in the Bible as his revealed word. Therefore I accepted it. The Bible tells me Christ died for me. It shoAVS me that faith and obedience make the law of his kingdom. It tells me that love — love to others — is the rule of life 278 Reuben Delton, Preacher. in that kingdom. It is a simple faith ; but God requires of us simple faith. ^Except ye become as little children je cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.' I would not have vou think mine is a blind faithj though, nor that I did not after- wards examine for myself^ but I began where Clirist tells us to begin — by believing in him. Have you studied the Bible carefully? My work lies chiefly among those whose unbelief is based on igTiorance. They simply do not know that there is a Bible ; but I have met one or two so-called skeptics, and I found them equally ignorant, so far as personal study of the Bible was concerned. They had studied much that other men had ^vritten against the Bible, but had never examined it for themselves.'' ^'Mr. Delton, I do not own a Bible now. When I began to develop these deistic views I loved a Christian woman. She broke with me because of this, and in my rage and folly I burned my Bible, and have never OAMied another since." Reuben Delton impulsively laid his hand on Seymore's arm, and smiling sadly, said, "And so vou drifted off over a sea of sorrow without a chart !" Seymore sat in silence with his head resting against the tree behind him, his eyes gazing far off where the turquoise of the mountains was Reuben Delton, Preacher. 279 lost in tlie paler blue of the skv. After a few moments, Avithont changing liis posture, lie said, ^^I saw that woman at church this morning.'' "Miss Grace Fields !" exclaimed Delton. "Is it j)ossible ! O Mr. Seymore 1 I knew that she was a brave woman, but I didn't know she had courage for this !" "You commend her then for having blasted my happiness ?" asked Peyton Seymore in a bit- ter tone. "O Mr. Seymore ! do not try to lay the blame of your blasted happiness, if it is indeed blasted, on the woman vou say that vou have loved. I can not think of cowardice as one of your qual- ities, yet such an accusation is prompted by cowardice. If a Christian woman must chose between her God and her lover, she dares not hesitate. Would she have kept her faith with God if she had married vou, un unbeliever ? She dared not pray ^lead us not into temptation' and then wed a skeptic. Oh ! you do not under- stand the strength of faith that is rooted and grounded in Christ." "]S^o, I certainly do not, though even a glimpse of it through other eyes makes it seem wonder- fully attractive." "Did you at any time in your life feel very deeply the need of a divine Redeemer? I can 280 Reuben Delton, Preacher. not "understand how any man can fail to find the Christ who seeks him. The condition of finding is seeking, just as that of receiving is ask- ing.'^ ^'^o, I cannot say that I have. To-day I have had, perhaps for the first time, the conviction forced upon me that there is a reality and a power in the Christian religion, and conse- quently in the Christ.'' "And if you will take that Christ as your per- sonal Redeemer now, not waiting to build up a conviction of the truth of the holy Scriptures first, but just coming to him, needy, helpless acknowledging your past sinfulness and failure, as far as real happiness is concerned, O Mr. SejTuore ! what a new life would begin for you to-day" Reuben spoke earnestly, with the light of his o^vn faith and happiness shining in his eyes and lighting his face with the beauty of enthusiasm. "You make it all seem very simple and very attractive, Delton," said Seymore, gravely, "but you have no conception of the vindictiveness of my spirit, of the scoffing that has possessed my lips during these years since Grace Fields told me why she could not marry me. How can I ever undo all that ? how can I atone ?'' 'You cannot. Christ will do that if you come ii\r. Reuben Delton, Preaclie7\ 281 to him. truly repentant and willing. He is our substitute.'' The sun was setting in richest September glory. Clouds and trees and fields, all glowed with color, and Reuben thought, as he told Marthv, that unseen ano'els must have watched the conflict between pride and faith in the heart of Peyton Seymore. Slowly and reverently he began to repeat : " Just as I am without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidst me come to thee — O Lamb of God, I come! " Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot; To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot — Lamb of God, I come! " Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt; Fightings within and fears without — O Lamb of God, I come! " Just as I am, thou wilt receive. Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because thy promise i believe — O Lamb of God, I come! As he uttered the last line his companion, in a voice shaken with emotion, said, "0 Lamb of God, I come !" Eeuben clasped his hands, too much moved to 282 Reuben Delton, Preacher. speak. Then by tacit consent tliey rose to their feet. ^^May the peace of God which passeth all nn- derstanding keep your heart and mind/' said Renbenj reverently^ and they moved away, for' the snn had set. A¥hen they had Avalked some little distance, Seymore spoke. "I have all my real life to begin. I am pos- f^ sessed of ample means. I have a fine practice as a lawyer, but I feel now that I have never trnly lived. And," he added, hesitatingly, ^^as to Grace Fields, shall I tell her of this change now ? Surely, her being here and my coming here — all is what you would call a — " "A special providence!'' answered Reuben, with a w^insome smile. "Mr. Seymore, you have asked me — let me make the suff^estion that vou do not tell her yet. Meet her with the cordiality of old acquaint- ances — nay, more — but wait. A woman's eye is quick to detect any change, especially where she has loved. She will find it out in vour face, where I, stranger as I am, note a softer expres- sion, and then — well, we shall have to look for another teacher !" "!Nro ! no !" replied Seymore, his pale face flushing as he spoke, and his tone full of hope- Reuben Delton, Preacher. 283 lessness, ''that is too good to be true. She'' — but he did not finish his sentence, because he saw that he was replying to Reuben's thought rather than his words. ''Take this with you, Mr. Seymore; it is marked, but you will not mind that. You will notice on the fly-leaf the words of the prayer that 1 always make before reading." Reuben handed his well-worn pocket Bible to him, and on the fly-leaf, as he glanced at it, Peyton Seymore read, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." They parted at the fence, and Reuben re- turned to the house with a glad heart. The fishing party, after a week of fine sport on Little Peach Creek and up in Peach Creek Cove, left for Asheyille, highly delighted with the country and with their success. But they left one of their number behind. Peyton Seymore was "so pleased with the cli- mate and the people "in Peach Creek Valley" that he decided to remain. He made no expla- nations, and the gentlemen were too polite to make inquiries, but ^lajor Burnby sententiously remarked when he heard the news, "Two and two make four, sir, and I know it !" CHAPTEK VIII. A Yeah^s Changes. IT is September again, with September's deep blue skies, genial sunshine, and crystal ^autumn air that make it the very gem of months in the mountains. A busy, eventful year has passed since we were with the Deltons — a year eventful for them as for others whose acquaintance we have made. On the porch of Valley Manse, reveling in the beauty that surrounds her, sits our old friend. Miss Grey son, looking little changed by the years that have passed since we saw her last at Blowing Rock, save for the hair that has many silver threads among the gold. Marthy sits beside her with a more matronly air about her, and her sweet baby-girl in her arms, a second Marthy — Ida — this, but kno^vn by various pet names : ^'^Marsie, "Beauty," "Lit- tle Joy,'' and sometimes even "Sugar Lump !" Greyson is playing in the yard and singing as he plays, "On'ard, kistyen sojer," with more correctness of tune than of pronunciation. The manse has gained in beauty since we saw Reuben Delton, Preacher. 285 it last, for the vines adorn the entire front of the house as well as the porch, and the flowers are more luxuriant than ever in the pretty beds be- fore the door. Early in June of this year Miss Greyson had rejoiced the hearts of the Deltons by writing that if Reuben would meet her or send for her at the nearest railroad station, she w^ould like to be a ^^sunimer boarder" with them if it suited. She could not wait any longer to see the new baby or the new home, and last but not least, her boy Greyson. It did not take the Deltons long to decide that it suited them, and that they needed to see Miss Greyson as badly as she needed to see them. Reuben, accordingly, went for her in a com- fortable surrey belonging to Superintendent Lax- ley, now one of his best friends, and Miss Grey- son spent the last night of June as her first un- der the roof of Yallev Manse. She had been with them now for two months, taking the deepest interest in all that concerned the family and the people among whom Reuben labored. Almost in sight of the house, and only a short distance from the ford, rose a church that was the joy of Reuben's heart and the pride of Marthy's. We apportion these emotions in this -J* 286 Reuben Delton, Preacher. | way because Reuben says Martby earned the right to be prond of it, while he could only re- *| joice in it as the desire of his heart. It was mod- est in him to say this, for he had surely a right to claim much of the success as his. ]^ot only the generosity of the mountain people, who had given so nobly of both time and material, was due to his splendid influence over them, but the largest gifts to the building fund had come from the fishing party. Put awav amono; their treasures, Reuben and Marthy had the following letter, which give the reader some idea of the results of Peyton Sey- more's acquaintance with the Deltons : Dec. — , 18 . "Deae Me. Deltox : "Will you appropriate the enclosed check for your church building fund ? I know something of how greatly ^frs. Delton and yourself de- sire to build, and if vou are in need of more money, call on me. I shall consider it a high privilege. !N"othing material can ever make an adequate return for all the benefit I received, not only from your words, but your life, but a grateful heart is glad to express itself in any way. Your reward will be bestowed by him you serve, and to whom you pointed me as the Way and the Truth and the Life ! Reuben Deltoiij Preacher. 287 "But Yoii know I owe Peach Creek Valley so nuicli ! If there had not have been the finest of speckled trout in its streams, I would not have gone there. If I had not gone there, I would not have known vou. If I had not kno\\Ti vou and heard you preach, I would not, nay, I can- not say that, for I must not limit God's power to save, but I can say that if I had not told you all my story, I would not to-day be the accepted lover of Grace Fields! She has given me per- mission to tell this, and to say that we hope some day to hear you preach in that new church. "With kindest regards for Mrs. Delton and a kiss for that splendid boy, "I am sincerely your friend, "Peyton Seymoee.'' A check for two hundred and fifty dollars ac- companied this letter, and Marthy's heart beat a glad acknowledgment of Mr. Seymore's gen- erosity. Poth Major Burnby and Dr. i^eilson had con- tributed, when they were leaving, smaller amounts, it is true, but the expression of their hearty approval of Reuben Delton and his work. And so earlv in October the buildino; was be- gun, and the roof was on by the time the cold weather checked further work. 288 Reuben Delton, Preacher. It was a simple striictiire, but neatly and care- fully built, and was set on a pretty knoll several hundred yards back from tlie road. There were seveial fine hemlocks and chestnut trees around it, and rhododendrons and ivies adorned the yard. The interior was ceiled with hemlock, and the windows were large. Since thev had had such generous assistance from outside, they were anxious that the church should be made in every way attractive. "I think, preacher, that God's houses ought to be more beautiful and as comfortable as our own. Don't you believe it educates people to have beautiful things about them ?" "You are right, little woman, if we can only but sure when to stop short of extravagance. You know we could soon pass that line here, where there is so much absolute distress and need for aid. You know how important it is for us to have school houses — one here near the church and others in the coves." "Yes, I know that," said Marthy, with a slight shadow of disappointment on her bright face, "but oh ! preacher dear, pray let us have one pretty window back of the pulpit and a pretty pulpit stand, not one of those boxy affairs that are in all the churches I have ever seen. You Reuhen Delton, Preacher. 289 know Miss Greyson thoii.c'lit so, and she and Mrs. Bontelle have helped ns, and spoken spe- cially of the window." Marthy's pleadings Avere successful, and there was a pretty and inexpensive colored window behind tlie pulpit that was a never-ceasing source of pleasure to those who had never seen any- thing like it before, and could not compare it with more pretentious work of the kind. And the lectern was neat and pretty and not ^^boxy," much to Marthy's delight. The generous donation of lumber and of time, for there were many men willing to help on the church, attested the interest of the whole neigh- borhood in 'New Hope Church. The day of the dedication was a happy one for these faithful workers, and, indeed, for many people from the coves, and from the whole re- gion. Mr. Dellinger, through whose efforts Keuben had been called to this field, was present, and said many kind words of praise and encourage- ment, and the cup of happiness was full to the brim for Rtuben and Marthy. There w^ere now schools taught at three points and in fairly comfortable buildings by young men and women who had been themselves trained in mountain schools, men and women 290 Reuben Delton, Pi^eaclier. moved by the same impulse as Reuben and Marthy Delton, who took, as they had taken as their motto, that of the Greek racers, ^^Having received light, give!'' The reader must not think that we have lost sight of Dan Euger in our efforts to keep up with the work of the Deltons in Peach Creek Valley. His case had been tried at the spring term of court, and Heuben had gone over to Boone as he had promised, and had testified so elo- quently in Ruger's behalf that the solicitor had said to him, with a laugh, ^'Mr. Delton, youVe missed your calling; you ought to have been a lawyer !" "Thank you, captain," was the quick reply. "I'd rather use what gifts God has given me to save men's souls than their bodies." ■Ruger was sentenced to five years in the peni- tentiary. It was proved that the man he had shot did not die. The poor fellow looked as if he would rather it had been a death sentence, but the sense of justice had come since his conversion. He knew that he had offended against the law and do- served to suffer. "The part that hurts, preacher," he said to Reuben after he had been remanded to jail — Reuben Delton, Preaclier. 291 "the part tliat liurts is ther bein' so far from you-iins, an' fur so long !" "You can have better company than mine," said Reuben, laying his hand on Ruger's Bible. "Study this, and live so that you may be a wit- ness for your Lord. You will have many chances to help others to find him.'' "I'm glad you said that. I never think o' my bein' shut up, but because I've been Avicked an' broke the laws. If I kin be of use to somebody thar, ef I kin serve ther Lord thar, I kin stand it a heap better." "Remember I shall never forget you, Ruger, and I shall keep on trying to get the governor to pardon you." He shook Ruger's hand heartily and was gone. Reuben paid a flying visit to his Wautauga friends at this time, and met with a loving wel- come. AVlien he looked out on the majestic view from Mountain Manse, there was a pang in his heart that was only soothed by recalling cosy Valley Manse and its sweet, brave mistress, who had never uttered one murmur since she had setr tled there. And he thanked God, silently, that his work in Peach Creek Valley had been blessed. He had found noble men and women there^ warm-hearted and generous, who had wcl- 292 Reuben Belton, Preacher. corned him and helped him "to their power, yea, and beyond their power." Men and women who only needed a leader to be ready to work, and the changed condition of many of the squalid homes he had found a year before at- tested to the work he was doing. Let us make a visit to Benny McCune, the cripple boy of Crab Tree Cove. We will not have to go far to find him, for Reuben Delton never rested until he got the family moved to a cabin near Peach Creek Ford, where he could give Benny more attention, and where there was a chance for McCune and his oldest boy to get something to do. They were both employed now at mica digging for Laxley. In a plain but comfortable chair we will find Benny busy with his knife, or maybe reading, for generous friends have provided not only the chair, but a Bible of his own and other books, and The Youth's Companion. Every now and then, in addition, come pictures sent by some thoughtful Christian who are trying, in the Master's name, to make others happy. But Benny is not merely living for amuse- ment now. Bennv McCune is one of the bread- winners of the f amilv 1 His mother never fails to tell this wonderful storv to all who come to Reuben Delton, Preaclier, 293 see him, and she is as much changed, at heart, as Benny is. He has learned tO' carve and to make varions little souvenirs out of rhododen- dron root, and friends are interesting them- selves in the sale of them. Reuben Delton's work in the coves has not all been successful. There are stolid people there still; there are men and women whose lives are yet desperately wicked, but Reuben not only preaches the gospel of hope, but he lives it. He has learned as the years go by to regard God's long-suffering patience as his most wonderful attribute, and he strives to follow after, though at times he may be faint with pursuing. The work has not seemed less beautiful, nor less worthy of his life-long devotion because of discouragement. One of his favorite texts is, "The husband- man waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth, and hath long patience for it until he receive the earlv and the later rain." The Deltons gave up Miss Fields with a curi- ous blending of pleasure and pain. Marthy's pet name for her had been "The Exception," which, being interpreted, means that she re- garded Miss Fields as an exception to the rules for qualification in a mountain teacher. But 294 Reuben Delton, Preacher. Martliy and Reuben too recognized the hand of God in the pretty romance of the meeting of these estranged lovers, and they felt sure that it was right every way that she should go. Grace Fields carried with her new and very precious ideas of Christian living, and of God's faithful care of the least of his children. POSTSCRIPT TO CHAPTER VIII. A Year Latek. A TALL, bearded man is driving a load of hay into tlie barn-yard at Valley Manse. On the top of the hay sits Greyson as happy as a king, and cuddled in the arms of the driver is little Marsie chattering like a magpie. On the porch, and watching the scene with a smiling face is Marthy. ^'I feel so safe when the children are with Mr. Ruger, preacher," she said, turning to her hus- band, who has just returned from a long pas- toral tramp. "When I remember him, as Linnie and I saw him the night that Mandy Snoggs died, it is hard to believe that this is the pale-faced, wild- eyed outlaw. His whole expression is changed, and he looks so well and strong. "Yes, it is wonderful, but it is just what true religion does, Marthy. I do not see how I could get on without him in the cove work. I .saw two men to-day who a year ago were the worst men in this county. They were con- verted at that last meeting he had near the still- 29 G Reuben Delton, Preaclier. house, and now, like Dan Ruger, thej are clothed and in their right minds, though I do not know that they will make such workers as he is/' ^'AYe'll hope so and pray so/' said Marthy, softly. ''Yes, little woman, we will !" Just then they could hear the words that Ruger was singing as he fed the stock : " Love I much ? I'm much forgiven ! I'm a miracle of grace ! ''That is so!" exclaimed Reuben, and Marthy agreed with him. We will leave these busy workers now, pray- ing that those who have read this simple story may look on the beautiful work that is being done in the by\vays and coves through all the mountain region of the South as none the less the Master's work because much of it is hidden from the eyes of the world. And may they cheer the workers by that practical sympathy which is the natural outcome of faithful prayer ! ? L