3/&47!2%6%23)/.

4
((% 4
%2%7%(
25% %!6%
!3. 3/.4).5).'
/#
4%2 %!, #)49 

(%2%7%(!6%./
#/.4).5).'#)49
%  "UTITkSFOR(ISGLORYTHAT)SAYIT'ODBLESSYOU
.OW IN THE TH CHAPTER OF (EBREWS ) WISH TO READ SOME
3CRIPTUREjCAUSENOSERVICEISCOMPLETEWITHOUTTHEREADINGOF 'ODkS
7ORD-YWORDWILLFAILEVERYBODYELSEkSWORDWILLFAILBUT'ODkS
7ORDWILLNEVERFAIL(EBREWS 
7E HAVE AN ALTAR WHEREOF THEY WHICH HAVE NO RIGHT TO EAT
WHICHSERVEDTHETABERNACLE
&OR THE BODIES OF THOSE BEASTS WHOSE BLOOD IS BROUGHT INTO
THESANCTUARYBYTHEHIGHPRIESTFORSINAREBURNTWITHOUTTHE
CAMP
*ESUS>4HEREFORE *ESUS ALSO THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY THE
PEOPLEWITHHISOWNBLOODSUFFEREDWITHOUTTHEGATE
,ETUSGOFORTHTHEREFOREUNTOHIMWITHOUTTHECAMPBEARING
HISREPROACH
.OWHEREkSMYTEXT &ORHEREWEHAVENOCONTINUINGCITY
BUTWESEEKONETOCOME
)IMAGINEMYVOICEHASALITTLEBLASTINTHEREAND)kLLGETBACK
TO>#AN YOU HEAR ALL RIGHT UP IN THE BALCONY UP IN THE SECOND
BALCONYALLRIGHT
7HAT ) WISH TO SPEAK ON IS l(ERE 7E (AVE .O #ONTINUING
#ITYm TO KINDA BACK UP AND>!ND YOU PRAY WITH ME 4HEREkS NO
ONETHAT>
%  )THINKOF WHENTHE!BRAHAMLEFTTHECITYOF 5R>%RA>5R
ANDTHELANDOF #HALDEANHEWASSEEKINGACITYWHOSE"UILDERAND
-AKER WAS 'OD .OW THERE WAS SOMETHING IN !BRAHAM THAT HE
COULD SEE THAT GREAT CITY OF 5R AND HE KNEW THAT THAT VERY THING
THAT MADE PEOPLE COLONIZE TOGETHER THERE WAS BOUND TO BE A CITY
SOMEWHERETHATWASTYPEDOFF OF!NDBYINSTINCTORBYTHELEADING
OF THE(OLY3PIRITHEHUNTEDTHATCITYWHOSE"UILDERAND-AKERWAS
'OD!NDHESOJOURNEDINSTRANGELANDPROFESSEDTOBEPILGRIMSAND
STRANGERSASEEKINGACITYANDDWELLINGINTENTSWITH!BRAHAM)SAAC
AND*ACOB!NDSOTHENWESEETHATCITY
%  4HEREkS NO MATTER HOW MANY PLACES YOU EVER ROAMED NO
MATTERHOWFARYOUGOTHEREkSNOPLACELIKEHOME)STHATRIGHT(OW
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
MANYHERETODAYISAWAYFROMHOMELETkSSEEYOURHANDSJUSTAWAY
FROMHOME/HMY)WISHED)COULDSING)kDSINGl7EkRE0ILGRIMS
!ND3TRANGER3EEKING!#ITY4O#OMEm"EITEVERSOHUMBLETHEREkS
NOPLACELIKEHOME
,ETkSTAKEALITTLETRIPBACKHOMEWOULDYOULIKETODOTHAT)
BELIEVEEVERYONEHEREWOULDLIKETOTAKEATRIPHOMEWOULDNkTYOU
JUSTLIKETOGOBACKHOME4HEREkSNOPLACETHATYOUkLLEVERGOTHATkLL
EVER SEEM LIKE THAT LOVELY LITTLE OLD CITY YOU LIVED IN OR LITTLE OLD
DWELLINGPLACEOUTINTHECOUNTRY
&OR MYSELF )?) WANT TO WALK BACK DOWN THE ROAD JUST THIS
AFTERNOON WITH EACH ONE OF YOU TAKING A LITTLE EVENING STROLL TO
REVIEWTHETHINGSOVER
%  4HE FIRST THING COMES INTO MY MIND AT THIS TIME IS A LITTLE
HUMBLEHOMEBUILTOUTINTHECOUNTRYBYTHEBROOM SEDGEFIELDSAND
SOMEOLDAPPLETREESSTANDINGAROUNDWHEREMYFATHERANDMOTHER
ANDTHEIRLITTLEFAMILYLIVEDALITTLEHUMBLEPLACEINDEED4HE>
7EWEREVERYVERYPOOR$ADDYHADAHARDTIME(EWASA?A
VERY POOR MAN (E WORKED FOR SEVENTY FIVE CENTS A DAY IN?IN LOG
WOOD-YFATHERHADABADHABITDRINKING)kMSORRYTOHAVETOSAY
THAT BUT THATkS TRUE !ND HE?HE>-Y FATHER DIED IN MY ARMS )
SEEN MY DADDY WORK SO HARD TILL WHEN HE WOULD COME IN HIS?HIS
BACK WOULD BE SUN BURNED UNTIL HIS SHIRT WOULD BE STICKING TO HIS
BACKANDMOTHERWOULDHAVETOTAKEANDCLIPTHESHIRTLOOSEFROMHIS
BACK)DONkTCAREWHATHEDONE(EkSMYDADDY)kMNOTASHAMEDOF
MYFATHER)LOVEMYDADDY(EkSGONEONTODAYBUTHEkSSTILLDADDY
%  !ND YOUNG PEOPLE REMEMBER )F YOUkRE FORTUNATE ENOUGH
TODAYTOHAVEADADDYANDAMOTHERLIVINGLOVETHEMHONORTHEM
4HE HOUR WILL COME WHEN YOUkLL THINK THEYkRE THE GREATEST PEOPLE
INTHEWORLDIF YOUDONkTNOW!NDDONkTNEVERLITTLEFELLOWSDONkT
NEVERGIVETHISSLANDERINGWORDlOLDMANmANDlOLDWOMANm4HATkS
NOTTHEOLDMANANDOLDWOMAN4HATkSDADDYANDMOTHER
!NDSOMEOF THESEDAYSWHENTHEYGOOUTOF THEROOMINTHE
CASKET OF FLOWERS YOU HEAR THEM LOWERED DOWN IN THE GROUND THE
PASTORSAYl!SHESTOASHESANDDUST>m)TWONkTBETHElOLDMANm
THEN4HEREWONkTBETHElOLDWOMANmITkLLBEl-OTHERm9OUkLLBE
WRINGINGYOURHANDSANDCRYING4HATkSRIGHT
.OW WHILE SHEkS A LIVING GIVE HER HER FLOWERS NOW AND GIVE
DADHISFLOWERS4HATkSRIGHT.OWANDTHEBESTFLOWERYOUCOULDGIVE
THEMISOBEYTHEM!NDTHATkSTHEFIRSTPROMISEINTHE"IBLETHEFIRST
COMMANDMENTWITHPROMISEl(ONORTHYFATHERANDMOTHERWHICH
MAYLENGTHENTHEDAYSUPONTHEEARTHTHATTHE,/2$GIVETHTHEEm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
%  -Y DADDY WORKED ON A FARM ) REMEMBER MOTHER>4HE
FURNITURE WE HAD IN THE HOUSE WAS THE OLD HICKORY BOTTOM CHAIRS
(OWMANYREMEMBERSTHEOLDHICKORYBOTTOMCHAIRSWRAPPED>
7ELL )kM NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY PERSON IN HERE AM ) !ND WE HAD
AN OLD KEROSENE LAMP WITH A BIG OLD HOOT OWL ON THE CHIMNEY
2EMEMBER THEM OLD OWLS )T USED TO THE ONE ) HAD TO CLEAN IT
BECAUSE MY HAND WAS SO LITTLE ) COULD CLEAN THE CHIMNEY !ND WE
HADANOLDCOOKSTOVEINTHEKITCHEN
!NDPOPWOULDCUTTHEWOODANDWEkDBRINGITINANDLAYIT
BEHINDTHESTOVE!NDUSLITTLEKIDDIESWOULDHELPHIMSAWITUP
!ND WE HAD A?A TABLE !ND BEHIND THE TABLE WAS A BENCH
$ADDYTOOKAPIECEOFF OF ABARNAND?ANDMADEA?ANDMADEA?A
BENCH THAT WE ALL>7E LITTLE BOYS WOULD GO SET ON THAT 7E ONLY
HADTHREECHAIRS!NDSOWEWOULDGETON>
%  !ND)REMEMBERTHECABINTHEFRONTPARTOF ITITHADAFLOOR
)T HAD A RO?ROOM IN FRONT AND A LITTLE HALF ROOM IN THE BACK !ND
WEHADONEOF THOSELITTLEOLD>7ECALLEDTHEMMONKEYSTOVESOR
LAUNDRYSTOVESSETUPONASTUMP!NDMOTHERCOOKEDFROMTHERE
!ND SHEkD HOLLER l$INNERkS READYm !ND MY OH THEREkS?
THEREkS ABOUT FIVE OF WE LITTLE "RANHAMS 7EkD RUN IN THERE AND
WASH OUR FACE AND SLICK THAT HAIR DOWN AND JUMP UP BEHIND THE
TABLE!NDONEGREATBIGOLDPOTDINNERCOOKEDINANOLDTHREE LEGGED
KETTLE>(OW MANY REMEMBERS THEM 3AY )kD JUST LOVE TO HAVE A
DINNEROUTOF ONERIGHTNOW!ND?ANDWEkD>
%  3HEkD TAKE AND GET BEEF AND MAKE MULLIGAN STEW (OW MANY
KNOWSWHATMULLIGANSTEWIS)kMNOTTHEONLY)RISHMANHERETHEN
AM)3OTHEYkDPUTTHEMULLIGANSTEWINTHERE!NDWEHAD>
-YPLATEWASATINPLATE&RANKLYITWASABIGBUCKETLIDTHAT
WASTURNEDOVERSO)kDGETAGOODMEASUREEVERYTIMETHECUPWENT
DOWNANDDIPPEDOUTTHEMULLIGANSTEW!NDWEkDBAKEDCORNBREAD
INA?INA?APAN(OWMANYREMEMBERSOLDCORNBREADBAKEDINA
PAN CUTITINTHEMIDDLEPUTITON
!ND )kD SET NEXT TO DADDY jCAUSE EVERY PERSON BROKE HIS OWN
BREAD!NDSOWHENITCOMEBY)kDBREAKTHECORNEROFFBECAUSEIT
HADMORECRUSTONIT)TWASJUSTSOGOOD!NDSO)SURELIKETHATYET
9ESSIR)SUREDO
)kVE EAT IN MANY GOOD PLACES AND SOME OF THE BEST PLACES )
GUESS IN THE NATION THAT MINISTER FRIENDS OF MINE HAS TAKEN ME TO
DINNERWHICH)kMVERYVERYTHANKFUL"UTFRIENDS)kDGIVEEVERYTHING
)EVERHADOREVERWILLHAVEIF )COULDSETBEHINDTHATOLDTABLEONE
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
MORETIMEANDLOOKATMYDADDYSETTINGTHEREANDEATSOMEMULLIGAN
STEWWITHHIM)kLLNEVERDOITNOMORE4HATkSRIGHT)TkSDONEFOREVER
%NJOYYOURCHILDHOODYOUNGPEOPLE,OVE'OD
%  3EEALLMYBROTHERSSETAROUNDTHERETHELITTLEHEALTHYLOOKING
THINGS3OMEOF THEMkSINETERNITY)CANNEVERDOTHATNOMORE&OR
HEREWEHAVENOCONTINUINGCITYBUTWESEEKINGONETOCOME
)USEDTOSEEMYDADDYWHENWEkDCOMEIN(EkSALITTLEFELLOW
ABOUT MY SIZE BUT STRONG BUILT !ND HE WOULD WIND UP HIS SLEEVES
LIKETHAT
!NDWEHADITOUTTOTHEOLDAPPLETREETHEYHADAWASHPAN
SETTING OUT THERE WITH AN OLD PIECE OF A GLASS WITH DROVE UP IN THE
TREE AND A TOWEL MADE OUT OF A MEAL SACK !ND WEkD GO OUT THERE
ANDWASHATTHISOLDBENCHAND?AND?ANDTHENWEkDCLEANUPONTHE
OUTSIDE4HEREkSALITTLEBENCHAROUNDTHETREE
)kDSEEDADDYWHENHEkDBECOMBINGHISBLACKWAVYHAIRAND
THEMUSCLESWOULDJUSTWALLOWUNDERHISARM)THOUGHTl/OOHMY
-YDADDYWILLLIVETOBEATHOUSANDYEARSOLDm)kDTHINK)ADMIRED
MYDADDY!ND)kDTHINKl(OWSTRONGHEISm)SAIDl-YHEkLL?HEkLL
LIVE AND LIVE AND LIVE AND LIVE BECAUSE HEkS SO STRONGm (E DIED AT
FIFTY TWO&ORHEREWEHAVENOCONTINUINGCITY
%  .OW ) THOUGHT l/H THAT HOUSE (OW BIGm "ENEATH IT WAS
LOGS !ND IT BEEN KINDA SLAB BOARD ON THE OUTSIDE ) THOUGHT l/H
HOW>4HATHOUSEWILLSTANDFORHUNDREDSOF YEARSm4ODAYTHEREkS
AHOUSINGPROJECTTHERE(EREWEHAVENOCONTINUINGCITYBUTWEkRE
SEEKINGONETOCOME4HATkSRIGHT
)PASSEDBYJUSTBEFORECOMINGHERE)kMJUSTSOAGREATSWELLING
IN MY HEART /H 'OD HOW CAN JUST TWENTY YEARS MAKE SUCH A
DIFFERENCE IN A PLACE "UT HERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY 7EkRE
SEEKINGONETOCOME!ND)THOUGHTOF DADDY
!ND ALSO WE>) REMEMBER EVERY 3ATURDAY NIGHT WEkD GO
TO TOWN AND?AND PAY THE GROCERY BILL !ND EVERY TIME WEkD PAY A
GROCERYBILL-R'ROWERWOULDGIVEUSTHEGROCERYMAN GIVEUSA
LITTLESACKOF CANDY)THINKOURGROCERYBILLRUNTOTHEEXTENTOF THREE
DOLLARSAWEEK!NDMYDADONLYMADEABOUTFOURANDAHALF
%  3OMOMWOULDGETSOMEGOODSATGI>-YWIFEkSSETTINGHERE
)kM AFRAID TO SAY WHAT KIND OF GOODS THAT WAS jCAUSE ) MAKE A
MISTAKEONITEVERYTIME!NYHOWITkSSOMEKINDOF THATLITTLESTUFF
YOUKNOWTHATTHEYUSEDTOMAKESHIRTSOUTOF
!ND ) REMEMBER ONE TIME AT MY CHURCH ) SAID TO>/NE
OF THE WORST ) EVER WAS GOTTEN AT MY CHURCH ) WAS GOING TO HAVE
A HUMBLE NIGHT ON 7EDNESDAY NIGHT AND ) SAID>!ND MY CHOIR
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
WAS ALL SETTING BEHIND ME ) SAID>!ND THAT>7HAT>G A N
G H?JAN?J?GINGHAM>4HATkS WHAT IT IS NAME?GINGHAM !ND )
SAID>!ND)WASTRYINGTOTHINKOF THAT
!ND THEREkS A LITTLE PLACE DOWN THE ROAD CALLED 'INGHAM?
'INGHAM #OTTAGES !ND )kLL TRY TO THINK OF THAT !ND ) SAID l)kM
SURETOMAKEAMISTAKEWHEN)SAYTHATm
3O ) HAD A LITTLE GIRL BY THE NAME OF )RENE 7ISEHEART SINGING
IN THE CHOIR ) SAID l.OW 3ISTER 7ISEHEART WHEN ) BACK BACK
IF ) FORGET ABOUT IT YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT WASm !ND SO ) DIDNkT
UNDERSTANDANYTHINGABOUTGOODSLIKETHAT
%  !ND ) SAID l.OW 7EDNESDAY NIGHT IS?IS HUMBLE NIGHT HERE
AT THE 4ABERNACLEm ) SAID l.OW ALL YOU BROTHERS WEAR YOUR WORK
CLOTHES YOUR OVERALLS )kM GOING TO PREACH IN MY OVERALLSm ) SAID
l9OU ALL COME OUT WITH YOUR OVERALLS !ND ALL YOU WOMEN WEAR
YOUR>m)SAIDWALKINGBACK
)BACKEDBACKANDSHESAIDl'INGHAMGINGHAMm
) SAID l9OUR GREYHOUND DRESSESm !ND MY>!ND OH MY
4HATWASABOUTTHEWORST)EVERWASGOTTENIT!NDEVERYBODYSTARTED
TOLAUGHINGATMEAND)THOUGHTl7ELL)?)GUESS)DONESAIDITm3O
)SAIDl%VERWHATTHATGOODSISLIKEkSONTHISLITTLECA?COTTAGEDOWN
HEREm
4HENONENIGHT)WAS?RUNHOME)WASPATROLLING!ND)USED
TOCARRYTHOSEGREATBIGOLDREDHANDKERCHIEFS7HENYOUHUNTYOU
KNOWYOUHAVETOHAVEAREDHANDKERCHIEF!ND)kDCARRYONEINMY
POCKET
!ND?AND ONE NIGHT ) RUN IN AND>7E LIVED IN A LITTLE TWO
ROOMCABIN!ND)?)RUNACROSSTHESTREETREALQUICKTOCHURCH)WAS
LATEAND)RUNACROSSTHESTREETREALQUICKYOUKNOWAND)DRESSEDIN
THEROOMANDCHANGEDCLOTHES!ND)WASOVERTHEREJUSTAPREACHING
AWAYYOUKNOWAND)GOTTOPERSPIRING!ND)REACHEDBACKANDGOT
THISHANDKERCHIEFYOUKNOWAND)STARTEDSHAKINGITLIKETHIS!ND)
LOOKEDANDITWASTHATBIGOLDREDHANDKERCHIEF)SEENMYLITTLEWIFE
LOOKING AT ME AND ) SAID l/H WELLm ) SAID l)kM AFRAID OF THEM
LITTLEONES!FRAID)kDSWALLOWITm3O)SAID>4HEREkSABOUTTWOOF
THEWORST)EVERKNEW>WASGOTTENIN?IN?INCHURCH
%  "UT)REMEMBERDADDYWOULDTAKEUSDOWNON3ATURDAYNIGHT
ANDPAYTHEGROCERYBILLANDGETTHOSE?THOSELITTLEOLDSACKOF CANDY
!ND WE HAD A LITTLE OLD JERSEY WAGON 9OU ALL CALL THEM OUT HERE
BUCKBOARDS ) BELIEVE OR WHATEVER !ND THEY PUT SOME STRAW IN THE
BACK !ND ITkD BE COLD AND WEkD WRAP UP IN BLANKETS AND?AND GO
DOWN!NDITkDBESPITTINGSNOW!NDTHEYkDPAYTHEGROCERYBILL
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
!ND ALL THESE LITTLE )RISH SETTING OUT THERE WAITING YOU KNOW
FOR THIS CANDY TO COME 4HEN WEkD COME OUT AND?AND THAT CANDY
HADTOBEEQUALLYBROKENAMONGEVERYONE)F THEREkSONESTICKOVER
ITWASBROKEINTOSOMANYPIECES4OBESUREEVERYLITTLEBLUEEYEWAS
WATCHINGRIGHTATITTOBESUREHENEVERGOTCHEATED3OWEkDSETAND
EATTHAT
!ND)kDPLAYALITTLETRICKONTHEM)kD>.OWWEWOULDNkTEAT
ITCOULDNkTCHEWITBECAUSEITWASTOOVALUABLETHATOLDSTICKCANDY
)kD>7EkD SUCK ON IT A LITTLE WHILE THEN HOLD IT YOU KNOW WAIT A
LITTLEWHILERESTUPANDSUCKONITAGAIN
%  7ELL)REMEMBER)USEDTOPLAYATRICKONTHEM)kDSUCKONMY
PIECEFORAWHILEANDWRAPITUPINAPIECEOF PAPERANDPUTITINMY
POCKET!ND)HADSOMEFROM-ONDAY!ND)kDSUCKONITAGAINAND
TELLALLTHEBOYSl$ONkTYOUWISHYOUHADSOMEm!ND)kDJUSTPUT
THAT PIECE AND THE DIRT AND CANDY AND ALL OF IT ROLL>>!ND?
ANDTHEYWASGOOD
!ND)GUESS)COULDGOTOMORROWANDBUYAWHOLEBOXOF?OF
CHOCOLATES (ERSHEYkS IF ) WANTED TO "UT IT WOULD NEVER TASTE LIKE
THAT4HATkSTHEREALCANDY
!ND ) REMEMBER THOSE OLD DAYS AND HOW GLORIOUS THEY WAS
!NDHOWTHATGOINGTOSCHOOL>7HENSCHOOLDAYSCOMEALONGWE
WENT TO SCHOOL 7E DIDNkT HAVE ANY CLOTHES TO WEAR HARDLY TO?JUST
ENOUGHTO?THATWEPOSSIBLELEGALLYCOULDGO
%  )REMEMBERGOINGTOSCHOOLALLWINTERLONGWITHONEOF MOMkS
SHOESONANDONEOF POPkS4HATkSRIGHT)HAD>7ECALLEDITABOOT
N GAGGER!ND)HADONEOF MOMkSSHOEONTHISFOOTANDPOPkS!ND
THISISAWFULTOSAYBUTITkSTHETRUTH)TkSTHETRUTH
) REMEMBER ) DIDNkT HAVE ANY SHIRT TO WEAR THAT WINTER !ND
-RS7ATHANARICHLADYLIVEDUPTHEROADFROMUSGIVEMEALITTLE
COAT THAT HAD A LITTLE EAGLE EMBLEM ON IT !ND )kD PULL THAT COAT UP
LIKETHISANDGOONTOSCHOOL
)REMEMBERSETTINGUPTHERE)TGOTKINDAWARMYOUKNOW!ND
THETEACHERSAIDl7ILLIAMm
)SAIDl9ESMAkAMm
3HESAIDl!RENkTYOUWARM"ETTERTAKEOFF THATCOATm
) COULDNkT TAKE THAT COAT OFF ) DIDNkT HAVE ANY SHIRT ON 3O
) SAID l7HY )?)>.O?NO MAkAMm ) SAID l)kM JUST A LITTLE BIT
CHILLYm
4HEY HAD A GREAT BIG OLD STOVE SETTING OVER THERE 3HE SAID
l9OUAINkTTAKINGACOLD9OUGOOVERANDSETBYTHATSTOVEm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
-YMY)SETTHEREANDTHEPERSPIRATIONRUNDOWNONMYFACE
3HESAIDl!RENkTYOUWARMYETm
) SAID l.O MAkAMm ) WAS PLENTY WARM BUT ) COULDNkT TAKE
THATCOATOFF)DIDNkTHAVEANYSHIRTON
%  !NDSO)REMEMBERTHATSPRINGWHEN)GOTMYFIRSTSHIRT)HAD
A COUSIN A GIRL ,UCILLE (ARE MY FATHERkS SISTERkS CHILD 4HEY COME
OVERTOVISIT!NDWHENSHELEFTSHELEFTONEOF HERDRESSES
!ND?AND?AND )?) CUT THE SKIRT PART OFF AND?AND WORE
THE TOP PART AS A SHIRT ) WENT TO SCHOOL !ND IT HAD THIS HERE
LITTLE>7HAT IS THAT STUFF THAT RUNS UP AND DOWN YOU KNOW LIKE
THAT THEY PUT IT AROUND THE EDGES OF GARMENTS 2ICKELTY RACKELTY
/R WHATEVER THE>) MISSED THAT 2ICK WHAT 2ICK RACK !ND?
AND SO WE?WE>!LL OVER IT EVERYWHERE RICK RACK ALL OVER IT 3O
THATkS>;"LANKSPOTONTAPE?%D=>>
%  $OWN THE HILL WEkD GO RIVITY RIVITY RIVITY RIVITY 7ELL WE
WASNkT SLIDING LIKE THE REST THE BOYS BUT WE WERE SLIDING ANYHOW
7E?WE WERE GETTING THERE ANYHOW IN THIS OLD DISH PAN 7ELL THAT
WAS ALL RIGHT BUT RAT>3OME OF THE BOYS HAD SLEIGHS 9OU SEE 3O
AFTERAWHILETHEBOTTOMCOMEOUTOF IT3OWEHADNOMORESLEIGH
!NDWEWENTDOWNTHERIVERAND)GOTMEABIGOLDLOGPUTAWIRE
ONITANDPULLEDITUPTOPOF THEHILL!NDWEkDGETONTHISLOGAND
RIDERIDEDOWNTHEHILL
) NEVER WILL FORGET A EVENT?EVENT TAKEN PLACE THERE THEREkS A
BOY NAMED ,LOYD &ORD "ROTHER 'RAHAM EVER WHERE YOU AT MY
ASSOCIATE PASTORkS HERE SOMEWHERE ,LOYD &ORD HE GOT HIM A JOB
4HAT WAS IN TIME OF THE WORLDkS WAR 3O HE GOT HIM A JOB SELLING
l0ATHFINDERSm OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT MAGAZINES !ND HE GOT TO
WEARONEOF THEM"OY3COUTSUITS!NDEVERYTHINGWASAWARTHEN
YOUKNOWANDARMY!NDOHHOW)WANTEDTODRESSLIKEASOLDIER
%  )kDSEETHOSESOLDIERSCOMEUPFROMTHEQUARTERMASTERANDGO
UPTHEROADTHEREJUSTATATTENTIONWALKING!NDATTHESCHOOLWE
HADANOLDSASSAFRASPOLETHEREANDRAISEDTHEFLAGANDTHOSESOLDIERS
COMEBYWOULDSALUTETHEFLAG
)THOUGHTl(OW>m/HMYHEARTJUSTBEATl7HEN)GETBIG
ENOUGH)kMGOINGTOJOINTHEARMY)kLLGETPLENTYOF CLOTHESTOWEAR
!ND)kLL>!NDIF )CANJOINTHEARMYm"UTWHEN)GOTBIGENOUGH
)WASTOOSCRAWNYATTHE?TOGETINTHEARMY!NDTHEYWOULDNkTEVEN
TAKEME
"UT3OMEBODYACCEPTEDME4HATkSRIGHT)kMINA!RMYTODAY
9OUMIGHTNOTBEABLETOSEEMYUNIFORMBUT)KNOWITkSONANYHOW
)TkSONTHEINSIDE)kMINTHE!RMYOF THE,ORD
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
%  !ND SO IN THE WAR ) TRIED TO VOLUNTEER AND EVERYTHING BUT
THEYWOULDNkT?DIDNkTRECEIVEME3OTHEYNEVEREVENCALLEDME0UT
MEINTHEMINISTERkSCLASSANDJUSTNEVEREVENCALLEDME)GUESSMY
EDUCATIONWASTOOPOORTOBECLASSEDASA#HAPLAIN!ND?ANDTHEN
BEINGAMINISTERTHEYWOULDNkT>)>4HEYDIDNkTDRAFTME!NDSO
THERE)WAS)WASLEFTOUT
"UT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER AND EVEN WITH MY SCRAWNY
UNEDUCATEDANDALL'ODSENTOUTARECRUITONEDAYAND)ANSWERED
ITAND)?)kMIN(IS!RMYNOW!ND)kMDOINGTHEBESTTHAT)CAN
TOFIGHTTHEGREATESTBATTLETHATkSEVERFOUGHTAWAGEAGAINSTSINAND
EVILANDFORRIGHTEOUSNESS
%  !ND)REMEMBER)ASKED,LOYD)SAIDl,LOYDWILLYOUGIVEME
THATSUITWHENYOUWEARITOUTm
(ESAIDl9ES)kLLGIVEITTOYOUm
!NDTHATWASTHELONGESTLASTINGSUIT)EVERSEEN(EWORETHAT
SUITLOOKEDLIKE>7HEN)SEENHIMONETIMEHECOMEUPMISSING
ITAND)SAIDl,LOYDWHATABOUTTHATSUITm
(ESAIDl)kLLSEEIF )CANFINDTHAT"ILLYm,OOKEDALLAROUND
(E SAID l.O SIR 9OU KNOW MOTHER PATCHED DADkS CLOTHES WITH IT
ANDTHEDOGSUSEDITFORAPALLETANDTHEYDRUGITAWAYm!NDSAID
l4HEONLYTHING)GOTLEFTISONELEGGINGm
)SAIDl"RINGMETHATm
!NDSOITWASALITTLEOLDSTAVELEGGINGABOUTLIKETHATLACEDUP
ONTHESIDE3O)TOOKTHATLEGGINGYOUKNOWAND)WOREITAROUND
HOME0UTITON-Y)LOOKEDHOWGOODTHATLOOKEDYOUKNOWONE
LEGGING4HOUGHTl-YTHATFELTGOODm)WANTEDTOWEARITTOSCHOOL
BUT)DIDNkTKNOWJUSTHOW)WASGOINGTOGETTOWEARTHATLEGGINGTO
SCHOOL3O)PUTITININSIDEMYCOAT
%  !ND ) WAS RIDING ON THAT LOG ONE DAY AND ) WENT DOWN THE
HILL!NDOH)GOTUPAND)SAIDl-Y)HURTMYLEG7HEW5Mm)
SAID>-YSTOCKINGSYOUKNOWANDGREATBIGHOLESINTHEM!ND)
SAIDl)?)JUSTHURTMYLEGSOBADm
)SAIDl4HATJUSTREMINDSME)?)?)GOTONEOF MY"OY3COUT
LEGGINGS HERE IN MY COATm ) PUT THAT LEGGING ON -Y ) WALKED INTO
SCHOOLYOUKNOWKINDALIMPINGLIKEBUTGETTINGEVERYBODYLOOKING
ATTHATONELEGGING
!ND SO )?) HAD TO GO UP TO WORK THE PROBLEMS ON THE
BLACKBOARD !ND SO THAT THEY WOULDNkT NOTICE ) JUST HAD ON ONE
LEGGING)STOODSIDEWAYSANDPUTTHISLEGGINGONTHATSIDEANDSTOOD
LIKE THIS AND WORKED THE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ,OOK OUT AND SEE IF
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
EVERYBODYWASLOOKINGATMETHATONELEGGINGON%VERYBODYGOTTO
LAUGHINGATME-Y)GOTTOCRYINGSOSHEMADEMECOMEDOWN"UT
OHMY3OMETHINGTHERE>
)GOTAPAIROF LEGGINGSTODAYTHAT)kMNOTASHAMEDOF4HATkS
RIGHTTHE'OSPELOF *ESUS#HRIST
!ND THEN MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPENED IN CHILDHOOD BACK
THERETHAT)WOULDNkTHAVETIMETOAPPROACH
%  /NETHINGNOTLONGAGO)WASHAVINGAREVIVALIN4EXAS)COME
HOMEAND>7IFE)ANDTHEBABYWEWENTUPTHEROAD!ND)JUST
SOTIRED)?)JUSTFELTLIKE)kDDROP)JUSTCOULDNkTSTANDIT
!NDONTHEROADHOME)WASDRIVINGAND?AND)kDGOTOSLEEP
!ND ) DRIVE ABOUT A COUPLE OF MILES THEN )kD STOP )kD TRY TO SLEEP
AND)kDWAKEUP!ND)kD?)kDDRIVEALITTLEFARTHERAND)kDGETSLEEPY
ANDJUSTALMOSTGOOFF THEROAD!ND)?)kDSTOP)THOUGHTl4HISIS
AWFULDANGEROUSBUT)MUSTGETHOMEm!ND)WOULDLAYONTHE?LAY
DOWNINMYCARANDTRYTOSLEEP
) WOKE UP AFTER WHILE AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED
) DRIVING )kD RUN OFF THE ROAD AND WAS WAY OUT IN A COW PASTURE
HOLDING MY HAND OUT AND SAYING l3ISTER BELIEVE IT 4HATkS ALL YOU
HAVETODO)F YOUkREEVERGETHEALEDTHENYOUBELIEVEITm7AYOUT
THEREINTHEPASTUREWHERE)kDRUNOFF THEROADANDOUTTHROUGHTHE
FIELDTHEREAND?ANDASLEEP!NDWIFEAND)THEREkSAGREATCROWDOF
PEOPLEWAITINGTHERE3OWEGOTINTHECARANDWENTUPTHEROAD
%  )PASSEDBYTHEOLDSCHOOLHOUSEITkSGONETOOFORWEHAVENO
CONTINUINGCITY
!ND RIGHT ACROSS FROM THERE THERE USED TO BE -R 7ATHANkS
CHAUFFEUR!ND>>THEYLIVETHERE4HEREkSAPUMPTHAT)WANTED
A DRINK OUT OF !ND ) THOUGHT JUST LIKE $AVID ONE TIME WANTED A
DRINKOUTOF THATWELL!ND)WENTDOWNTHERETOTHE?ANDBEGINTO
PUMPTHEWATERANDWIFEANDBABYANDTHEMWASPICKINGVIOLETS
) WAS LEANING ACROSS THE OLD FENCE AND LOOKING AT THE OLD HILL
THEREWHERETHESCHOOLUSEDTOBEANDTHEOLDTREESTHESUGARMAPLES
WHEREWEUSEDTOTAPTHEMANDSUCKTHESAPONTHEMINTHESPRINGOF
THEYEARYOUKNOWWHENITWASCOMINGUP
!ND)THOUGHTl/H>m)COULDJUSTIMAGINESEEINGALLTHOSE
LITTLEBOYSSTANDINGLINEDUPTHEREWITHTHEIRHANDSONONEANOTHERkS
SHOULDERSTRAMPINGLIKETHISANDTHEFLAGUPANDWEWEREGOINGIN
THETEACHERWITHAGREATBIGLONGWILLOWMAKINGUSLINEUPJUSTRIGHT
!ND)LOOKEDUPONTHEHILLANDSEETHEOLDHOMEWHEREITUSEDTO
BE AND HOUSING PROJECT UP THERE $OWN HERE THE OLD SCHOOL WAS
GONE
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
!NDMYMYHEARTBEGINTOSWELLUP)THOUGHTl(EREWEHAVE
NOCONTINUINGCITYBUTWEkRESEEKINGONETOCOMEm
%  )REMEMBERTHEBOYSTHAT)USE>)SAIDl,ETMETHINK2ALPH
&IELDS WHEREkS HE AT (EkS GONE 7HEREkS (OWARD (IGGINS $EAD
7HEREkS MY BROTHER 'ONE (ERE WE HAVE NO CONTIN>7HEREkS
DAD (EkS GONE 7HEREkS #HARLES 'ONE 7HEREkS %DWARD 'ONEm
)THOUGHTl/'ODANDSOONSOMEBODYLOOKATTHISGROUNDANDSAY
j7HEREkS "ILLk 'ONEm (ERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY ) BEGIN TO
THINKOF IT-YHEARTBEGINTOPOUND
) REMEMBER A LITTLE DIRTY TRICK THAT ) DONE MY BROTHER THERE
$ONkTDOANYTHINGWRONGTHATYOUkLLEVERREGRET
)REMEMBERONEDAYTHATMAMAGIVEUSSOMEPOPCORNTOTAKE
TO?TOSCHOOLWITHUS7ECOULDNkTEATWITHTHERESTOF THEKIDS7EkD
ALWAYS RUN OVER THE HILL THERE AND EAT BECAUSE WE?THE REST OF THE
CHILDRENCOULDAFFORDSANDWICHES
!NDWEUSEDTOHAVEALITTLEJAR)NTHEREWOULDBEGREENSAND
APIECEOF CORNBREADLAYINGONTHESIDEANDTWOSPOONSANDMAYBE
ALITTLEJARFULLOF STUFFYOUKNOW!ND?ANDWEkDSETANDBOTHOF US
EATOUTOF THISJARWITHTHISSPOONANDEATOURBREADANDPASSITBACK
ANDFORTHTOONEANOTHER7EWASASHAMEDBEFORETHECHILDREN!ND
WEkDRUNOVERTHEHILLANDEATBEHINDTHETREESOVERTHERE
%  )REMEMBERMAMAGETTINGUSSOMEPOPCORNAROUND#HRISTMAS
7E HAD A SACK OF IT AND WE TOOK IT TO SCHOOL LEFT IT IN THE CLOAK
ROOM !ND HERE THE LITTLE DIRTY TRICK THAT ) DID ) HELD UP MY HAND
4EACHERSAIDl7HATDOYOUWANT7ILLIAMm
)SAIDl-AY)BEEXCUSEDm
3AIDl9ESMAkAM?YESSIRm
!ND ) WENT OUT THE BUILDING AND WENT OUT THROUGH THE CLOAK
ROOM)PUTMYHANDDOWNINTHATSACKANDGOTAGREATBIGHANDFUL
OF THATPOPCORN7ENTOUTANDSTOODBEHINDTHESCHOOLANDEATTHIS
POPCORNTOBESURETHAT)GOTMYSHAREOF IT!ND)WASEATINGTHAT
POPCORN ) NEVER WILL FORGET 7HEN DINNER TIME COME WE WENT OUT
ANDGOTOURBUCKETANDGOTOURPOPCORN-YBROTHERLOOKEDINTHAT
SACK AND ABOUT HALF OF IT GONE (E SAID l3AYm SAID lSOMETHING
HAPPENEDTHEREDIDNkTITm
)SAIDl3UREDIDm5HUH HUH)KNOWWHATHADHAPPENED)kD
EATHISPOPCORN3O>"UTHESHAREDTHERESTOF IT
%  !ND STANDING THERE LEANING OVER THAT FENCE ) THOUGHT OF ALL
THOSE THINGS (EkS THE ONE THATkS GONE ON (E DIED IN THE HOSPITAL
CALLINGFORMEWHEN)WASIN!RIZONAMANYMANYYEARSAGO
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
&RIENDS IF )kD A HAD A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS LAYING BEFORE
ME )kDHAVEGIVEEVERYTHINGTHAT)HADIF )COULDkVE TOOK HIM THAT
HANDFULOF POPCORNBACKAGAIN#OULDNkTDOIT(EkSGONEON!ND)
THOUGHTl(OWHARDHEHADTOLIVE(EDIEDWHENHEWASJUSTABOYm
!ND HOW THAT WE TRIED TO SHARE OUR CLOTHES WITH ONE ANOTHER !ND
JUSTBEFOREHEDIEDHEPUTHISHANDOVERHISHEARTSAIDl)WILLNEVER
LIVETOSEE"ILLAGAINm"UTSAIDl4ELLHIMHEkSMYFAVORITEBROTHERm
!ND WHEN DOWN THERE ) WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THEN ) STARTED
CRYING 7IFE SAID l7HY DONkT YOU COME HOME TO RESTm !ND SHE
SEENWHATWASGOINGONSOSHEGOTMEAWAYANDWEWENTONUPTHE
ROAD,IFEWHENONEISACHILDITWASBOYHOOD)kLLHURRY
%  )WASAYOUNGMAN)?)SEENTHEWAYWOMENLIVED)NEVERDID
LIKEGIRLSNEVERDIDLIKEWOMENjCAUSE)?)GOTENOUGHTOSEETHEWAY
THEY WOULD LIVE )F ANYTHING ) RESPECT IN A WOMAN IS BEING TRUE )
DONkTCAREIF SHEkSANY?COLOREDWHITEORWHATEVERSHEISIF SHEkSA
REALLADYSHEDESERVESTHEHIGHESTOF RESPECTS'ODKNOWSTHAT!ND
) PURPOSED IN MY HEART WHEN ) WAS A LITTLE BOY THAT )kD NEVER HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH WOMEN )kD BE A HUNTER ALL MY LIFE !ND THATkS
WHAT ) DID FRIEND !ND )kD LIVE IN THE WOODS HUNT ALL NIGHT !ND
THATkSWHY>4HATkSWHERE)LEARNED'ODWASBYNATURE
)REMEMBERWHEN>#OURSEWHEN)GOTTOBEABOUTSEVENTEEN
OR EIGHTEEN THEN AS ALL BOYS THEY>3OME BOY FRIEND OF MINE HIS
DADDY HAD A CAR *AMES 0OOLE !ND HE HAD A LITTLE GIRL HE WANTED
METOMEET!NDYOUKNOWHOWYOUARE)SEENTHATLITTLEGIRLAND)
THOUGHTSHEWASPRETTIESTLITTLETHING)EVERSEEN9OUKNOWTEETHLIKE
PEARLSEYESLIKEADOVENECKLIKEASWAN/HMYJUSTPRETTIESTTHING
YOUEVERSEEN
3OSAIDl3HEWANTSTOMEETYOU"ILLm
!ND ) SAID l/Hm ) SAID l) DONkT KNOW HOW TO TALK TO A
WOMANm)SAIDl)?)CANkTDOTHATm
!ND(ESAIDl/HCOMEONm
3O)TALKEDTOHERAFEWTIMES!NDAFTERWHILEHESAIDl)kLLGET
DADkSOLDCARm!NDSAIDl7E?WEkLLTAKEOURGIRLFRIENDSARIDINGm
)THOUGHTl7ELLNOWTHATWOULDNkTBEBADm
%  3O?SO WE WENT OUT 7E STOPPED DOWN THERE TO GET SOME
SANDWICHES !ND ) WENT IN AND GOT SOME #OKES AND SOME
SANDWICHES AND COME BACK OUT !ND WE ATE THE SANDWICHES AND )
TOOK THE #OKES BACK?THE #OKE BOTTLES BACK 7HEN ) WENT BACK )
COMEOUTTOMYSURPRISEMYLITTLEGIRLFRIENDWASSMOKINGACIGARETTE
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
7ELL)ALWAYSHADMYOPINIONOF ACIGARETTESMOKINGWOMAN
AND ) HAVENkT CHANGED IT YET )TkS THE MOST LOWEST IMMORALEST
DEGRADINGTHINGTHATAWOMANCANDO)?)kMNOTHERETOPREACHTHE
'OSPELINTHATMANNER9OURPREACHERWILLDOTHAT
"UTWOMENIF YOUDOSMOKEFORMERCYSAKEGETAWAYFROMIT
(OWCHEAPITLOOKSINAWOMANTHATkLLSMOKEACIGARETTE-YITkSTHE
CHEAPESTTHING)kDRATHERSEEHERDRUNKANYTIME
%  !NDLISTEN9OUTALKABOUTASABOTAGE$ONkTYOUWORRYABOUT
2USSIACOMINGINANDGETTINGUS2USSIAAINkTGOINGTOHURTUSWEkRE
HURTINGOURSELF)TkSOUROWNMORALDECAYTHATkSAHURTINGUS7EkRE?
WEkRECORRUPTINGOURSELVES
3TATISTICS SHOWS BY DOCTORS ) BELIEVE THAT EIGHTY PERCENT OF
THE WOMEN THAT HAS CHILDREN THAT SMOKE CIGARETTES IF THEYkD RAISE
THEIRBABYLIKETHEYSHOULDTOTHEBREASTINEIGHTEENMONTHSITDIES
)TKILLSTHEBABYTHENICOTINEPOISONINTHEMILKOF THEMOTHER7HY
SABOTAGEFIFTHCOLUMNIST>
)STILLSAYWHATTHISWORLDNEEDSTODAYISNOTANEWPRESIDENT
IT NEEDS AN OLD FASHION 3AINT 0AULkS REVIVAL AND THE "IBLE (OLY
'HOSTBACKINTHE#HURCHAGAIN)BELIEVETHATkSRIGHT9ESSIR4HATkS
EXACTLYWHATITNEEDS
%  !ND?AND THE?THE?AND THE WOMEN HOW THEY COULD SMOKE
!ND?AND ) THOUGHT THAT WAS TERRIBLE TO SEE A WOMAN SMOKE 7ELL
THAT JUST BROKE MY HEART ) JUST COULDNkT STAND THAT ) DIDNkT WANT
NOTHINGTO?TODOWITHTHAT3O)JUST?JUSTLEFTHER!NDSOTHATWAS
THE TIME WHEN THE !NGEL OF THE ,ORD APPEARED TO ME WHEN>3HE
LAUGHED AT ME CALLED ME A SISSY 3HE MADE ME WALK HOME 4HATkS
RIGHT FROMTHEPLACE3HESAIDl7ELLYOUBIGSISSY)WOULDNkTEVEN
RIDEWITHYOUm
)SAIDl9OUDONkTHAVETOm
3HESAIDl9OUDONkTSMOKEm
!ND)SAIDl.OMAkAMm
3AIDl9OUDONkTDRINKEITHERm
!ND)SAIDl.OMAkAMm
3AIDl7HATDOYOULIKETODOm
) SAIDl'OFISHINGHUNTINGm#OURSETHAT DIDNkT INTEREST HER
3O)?)WAS>4HATWASWAY)?)THOUGHTABOUTITANYHOW!ND)kM
GLADTODAYTHAT)DIDTHINKTHAT4HATkSRIGHT!MEN
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
,ISTENFRIENDS)TAINkTTHEROBINTHATPECKSTHEAPPLETHATHURTS
ITITkSTHEWORMATTHECORETHATKILLSTHEAPPLE4HATkSWHAT)TkSSIN
IN OUR MIDST IS WHATkS A HURTING US 4HATkS RIGHT  SIN IN OUR MIDST
THATkSKILLINGUS
%  .OW NOW ) GUESS YOU WONDER HOW ) EVER GOT MARRIED 7ELL
WHEN ) MET MY WIFE SHE WAS A #HRISTIAN GIRL VERY LOVELY #HRISTIAN
GIRL!ND)WASTHENABOUTTWENTY THREETWENTY FOURYEARSOLD3HE
VERY SWEET HUMBLE CHARACTER !ND ) MET HER !ND )?)kD TAKE HER
TO CHURCH AND SHE WENT TO CHURCH !ND SHE WAS A VERY FINE LOVELY
WOMAN
!LL THESE PEOPLE HERE MY FRIENDS FROM *EFFERSONVILLE SETTING
HEREINFRONTOF MEKNOWSHERORKNEWHERANDHOWALOVELYWOMAN
SHE WAS 3HEkS IN HER GRAVE TODAY "UT THATkS HER BODY (ER SOULkS
IN?WITH#HRIST!NDSHEWASAVERYLOVELY#HRISTIANCHARACTER
!ND)WENTWITHHERAWHILE!NDSHECOMEFROMAGOODHOME
(ERFATHERDURINGTHETIMEOF THEDEPRESSIONTHATTHATWASHEMADE
ABOUTSIXHUNDREDDOLLARSAMONTH(EWASABROTHERHOODORGANIZER
ON THE 0ENNSYLVANIA 2AILROAD ) MADE TWENTY CENTS A HOUR DIGGING
DITCHES3O)COULDNkTMARRYTHEGIRL)DIDNkTTHINK
%  !ND)THOUGHTl7ELLIF )HAVEWENTWITHHERANYLONGER)WAS
TAKINGUPHERTIME3HEWASTOOGOODOF AGIRLTOLETGO3HEkDMAKE
SOMEMANAGOODWIFEm3O)HADTOEITHERJUSTLETHERGOORASKHER
TOMARRYMEAND)DIDNkTHAVENERVEENOUGHTODOTHAT3O)GUESS
YOUWONDERHOW)GOT>)WROTEHERALETTERANDASKEDHERIF SHEkD
MARRYME!ND)SAIDl7ELL)>m.OWIT?ITWASNkTl$EAR-ISS
WILL YOU HAVE MEm )T WAS A LITTLE BIT WHAT YOU CALL MUSHIER THAN
THAT!ND)?)?)KINDATALKEDTOHER>
"UT HERE>) REMEMBER ) THOUGHT l) GOT TO DO SOMETHING
BECAUSEITkSNOTRIGHTTOTAKETHEGIRLkSTIMEm3O)WROTEHERALETTER
!ND ) WENT TO WORK THAT MORNING ) WAS WORKING 0UBLIC
3ERVICE#OMPANY!ND)WASVERYNERVOUSABOUTDROPPINGITINTHE
BOXITWASON-ONDAYMORNING)DROPPEDITINTHEBOX!NDALLDAY
) THOUGHT ABOUT IT !ND ) THOUGHT l4ONIGHT OH OH )kLL HEAR FROM
THATTONIGHT(ERMOTHERWILLCALLMEUPANDRAKEMEOVERTHECOALSm
!ND)WENTON4HATNIGHTITWASALLRIGHT
%  !ND ) WAS TO MEET HER 7EDNESDAY TO TAKE HER OVER TO THE
CHURCH 3O ) REMEMBER THEN COME ON TOWARDS 7EDNESDAY !ND
7EDNESDAYNIGHT)WASJUSTASNERVOUS)DIDNkTKNOWWHATTODO)
THOUGHTl7HATAM)GOINGTODOWHEN)GETUPTHEREm3O)ASKED
MYMOTHERl(AS?HAS(OPECALLEDm
l.Om
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
l$IDYOUGETANYMAILm
l.Om
l7ELLMAYBEITHUNGUPANDDIDNkTEVENGETOUTOF THEBOXm
3O)THOUGHTl3OMETHINGkSHAPPENINGHEREm
3O ) WENT UP AND )?) BLOWED THE HORN OUTSIDE !ND SO SHE
COMEOUT3HESAIDl#OMEINm
!ND ) THOUGHT l/H OH GOING TO GET ME IN THERE WHERE HER
MOTHERISNOWANDTHEN)kMREALLYGOINGTOGETITm3O)SAIDl!RE
YOUABOUTREADYm
3HESAIDl,ETkSWALKTOCHURCHm
)THOUGHTl/HMYm3O)SAIDl!LL?ALLRIGHTm!ND)WENTIN
!ND-RS"RUMBACHLOOKEDATMESAIDl(ELLO"ILLm
)SAIDl(OWDOYOUDOm3O)WASJUSTNERVOUSAS)COULDBE
3O)THOUGHTSOMETHINGkSGOINGTOHAPPENANYTIME9OUKNOWHOW
YOUFEELWHENYOUkREUNDERTHEMSTRAINS
%  3OWEWENTONOUTANDWENTTOCHURCH(ONEST)DIDNkTEVEN
HEARWHAT"ROTHER$AVISSAIDTHATNIGHT(EJUSTPREACHEDAWAYAND
)?)?)DIDNkTKNOWWHATHESAID)WASSCAREDSOMETHINGWASGOING
TOHAPPEN
!ND)kDLOOKATHERAND)THOUGHTl/HMYAINkTSHEPRETTYm
!ND )>3HEkS GOING TO TELL ME THIS IS ALL OF IT SURE AS THE WORLD
jCAUSE ) COULD JUST TELL THAT )?)kD KNOWED SHE WAS GOING TO TELL ME
l3TAY HOME AFTER TONIGHTm 3O ) HAD IT ALL FIXED UP WHAT SHE WAS
GOINGTOTELLMEAND)>
!ND AFTER CHURCH WAS OVER WE STARTED WALKING BACK A PRETTY
MOONLIGHTNIGHT7EWASWALKINGDOWNTHESTREETAND)LOOKEDUPTO
SEETHEMOONSHININGDOWNTHROUGHTHEBUSHESWENTONYOUKNOW
!ND)LOOKATHERAND)THOUGHTl-Y)kDHATEFORTHISTOBETHELAST
NIGHTBUT)GUESSTHISISITm)WALKEDONYOUKNOWAND)SAIDl(OW
AREYOUTONIGHTm
3HESAIDl*USTFINE(OWAREYOUm
) THOUGHT l(URRY UP LADY 4ELL ME SOMETHING )?)?kFORE )
FAINT $ONkT GET TOO CLOSE TO HOMEm 7E WALKED ON A LITTLE FARTHER
AND)SAIDl(UMPHSUREAPRETTYNIGHTm
3HESAIDl9ESITISm
) THOUGHT l7ELL WHY>(URRY UP SAY SOMETHINGm 9OU
KNOWWOMENCANJUSTKEEPYOULIKETHATANYHOWYOUKNOWUNDER
THATSUSPENSE
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
%  !ND ) WALKED ON ) THOUGHT l7ELL SHE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE
TO HOMEm ) SAID l5H UH>$ID UH>$ID YOU GET ANY MAIL THIS
WEEKm
3HESAIDl5H HUHm4HATWASALL
!ND)SAIDl5HDIDYOUGETMYLETTERm
3HESAIDl5H HUHm
-Y OH MY ) WAS CERTAINLY BURNING ENERGY THEN !ND ) SAID
l7ELLUH>m)SAIDl$ID?DIDYOUREADITm
3HESAIDl5H HUHm
-Y)?)SAIDl7HATkDYOUTHINKOF ITm
3HESAIDl)TWASALLRIGHTm
7HEWMY!ND)SAIDl$ID?DID?DIDYOU?DIDYOU?DIDYOU
READALLOF ITm
3HESAIDl9ES)READITALLm
)SAIDl7HATkDYOUTHINKOF ITm
3HESAIDl)TWASALLRIGHTm
7ELLWEGOTMARRIED4HEREITWAS)DONkTKNOWHOWWEJUST
GOTMARRIED3O>
%  -Y THE NEXT STRAIN COME WHEN ) HAD TO ASK HER MOTHER AND
DADDY7ELL)KNOWEDITWASAPPROPRIATETODOTHAT3O)NEVERWILL
FORGET#HARLIE"RUMBACH(EMAYBESETTINGRIGHTHERETHISAFTERNOON
FOR ALL)KNOW!NDHERMOTHERWASAVERYPRISSY SORT OF A WOMAN
&INE WOMAN BUT SHE BELONGED UP IN THE RANKS YOU KNOW !ND SO
#HARLIEWASJUSTAGOODOLDHUMBLEBROTHER
!ND)?)THOUGHT)kDBETTERASKHIMANDLETHIMASKHER(EkS
A>!ND SO ) THOUGHT ) COULD GET BY WITH THE MAN BETTER THAN )
COULDTALKTOTHEWOMENANYHOW3O)SAID>
/NENIGHT)WASLEAVING(OPESAIDl(AVEYOUASKEDDADYETm
!ND)SAIDl.Om
3HESAIDl7ELLYOU?YOUOUGHTTOm
)SAIDl)KNOW)SHOULDBUT)kMNOT>m
(OPESAIDl)THINKITkLLBEALLRIGHTm
3O WHEN ) WENT TO LEAVE THAT NIGHT HE SAID l3EE YOU LATER
"ILLYm
) SAID l(UMPH #HARLIEm (E SAID>) SAID l#OULD?COULD )
TALKTOYOUJUSTALITTLEBITm(EWOULDSAID>)SAIDl#OMEOUTHERE
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
JUSTAMINUTEm7ALKEDOUTONTHEPORCHAND)WASJUSTSWEATINGAND
SHAKING (E SAID>) SAID l#HARLIEm ) SAID l)?) WANT TO ASK YOU
SOMETHINGm
(E SAID l/H YOU CAN HAVE HER "ILL 'O ON JUST BE GOOD TO
HERm
/H MY ) LOVE HIM TO THIS DAY ) SAID l#HARLIE ) CANkT MAKE
HERALIVINGLIKEYOUDO)CANkTGIVEHERCLOTHESLIKEYOUCANBUYHER
"UT)PROMISEYOUTHIS)kLLLOVEHERWITHALLMYHEART)kLLWORKTILLMY
HANDSBLEEDTOMAKEHERALIVING!ND)kLLBEASTRUETOHERAS)KNOW
HOWTOBEm
(EPUTHIS>(EWASA'ERMAN(EPUTHISBIGHANDOVERON
ME(ESAIDl"ILL)kDRATHERYOUWOULDHAVEHERANDBEGOODTOHER
THANSOMEBODYTHATHADALOTOF MONEYWOULDTREATHERMEANm
)SAIDl4HANKYOU#HARLIEm
%  7EGOTMARRIED7EDIDNkTHAVENOTHINGTOSTARTHOUSEKEEPING
ON/NLYTHINGWEHAD>)TELLYOUWHATWEHAD!LITTLEOLDPLACE
WHERE ) RENTED MY RENT COST ME FOUR DOLLARS A MONTH !ND ) WENT
INTOALITTLEOLDPLACETHEREANDSOMEBODYGIVEUSANOLDFASHIONED
FOLDING BED 9OU REMEMBER THAT OLD FOLDING BED 3TRAW MATTRESS
STRAW TICK ON IT>!ND THEN>!ND WE HAD A LITTLE OLD TABLE WE
BOUGHT FROM 3EARS AND 2OEBUCK AND CHAIRS WE HAD TO?TO PAINT IT
OURSELVES!ND?ANDSO)PAINTEDIT!NDWEHADTWOLINOLEUMRUGS
GOT FROM *OHNNY *OBBERS 4HAT WAS JUST A SECOND HAND PLACE DOWN
INTOTHE*EFFERSONVILLE)SAIDTHAT*OHN*OBBERSSOTHEYCOULDCATCH
GETTHEBENEFITOF IT!NDSOWEGOT>)THINKTHEYCOSTADOLLARAND
AQUARTERAPIECE
!ND ) WENT OVER TO -R 7EBBERkS HE WAS A JUNK DEALER AND
BOUGHT A?A COOKING STOVE !ND ) GIVE HIM A DOLLAR AND SOMETHING
FOR ITAND)HADTOPAYADOLLARANDSEVENTY FIVE CENTS FOR GRATES TO
PUTIN)GOTANICEBOXFROM0UBLIC3ERVICE#OMPANYFORFIFTYCENTS
ONETHEYTOOKINONSWAP7EWENTTOHOUSEKEEPING
%  "UT FRIENDS IT WAS JUST AS PARADISE ON EARTH 7E HAD EACH
OTHER)kDBECOMECONVERTEDINTHATTIMEBECOMEAMINISTERANDWAS
PREACHINGAND)LOVEDTHE,ORDWITHALLMYHEARTANDWELOVEDONE
ANOTHER!NDTHATkSALLWECAREDFOR
!ND LISTEN (APPINESS DOES NOT CONSIST OF HOW MUCH THE
WORLDkSGOODSYOUOWNBUTHOWCONTENTEDYOUAREWITHTHEPORTION
THATkS ALLOTTED TO YOU 4HATkS RIGHT 2EMEMBER THAT 4HATkS ALL WE
HAD 7E WERE HAPPY AND LOVELY ) HAD A LITTLE CHURCH THERE THEY
BUILT FOR ME THE LITTLE 4ABERNACLE STANDS TODAY YET AS A MEMORIAL
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
!NDWEALLGREATCROWDSOF PEOPLECOMEFROMFARANDNEARAROUND
THE COUNTRY TO HEAR THE SIMPLE 'OSPEL !ND WE WERE JUST DOING
WONDERFUL
%  !ND)REMEMBERALOVELYLITTLEBOYWASBORNINTOOURHOME)
CALL HIM "ILLY 0AUL ) WANT HIM TO BE WITH ME IN THE NEXT MEETINGS
AT#ARLSBADASSOONAS)LEAVE!RKANSASHERE!NDSOHEkSFOURTEEN
YEARS OLD NOW !ND A LITTLE LATER ON ELEVEN MONTHS COME ALONG
ANOTHER?ANOTHER LOVELY LITTLE SWEET THING BY THE NAME OF 3HARON
2OSE
*UST BEFORE "ILLY WAS BORN WE HAD SAVED ENOUGH MONEY TILL
) WAS WANTED TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME OFF !ND WE>) WENT UP TO
$OWAGIAC-ICHIGANTOA?AMEETINGANDTHE?WITHANOLDMANTHAT
HADWHITEBEARDANDWHITEHAIRBYTHENAMEOF *OHN2YAN
!NDSO)WENTUPTHERE!NDONTHEROADBACKCOMINGBACK
) SEEN A SIGN GREAT CROWDS OF PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WHEN ) PASSED
THROUGH -ISHAWAKA ) THOUGHT l7HAT ARE THOSE PEOPLEm !ND )
WENT OVER THERE AND THEREkS SOME OF THEM IN 4 -ODEL &ORDS AND
SOMEIN#ADILLACS!NDTHEYTOLDMETHATTHEYWERE>)COULDNkTGET
NOTHINGTONOPLACETOSTAY!NDTHEYSAIDYOUkRE?YOUkRE>4HEREkS
A CONFERENCE GOING ON HERE 4HE 0ENTECOSTAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING A
CONFERENCE4HE?THE0!OF *#)BELIEVEITWAS0?0!OF *#
DENOMINATIONOF 0ENTECOSTCALLEDTHAT
%  7ELL ) SEEN ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ) THOUGHT l7ELL THATkS A
RELIGIOUSMEETING"ELIEVE)kLLGOINm
7ELL ) NEVER HEARD SO MUCH NOISE IN ALL MY LIFE 3O>/H
CHURCHMANNERSTHEYDIDNkTHAVEIT4HEYWERESCREAMINGSHOUTING
AND CARRYING ON ) THOUGHT l7HAT IN THE WORLDm ) LOOKED AROUND
THEREANDTHEYGOTATABERNACLE>
3OMEOF YOUMIGHTKNOWTHEMANkSNAME(ISNAMEkS2OWE
2EVEREND 2OWE !NYBODY HERE HAPPEN TO KNOW 2EVEREND 2OWE
!NDA>9ESSOMEONEHEREKNOWSOF HIM2EVEREND2OWEITWAS
INHISCHURCH
7ELLTHEYWEREJUSTCLAPPINGTHEIRHANDSANDCARRYINGONAND
DANCING!NDWHY)SAIDl-YISNkTTHATHORRIBLEPEOPLEDANCINGIN
THE CHURCHm ) SAID l7ELL THATkS A SHAMEm !ND ) WAS SETTING IN A
SEATOF THESCORNFULSUREENOUGH3O)THOUGHT>3OMETHINGTHOUGH
KINDAGOTAHOLDOF MEALITTLEBIT!ND)THOUGHTl7ELLNOWm
%  )kM COUNTING MY MONEY ) HAD?) HAD TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTEEN
CENTS LEFT !ND ) WENT OUT AND GOT>4HOUGHT l7ELL NOW ) CANkT
STAYINATOURISTCOURTjCAUSE)AINkTGOTTHEMONEY"UT)kMGOINGTO
STAYOVER*USTGOTENOUGHMONEYTOBUYMYGASOLINETOGETHOMEm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
3O)WENTOUTTHATNIGHTANDSLEPTINACORNFIELD!ND)KNOWED)BUT
)DIDNkTHAVEVERYGOODCLOTHES!NDTHENEXTMORNINGWHY)WENTTO
THESERVICE
!ND THAT DAY OH MY MINISTERS PREACHING>!ND HOW )
NOTICED THAT NIGHT THEY CALLED SAID l%VERY PREACHER COME TO
THE PLATFORMm (UNDRED AND FIFTY MORE PREACHERS COME UP TO THE
PLATFORM 4HEY WAS HAVING A CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
4HEYWASALLSETTINGONTHEPLATFORM
(ESAIDl7EHAVENkTGOTTIMEFORALLOF YOUTESTIFYm)WENTUP
(ESAIDl*USTSAYWHOAREANDWHEREYOUkREFROMm
!ND IT COME TO ME ) SAID l%VANGELIST 7ILLIAM "RANHAM
*EFFERSONVILLEmSETDOWN
7ELL COME TO FIND OUT ) WAS YOUNGEST MINISTER IN THE GROUP
OF THEM 3O THEN THAT NIGHT ) THOUGHT>4HEY HAD A>4HEY WAS
BRINGINGALLKINDSOF PREACHERS!NDTHEYCHOSEANOLDCOLOREDMAN
TOBRINGTHEMESSAGEFORTHATNIGHTREALOLDJUSTALITTLERIMOF HAIR
AROUNDHISHEAD(EHADANOLDPREACHERkSCOATONHADVELVETCOLLAR
KINDAACUT AWAYCOAT0OOROLDFELLOWCOMEOUTTOTHEPLATFORMLIKE
THIS!NDOH)FELTSOSORRY)WANTEDTOGETUPANDHELPTHEOLDMAN
!NDHECOMEOUT>
!ND THEY HAD TO HAVE THE CONFERENCE UP THERE ON ACCOUNT OF
NOT HAVING IT IN THE 3OUTH jCAUSE THEY HAD BOTH COLORED AND WHITE
TO?TOGETHER
%  !ND THE OLD FELLOW WAS STANDING THERE YOU KNOW !ND ALL
THE MINISTERS THAT DAY HAD BEEN PREACHING ON WHAT *ESUS DONE AND
SO FORTH "UT HE NEVER TAKEN>(E TOOK HIS TEXT FROM OVER IN *OB
SOMEWHERE THERE WHERE IT SAID l7HERE WERE YOU WHEN ) LAID THE
FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD AND WHEN MORNING STAR SANG TOGETHER
AND SONS OF 'OD SHOUTED FOR JOYm 7ELL WHERE THE MINISTERS WAS
BRINGING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE #HURCH ON EARTH HE WENT UP INTO THE
HEAVENSBACKYONDERANDCOMEPLUMBBACKDOWNABOUTTENMILLION
YEARS BEFORE THE WORLD WAS EVER FORMED AND COME BACK DOWN THE
HORIZONTALRAINBOWWITHHIM
!ND ABOUT TIME HE GOT DOWN THERE HE LET OUT A GREAT BIG
WHOOPANDJUMPEDUPANDCLICKEDHISHEELSTOGETHERSAIDl'LORY
TO'OD9OUAINkTGOTROOMENOUGHUPHEREFORMETOPREACHm
)LOOKEDATTHAT)SAIDl7ELLIF 4HATkLLMAKEANOLDMANLIKE
THATACTLIKETHATWHATWOULD)TDOTOMEIF )GOTSOMEOF )Tm)SAID
l)WANTSOMEOF 4HAT4HATkSWHAT)WANT)F )TkLLMAKEANOLDMAN
LIKETHATWELLWHATWOULD)TDOFORMEm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
3O)WENTOUTTHATNIGHTINTHECORNFIELDAND)BEGINTOPRAY
) SAID l,ORD LE?LE?LET ME GET SOME OF THATm 3O )?) SAID l9OU
GIVEMEFAVORWITHTHEMPEOPLEm!NDPRAYEDAWAYINTHENIGHTOUT
THEREINTHECORNFIELD
%  ) TOOK MY>HAD SOME SEERSUCKER TROUSERS -Y OTHERS
WAS>GOT ALL DIRTY THERE IN THE CORNFIELD 3O )?) LAID THEM ON MY
SEAT AND TOOK THE TWO SEATS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER OUT OF MY CAR
AND PRESSED MY TROUSERS THAT NIGHT !ND ) HAD MY LITTLE SEERSUCKER
SHIRT.OBODYKNEWMESO)JUSTLAIDITDOWNTHERESEERSUCKERSHIRT
AND LITTLE OLD 4 SHIRT AND SEERSUCKER TROUSERS RATHER ) LAID THEM
DOWNTHERE.EXTMORNING)GOTUPSHINEDTHEMALLUP
-EETING BEGIN AT TEN OkCLOCK 4HEY HAD BREAKFAST AFTER
BREAKFAST!ND)WASNkTGOINGTOEATWITHTHEMBECAUSE)DIDNkTHAVE
NO MONEY TO PUT IN ) JUST DIDNkT?DIDNkT EAT WITH THEM "UT THEY
MADE ME WELCOME AND EVERYTHING ) DIDNkT KNOW NO ONE THERE BUT
ALITTLEFELLOW)FORGETWHATHISNAMEWAS(EPLAYEDAVIOLINALITTLE
CURLYHEADEDFELLOW
%  !ND SO NEXT MORNING ) WALKED IN SET DOWN !ND SO AFTER
WHILE ) LOOKED OVER AND ANOTHER MAN COME IN AND SET DOWN A
COLOREDMANSATDOWNBYMEANDBIGBUNCHOF PEOPLESETTINGTHERE
3O)WASSETTINGTHEREANDTHIS>4HEYSAIDl7EkREGOINGTOBEGIN
THESERVICESm!NDTHEYWASTALKINGMAKINGTHEIR>SELLINGLITERATURE
AND WHATEVER THEY HAD !ND HE SAID l4HERE WAS A MINISTER ON THE
PLATFORM LAST NIGHT BY THE NAME OF "RANHAM FROM *EFFERSONVILLEm
3AID l(E WAS THE YOUNGEST MAN ON THE PLATFORM 7E WANT HIM TO
COMEUPANDBRINGTHEMORNINGMESSAGEm
-ERCY WHY ) NEVER EVEN SEEN A MICROPHONE 4HEY HAD A
MICROPHONETHERE)THOUGHTl7HAT7ELL)COULDNkT>SEERSUCKER
TROUSERSAND4 SHIRTm)JUSTHUNKEREDDOWNREALLOWLIKETHIS
(E ANNOUNCED AGAIN SAID l!NYBODY KNOW WHERE 7ILLIAM
"RANHAM OF *EFFERSONVILLEm 3AID l7E WANT HIM TO COME UP AND
BRING THE MESSAGEm &IFTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE NEARLY SETTING THERE
.OT ME BEFORE THAT ) JUST SET BACK THERE .O SIR 4HIS>) WAS
TOO COUNTRYFIED TO GET UP THERE 3O ) JUST SET THERE REAL LOW !ND
SO>!ND HE ANNOUNCED IT TWO OR THREE TIMES 3AID l!NYBODY ON
THEOUTSIDEWEkREPAGINGFOR7ILLIAM"RANHAMm
) THOUGHT 3OMETHING TOLD ME SAID l4HATkS WHAT YOU PRAYED
FORLASTNIGHT)F YOUWANTTOGETACQUAINTEDWITHTHEMPEOPLEGETUP
THEREm
l,ORD)CANkTDOTHATSEERSUCKERTROUSERSAND4 SHIRTm)SAID
l.UH UHm3O)WASSETTINGTHERE
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
!ND HE>WHEN HE ANNOUNCED IT AGAIN THIS COLORED MAN
LOOKEDOVERATMESAIDl$O?DO?DO?DOYOUKNOWTHATMANm
/HMY4ALKABOUTONTHESPOT)SAID)HAD>)KNOWED)HAD
TO LIE OR?OR?OR SOMETHING OR BE?TELL HIM ) SAID l,OOK FELLOW
LOOK.OWKEEPTHISTOYOURSELFm)SAIDl)kMHE3EE"UT>m
(ESAIDl7ELLGETUPTHEREWHITEMANGETUPTHEREm
)SAIDl.Om)SAIDl)GOTON>,OOKATTHESEPANTSHEREm
(ESAIDl4HEMPEOPLEDONkTCAREWHATYOUGOTON4HEYWANT
TOHEARYOUm
!ND ) SAID l,OOK ) CANkT GET UP THEREm ) SAID l)?)
DONkT>9OUJUSTKEEPSTILLm
!NDHESAIDl)F ANYBODYKNOWSWHERE>m
(ESAIDl(EREHEIS(EREHEISm7HEW5Ml(EREHEISm
) THOUGHT l/H MYm ) COULD JUST FEEL MY HEART GO AND MY
KNEES REAL WEAK AND MY ARMS LOOKED LIKE THEY WAS GOING TO DROP
OFF7ELLITJUSTLOOKEDLIKESOMETHINGPICKEDMEUPANDHERE)WENT
WALKINGUPJUSTASCONSCIOUSSEERSUCKERTROUSERSAND4 SHIRT
) GOT UP THERE AND ) SAID l&OLKS ) DONkT KNOW VERY MUCH
ABOUT>m "EFORE THEM PREACHERS WHO COULD REALLY PREACH OH MY
)SAIDl)JUSTWANTTOSAYTHAT)?)LOVE*ESUSAND?ANDAH?ANDAH?
ANDAH>m9OUKNOWSORTOF LIKETHAT
!ND SO HE SAID>) STARTED TO WALK OFF AND HE SAID l7ELL
SPEAKALITTLEFORUS"ROTHER"RANHAMm
%  )TURNEDOVERAND)SAIDl)?)?)JUSTDONkTKNOWWHATTOSAYm
!ND)HAPPENEDTOTHINKOF ATEXTl!ND4HEN(E#RIEDmTHERICH
MANTHAT>7HENHELIFTEDUPHISEYESINHELL!ND)TOOKTHATTEXT
l!ND4HEN(E#RIEDm!ND)GOTTOSPEAKINGANDTHEFIRSTTHINGYOU
KNOW3OMETHINGHITME-Y)WASLOSTOUTOF THISWORLDFORAWHILE
!NDEVERYBODYGOTTOSCREAMING
)WENTOUTSIDEWHENTHESERVICEWASOVERANDAGREATBIGFELLOW
FROM4EXASWITHA>WITHCOWBOYBOOTSONANDABIGCOWBOYHAT
SAIDl)kMAPREACHERm
)THOUGHTl7ELLBROTHERMYSEERSUCKERTROUSERSARENkTSOBAD
AFTERALL(EHADTHOSECOWBOYBOOTSANDABIGCOWBOYHATANDBEA
PREACHERm
!NDHESAIDl)HEARDYOUSAYYOUWASANEVANGELIST)kDLIKETO
SIGNYOUUPFORCOUPLEWEEKkSREVIVALDOWNIN4EXASm
) TOOK HIS NAME ) SAID l/H MY ,ORD 9OU JUST DOING GREAT
THINGSFORMEm)TOOKTHATALLDOWNYOUKNOW
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
%  ! LITTLE BITTY FELLOW WITH THESE LITTLE GOLF PLAYING TROUSERS ON
WALKEDUPANDSAIDl)kMFROM&LORIDA,IKETOHAVEYOUOVERTHERE
FORACOUPLEOF WEEKSm
-Y ) SEEN THEY WAS JUST COMMON PEOPLE AFTER ALL 3O FIRST
THINGA?A)NDIAN>!WOMANCOMEUPFROMTHE)NDIANRESERVATION
WANTED ME TO GO THERE 7ELL ) HAD ENOUGH INVITATIONS TO LAST ME
ABOUTAYEAR-Y)JUMPEDINTHATOLD&ORDANDITHALF BACKSLIDAND
DOWNTHEROAD)WENT
)RUSHEDINATHOMEWIFEMETMEYOUKNOWAND)SAIDl/H
HONEY ) GOT SOMETHING TO TELL YOU ) MET THE CREAM OF THE CROPm
) SAID l-Y PEOPLE WHO JUST SCREAM AND SHOUT AND JUMP UP AND
DOWN4HEYkRENOTASHAMEDOF THEIRRELIGIONm)SAIDl-YTHEBEST
YOUEVERSEENm
3HESAIDl7HERETHEYATm
!ND)TOLDHER)SAIDl,OOKYHERE)GOTAWHOLESTRINGHEREm)
SAIDl-Y)CANJUSTPREACHANDPREACHANDPREACHIT!NDYOUKNOW
WHATTHEYACC?ACCEPTEDMEm
3AIDl)STHATRIGHTm
)SAIDl,OOK)kMGOINGTOQUITMYJOBANDSTARTRIGHTOUTm
3HESAIDl7ELLWEHAVENkTGOTANYMONEYm
)SAIDl(OWMUCHMONEYWEGOTm
3AID l7E GOT THAT TWELVE DOLLARS IN THERE PAYMENT ON THE
&ORDm
) SAID l7ELL YOU KNOW THE "IBLE SAID j$ONkT?DONkT TAKE
ANYTHINGWHENYOUGOk3EE$ONkTTAKEANYSCRIPTORIF YOUGOTTWO
COATSGIVEONETOYOURBROTHERk(ESAIDj)?)?)WILLBEWITHYOUkm)
SAIDl4HATkSTHEWAYm(ESAID)SAIDl7ILLYOUGOWITHMEm
3HEBLESSHERHEART3HESAIDl9ES)kLLJUSTSTICKWITHYOUm
3O)?)WENTANDTOLDMYMAMA!NDMAMA SAID l4HATkS ALL
RIGHTHONEY)F YOUFEELTHATm
%  7ELL)WENTANDHADTOTELLHERMOTHER!NDTHATDIDNkTWORK
SO GOOD 3HE SAID l7ILLIAMm 3HE SAID l3HEkS YOUR WIFE 9OU MAY
TAKEHERIF YOUWANTTOm"UTSAIDl)DONkTWANTMYDAUGHTERDRUG
OUTAMONGTHATBUNCHOF TRASHm5M4RASH
&RIENDS ) FOUND OUT THIS THAT WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS TRASH IS
THECREAMOF THECROP4HATkSRIGHT!ND)SAYTHATWITHRESPECT
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
3AIDl/UTLIKETHATWHEREALLTHATCARRYINGANDSCREAMINGAND
CARRYINGONLIKETHATm3AIDl7HYDONkTYOUGOONUPTHEREANDBE
A PASTOR !ND THEN SOMEDAY THEYkLL BUILD YOU A PARSONAGE AND ALL
THATm
4HAT DIDNkT>/H MY 3O (OPE BEGIN TO CRY !ND SO ) SAID
l7ELL>m
3HESAIDl)kLLGOWITHYOUm
"UT ANYHOW ) DIDNkT WANT>3HE SAID HER>HOW IT WOULD
HURTHERSO)JUSTLETITGOWENTON
&RIENDTHELITTLEGIRLTHATWASTOOGOODTOBEWITHTHATTRASH)
BURIEDHERJUSTALITTLEAFTERTHAT3ORROWSETINRIGHTTHERE
%  )kLL HURRY JUST A FEW MINUTES ) GOT LEFT ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES
4HEREkS WHERE SORROW STRUCK ME .OW YOU LET MY>WHAT MY
MISTAKES BE YOUR GAIN 9OU?YOU PROSPER BY WHAT ) HAD TO SUFFER
FOR3OMETIMESYOUSEEMESTANDINGHEREONTHEPLATFORMLAUGHING
THATkS>YOU DONkT KNOW WHATkS BENEATH THERE 4HATkS RIGHT ) TELL
YOU4HEREkSBEENAPRICEPAIDTHATNOBODYKNOWSBUT'ODALONE
2IGHTAWAYMYWIFETAKENSICK&IRSTTHING)LOSTMYDADDY)
RUNOVERTOTHEHOUSETOSEEHIMPICKEDHIMUPINMYARMSLIKETHAT
HE LOOKED UP AT ME LIKE THAT HE SMILED ! DOCTOR HAD GIVE HIM A
DOSEOF MEDICINETHATKILLEDHIM/NEOVERDOSEOF STRYCHNINEFORHIS
HEARTANDITKILLEDHIM
j#OURSE THEREkS NOTHING SAID ABOUT THAT 4HE UNDERTAKER COVERS UP
THEDOCTORkSMISTAKESSOMETIMES.OTHING)GOTAGAINSTDOCTORSBUT)
SAYTHEREkSNOTHINGSAIDABOUTTHAT
%  "UT SOME WOMAN HERE NOT LONG AGO TRUSTED 'OD OUT IN
#ALIFORNIAFORHERBABYTHATDIEDANDEVERYNEWSPAPERANDMAGAZINE
PACKED IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY !ND THE SAME TIME WHERE ONE DIDNkT
HAVE FAITH ENOUGH FOR DELIVERANCE EVERYBODY CRITICIZED THAT ALL THE
MAGAZINES AND PAPERS AND 'OD HEALED THOUSANDS AND YOU?YOU
HAVETOPAYTHEMTOPUTITINTHEPAPERORSOMETHINGLIKETHAT
"UT LOOK HERE ,ET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING 4HE "IBLE SAID
l#OMELETUSREASONTOGETHERm)STHATRIGHT,ISTEN4HESAMETIME
THATPICTUREWASBEINGPACKEDACROSSTHECOUNTRYTELLINGPEOPLETHAT
$IVINEHEALINGCANkTBETRUSTEDANDEVERYTHINGLIKETHATTHEDOCTOR
LOST THOUSANDS TIMES THOUSANDS OF CASES AND THERE WASNkT NOTHING
SAIDABOUTTHAT)SNkTTHATRIGHT
,ISTEN #OME REASON TOGETHER 3AUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS FOR THE
GANDERTOO4HATkS>!NDLETMETELLYOUIF ONEPERSONBEINGLOSTBY
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
$IVINE HEALING WITH NOT ENOUGH FAITH TO RECOVER AND IS ALL BRANDED
ASFANATICISMTHENIF THEDOCTORLOSESONECASEBRANDITFANATICISM
3AUCEFORTHEGOOSEISFORTHEGANDER)STHATRIGHT4HATkSRIGHT
"UT FRIENDS WHAT MEDICAL SCIENCE AND MINISTERS OUGHT TO GET
TOGETHER AND COOPERATE TOGETHER KNOWING WEkRE ALL WORKING FOR THE
GOOD OF THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE GLORY OF 'OD AND WORK TOGETHER
4HATkSWHATWEOUGHTTODO
%  "UTANYHOWMYFATHERHEWASKILLEDTHENBYTHISDOCTORGIVE
HIMANOVERDOSEOF MEDICINEANDITKILLEDHIM!NDRIGHTAWAYMY
BROTHERWASRIDINGONTHESIDEOF ACARGOTHISNECKBROKEDIEDINMY
OTHER BROTHERkS ARMS -Y SISTER IN LAW DIED -Y WIFE TOOK SICK AND
WAS>
/HTHEFLOODCAMEUPANDTHEREWASSORROW)NEVERWILL
FORGETIT7IFEWASLAYINGJUSTATTHEPOINTOF DEATH)WENTAND)WAS
PRAYING FOR HER DOING EVERYTHING ) KNEW !ND EVERY TIME )kD PRAY
LOOKED LIKE>) WENT AND TOLD MY CHURCH ) SAID l3HEkS GOING TO
DIEm
3AIDl.OTHATkSJUST>m
)SAIDl3HEkSGOINGTODIEASCERTAINASANYTHINGm
-Y BABIES BOTH OF THEM WERE SICK THE FLOOD COME UP AND
EVERYTHING HOUSES BREAKING OVER AND RUSHING AND MILES OF WATER
SWEEPING OVER THE COUNTRY !ND THEY TAKEN MY WIFE OUT TO THE
HOSPITALTOTHEGOVERNMENTHOSPITALTEMPORARYHOSPITAL
!ND ) WAS ON PATROL DUTY !ND ) WAS RIDING UP AND DOWN THE
STREETSANDTRYINGTOGETTHEPEOPLEOUT
%  !ND ) NEVER WILL FORGET ONE HORRIBLE NIGHT / 'OD WHEN )
THINKOF ITTHEREINTHATCRITICALHOUR)HADA?A?ATRUCKTHERELITTLE
PATROLTRUCKAND)WASTAKINGABOAT!ND)COMINGUPTHE?THEROAD
!ND SOMEBODY SAID l/VER ON #HESTNUT 3TREET THE DIKEkS ABOUT
READYTOBREAKTHROUGHm!NDSAIDl4HEREkSAWOMANSCREAMINGFOR
MERCYOVERTHEREANDNOBODYCANGETTOHERm
7ELL)WASRAISEDONTHERIVERANDTHOUGHTTHAT)WAS?COULD
DOPRETTYGOODWITHTHEBOAT!NDSO)GOTTHEBOATANDSETITINTHE
WATERANDSTARTEDOFF
!ND)LOOKEDOVERTHEREAND)HEARDTHATMOTHER)TWASABOUT
ELEVENOkCLOCKATNIGHTJUSTSCREAMINGl-ERCY(ELPME(ELPMEm
3TANDINGOUTONAPORCH
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
!ND)GOTUPTHEREANDTRIEDTOGETTHEBOATACROSS!NDWENT
WAY DOWN AND COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE THE WATER SWEEPING DOWN
THROUGHTHESTREET)WENTWAYBACKAGAINANDTRIED!NDFINALLY)HIT
AGAINSTTHEPOST
!ND THE MOTHER FAINTED ) PICKED HER UP PUT HER IN THE BOAT
FOURORFIVELITTLECHILDREN)GOTTHEMINANDWENTBACKANDFINALLY
GOT TO THE SHORE !ND JUST AS WE GOT TO THE SHORE SOMEBODY SAID
l-YBABYMYBABYm
7ELL)THOUGHTTHEWOMANLEFTALITTLEBABYINTHEREANDBACK
)WENT!NDJUSTAS)GOTOVERTHERE)RUNTHROUGHTHEHOUSE#OME
TOFINDOUTHER>THEBABY>THELITTLEGIRLINTHEREABOUTTWOTHREE
YEARSOLDANDTHATkSWHOSHEWASTALKINGABOUTAND)DIDNkTKNOWIT
%  !ND)WASOVERTHEREANDTHEDIKEBROKETHROUGHUPTHEREON
#HESTNUT 3TREET POURED DOWN AND AWAY WENT THE BUILDING !ND
JUST AS ) JUMPED IN MY BOAT AND HAD TO RUN MY HAND IN THE WATER
TOJERKTHE?THEROPEORMYBOAT>4HEN)GOTOUTINTOTHESTREAM
ANDCOULDNkTGETITSTARTED/NDOWNWEFLOATED'OTOUTOVERON?ON
-ARKET3TREETTHERE"IGWAVESADASHINGAGAINSTTHESIDE)THOUGHT
ANYMINUTE)WOULDGOTOTHEBOTTOM
)KNEWTHEREINTHATBOAT)KNELTDOWN)SAIDl/'OD)KNOW
)HAVEDISOBEYED9OUm
!ND ) BELIEVE FRIENDS IF )kD HAVE WENT ON BACK DOWN THERE
WHEN THOSE PEOPLE CALLED ME IN THE GIFT OF HEALING WOULDkVE BEEN
MANIFESTEDRIGHTTHERE4HATWAS'ODkSPROGRAM"UT)FAILEDTOWALK
INWHAT(ETOLDMETODO)LISTENEDTOWHATPEOPLETOLDMEINSTEAD
OF WHAT 'OD TOLD ME TO DO $ONkT NEVER DO THAT 9OU FOLLOW WHAT
'ODTELLSYOUTODO!NDTHENSORROWSWASON
%  !ND ) PRAYED ) SAID l/ 'OD ) KNOW )kVE DISOBEYED 9OU )F
9OUkLLJUSTHELPME)DONkTWANTTODIE)DONkTWANTTODROWNEDOUT
HEREINTHISRIVER0LEASE'ODLETTHISMOTORSTART7ILL9OUPLEASEm
!ND )kD PULL THAT STRING AND THE ICE FREEZING AND ITkD CHUG A
COUPLEOF TIMESANDTHATBOATRIPPINGANDJUMPINGANDDASHINGLIKE
THATDONEGOTOUTINTHEMAINCURRENT)DIDNkTKNOWWHATWASGOING
TOHAPPENTOME!ND)kDTRYANDTRYANDITWOULDNkTSTART
!ND ) PRAYED AGAIN ) SAID l'OD MY POOR WIFE LAYING OUT
THERESICK-YBABIESSICKANDHEREMEDROWNEDINTHERIVER7HAT
/'ODWHATCAN)DOm!ND)SAIDl)F 9OUkLLJUSTHELPME,ORDm
!ND ) PULLED THE STRING AGAIN AND AWAY IT WENT /H MY )
STARTEDRIGHTINTOTHERIVEROUTOF THERIVERANDGOTONINTOTHE?COME
OUTWAYDOWNTOWARDS#LARKSVILLE!ND)COMEAROUNDANDGOTBACK
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
UP AND GOT TO MY TRUCK !ND SOME OF THEM SAID l$ID YOU KNOW
THEGOVERNMENTJUSTWASHEDOUTWHENTHATDIKEBROKEm/UTTOTHE
HO?HOSPITAL)WENTASHARDAS)COULD
%  ) MET A "ROTHER 'EORGE $E!RK THERE (E SAID l/H "ROTHER
"ILLY PUT HIS ARMS AROUND ME m HE SAID lLOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE
CLOSEm (E SAID l"ROTHER "ILL IF ) NEVER MEET YOU AGAIN )kLL MEET
YOUINTHEMORNINGm4HATWASTHELASTTIME)SEENHIMINLIFE4HATkS
RIGHT(ELEFTALITTLEAFTERWARD
!ND)SAIDl7HEREkS(OPEm
3AIDl)DONkTKNOWm
!ND ) RUN OVER THERE AND ) MET A?ONE OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
GOVERNMENT)SAIDl3IRWHATBECOMEOF THEHOSPITALm
3AIDl!LLWASHEDTHROUGHTHEREm
) SAID l$ID ALL?DID ALL THEM>$ID ANY OF THEM GET
DROWNEDm
3AIDl.OTHEYWENTOUTONATRAINTO#HARLESTOWNm
!ND ) RUN AND GOT IN MY CAR AND STARTED OUT THE HIGHWAY
SIXTY TWOLEADINGTOTHELITTLECITY#HARLESTOWN!NDWHEN)GOTOUT
THERETHEREWASABOUTFIVEMILESOF WATERDONECOMEDOWNTHROUGH
,ANCASSANGE#REEKANDCUTITOFF
!ND ) WENT AND GOT MY BOAT AND ) COULDNkT EVEN PIERCE THAT
WATER )kD START THROUGH THERE AND ITkD WHIRL THE BOAT AROUND LIKE
THIS!ND)?)SETTHE>ATTHISANGLEANDJUSTGIVEITALLTHEGASTHAT)
COULDANDHITTHEMWAVESLIKETHAT"UTITWASSOROUGHYOUkDCOME
AROUNDSIDEOF THEMWOODSANDTHROWMYBOATBACKDOWNTHISWAY
AND)COMEBACKOUTDOWNBEHINDTHEGOVERNMENT!NDTHERE)WAS
CAUGHT ON A LITTLE ISLAND LIKE !ND )kD SET THERE FOR DAYS UPON THAT
ISLANDTHINKING
3OMEOF THEMSAIDTHETRESTLESWENTOUTFROMUNDERTHEBRIDGE
UPTHEREANDEVERYBODYTHATWENTONTHATTRAINWASDROWNEDWIFE
TWOCHILDRENANDALL
) THOUGHT l/H 'ODm (OW NERVOUS ) GOT )?) WALKED THE
FLOORS ) DIDNkT KNOW WHAT TO DO ) THOUGHT l/H WHAT WILL ) DO IF
THEYkREGONEm
%  !NDAFTERWHILEASSOONAS)COULDGETOVER?THEWATERDROPPED
ENOUGH THAT THEY COULD GET ME ACROSS ) GOT TO #HARLESTOWN ) WAS
LOOKING
)METOLD?ANOLDFRIENDOF MINE(ESAIDl.OTHATTRAINNEVER
WASHED OFFm 3AID l4HEY WENT THROUGH BUT ) DONkT KNOW WHERE
THEYkREATm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
)WENTDOWNTHEDISPATCHERTOLDMESAIDl!MOTHERANDTWO
SICKCHILDREN)PUTTHEMOFF IN#OLUMBUS)NDIANA"UTYOUCANkTGET
TOTHEMm3AIDl4HEWATERkSCUTOFF THISSIDEm
) STARTED WALKING BACK DOWN THE ROAD RUBBING MY HANDS
CRYINGSAYINGl/H'OD4AKEME$ONkTLETMESUFFER,ET>4AKE
ME,ORD$ONkTLETMEHAVETOGOTHROUGHTHISAGONYm
7ALKING DOWN THE ROAD AND A MAN DROVE UP TO ME IN A CAR
(ESAIDl)KNOWWHATYOUkRELOOKINGFORm3AIDl9OUkRELOOKINGFOR
YOURWIFEARENkTYOUm
)SAIDl9ESm
(ESAIDl$ONkTYOUKNOWMEm3AIDl)?)GOWITH-ARY-AY
OVERTHEREm
)SAIDl9ES)REMEMBERYOUm
3AID l9OUR WIFE IS DYING IN THE "APTIST CHURCH AT #OLUMBUS
)NDIANAm
!ND)SAIDl3URELYNOTm
3AID l9ESm SAID l3HEkS GOT TUBERCULOSISm !ND SAID l9OU
WOULDNkTEVENKNOWHER!NDTHEDOCTORSAYSSHEkSGOINGTODIE3HEkS
LAYINGRIGHTNEXTTOMYGIRLFRIENDm(ESAIDl)KNOWHOWTOGETYOU
THEREIF YOUWANTTOGOm
!ND)SAIDl7ELLLETkSGOBROTHERm
!ND ) REMEMBER THAT NIGHT WHEN ) RUN INTO THE BUILDING
UP THERE THE "APTIST THEY MADE A HOSPITAL 4HEY HAD ARMY COTS
EVERYWHERE!ND)RUNINTHEREBOOTSONWHEREWEWADEDTHEWATER
!ND)BEGINTOSCREAMl(OPE(OPEWHEREAREYOUHONEY7HERE
AREYOUm*USTBESIDEMYSELF$IRECTLY)LOOKEDOVERTHEREAND)SEEN
ANOLDBONYHANDRAISEUP)TWASHER)RUNOVERREALQUICKTOHERAND
GRABBEDHERUPINMYARMS)SAIDl)STHECHILDRENALIVEm
3HESAIDl9ESm3HESAIDl)LOOKAWFULDONkT)m
)SAIDl.OHONEY9OULOOKGOODm)SAIDl-YYOUkREGOING
TOBEALLRIGHTm
)FELTSOMEBODYTAPMEONTHEBACK!ND)LOOKEDANDITWAS
A?LOOKEDLIKEADOCTOR(ESAIDl#OMEHEREm(ESAIDl!REYOUHER
HUSBANDm
!ND)SAIDl9ESSIRm
l9OU2EVEREND"RANHAMm
)SAIDl)AMm
(ESAIDl7ELLSIR)HATETOBREAKTHISNEWSTOYOUBUTmSAID
lYOURWIFEkSDYINGm3AIDl$ONkTGETHEREXCITEDORANYTHINGm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
)SAIDl$OCTORSURELYNOTm
3AIDl9ESm3AIDl3HEkSGOINGm
!ND)SAIDl/HWHATISITDOCTORm
3AID l'ALLOPING TUBERCULOSISm 3AID l3HEkLL JUST DIE RIGHT
AWAYm (E SAID l*UST?JUST MA>*UST MAKE HER FEEL GOOD AS YOU
CANm (E SAID l!ND BOTH OF YOUR BABIES ARE SICK )kM TENDING TO
THEMOVERHEREINANOTHERHOMEm
7ELL)WENTBACKANDTOLDHER)SAIDl(ONEYYOULOOKGOODm
%  !ND A LITTLE DOCTOR FRIEND OF MINE $OCTOR 3AM !DAIR THERE
IN *EFFERSONVILLE 3OON AS HEkD LET ME ) BROUGHT THEM BACK DOWN
HOME !ND THERE THEY LAID THERE UNTIL THE BABIES GOT WELL THE WIFE
GRADUALLYWENTAWAY&INALLYWEGOTHERINTHEHOSPITAL)HADDOCTORS
TO COMELOOKATHER4HEREWASNkTNOTHINGCOULD BE DONE 3HE TOOK
PNEUMOTHORAXTREATMENTSANDEVERYTHING.OTHINGCOULDBEDONE
!ND ) REMEMBER STANDING THERE AND THEY BORE HOLES DOWN
THROUGH HER SIDE AND PUT THAT TUBE IN THERE AND GET COLLAPSED ONE
LUNG
,ISTEN)F )HADIT>3HEkDHOLDMYHANDANDCRYANDTHETEARS
ROLLDOWNHERCHEEKS3HEkDLOOKATMEJUSTSUFFERING.EVERDONEA
BITOF GOOD)F )HADTOGOOVERIT)kDNEVERGOTHROUGHWITHITAGAIN
4HATkSRIGHT!SSHEkSHOLDINGMYHAND>
%  "UTJUSTTOSHOWYOUTHEWAYOF ATRANSGRESSORkSHARD)NEVER
WILLFORGET)WASTRYINGTOWORKTOGETTHEBILLPAIDOFF!NDTHENALL
OF>/NEDAY)WASOUTAND)HEARDACALLCOMESAYl)F YOU?YOU
WANTTOSEEYOURWIFEALIVECOMEATONCEm
)RUSHEDOUTTOTHEHOSPITAL)NEVERFORGETIT)JERKEDOFF MY
HAT AND THROWED IT IN THE TRUCK ) RUN UP THROUGH THERE REAL QUICK
!NDHERECOMELITTLE$OCTOR!DAIRWALKINGOUT'ODBLESSHISLITTLE
OLDHEART(EkSA?HEkSAFINEMAN!NDHECOMEWALKINGOUT7EkD
EAT TOGETHER SLEPT TOGETHER FISHED TOGETHER JUST BOSOM FRIEND !ND
HECOMEWALKINGOUT!NDHECOMEWALKINGDOWNTHROUGHTHEHO?
THEHOSPITAL)SEENHIMLOOKATMEAND)SEENBIGTEARSDROPOFF HIS
CHEEKS AND HE TURNED SIDEWAYS !ND ) RUN INTO THE ROOM ) SAID
l7HATkSTHEMATTER$OCm)SAIDl3HEAINkTGONEm
(ESAIDl)BELIEVESHEISm
)SAIDl#OMEGOINWITHME$OCm
(ESAIDl"ILLDONkTASKMETODOTHATm3AIDl(OPEkSLIKEMY
SISTERm 3AID l)?)?) CANkT GO IN THERE $ONkT?DONkT?DONkT ASK ME
TOm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
!NDTHENURSECOMEUPSAIDl#OME"ROTHER"RANHAMm3AID
l(EREDRINKTHISLITTLEBITOF MEDICINEm
)SAIDl.O)DONkTNEEDITm
(ESAIDl'OAHEAD"ILLY4HATkLLRESTYOURNERVESm
)SAIDl)DONkTWANTITm)SAIDl.Om
(ESAIDl.URSEYOUGOINWITHHIMm
) SAID l.O ) DONkT WANT ANYONE )kM GOING IN MYSELF )kM
GOING INm ) SAID l) LOVE HER AND )kM GOING INm ) WALKED TO THE
DOOROPENEDTHEDOORANDTHERESHELAIDALLCOVEREDUPLIKETHISAND
BLANKETSHEETPULLEDUPOVERHERFACE)kDJERKEDTHESHEETDOWNAND
MY HEART JUST A BREAKING>) PUT MY HAND ON HER HER PERSPIRATION
ONHERFOREHEADKINDAFELTSTICKY)SAIDl(OPE(OPEHONEYm)SAID
l3PEAK TO ME ONCE 7ELL JUST SPEAK ONE TIME WONkT YOUm ) WAS
SHAKINGHER
%  &RIENDS IF )kLL LIVE A HUNDRED YEARS )kLL NEVER FORGET WHAT
HAPPENED 4HOSE TWO BIG BROWN EYES LOOKED UP AT ME 3HE WAS SO
WEAKSHECOULDNkTSAYNOTHING3HEWASSMILING3HETOOKHERFINGER
ANDSHEMOTIONED!ND)GOTDOWNANDSHESAIDl7HYDIDYOUCALL
MEHONEYm
!ND)SAIDl7ELLTHEY>m)SAIDl)DONkTKNOWm
3HE SAID l/H )?) WAS IN ANOTHER LANDm 3HE SAID l)T WAS SO
PEACEFUL)WASNkTSUFFERINGm3HESAIDl'REATBIGBIRDSLIKEAGREAT
/RIONm!NDSHESAIDl4HEREWASMANDRESSEDINWHITEONEONEACH
SIDETAKINGMETOMYHOMEm
/H FRIEND 4HERE?THEREkS A LAND SOMEWHERE ) BELIEVE AS SHE
WAS DYING HER EYES JUST OPENED UP TO SEE PARADISE BEYOND 3HE
RALLIEDFORALITTLEBIT
4HENURSECOMEIN!NDSHESAIDl.URSECOMEOVERm3HESAID
l)HOPEWHENYOUGETMARRIEDYOUkLLHAVEAHUSBANDLIKEMINEm
)SAIDl/HHONEY)HAVENkTDONENOTHINGm
3HE SAID l/H BLESS YOUR HEARTm 3HE PATTED ME ON THE BACK
.URSETURNEDAROUNDWALKEDOUTCRYING
3HE SAID l"ILL ) WANT TO TELL YOU A FEW THINGSm 3AID l)kM
GOINGm3AIDl$ONkTCRYm
)SAIDl!LLRIGHTm
3HE SAID l$ONkT LET MY BABIES BE PULLED ABOUT FROM PILLAR TO
POSTm3HESAIDl!NDSOMETHINGS)GOTTOCONFESSTOYOUm
)SAIDl7HATISITm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
3HE SAID l$O YOU REMEMBER ONE TIMEm AND SAID lYOU WERE
GOINGFISHINGAND?AND)CALLEDYOU!NDTHATNIGHTWEWEREGOING
TO&ORT7AYNEFORAMEETINGm
)SAIDl9ESm
3HESAIDl9OUWENTGOTMESOMESTOCKINGSm
)SAIDl9ES)REMEMBERTHEMm
3HE SAID l4HEM WAS THE WRONG KIND OF STOCKINGS HONEY
4HEMWASNkTRIGHTm
%  7ELL WHAT IT WAS )kD?)kD BEEN FISHING ) WENT UP HOME AND
WEHADTOGOTO&ORT7AYNE)WASGOINGTOPREACHTHATNIGHTAT&ORT
7AYNE(ERFATHERLIVEDAT&ORT7AYNE3O)WASGOINGUPTHERETO?
TO?TO PREACH AND SHE>9OU?YOU>4HEREkS TWO DIFFERENT KINDS
OF?OF?OF WOMANkS SOCKS THAT YOU BUY /NEkS CALLED A>.AME
THEM SOMEBODY )S IT?IS CHIFFO?CHIFFON 4HATkS RIGHT !ND WHATkS
THE OTHER KIND 2AYON 3A>)S IT 2AYMOND OR 2AYMOND 2AYON
7HICH IS THE BEST #HIFFON 7ELL THEY COST SIXTY SOMETHING CENTS
THEN!NDSHEWASTAKINGABATHANDSHESAIDl"ILLYYOURUNDOWN
ATTHE?AT0ENNEYkSANDGETMESOME?SOMESOCKSm
!ND)SAIDl!LLRIGHTm!ND)WASGOINGDOWNTHESTREET!ND
SHE SAID>.OW REMEMBER ) DIDNkT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WOMENkS
CLOTHES !ND SHE WAS SAYING l'ET CHIFFONm ) WAS GOING DOWN THE
STREETGOINGl#HIFFONCHIFFONCHIFFONCHIFFONCHIFFONm
3OMEBODYSAIDl(ELLO"ROTHER"RANHAMm
) SAID l(ELLO CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON
CHIFFONm
!ND)MET/RVILLE3PAWNDOWNTHEREANDHE?HESAIDl"ILLY
PERCHISBITINGOVERONTHE>>ABOUTTHAT>m
/H ) SAID lMY>m ) GOT TALKING TO HIM AND ) FORGOT ABOUT
WHATSHESAID
%  7ELL )?) WASNkT GOING TO 0ENNEYkS jCAUSE ) DIDNkT KNOW
NOBODY THERE "UT ) USED TO HAVE A LITTLE FRIEND THAT COME TO MY
CHURCHBYTHENAMEOF 4HELMA&ORD3HEWORKEDINATENCENTSTORE
AND)KNOWEDTHEYSOLDTHEMOVERTHERE!NDWENTOVERTHE4HELMA
COMEUPSAIDl7HATDOYOUWANT"ILLYm
)SAIDl)WANTSOMESOCKSFOR(OPEm
3AIDl.OW(OPEDONkTWEARSOCKSm
)SAIDl3HESUREDOESm
3HESAIDl3HEWEARSSTOCKINGSm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
)SAIDl4HATkSRIGHT4HATkSRIGHTm)THOUGHTl/H)kVESHOWED
MYIGNORANCEALREADYm!ND)SAID>
3HESAIDl7HATKINDDOYOUWANTm
!ND)SAIDl7HATKINDYOUGOTm
3HE SAID l) GOT CHIFFON AND?AND RAY>m 7HATkS THE RAYON
THECHEAPONES3HESAIDl)GOTRAYONm
)SAIDl4HATkSWHAT)WANT4HATkSWHAT)WANTm
3HE SAID l(OPE WANT RAYONm )>!LL SOUNDED ALIKE RAYON
CHIFFON)DIDNkTKNOWTHEDIFFERENT3HESAID>
l9ESm!ND?ANDSOSHEGAVEME>GOTTHEMPUTTHEMINTHE
SACK
) SAID l) WANT THE FULL STYLEm 9OU KNOW THAT THING THAT GOT
THETHINGBEHINDTHEMYOUKNOWTHAT>)DONkTKNOWYOUKNOW)
SAIDl4HEFULLSTYLEm!ND?ANDSO>/HFASHIONFULLFASHIONTHATkS
WHATITWAS!ND)SAIDl4HATkSTHEKINDTHAT)?)WANTm
!NDSHEGOTTHEMREADYFORME3HEPUTTHEMINTHESACKAND
ITWASONLYABOUTTWENTY NINECENTS
!ND)SAIDl7ELLGIVEMETWOPAIROF THEMm
!NDSHESAIDl!REYOUSUREOF THATm
)SAIDl4HATkSWHATSHEWANTEDm
%  !ND SO ) WENT BACK AND )>/F COURSE YOU KNOW HOW YOU
MEN LIKE TO POP OFF TO YOUR WOMEN !ND ) SAID l,OOKY HEREm )
SAIDl)kM!BRAHAMkSSON)kMALITTLE9IDDISH9OUGOOVERTHERIVER
SHOPPING )kLL BUY TWO PAIR OF STOCKINGS FOR WHAT YOU CAN BUY ONE
ANDHAVEMONEYLEFTm)SAIDl*UST>)kM!BRAHAMkSSON)kMKNOW
HOWTODOIT9OUSEEm9OUKNOWGOINGONLIKETHAT
!ND 'OD BLESS HER HEART 3HEkS IN HER GRAVE TONIGHT AND
PROBABLY SNOW OVER IT "UT NOT ALTOGETHER THERE ) STILL THINK OF HER
4HATkSRIGHT!NDSHEGONEON
!ND THERE WHEN SHE SAID SHE WOULDNkT HAVE>) THOUGHT
IT FUNNY WHEN SHE GOT TO &ORT 7AYNE SHE WANTED ANOTHER PAIR OF
STOCKINGS"UTSHEWASLADYENOUGHNOTTOSAYIT
!NDSHETOLDME3HESAIDl"ILLY)GIVETHEMTOYOURMOTHER
4HEYWASFORANOLDERWOMANTHANMEm
!ND)SAIDl7ELL'ODBLESSYOUHONEY)DIDNkTKNOWTHATm)
SAIDl4HATWASALLRIGHTm
%  3HESAIDl9OUREMEMBERTHATTIMEYOUWANTEDTOGOHUNTING
SO BAD AND WE WAS AT ,OUISVILLE 9OU SEEN THAT LITTLE  RIFLE THAT
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
YOUWANTED!NDITCOSTTHREEDOLLARSANDSOMETHINGTOPAYDOWNON
ITANDYOUDIDNkTHAVETHEMONEYTOPAYONIT)TkSBEENABOUTTWO
YEARSAGOm
)SAIDl9EAH)REMEMBERTHATm
3HESAIDl"ILL)kVEALWAYSWANTEDTOBUYYOUTHATRIFLEm3HE
SAIDl)WONkTBEWITHYOUBUTJUSTAFEWMINUTESLONGERNOWm"UT
SHESAIDl7HENYOUGOHOMELOOKUPONTOPOF THEOLDFOLDINGBED
UNDERTHATPAPER)kVEBEENSAVINGNICKELSTOBUYTHERIFLEm3HESAID
l7ILLYOUPROMISEMEYOUkLLBUYITm
/H MY 7HEN ) WENT HOME AND FOUND THAT TWO DOLLARS AND
SOMETHINGLAYINGUNDERTHERELIKETOKILLEDME)SAIDl3UREm"UT)
SAIDl(ONEYYOUkRENOTGOINGAWAYm
3HESAIDl)?)HATETOLEAVEYOUm"UTSAIDl)MUSTm3HESAID
l)DONkTMINDITm3HESAIDl)TkSALLRIGHTm3AIDl.OWANOTHERTHING
)kMGOINGTOASKYOU$ONkTSTAYSINGLEm
)SAIDl/HOHDONkTASKMETHATm
3AIDl0ROMISEME0ROMISEMETHATYOU?THATYOUWONkTSTAY
SINGLE MY CHILDREN WILL HAVE A HOME TO GO TO NOT BE DRUG AROUND
EVERYWHEREm
)SAIDl(ONEY)?)CANkTDOTHATm
!NDSHESAIDl0ROMISEMEWONkTYOUm3AIDl)?)?)CANGOA
LITTLEEASIERm
!NDSHEDIDNkTMINDITNOMORETHANYOUMINDTAKINGADRINK
3HE SAID l)?) JUST>m 3AID l) HATE TO LEAVE YOU AND THE BABIES
BUTmSHESAIDlOH"ILLITkSSOWONDERFULTOGOLIKETHISm
!ND)SAIDl7ELL)WILLDOTHEBEST)CANm
%  !ND SHE SAID l!NOTHER THINGm 3HE SAID l9OU REALIZE WHY
)kMGOINGDONkTYOUm/HTHATkSWHATHURT3HESAIDl)F )WOULDNkT
HAVELISTENEDTOMAMAAND>>WOULDLISTENEDTO>m3AIDl)T
WOULDkVEBEENDIFFERENTWOULDNkTITm
)SAIDl4HATkSRIGHTHONEYm)SAIDl/HWHATWILL)EVERDOm
3HE SAID l$O THIS $ONkT BE ASHAMED OF THIS (OLY 'HOST
RELIGIONm3HESAIDl)TkSTHEGREATESTTHINGINTHEWORLDTODIEBYITm
3HESAIDl3TAYANDPREACHASLONGAS>m3AIDl0ROMISEMEYOUkLL
GORIGHTOUTINTOTHEFIELDSWHEREWEWASSUPPOSEDTOGOm!NDSAID
l0ROMISE ME THAT YOUkLL DO EVERYTHING YOU CANm 3AID l!ND TELL
EVERYBODY THAT ITkS GLORIOUS WHEN YOU GET READY TO LEAVE HERE )TkS
WONDERFULm
!ND)SAIDl/HHONEY)TkSSOGOODTOSEEYOUGOLIKETHATm
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
!ND SHE SAID>)?) SAID l7HERE DO YOU WANT ME TO PLACE
YOUm
!NDSHESAIDl9OUTAKEMEUPONTHEHILLm
)SAIDl)WILLTAKEYOUOUTTO7ALNUT2IDGEAND)kLL?)kLLBURY
YOUTHEREATTHEHILLYOURBODYm!ND)SAIDl(ONEY)PROMISEYOU
)kM GOING IF 'OD WONkT>SPARE ME )kM GOING RIGHT OUT INTO THE
FIELD AND )kLL NEVER STOP UNTIL THE LAST DROP OF BLOOD OR LIFE IS GONE
FROM MY BODY TO DO OR TRY TO MAKE AN ATONEMENTm !ND ) SAID
l)kLLDOEVERYTHINGTHAT)CANTOLIVERIGHT)kLLDORIGHTm!ND)SAID
l,OOKm
!NDSHESAIDl'OODBYEm
!ND)SAIDl!REYOUGOINGm)SAIDl,OOKONTHATMORNINGm
)SAIDlSOWEkLLBEABLETOGETTOGETHERNOWm)SAIDlI?IF>/NTHAT
MORNING)WANTYOUTOGOTOTHE%ASTSIDEOF THEGATEmAND)SAID
l)WANTYOUTOSTANDTHERE!NDWHEN>>)TkLLBETERRIBLEDOWN
HEREm ) SAID l)F?IF ) DIE BEFORE (E COMES ) WILL BE SLEEPING OUT
THEREm)SAIDl7EkLLGETTOGETHER"UTIF )kMSOMEWHEREONTHEFIELD
ANDBETAKENUPm)SAIDlYOUGOTHEREANDWAITFORTHECHILDRENAND
STANDTHEREBYTHESIDEOF THEGATE!NDTHENWHENYOUSEE!BRAHAM
)SAACAND*ACOBCOMINGINSTARTSCREAMINGj"ILL"ILLJUSTASLOUDAS
YOUCANm)SAIDl)kLLANSWERYOUTHEREm
3HE RAISED UP HER FEEBLE HANDS ) KISSED HER GOOD BYE 4HAT
WAS MY LAST DATE WITH HER )kM ON MY ROAD 4HATkS RIGHT 3OMEDAY
SOMEDAY)SHALLGO
%  7HENWETOOKHERDOWNTOTHEFUNERALPARLOR)WENTHOME)
COULDNkTBESATISFIEDNOWHERE)WENTOVERTOMAMAkS ) JUST>/H
) WAS CRYING ) WENT HOME !ND THEY SAID MAMA SAID l3TAY OVER
HEREm
) SAID l.O )kM GOING HOMEm 7E DIDNkT HAVE NO FURNITURE
BUT WHAT IT WAS WAS OURS !ND SO ) WENT HOME TO LAY DOWN !ND
JUSTTHEN"ROTHER&RANK"ROYCOMEUPSAIDl"ILLY)HATETOTELLYOU
SOMETHINGSONm
)SAIDl7ELL)WASJUSTRIGHTTHEREm
3AIDl4HATkSNOTIT9OURBABYkSDYINGTOOm
)SAIDl#ANkTBEm
3AIDl9ESITISm
!ND AWAY THEY TOOK ME OUT TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE MY LITTLE
3HARON MY LITTLE GIRL ) COULDNkT CALL HER>) WANTED TO CALL HER
A "IBLE NAME ) CALLED MY LITTLE BOY "ILLY 0AUL AFTER ME AND AFTER
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
3AINT 0AUL !ND THEN ) WANTED TO CALL THE BABY A "IBLE NAME !ND
) COULDNkT CALL HER THE 2OSE OF 3HARON SO ) JUST CALLED HER 3HARON
2OSE
%  !ND)WENTOUTTHEHOSPITALANDTHEDOCTORMETME(ESAID
l"ILLYSHEkSDYING$ONkTGOINTHEREm
!ND)STOODTHERETILLAFTERTHENURSETURNEDHERBACKAND)RUN
DOWN THERE AND ) WENT DOWN TO WHERE SHE WAS AT ) LOOKED AT HER
!ND THERE THE LITTLE THING LAYING THERE>) NEVER WILL FORGET 3HEkS
JUSTEIGHTMONTHSOLD
!ND ) REMEMBER ) USED TO COME HOME )>3HEkD SET OUT IN
THEYARDAND)kDBLOWMYHORNLIKETHATCOMINGAROUNDTHECORNER
ANDSHEkDGOl'OOGOOGOOmJUSTREACH>)JUSTLOVEDTHOSELITTLE
FELLOWS
!ND SHE WAS SUFFERING SO HARD TILL ONE OF THEM LITTLE FAT LEGS
WASMOVINGUPANDDOWNINASPASM!NDLOOKEDLIKEHERLITTLEHAND
WAS A WAVING !ND ) LOOKED AT HER AND ) SAID 3HARRY HONEY YOU
KNOWDADDYm!ND)WASTRYINGTOMAKEMYSELF STRONG!ND)SAID
l9OUKNOWDADDYHONEYm!NDHERLITTLELIPSGOTTOQUIVERING!ND
WHEN SHE LOOKED AT ME SHE WAS SUFFERING SO HARD TILL HER LITTLE EYE
WENTCROSSED
/H MY 7HEN ) SEEN THAT TENDER LITTLE BLUE BABY EYE
CROSS>;"LANKSPOTONTAPE?%D=
%  )DIDNkTKNOWITTHENBUT)UNDERSTANDNOW4HEREkSNEVERBEEN
A CROSS EYED CHILD COME IN LINE BUT WHAT ) THINK OF THAT 4HEREkS
NEVERBEENONEPASSOVERTHEPLATFORMBUTWHATkSBEENHEALEDTOO)
DIDNkTKNOWTHECRUSHINGHADTOBRINGITFORTH"UT)NEVERTHINKOF IT
TILL)SEETHAT
4HAT LITTLE EYE CROSSING AND SHE WAS SUFFERING SO HARD !ND )
KNELTDOWN)SAIDl/*ESUSPLEASE'OD)kMSORRYFORWHAT)DOm
)SAIDl$ONkTTAKEHERFROMME)LOVEHER,ORDWITHALLMYHEART
0LEASE'ODm
,OOKEDLIKEABIGBLACKCURTAINCOMEFALLINGDOWN)KNEWSHE
WAS GONE ) RAISED UP PUT MY HAND OVER ON HER HEAD ) SAID l'OD
BLESSYOUMYDARLINGLITTLESWEETANGEL)kMGOINGTOPUTYOUINTHE
ARMSOF MOTHER!NDTHE!NGELISCOMINGTOPACKYOUHOMEINAFEW
MINUTES"UTSOMEDAYDADDYWILLSEEYOUm
)RAISEDUPMYHEADAND)SAIDl'OD9OUGAVEAND9OUTAKEN
AWAY ) DONkT KNOW WHY 9OUkRE SLAYING MEm ) SAID l9ET 9OU MAY
SLAYME)kMGOINGTOTRUST9OUAS*OBDID)kMGOINGTOBELIEVE9OUm
!ND)SAIDl)>3OMEHOW9OUkREBREAKINGMYHEART)DONkTKNOW
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
HOW )kM GOING TO HOLD UP ANY LONGERm "UT ) SAID l'OD ) COMMIT
HERLITTLESOULTO9OU4AKEIT,ORD*ESUS0UTITONTHEALTARWITHTHE
MOTHER!NDSOMEDAYLETMECOMETOSEETHEMm
!ND AS ) DID THAT THE !NGELS OF 'OD SWEETLY COME DOWN
AND TAKEN AWAY HER LITTLE BREATH AND BORE HER AWAY TO BE WITH HER
MOTHER ) PLACED HER IN? THE MOTHER PUT THEM DOWN BENEATH THE
GROUND
%  7HEN ) STOOD THERE "ROTHER 3MITH A -ETHODIST PREACHER
FRIENDOF MINEHEGOTSOMECLODSINHISHANDWALKEDOVERTHEREAND
) WAS STANDING THERE HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME SAID l"ILLY BRACE
UPHONEYBOYm
) SAID l/H "ROTHER 3MITH MY SOUL IS>/H ) DONkT KNOW
WHATTODOm
!ND)HEARDHIMSAYWITHTHEMLITTLECLODSDROPPINGUPONTHE
LITTLECASKETSAIDl!SHESTOASHESDUSTTODUSTEARTHTOEARTHm
)THOUGHTl'ODWHATCAN)DOm
3OUND LIKE THE WIND BLOWED DOWN THROUGH THE PINE TREES IT
SOUNDLIKE)HEARDASONGSAYING
4HEREkSALANDBEYONDTHERIVER
4HATWECALLTHESWEETFOREVER
!NDWEONLYREACHTHATSHOREBYFAITHDECREE
/NEBYONEWEGAINTHEPORTAL
4HERETODWELLWITHTHEIMMORTAL
3OMEDAY THEYkLL RING THE GOLDEN BELLS FOR YOU AND
ME
)TURNEDFROMTHEGRAVEBROKENHEARTEDWENTHOME)COULDNkT
REST$AYSPASSED)COULDGIVEUPMYWIFEBUTTHAT>OHTHATBABY
WAS THE CHOICE OF MY HEART ) DIDNkT KNOW WHAT TO DO LITTLE SWEET
GIRL>
!NDTHEN)THOUGHTl/HWHATWILL)DOQUICKLYNOWm
%  /NE DAY ) WENT>) WAS WORKING FOR THE 0UBLIC 3ERVICE )
CLIMBEDUPAPOLEEARLYONEMORNINGTO?TOTAKEOFF APOLEMETER)
WASSTANDINGTHEREAND)WASSINGING
/NTHEHILLFARAWAYSTOODANOLDRUGGEDCROSS>
) WAS GOING>!ND ) HAPPENED TO LOOK AND AS THE SUN COME
UP ME HANGING THERE ON THAT POLE WORKING ON THESE CROSS ARMS
LOOKED OUT ON THE SIDE AND THERE LOOKED LIKE MY FIGURE A WIGGLING
ON THAT>LOOKED LIKE A CROSS OUT THERE !ND ) THOUGHT l/ #HRIST
OF 'OD 9ES IT WAS MY SINS NAILED 9OU THERE )kM SORRY FOR WHAT )
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
DONEm/H)SAIDl'ODHOWCOULD9OUEVERPUTUPWITHAPERSON
LIKEME9OUkDBROKEMYHEART9OUGROUNDMEDOWN"UTWHATCAN
)DOm
!ND)GOTREALNERVOUS!ND)HADONAPAIROF RUBBERGLOVES
-ANYOF YOULINEMENKNOWS>>TWENTY THREEHUNDRED2UNNING
RIGHTBYMERUNTHEPRIMARY!ND)THOUGHTl,OOKYHERE)CANLAY
MYHANDONTHATPRIMARY)NONEMINUTEkSTIME)kLLBEWITH3HARONm
)JERKEDMYGLOVEOFF)SAIDl'OD)kVELOSTMYMINDORSOMETHINGm
)SAIDl3HARRYHONEY)CANkTSTANDITNOLONGER$ADDYkSCOMINGTO
BEHOMEWITHYOUm
) SAID l,OOK AT THEM>m 4WENTY THREE HUNDRED RUNNING
THERE BREAK EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY ELECTRIC ) SAID l/UR &ATHER
7HOARTINHEAVENHALLOWEDBE4HY.AMEm!NDTHEFIRSTTHINGYOU
KNOW)WASSETTINGDOWNONTHEGROUND)DONkTKNOW
%  ) BELIEVE THAT IF THAT GIFT HADNkT BEEN FOREORDAINED THATkD
BEEN THE END OF YOUR "ROTHER "RANHAM RIGHT THERE "UT 'OD HAD
SOMETHING ELSE TO DO (E HAD TO GRIND THAT HEART OUT AND LET (IM
KNOWLETMEKNOWTHAT(EkSTHE/NE7HORULESANDREIGNS
)WENTHOME)COULDNkTSTANDITCOULDNkTWORK7ENTOVERTO
MAMAkSANDMAMASAIDl(ONEYCOMEIN,ETME?LETMEMAKEYOU
QUIETm
) SAID l)kM GOING HOMEm !ND ) WENT HOME )T WAS KINDA
COOLWEATHER)TOOKTHEMAILOUTOF THEBOXANDWENTAROUND)WAS
TRYINGTOBATCH7EDIDNkTHAVEMUCHINOURHOUSE)HADANOLDCOT
SETTINGBACKTHERE
"UTSHEkDLIVEDTHEREWITHME7EkDBEENTOGETHERTHATkDBEEN
OUR?OURHOME!NDIT>.OMATTERHOWLITTLEITWASITBELONGEDTO
HERAND)!NDITWASUS4HEWHOLETHINGWOULDNkTHAVEBEENTHREE
DOLLARS WORTH OF FURNITURE "UT IT BELONGED TO HER AND ) )T WAS AS
WORTHASMUCHASANYOF THEGOODHOMESTHEREISINTHEWORLDjCAUSE
ITWASOURS
!ND ) WENT BACK THERE IN THE KITCHEN COLD FROST COMING UP
THROUGH THE FLOOR !ND ) NEVER WILL FORGET ) OPENED UP THE MAIL
4HE FIRST MAIL ) OPENED UP IT SAID ON THERE l-ISS 3HARON 2OSE
"RANHAMm)TWASHERLITTLE#HRISTMASSAVING4HEBANKERKNEWTHAT
SHEkDNEVERDRAWITSO>$OLLARANDEIGHTYCENTS(ESENTITTOME
/H)JUSTCOULDNkTSTANDIT)BROKEDOWNANDSTARTEDCRYING)TWAS
GETTINGTOWARDSNIGHT)KNELTDOWNONTHEFLOOR!ND)STARTEDCRYING
ANDPRAYING!ND)>/HWHATAHOUR)COULDNkTHARDLYSTANDIT
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

 4(%30/+%.7/2$
%  ) WENT TO SLEEP LAYING THERE ) DREAMED ) THOUGHT ) WAS OUT
7EST !ND WHEN ) WAS OUT 7EST ) WAS WALKING DOWN THROUGH THE
PRAIRIEAND)WASWHISTLINGTHATSONG
4HEWHEELONTHEWAGONISBROKEN
3IGNONTHERANCHl&OR3ALEm
)WASWHISTLINGLIKETHATAND)SEENANOLDPRAIRIESCHOONERAND
AWHEELBROKEDOWN!NDSTANDINGTHEREBYTHATSCHOONERSTOODTHE
MOST BEAUTIFUL BLOND HEADED GIRL WITH HER PRETTY BLUE EYES SHINING
DRESSEDINWHITE!ND)HADMYHATON>MYHAT!ND)PASSEDBY
AND)SAIDl(OWDYDOMISSmANDPUTMYHATBACKLIKETHAT
!NDSHESAIDl(ELLODADm
!ND)LOOKEDAROUNDAND)SAIDl$ADm
3HESAIDl3UREm
) SAID l7ELL YOUNG LADY ) BEG YOUR PARDONm ) SAID l)?
)>9OUkREASOLDAS)AM(OWCOULD)BEYOURDADDYm
3HESAIDl$ADDYDONkTYOUKNOWMEm
!ND)SAIDl.OMAkAM)kMAFRAID)DONkTm
3HESAIDl9OUJUSTDONkTKNOWWHEREYOUAREDADDYm
!ND)SAIDl7ELL)>7HATDOYOUMEANm
3HESAIDl7HEREkS"ILLY0AULm4HATkSHERLITTLEBROTHER
!ND)SAIDl)?)>7HATISTHISm
3HESAIDl$ADDYONEARTH)WASYOURLITTLE3HARONm
)SAIDl3HARON-YBABYm
3HESAIDl9ESDADDYm3AIDl2EMEMBERWEkREIMMORTALHERE
7HEN WE COME HERE WEkRE NOT LITTLE BABIES NO MORE 7EkRE ALL ONE
AGEm
!ND)SAIDl/HHONEY!REYOU3HARONm3HESAID>)SAID
l7HEREkSMOTHERm
3AIDl3HEkSUPATYOUR?THENEWHOMEm
)SAIDl!HOMEm
3AIDl9EAHm
)SAIDl7ELLHONEYSOMETHINGWRONGHEREm)SAIDl"RANHAMS
NEVERHADHOMES7EkREMORELIKETHEVAGABONDPEOPLEm)SAIDTHAT
l7E?WEDONkTHAVENOHOMEm
3HESAIDl"UTDADDYYOUGOTONEUPHEREm
) LOOKED AROUND OVER TO MY RIGHT AND THERE WAS A GREAT BIG
BEAUTIFULHOME!NDTHEREWASLIGHTSSHININGUPALLAROUND
  3/&47!2%6%23)/.

(%2%7%(!6%./#/.4).5).'#)49 
3HESAIDl-OTHERkSWAITINGFORYOU)kMGOINGTOWAITHEREFOR
"ILLYm
)SAIDl!LLRIGHTHONEYm)TOOKOUTRUNNINGASHARDAS)COULD
MY HAT IN MY HAND ) RUN RIGHT UP TO THE STEP 7HEN ) GOT THERE
(OPEWOULDUSUALLYMEETMECOMINGOUTWITHHERARMSOUT!ND)
WENTUPANDRUNUPTHESTEPSJUSTHARDAS)COULD!ND)GOTTOPOF
THE STEPS HERE SHE COME DRESSED IN WHITE THAT BLACK HAIR HANGING
DOWN3HECOMERUNNINGUPTOMESHERAISEDOUTHERARMS)RUNTO
HER THROWED MY HAT DOWN AND JUST KNELT DOWN BY THE SIDE OF HER
3HEPUTHERHANDONMYHEAD3HESAIDl"ILLWHATAREYOUWORRIED
ABOUTHONEYm
)SAIDl(OPE)CANkTSTANDITANYLONGERm)SAIDl)SEEN>)S
THAT3HARON2OSEDOWNTHEREm
3HE SAID l9ES "ILLm 3HE SAID l7HATkS YOU WORRIED ABOUT
9OUWORRYINGABOUTMEAND3HARONm
!ND)SAIDl(ONEY)?)JUSTCANkTSTANDIT)>m
3HE SAID l3TOP WORRYINGm 3AID l$ONkT WORRY WEkRE LOTS
BETTEROFF THANYOUAREm
!ND ) SAID l4HAT MAY BE SOm "UT ) SAID l(OPE DIDNkT SHE
MAKEAPRETTYWOMAN!RENkTWEPROUDOF HERm
3HESAIDl3UREm3HESAIDl!RENkTYOUTIREDm
!ND)SAIDl(ONEY)JUSTBEENPREACHINGANDPRAYINGFORTHE
SICKSOLONGm!NDTHATkSTHEWAY)KNOW)kLLGO)THADTOCOME?IT
HADNkT COME YET ) SAID l) JUST BEEN PREACHING AND PRAYING FOR THE
SICKTILL)kMSOTIRED)CANkTHARDLYSTANDUPm
3HESAIDl7ONkTYOUSITDOWNm
!ND ) LOOKED AND THERE WAS A GREAT BIG -ORRIS CHAIR SETTING
THERE!ND)LOOKEDATHERANDSHELOOKEDBACKATME3AIDl)KNOW
WHATYOUkRETHINKINGm
$OWN HERE ONE TIME )>7E HAD THEM THREE OLD CHAIRS OR
TWOOLDCHAIRSATTHEHOUSE!ND>

6/)#%/&'/$2%#/2$).'3
0/"/8*%&&%23/.6),,%).$)!.!53!
    WWWBRANHAMORG