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50-0820A My Life Story VGR
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Joshuva DanielCopyright:
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! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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25%
% !3 4%2 3%!,
-(%
9 ,
34/29
-9 ,)&% 34/29
%
>YOU FOR THAT FINE COMPLIMENT !ND HOW ) FEEL UNWORTHY TO
ACCEPT IT BUT ) WITH HUMILITY ) HOPE THAT ) NEVER DECEIVE ANYONE AND
) ALWAYS CAN KEEP THE FRIENDSHIP OF 'ODkS PEOPLE EVERYWHERE )TkS BY
THAT THAT ) CAN MINISTER TO YOU
%
) GUESS SOME OF YOU SEEN A MINISTER JUST SHAKING MY HAND THEN
WITH?WITH A JOYFUL HAND GRIP (E WAS JUST TELLING ME THAT ONE OF HIS
MEMBERS THAT ALL THE BEST DOCTORS AROUND #LEVELAND HOSPITALS HERE
COULD DO NOTHING TUMOR IN THE HEAD !ND SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED
TO HER THAT IT WAS FOR THE TIME OF LIFE YOU KNOW WHAT ) MEAN HAD
BEEN WITH HER FOR SIX YEARS !ND THE OTHER NIGHT IN THE MEETING 'OD
HEALED THAT TUMOR IN HER HEAD 3HE WENT HOME AND IN THE>)TkS HER
STRAN>4HINK IT NOT STRANGE BEFORE THIS AUDIENCE BUT )kM JUST YOUR
BROTHER 4HE MENSTRATING PERIOD WHICH HAD NOT BEEN FOR SIX YEARS
HAPPENED THAT NIGHT AGAIN RIGHT BACK AGAIN REGULAR AGAIN /H (E IS
THE ,ORD *ESUS 4HATkS RIGHT (IS POWER IS HERE !FTER ALL THE DOCTORS
HAD GIVEN HER UP NOTHING COULD BE DONE BUT NOW 'OD HAS HEALED
HER !ND YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE TUMORS IN THE HEAD GO IF THEY BECOME
MALIGNANT IS CANCER IS WHAT IT IS AND?THE GROWTH IF IT BECOMES
MALIGNANT AND?AND BURSTS HERE AND KILLS THE PATIENT RIGHT OVER "UT
'OD IS OUR 3AVIOUR
%
!ND ) WAS LOOKING THIS AFTERNOON AROUND UPON THIS TENT AND
THE AUDIENCE IT JUST REMINDS ME OF DAYS GONE BY WHEN WE USED TO
HAVE THE OLD 'OSPEL TENTS FILLED UP AND THE PEOPLE PRAYING WAY
BACK IN THE DAYS ) USED TO READ WHEN &INNEY AND 7ESLEY AND
3ANKEY -OODY AND ALL THOSE USED TO HAVE MEETINGS AND THE PEOPLE
GATHERED AROUND UNROLL TENTS 7ONkT IT BE WONDERFUL WHEN WE MEET
THEM> >/H MY WHAT A TIME
%
,AST NIGHT AND TODAY HAS BEEN VERY GLORIOUS TO ME LOOSED FROM
UNDER THE ANOINTING SO THAT ) COULD PREACH AND TO?AND TO SPEAK TO
THE PEOPLE !ND TODAY ) WAS TO TELL MY LIFEkS STORY !ND LAST NIGHT )
JUST HAD A GLORIOUS TIME WITHIN MYSELF AS THE (OLY 3PIRIT WAS BLESSING
ME !ND TODAY ITkS HAD>) WENT HOME LAST NIGHT AND HAD A GLORIOUS
NIGHTkS REST NEVER WOKE UP TILL ABOUT EIGHT
THIRTY THIS MORNING !ND
) FEEL GOOD TODAY AND )kM JUST SURE TONIGHTkS GOING TO PRODUCE A
GREAT MEETING FOR US ALL 4O GET TO MEET THESE MINISTER BROTHERS THE
GREATEST PRIVILEGES AS ) HAVE IS TO GIVE TO 'ODkS PEOPLE OF THE THINGS
OF THIS EARTH IS TO GET TO MEET FINE MINISTERS
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
% 9ES "ROTHER 'ORDON THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE SMALLEST
AUDIENCES WEkVE HAD FOR THIS MUCH TIME BUT ITkS BEEN ONE OF THE
SWEETEST MEETINGS OF JUST COOPERATION AND EVERYTHING WONDERFUL
3O WEkRE THANKING 'OD FOR IT )TkS BEEN PRAYED THAT 'OD WILL SEND
#LEVELAND AN OLD FASHION REVIVAL THATkLL JUST SWEEP THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY 4HATkS RIGHT 'OD BLESS YOU ALL
)TkS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO MINISTER AS MUCH AS ) COULD TO ALL THAT
POSSIBLY COULD GET INTO THE LINES AS MUCH AS ) WAS PERMITTED TO STAND
AT THE PLATFORM -ANY MANY TESTIMONIES ARE COMING IN 4HREE OR
FOUR CASES OF PARALYISM SETTING PARALYZED IN CHAIRS AND THINGS MOST
OF THEM CALLED RIGHT FROM HERE>) SEE WHATkS HAPPENING THEN WHEN
'OD HEALS>
9OU WOULDNkT EXPECT ME TO TELL A MAN OR WOMAN TO STAND UP
AND WALK OR SOMETHING IF 'OD HADNkT SHOWED ME HE WAS HEALED
(E COULD NOT STAND UP AND WALK "UT WHEN 'OD SHOWED ME THAT
THEYkRE HEALED THEYkRE BOUND TO WALK THEN 3EE BECAUSE 'OD SAID
SO AND ) WOULDNkT SAY IT UNTIL 'OD TOLD ME !ND THEN WHEN (E TELLS
ME>!ND WHAT ) TELL YOU TO DO YOU DO IT AND BE ASSURED THAT )kM
SPEAKING FROM THE -ASTER 4HATkS RIGHT )kLL NEVER TELL YOU NOTHING
jLESS ITkS SO .OW IF YOU WANT TO TURN IT DOWN WHEN ) TELL YOU YOU
WANT TO REFUSE IT WHY THAT?THATkS UP TO YOU AND 'OD 9OU SEE "UT
IF (E IS>)F (E TELLS ME ANYTHING TO TELL YOU WELL )kLL?)kLL TELL YOU
RIGHT FROM THE PLATFORM AND THEN 'OD WILL>9OU JUST FOLLOW WHAT )
TOLD YOU TO DO AND )kLL ASSURE YOU BY THE 7ORD OF 'OD THAT 'OD WILL
BRING IT OUT AND YOUkLL?YOUkLL BE ALL RIGHT
% .OW WEkRE VERY HAPPY THAT EVERYTHINGkS COMING ALONG JUST
FINE ) DONkT HAVE AS MUCH CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU LIKE THIS THE PEOPLE
CAME IN WAS TAKING SOME PICTURES OUT THERE ) GOT TO SHAKE THEIR
HANDS AND THINGS ) WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT TO SHAKE PEOPLEkS HAND AND
MEET THEM 4HEREkS SOME OF THEM LITTLE OLD GIRLS ALONG THERE LITTLE OLD
BOYS AND GIRLS LITTLE OLD FAT CHUNKY THINGS ) JUST AUTOGRAPHED THEM
AND> >
/VER IN &INLAND THEY JUST>)N 3WEDEN EVERYWHERE YOU
GO THEY ALL WANTED YOUR AUTOGRAPH 9OU KNOW ) LOVE TO DO THAT
4HEYkRE>4HATkS 'ODkS MEN OF TOMORROW IN THOSE LITTLE CHILDREN )
JUST LOVE THE LITTLE FELLOWS AND ) GOT TO TALK TO THEM OUT THERE A FEW
MOMENTS AGO AND VERY VERY HAPPY TO GET TO DO SO
!ND FOR PICTURES AND THINGS OH ) JUST LOVE TO THINK>3EE )
WAS TALKING TO MY WIFE NOT LONG AGO ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND
HOW 'OD HAD BLESSED AND HOW ) LOVE PEOPLE !ND TO GIVE ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO MEET THEM AND ITkS?ITkS FINE
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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% !ND NOW JUST A LITTLE STATEMENT HERE THAT ) WANTED TO
MAKE>7AS ASKED ME A FEW DAYS AGO>)TkS CONCERNING SOME
THINGS HERE AT THE TENT AND ABOUT OUR SITUATION HOW WEkRE SET UP AND
HOW WE OPERATE ) MIGHT GO INTO THAT JUST FOR A MOMENT SO THAT IT
WOULD BE CLEAR BEFORE EVERYONEkS MIND
0ERSONALLY MYSELF AND OWNING THINGS AND PROPERTY>) OWN
NOTHING 4HE ONLY THING THAT ) HAVE IS WHAT CLOTHES THAT ) HAVE AND
AN AUTOMOBILE THAT SOME PEOPLE GAVE ME BECAUSE MY OLD &ORD WAS
BACKSLIDDEN /H MY IT WAS IN AN AWFUL SHAPE> >) COULDNkT GET
FROM PLACE TO PLACE !ND THEY BOUGHT ME A j j CAR AND GAVE IT TO
ME WHICH ) GREATLY APPRECIATE !ND ITkS NEVER USED FOR NOTHING ELSE
BUT THE 'OSPEL ) DEDICATED IT FOR THAT
% ! FEW YEARS AGO ) LIVED THE SEVEN YEARS OF MY MARRIED LIFE
IN A?A TWO ROOM SHACK AND WAS VERY VERY POOR !ND ) WAS IN
#ALGARY IN #ANADA WHERE WE WAS HAVING MANY MANY THOUSANDS
AND GREAT SIGNS>/NE PERSON HAD SEARCHED #ANADA TILL THEY DROVE
THREE THOUSANDS MILES IN A TAXI CAB JUST TO GET TO THE SERVICES 4HREE
THOUSAND MILES IN A TAXI CAB AND> >SOMETIME THEREkD BE AS
MANY AS TWENTY AND THIRTY AMBULANCES LINED ALL AROUND YOU COULDNkT
EVEN GET NEAR THE PLACE HARDLY FOR THE PLACE>(AVING A GLORIOUS
MEETING AND MY WIFE AND BABIES AT HOME WERE IN THIS LITTLE OLD
CABIN SHACK THAT WE LIVED IN 7E ONLY HAD TO PAY JUST A FEW DOLLARS A
MONTH RENT 7E COULDNkT AFFORD IT .OW THATkS RIGHT
% ) NEVER TOOK UP>) TRIED TO TAKE ONE OFFERING IN MY LIFE AND )
FAILED ON THAT "UT ) DIDNkT>) NEVER WOULDNkT LET ME DO IT ) WORKED
AND PASTORED THE "RANHAM 4ABERNACLE AT *EFFERSONVILLE WHICH IS A
INTERDENOMINATIONAL INSTITUTION ) WORKED EVERY DAY SOMETIME WITH A
PICK AND SHOVEL SOMETIMES ON PATROL SOMETIMES IN LINE WORK AND SO
FORTH WORKED TWELVE YEARS AND PASTORED A CHURCH AND NEVER RECEIVED
ONE PENNY NOT ONE CENT ) WAS ABLE TO WORK .OW NOT AS ) GOT
ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE>! MINISTER HEkS TO LIVE BY THE 'OSPEL
"UT ) WAS YOUNG ) WAS HEALTHY WHY SHOULDNkT ) WORK AND NOT BE AN
OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE .OT BECAUSE THAT THEY WOULDNkT DO IT THEY
WOULD BE GLAD TO DO IT "UT ) JUST FELT LIKE IF THE REST OF THEM WORKED
THEN )kD WORK ALSO 3O ) WORKED AND?AND PAID MY TITHINGS RIGHT AT
THE CHURCH ) BELIEVE IN TITHE PAYING !ND )>'OD HAS BLESSED IT TO
ME ANY MILLIONS OF TIMES !ND ) NEVER WOULD TAKE UP OFFERINGS
% ) TOLD YOU BELIEVE THE OTHER DAY HOW ) TRIED TO TAKE UP MY FIRST
OFFERING 7IFE AND ) WOULD GET A TOUGH SPOT WHERE WE COULDNkT MAKE
THE ENDS MEET AND )>-ANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT )kM TALKING ABOUT
3O )?) TOLD HER ) SAID l7ELL )kLL JUST TAKE UP AN OFFERING OVER AT
CHURCHm
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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3HE SAID l7ELL )kM COMING OVER TO WATCH YOU DO ITm !ND
SHE SET DOWN IN THE BACK A LITTLE PIECE FROM ME !ND ALL THE TIME MY
HEART WAS FAILING ) JUST KEPT TALKING AROUND DIFFERENT THINGS $IRECTLY
) SAID l/H ) FORGOT m ) SAID l) GOT TO TAKE UP AN OFFERING TONIGHT
FOR MYSELFm ) SAID l)TkS THAT WE>) HATE ASK YOU BUT )kVE JUST GOT A
SNAG THAT ) CANkT GET THROUGHm !ND ) LOOKED AROUND AND BLESS THEIR
HEARTS ) KNEW SOME OF THEM THAT ARE IN HERE THIS AFTERNOON WAS RIGHT
THERE
!ND ) HAPPENED TO LOOK SETTING TO MY RIGHT AND A LITTLE OLD
MOTHER WAS WEARING A LITTLE OLD GINGHAM ) GUESS OR WHATEVER KIND
OF CLOTHES>) DONkT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT GOODS THAT WOMEN WEAR
SO LITTLE OLD DRESSES ON YOU KNOW 3HE HAD LITTLE POCKETS BENEATH HER
APRON AND SHE WENT DOWN THERE LIKE MY GRANDMA USED TO HAVE 3HE
BROUGHT OUT ONE OF THEM LITTLE OLD LONG POCKETBOOKS YOU KNOW THAT
YOU SNAP OVER THE TOP 3HE WAS REACHING DOWN AFTER THOSE NICKELS
AND ) LOOKED AROUND ) THOUGHT l/H MYm 4HAT WOULD HAUNT ME AS
LONG AS ) LIVED IF ) TOOK THAT ) COULDNkT DO THAT 4HAT>
%
4HE DEACON HAD WENT AND GOT MY HAT AND WAS GOING TO PASS
THE HAT ) LOOKED AT THAT AND MY ) FELT A BIG LUMP COME UP AND )
SAID?WELL ) SAID l.OW LOOK ) WAS JUST TEASING YOU BUT ) DIDNkT
MEAN THATm ) SAID l) JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU WOULD SAYm !ND
MY WIFE LOOKED AT ME
!ND WE REALLY HAD AN OBLIGATION HAD TO BE MET "UT YOU KNOW
WHAT ) HAD AN OLD BICYCLE OVER HOME AND ) WENT AND SOLD THAT OLD
BICYCLE AND WE GOT TO MEET THE OBLIGATION DIDNkT HAVE TO TAKE UP THE
OFFERING AFTER ALL 3O ) NEVER WANT MYSELF TIED TO ANY EARTHLY THING )
WANT TO BE FREE WHERE ) CAN STUDY THE 7ORD OF 'OD
%
.OW CONCERNING THE TENT HERE THE TENT DOES NOT BELONG TO ME
OR NONE OF THE EQUIPMENT BELONGS TO ME )T BELONGS TO THE l6OICE OF
(EALING m A INTER
EVANGELICAL PAPER WHICH IS PUBLISHED AT 3HREVEPORT
! LITTLE PAPER THE PAPER ONCE WAS MINE 7HEN ) STARTED WE?THE
MINISTERS KEPT TELLING ME THAT l9OU NEED A PAPER TO CARRY YOUR
ARTICLES INm !ND WELL ) TOLD "ROTHER ,INDSAY THE ONE WHO WAS VERY
MUCH INTERESTED IN THAT ) SAID l"ROTHER ,INDSAY ALL RIGHT WEkLL START
ITm !ND ) ONE DAY WHILE IN PRAYING 'OD GAVE ME THE?THE NAME
THE TITLE l6OICE OF (EALINGm !ND IT WILL?WILL RANK RIGHT WITH MY
MINISTRY lTHE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS m AND SO FORTH
!ND SO ) GAVE IT THE NAME OF l6OICE OF (EALINGm
%
) STAYED SO LONG IN THE PLATFORMS AND THINGS UNTIL ) HAD TO TAKE
A EIGHT MONTHkS REST ) WAS OFF THE FIELD WHEN THEY THOUGHT THAT )
WOULD LEAVE THE WORLD 9OUkVE HEARD THE STORY OF THAT !ND WHILE
) WAS GONE WHY SOME OF THE OTHER MINISTERS THAT WERE FOLLOWING
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
-9 ,)&% 34/29
ALONG BEHIND MY MINISTRY WAS GOING AHEAD PRAYING FOR THE SICK AND
THEY WERE CARRYING ARTICLES AND SO FORTH 3O THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE
THAT WE MAKE IT A INTER EVANGELICAL PAPER AND JUST NOT HAVE ANY
REPRESENTING ANY ONE CERTAIN MAN !ND THATkS THE WAY ) LIKE TO SEE
THINGS ) DONkT WANT THINGS THAT ARE LOOKED AS TO MYSELF ) WANT IT FOR
THE #HURCH OF THE LIVING 'OD FOR EVERYBODY
9OU KNOW *ACOB DUG THREE WELLS 4HE ONE WELL THEY DROVE
HIM AWAY AND HE CALLED IT lSTRIFEm !ND ANOTHER ONE WAS lMALICE m
) BELIEVE OR lHATRED m OR SOMETHING (E DUG THE THIRD WELL AND SAID
l4HEREkS ROOM FOR US ALLm 3O ) THINK THATkS WHAT IT IS NOW THEREkS
ROOM FOR US ALL
7AY DOWN IN +ENTUCKYkS A LITTLE OLD -ISSIONARY "APTIST
#HURCH WE USED TO SING THE SONG l2OOM ROOM YES THERE IS ROOM
4HEREkS ROOM AT THE FOUNTAIN FOR MEm $ID YOU EVER HEAR OF IT )TkS A
LITTLE OLD SONG AND THATkS WHAT IT IS
% "ROTHER ,INDSAY THEN TAKEN THE PAPER AND MADE IT A NON
) BELIEVE INCO>A NON PROFITED ORGANIZATION OF THE PAPER
REPRESENTING ALL THE MINISTERS OF THE LAND WHO CARRIES A $IVINE HEALING
MINISTRY THATkS LIVING THE RIGHT KIND OF LIFE AND ABOVE REPROACH
"ROTHER ,INDSAY LOOKS INTO THOSE THINGS !ND THEN MY>(E WANTED
TO MAKE ME PRESIDENT OF IT (E WANTED TO GIVE ME WHAT MORE "UT )
SAID l"ROTHER ,INDSAY ) WANT TO BE JUST?JUST IN THE PAPER 4HATkS
ALL !ND MAKE MY ARTICLES THE SMALLEST ONE IN THE PAPER )F NOTHING
ELSE THE ITINERARY SO THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHERE )kM AT 4HATkLL BE ALL
THATkS NECESSARY ) DONkT WANT ONE THING OUT OF THE PAPER BUT TELLING
OF THE MEETINGS AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO FOR )kM FOR ANYTHING THAT
REPRESENTS 'ODm !ND THE LITTLE PAPER DOES )TkS A VERY FINE LITTLE
PAPER
% 4HEN THE TENT PROBLEM WAS NAMED AND OVERSEAS &IRST THING IT
COME BY INSPIRATION /UR AUDITORIUMS WEkD GET TO STAY TWO OR THREE
NIGHTS HAVE TO LEAVE 3OME CITIES DEAR #HRISTIAN PEOPLE CRYING AND
BEGGING WEkD HAVE NO PLACE TO GO "ROTHER -OORE CROSSING A BRIDGE
AT ,ITTLE 2OCK ONE MORNING FROM THE MEETING WHERE MANY GREAT
SIGNS AND WONDERS WERE BEING DONE "ROTHER -OORE HAD A INSPIRATION
THAT THE ,ORD TOLD HIM TO BUILD A TENT "ROTHER -OORE WENT OUT AND
HAD THIS TENT BUILT BY "ROTHER 7ELCH IN 0ENSACOLA &LORIDA 7HILE
THERE OVERSEAS>"ROTHER -OORE IS A BUSINESSMAN AS MANY OF YOU
KNOW HIM (EkS A CONTRACTOR (E LET OUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR JOB
WHILE HE WAS GONE TO SOME MORE PEOPLE COME BACK FOUND HISSELF
BROKE !ND THERE HE WAS AND COULDNkT TAKE THE TENT
4HEN IT FELL TO THE HANDS>-E ) HAVE NOTHING !ND SO IT?IT
FELL TO THE HANDS OF "ROTHER ,INDSAY TO SAVE THE?THE?THE TENT (E
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
GOES AND BUYS THE TENT HIMSELF AND PUTS IT IN THE NAME OF l4HE
6OICE OF (EALINGm 4HEREFORE THE TENT DOES NOT BELONG TO ME OR ANY
CERTAIN PERSON )T BELONGS TO THE l6OICE OF (EALING m AND ) JUST PAY
RENT ON IT WHILE )kM HERE %VERYWHERE ) GO ) PAY RENT )kD RATHER>)
LIKE AUDITORIUMS HAVE NOTHING AGAINST AUDITORIUMS BUT IF THIS TENT
IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THE 'OSPEL OF *ESUS #HRIST THE TENT RENTS
CHEAPER THAN AN AUDITORIUM "UT ) WOULD RATHER PAY THREE HUNDRED
DOLLARS A DAY EXTRA FOR THE TENT TO KNOW THAT THE TENT WAS GOING TO BE
USED FOR PREACHING THE 'OSPEL THAN TO PAY AT THE AUDITORIUMS WHERE
THEY SPONSOR DANCES AND EVERYTHING ELSE OF THE WORLD )kD RATHER DO
THAT 3O ANYTHING TO>
%
4HEREFORE THE TENT COULD BE MINE IF ) WISHED FOR IT BUT ITkS
NOT THAT "ROTHER ,INDSAYkS A VERY FINE MAN TO WORK WITH "ROTHER
,INDSAY AND "ROTHER (ALL "ROTHER "AXTER ALL THOSE MEN ARE VERY
FINE "UT THEN THE PEOPLE MADE UP A DONATION TO BUY ME A HOME
4HEY BUILT ME A LITTLE FIVE ROOM HOUSE 4HE DAY WHEN ) WALKED INTO IT
) LOOKED UP THERE AND ) SEEN IT>)kD ALWAYS BEEN A PILGRIM NEVER HAS
A "RANHAM NEVER OWNED NOTHING WEkRE VAGABONDS !ND )?) LOOKED
AT?AT THAT?AT OUR LITTLE HOUSE AND ) SAID l,ORD )kM NOT WORTHY TO
WALK INTO ITm ) KNELT DOWN AT THE GATE AND TOOK MY WIFE BY ONE HAND
LITTLE BOY BY THE OTHER AND ) SAID l&ATHER ) THANK 9OU !S LONG AS
9OU LET ME LIVE )kLL REMEMBER EVERYONE THAT PUT IN A PENNY ON THISm
"UT ) SAID l.OW )?) WONkT HAVE IT FOR MYSELF FOR WHEN ) LEAVE LET IT
GO TO 9OUR MINISTRYm
%
!ND THE LITTLE CHURCH HAD NO PARSONAGE AND ) WENT OUT AND
GIVE IT TO THE LITTLE CHURCH !ND IT BELONGS TO THE CHURCH IT DOESNkT
BELONG TO ME ) LIVE THERE 7HEN ) GO ANOTHER MINISTER WILL STEP IN
)TkLL STILL BE USED FOR 'OD )T CANkT BE SOLD FOR NOTHING ELSE BUT GO FOR
THE CHURCH 4HE CHURCH PROPERTY WAS GIVE TO ME 4HE CITY>7HEN )
HAD MY FIRST REVIVAL>)TkS ABOUT WHATkS HERE THIS AFTERNOON IS ABOUT
THE CROWD THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOR REVIVAL 4HE CITY BUILT FOR THE?THE
TENT?TABERNACLE AND GIVE IT TO ME AND ) TURNED IT OVER TO A GROUP OF
PEOPLE OR MADE NOT AN ORGANIZATION BUT JUST A?A INCORPORATION OUT
OF IT SO ) OWN NOTHING OF THIS WORLD NOTHING BUT JUST WHAT PEOPLE
GIVE ME !ND THAT IS CLEAR NOW EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WHAT IT IS )?)
APPRECIATE>
%
!ND EVERY PENNY THATkS LEFT FROM OUR MEETINGS "ROTHER
,INDSAY AND THEM KNOWS JUST WHAT WE EAT AND SO FORTH WE TURN
RIGHT STRAIGHT BACK INTO THE 'OSPEL WORK BACK AND TRY TO LIVE JUST
AS CHEAP AS ) CAN 7HEN ) GO TO THE CITIES ) DONkT LOOK FOR BIG
HOTELS 4HE CHEAPEST ONE ) CAN FIND THATkS WHAT ) WANT 3EE ) WANT
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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TO BE JUST AS POOR AS EVERYONE THAT COMES TO ME TO BE PRAYED FOR
4HATkS RIGHT )F )kD ACCEPTED THE MONEY THATkS OFFERED ME )kD BE A
MULTIMILLIONAIRE
) HAD ONE MAN OUT OF #ALIFORNIA AFTER HIS WIFE HAD A CANCER
OF THE BREAST THEY HAD TO FLY QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT SHE WAS
DYING !ND WHEN THAT CANCER LEFT HER THE WINDOW CURTAIN ROLLED UP
TIGHT LIKE THAT BEFORE HUNDREDS OF THOSE !RMENIANS AND LET DOWN
LIKE THAT !ND THE DEMON POWER LEFT THE WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR SAID
SHE COULDNkT LIVE TILL MORNING !ND NOW SHEkS A WELL WOMAN TODAY
WALKING AROUND !ND THAT MAN OWNED THAT?PART OF THAT BIG -ISSION
"ELL 7INERY AND THINGS AND SENT ME A?A?A CHECK BANK DRAFT FOR
A MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS !ND ) REFUSED TO PUT MY
HANDS ON IT AND LOOK AT IT 4HE "AXTERS HAD BROUGHT IT TO ME ) SAID
l.O SIR ) DONkT WANT TO SEE ITm
3AID l7ELL 2EVEREND "RANHAM IT WAS SENT TO YOUm
) SAID l) DO NOT WANT TO SEE IT ) DONkT WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH
MONEYm 7HEN A MAN GETS HIS MIND ON MONEY HE LOSES 'OD 4HATkS
RIGHT !ND THATkS?THATkS RIGHT ;!UDIENCE APPLAUDS?%D= 4HANK YOU
9OU CANkT KEEP YOUR MIND ON>9OU GOT TO BE>
%
(EREkS THREE THINGS THAT )kVE NOTICED IN READING OF OTHER
MINISTERS )F THIS EVER GETS A HOLD OF A MINISTER ITkS GOT HIM !ND
THEREkS A WEAK SPOT MONEY WOMEN POPULARITY 4HATkS RIGHT $ODGE
THE VERY APPEARANCE OF IT 4HATkS RIGHT
&OR MONEY ) CARE NOT FOR IT
)kVE GOT A LITTLE OLD FAT WIFE HERE THAT ) THINKkS THE SWEETEST
WOMAN IN THE WORLD 4HATkS RIGHT 4HATkS RIGHT 3HEkS THE ONLY ONE
)kVE EVER CARED FOR RIGHT AND SOME LITTLE CHILDREN 7HEN ) WAS A
SINNER ) LIVED CLEAN AND WHEN )kM A #HRISTIAN
!ND FOR POPULARITY WHO AM ) 3IX FOOT OF DIRT THATkS ALL
SINNER SAVED BY GRACE !ND IT WASNkT FOR 'OD WHERE WOULD ) BE 3O
)>7EkRE NOTHING 4HATkS RIGHT !ND WEkRE>!ND YOU PRAY FOR ME
;!UDIENCE APPLAUDS?%D= 4HANK YOU FRIENDS
.OW )kLL HURRY RIGHT THROUGH WITH JUST THE HIGH POINTS OF MY
LIFEkS STORY -OTHER CANkT STAY VERY LONG BECAUSE IN THIS ) HAVE TO
BRING IN DAD !ND YOU KNOW HOW IT IS !LL RIGHT
%
,ETkS READ SOME OF THE 3CRIPTURE FIRST NOW !ND REMEMBER
LETkS BE OUT TONIGHT EARLY AND EXPECT 'OD TO NOT LEAVE A?A PERSON>)
WANT TO COME IN TONIGHT IF THE ,ORDkS WILLING AFTER SPEAKING LAST
NIGHT AND TONIGHT COME RIGHT STRAIGHT IN START THE PRAYER LINE JUST
IMMEDIATELY !ND NEXT WEEK )kM GOING TO IF ) POSSIBLY CAN AVERAGE
A HUNDRED PEOPLE A NIGHT IF ) POSSIBLY CAN IN THE PRAYER LINE UNTIL
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
WEkRE THROUGH 9OUkVE BEEN SO NICE )kM GOING TO IF THEY HAVE TO
HOLD ME BY ONE ARM AND THE OTHER STAND HERE AT THE PLATFORM AGAIN
9OUkVE BEEN SO NICE AND SO REVERENT )kLL DO EVERYTHING THAT LAYS
WITHIN MY POWER TO HELP YOU THAT ) CAN 9OUkVE WAITED YOUkVE BEEN
PATIENT -ANY HAS BEEN HEALED AND GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS HAS
BEEN DONE !ND ) TRUST THAT THIS WEEK WILL BE THE GREATEST OF ALL AND
ITkS THE LAST THE LONGEST SERVICE )kVE EVER HELD ANY TIME OF ANY KIND
OF MEETING
%
.OW IN THE TH CHAPTER OF THE "OOK OF (EBREWS WE READ
THESE WORDS BEGINNING WITH THE TH VERSE )kM SO HAPPY TODAY TO
KNOW THAT MY MINISTER BROTHERS CAN SET HERE ON THE PLATFORM 7HILE
YOU ALL ARE LOOKING FOR THE 3CRIPTURE 7HEN ) ASK THEM TO LEAVE
THE PLATFORM WHEN THEY GO AT NIGHT IT ISNkT BECAUSE ) DONkT WANT
MY BRETHREN AROUND ME BUT REMEMBER THEYkRE HUMAN AND )?)kM
CONSCIOUS OF SOMEBODY AROUND ME 9OU SEE !ND THEY WOULD SET
DOWN THERE AND PRAY FOR ME !ND THEYkRE GOOD BROTHERS AND ) PUT
MY ENDORSEMENT UPON ANY OF THEIR MINISTRIES !ND THEYkRE GOOD
'OD SAVED BROTHERS BUT WHAT IT IS IF THEREkS SOMEBODY>6IBRATIONS
COMING FROM HERE AND FROM HERE AND FROM HERE>9OU SEE IF ) CAN
KEEP THE PEOPLE AWAY JUST SO ) CAN SINGLE MEN OUT ONE BY ONE AND
TALK TO THEM>
%
!ND NOW ) WISH TO READ NOW OUT OF THE 7ORD BEGINNING WITH
THE TH VERSE AND TH VERSE INCLUSIVE
7E HAVE AN ALTAR WHEREOF THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO EAT WHICH
SERVE THE TABERNACLE
&OR THE BODIES OF THOSE BEASTS WHOSE BLOOD IS BROUGHT INTO
THE SANCTUARY BY THE HIGH PRIEST FOR SIN ARE BURNED WITHOUT THE
CAMP
7HEREFORE *ESUS ALSO THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY THE PEOPLE WITH
HIS OWN BLOOD SUFFERED WITHOUT THE GATE
,ET US GO FORTH UNTO HIM WITHOUT THE CAMP BEARING HIS
REPROACH
&OR HERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY BUT WE SEEK ONE TO COME
) WISH TO MAKE THAT MY TEXT FOR MY LIFEkS STORY THIS AFTERNOON
(ERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY BUT WE SEEK ONE TO COME #AN WE
PRAY
%
/UR HEAVENLY &ATHER OH )kM SO HAPPY TODAY TO BE HERE AT
#LEVELAND THIS GREAT CITY ONE OF THE MAJOR CITIES OF OUR BELOVED
NATION AND TO BE HERE TO GIVE A TESTIMONY OF 4HY 3ON *ESUS 7HO
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
-9 ,)&% 34/29
HAS DIED TO REDEEM THIS LOST RACES OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD
!ND NOW AS 9OUkVE GATHERED US HERE TOGETHER THIS AFTERNOON TO POUR
OUT OF 9OUR 3PIRIT UPON US ) BELIEVE
-AY EVERY MAN WOMAN BOY OR GIRL FROM EVERY CHURCH
EVERY CREED DENOMINATION RACE COLOR FORGET ALL ABOUT THE PAST NOW
,ETkS LOOK TO THE FUTURE ,ETkS LOOK TO THAT CONTINUING CITY THAT IS TO
COME #LEVELAND IS HOME TO MANY THOUSANDS YES MILLIONS OVER A
MILLION PEOPLE HERE 'OD WE PRAY THAT MEN AND WOMEN WILL NEVER BE
SATISFIED UNTIL THEYkVE MET PEACE WITH 9OU SO THAT WE CAN GO TO THAT
CONTINUING CITY
,OOKING UPON THE GIANT SKYSCRAPER IN THE CITY LOOKING UPON
THE FINE BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES BUT THEREkLL BE A TIME WHEN THERE
WONkT BE ONE STONE LEFT UPON ANOTHER 7E BELIEVE THAT THESE CITIES IN
THIS GREAT MAJOR CONFLICT THATkS COMING WILL BE ROCKED WITH ATOMIC
POWERS AND MILLIONS WILL DIE IN HOURS BLOWED TO BITS EVEN THE EARTH
SHOOK FROM ITS ORBIT GOING INTO THE SUN 'REAT HEAT SHALL SCORCH MEN
AS THE 3CRIPTURE SAYS IN THE BOOK OF THE 2EVELATION
.OW HELP US 'OD TO GET OUR MIND ON 9OU SETTLE DOWN 4O
GO INTO THIS BLOODY TRAIL ) REVIEW IT ,ORD THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE
9OU HELP ME AS ) START BACK FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN 9OU PUT 9OUR
HAND ON 9OUR POOR HUMBLE SERVANT !ND MAY ALL MY MISTAKES TODAY
MAY OTHERS AND YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS WHOkS COMING ON MAY THEY
BE STEPPING STONES TO BRING THEM TO 4HEE -AY THEY PROFIT FROM MY
ERRORS OF SUFFERING THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW 9OU IN THE POWER OF 9OUR
RESURRECTION &OR WE ASK IT IN THE .AME OF 4HY BELOVED #HILD *ESUS
!MEN
%
.OW THOSE OUTSIDE CAN YOU HEAR ALL RIGHT OUT THERE OUTSIDE
7ELL )kM SORRY YOU HAVE TO SET THERE IN THAT SUN )TkS AWFUL BAD BUT
WE JUST HAVENkT LOOK LIKE THE ROOM RIGHT HERE
.OW EVERY ONE OF US ARE MINDED AT?AT THIS TIME WHEN ANYONE
GOES TO TALKING ABOUT A HOME IT?IT REMINDS US OF?OF SOME SIMILAR
EXPERIENCE THAT WEkVE ALL>
(OW MANY STRANGERS HERE THATkS AWAY FROM HOME LETkS SEE
YOUR HAND -Y THEREkS MANY OF YOU !LL RIGHT &RANKLY ALL OF US ARE
PILGRIMS AND STRANGERS OF THIS EARTH 7EkRE SEEKING A CITY TO COME
WHOSE "UILDER AND -AKER IS 'OD !BRAHAM LEFT THE LAND OF #HALDEE
AND THE CITY OF 5R GOING OUT SOJOURNING PROFESSING TO BE A PILGRIM
AND STRANGER FOR HE WAS SEEKING A CITY WHOSE "UILDER AND -AKER
WAS 'OD )NSPIRATION SOMETHING TELLING HIM THAT THERE WAS A CITY
SOMEWHERE AND !BRAHAM WENT TO FIND IT
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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!ND *OHN ON THE ISLE OF 0ATMOS SAW OUR FUTURE HOME COMING
DOWN FROM 'OD OUT OF HEAVEN WHERE WEkRE GOING SOMEDAY 4HE
GREAT INSPIRATION OF 'OD TELLS US THAT THE HOME IS JUST BEYOND THE
GLOOM WHERE WE ALL GO
%
,ETkS TAKE A LITTLE TRIP WILL YOU ) JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU JUST
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART ,ETkS TAKE JUST A LITTLE TRIP )kM JUST
GOING TO LET MYSELF FORGET ABOUT EVEN BEING A MINISTER JUST TALK TO
YOU ,ETkS GO DOWN HOME JUST FOR A WHILE %VERYBODY LIKES TO DO
THAT 7OULDNkT YOU LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE OLD TRAIL AGAIN> >OR
STAND HERE RATHER AND KINDA BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT IT ) CAN JUST SEE
EVERY LITTLE PATH WHEN ) WAS A LITTLE BOY
-ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THOSE EXPERIENCES LITTLE GIRLS>4HINK
OF THEM MOST OF THOSE LITTLE GIRLS>4HAT OLD MOTHER USED TO HOLD
HER APRON STRINGS DONE GONE TO BE WITH *ESUS 4HEM LITTLE GIRLS THAT
YOU PLAYED WITH AND BORROWED THE PENCILS IN SCHOOL FROM EACH OTHER
MANY OF THEMkS DONE CROSSED THE BORDER
4HE OLD DAD AND MOTHER AND SO FORTH THAT USED TO GET YOU
READY GO TO SCHOOL GONE (ERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY BUT WEkRE
SEEKING ONE TO COME
%
7HEN ) WAS BORNED ) WEIGHED FIVE POUNDS LITTLE BITTY BOY
!ND ) HAVENkT GROWED VERY MUCH SINCE "UT THEN MY MOTHER SHE
CARRIED ME AROUND ON A PILLOW ) WAS BORNED IN A LITTLE LOG CABIN WAY
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF +ENTUCKY #UMBERLAND #OUNTY NEAR A LITTLE
CREEK CALLED 2ENOX 4HEREkS ONLY ONE WAY YOU GET THROUGH THERE
THATkS YOU GO THROUGH THE CREEK 4HATkS THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS BY THE
CREEK )TkS A LITTLE ISOLATED PLACE WAY DOWN NEAR THE 4ENNESSEE LINE ON
THE #UMBERLAND 2IVER
-Y FATHER WAS A LOGGER -Y MOTHER HER FATHER WAS A SCHOOL
TEACHER AND THE PRINCIPAL OF THE RURAL SCHOOLS $IDNkT GET TO GO TO
SCHOOL VERY MUCH IN +ENTUCKY YOU KNOW THE CREEKS COULD GET UP AND
YOU COULDNkT GO )N THE SUMMERTIME THEY HAD TO TAKE A GOOSENECK
HOE AND CHOP OUT THE CORN TOBACCO AND STUFF THAT THEY RAISED IN THE
HILLS MAKE A LIVING
) WAS DOWN STANDING BY THE LITTLE OLD CABIN NOT LONG AGO AND
TOOK A PICTURE OF IT ) THINK IT APPEARED IN MY BOOK A LITTLE OLD TWO
ROOM CABIN 4HE PORCH>4HE END OF THE KITCHEN HAS FALLEN DOWN
) LOOKED AT IT ) COULD IMAGINE SEEING MY MOTHER THERE -Y DAD WAS
JUST A YOUNG MAN MOTHER ONLY FIFTEEN YEARS OLD WHEN ) WAS BORN
! LITTLE MOUNTAIN CHILDREN>!ND MY DAD WORKED HARD ALL OF HIS
LIFE (E DIED YOUNG FIFTY
TWO )kM THANKFUL THAT MOTHERkS STILL LIVING
TODAY IS CAN BE HERE WITH ME
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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%
!LL MY LIFE ) GUESS ) WAS A MISUNDERSTOOD PERSON NO ONE
UNDERSTOOD ME 7HEN ) WAS A LITTLE BOY ) CAN>*UST AS ) CAN BARELY
REMEMBER>-Y MOTHER KNOWS BEHIND THAT HOW THE !NGEL OF THE
,ORD CAME TO THE ROOM !ND )?) DO NOT KNOW>) KNOW THIS )
MEAN THAT IT WAS NOT GOODNESS OF MY FATHER AND MOTHER THEY WERE
BOTH SINNERS !ND IT WAS NO MERITS OF MY OWN IT WAS THE MERITS OF
*ESUS #HRIST
/UR FAMILY>,ATER ON WE>0OOR OH MY )kM JUST ALMOST
ASHAMED TO TELL YOU THAT )?HOW POOR THAT WE HAD TO LIVE
%
5PSETTING>) WAS MISUNDERSTOOD SO MUCH TILL WHEN )kD BE
TALKING ON THE STREET TO SOMEONE AND SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD COME UP
WELL THEYkD WALK AWAY AND LEAVE ME STAND !ND ) LOVE PEOPLE BUT
NO ONE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME ) WAS WHAT THEY CALLED THE BLACK
SHEEP )kD GO DOWNTOWN WHEN ) WAS A LITTLE BOY>3CHOOL THEY HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH ME ) WOULDNkT SMOKE AND THINGS WITH THE REST OF
THEM SO THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME 7HEN ) WAS A>BECOME
AGED TO GO OUT WITH GIRLS SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD WHY
BECAUSE ) DIDNkT GO TO DANCES AND PARTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT ) WAS
A WALLFLOWER 3O THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME
7HEN ) BECOME A MINISTER IN THE -ISSIONARY "APTIST #HURCH
) WAS A FANATIC 3O 'OD FINALLY GOT ME TO THE PLACE WHERE (E WAS
BRINGING ME TO 9OU SEE TO THE PEOPLE OF (IS CALL
%
!ND ) WAS SETTING NOT LONG AGO ON THE PORCH )kD JUST COME
IN FROM A MEETING ) WAS SO TIRED ) COULDNkT HARDLY GO -Y ) WAS SO
TIRED ) JUST GOT MOST OF THE CROWD AWAY FROM THE HOUSE ) SET DOWN
ON THE PORCH AND MY POOR OLD WIFE SHE WAS JUST THIRTY YEARS OLD BUT
TURNING GRAY ) PUT MY ARM AROUND HER AND SET OUT ON PORCH AND WE
WAS ROCKING A LITTLE BIT 3HE SAID l!RE YOU TIRED HONEY m
!ND ) SAID l3O TIRED ) CAN HARDLY STAND UPm *UST THEN A CAR
DROVE UP )T WAS MY PIANO PLAYER FROM OVER AT THE 4ABERNACLE 3HE
SEEN ME SETTING THERE AND SHE GOT>3HE RUN UP TO THE PORCH AND
JUST STARTED CRYING LAID SOMETHING IN MY LAP AND RUN AWAY 3HE
SAID l)?) WONkT TAKE YOUR TIME 9OU?YOU REST WHILE YOU GOT THIS
MINUTE ) WONkT>m !ND SHE RUN AWAY !ND ) PICKED IT UP ) LOOKED
AT IT 4HERE WAS A LITTLE PICTURE ON THERE ) LOOKED UP ) SEEN SOME BIG
OLD SAND CRANES 7E HAVE THEM IN )NDIANA ) DONkT KNOW WHETHER
YOU HAVE THEM HERE OR NOT 4HEY HAD BEEN OUT IN THE PONDS ALL DAY
FEEDING 4HE SUN WAS GOING DOWN IN THE WEST ) LOOKED OVER HERE AND
HAD THAT POEM
3UNSET AND EVENING STAR
!ND ONE CLEAR CALL FOR ME
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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-AY THERE BE NO MOURNING AT THE BAR
7HEN ) PUT OUT TO SEA
%
9OUkVE HEARD IT )T HAD A PICTURE OF A SHIP COMING IN A WINDOW
OPEN THE WATER THE SUN GOING DOWN THE STAR COMING OUT .OW )
LOOKED THERE AND ) SAID l(ONEY THINK OF IT ! FEW YEARS AGO )kD GO
DOWN ON THE STREET BE TALKING TO SOMEBODY 7HY SOMEBODY ELSE
WOULD COME UP TO TALK TO THEM WHY THEYkD GO AWAYm !ND ) SAID
l.OW ) HAVE TO ALMOST HIDE OUT SOMEWHERE TO THE WOODS TO GET
OUT ) CAN STOP ON AN AIRPLANE SOMEWHERE AND THEY KNOW YOUkRE
COMING THROUGH THEYkLL HAVE SICK PEOPLE LAYING RIGHT ON THE RAMPS
TO BE PRAYED FORm ) SAID l4HINK OF IT NOWm ) SAID l7HAT DID IT -Y
EDUCATION ) HAVE NONE -Y PERSONALITY ) HAVE NONE 7HAT DID IT
4HE "LOOD OF *ESUS #HRIST THE 3ON OF 'OD 7HO REDEEMED ME (E
WAS THE /NE 7HO GAVE ME FRIENDS
%
) LOOKED ) SEEN THOSE LITTLE SAND CRANES GOING DOWN SQUAWKING
!ND ) LOOKED AT TWO OR THREE OF THEM FLYING ) SAID l,OOK DARLING
THEY HAVE BEEN>'OD HAS PROVIDED FOR THEM ALL DAY LONG 4HEYkVE
EATEN CRAWFISH AND MINNOWS AND SO FORTH OUT IN THE PONDS AND
ITkS COMING NIGHT NOW THEYkRE GATHERING DOWN ON THE /HIO &ALLS
THERE WHERE ALL THE CRANES COME AND GATHER AT NIGHT !ND THEY SET
THERE AND CHATTER TOGETHER LIKE THEY WERE ON A PICNIC JUST HAVING A
GOOD> >!ND SLEEP TOGETHER THROUGH THE NIGHT 'OD PROVIDES FOR
THEMm
%
*UST THEN TWO OF MY FAVORITE BIRDS>9OU MIGHT KNOW WHAT
THEY WERE ROBINS /H HOW ) LOVE A ROBIN %VER SINCE ) HEARD THAT
STORY LITTLE FICTION STORY WHEN *ESUS WAS DYING AT THE CROSS>,ISTEN
LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS DONkT NEVER SHOOT MY LITTLE ROBIN ,EAVE HIM
ALONE (EkS A FINE LITTLE BIRD !ND ) THINK THE LITTLE FICTION STORY AND
THE SONG YOU KNOW OF HOW THAT WHEN *ESUS WAS DYING NO ONE
WOULD COME TO (IM !ND A LITTLE BROWN BIRD FLEW INTO THE CROSS TO
TRY TO SAVE (IM TO PULL THE NAILS FROM (IS HANDS (E GOT HIS LITTLE
BREAST ALL RED WITH BLOOD AND HE FLEW AWAY !ND FROM THEN HE HAD A
RED BREAST )?) THINK OF IT AND ) THINK l'OD LET ME SHIELD MY BREAST
WITH 9OUR "LOOD TOO THERE WHEN ) COME BEFORE 9OUm
!ND THATkS JUST THE LITTLE THING THAT ) LIKE ROBINS AND>!ND
TWO OF THEM FLEW UP IN THE TREE AND WENT TO THEIR NEST THEIR LITTLE
ONES l#HURRRm A LITTLE ) SAID l,OOK 'OD HAS FED THEM ALL DAY LONG
4HEYkRE TIRED AND WEARY NOW 4HEYkVE COME INTO THEIR NEST TO THEIR
LITTLE ONES TO GATHER IN FOR THE NIGHT .OW / 'OD SOMEDAY WHEN
LIFE IS ALL OVER AND )kVE DONE THE BEST THAT ) CAN DO WONkT 9OU LET ME
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
-9 ,)&% 34/29
GATHER IN WITH THE PEOPLE ) PREACHED TO m !S SURE AS 'OD HAS A PLACE
FOR THE BIRDS TO GATHER (E HAS A PLACE FOR US TO GATHER 3OMEDAY WEkLL
GATHER TOGETHER AT THE SETTING OF THE SUN WEkRE GOING TO GATHER
%
7ELL ) REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN A LITTLE BOY ABOUT>4HERE
WAS ABOUT FOUR OF US IN FAMILY )kM>-Y MOTHERkS THE MOTHER OF
TEN CHILDREN NINE BOYS AND A GIRL ) WAS THE OLDEST OF THE FAMILY
4HEN THEY COME ABOUT A YEAR AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO A LITTLE GIRL !ND NOW SHEkS MARRIED HAS A CHILD
"UT ) CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE WAS JUST THREE OR FOUR IN A
GROUP AND WE USED TO LIVE IN A LITTLE OLD PLACE AND THEY LEFT ANOTHER
LUXURIOUS PLACE )kM SPEAKING OF A LITTLE TWO ROOM CABIN SLATS OF
OLD CLAPBOARD SHINGLES YOU KNOW LITTLE OLD SIDE DOWN LIKE THAT
!ND WHERE WEkD ALL HAD GATHERED AROUND OUT THERE AND?AND LITTLE
OLD>"EFORE THE?THE DOOR ) CAN JUST REMEMBER IT ALL THE GRASS
WAS WALLOWED DOWN WHERE THESE BUNCH OF LITTLE "RANHAMS WALLOWED
OUT THERE LIKE A BUNCH OF LITTLE OPOSSUMS AROUND A DEN ,ITTLE OLD
BOYS>
%
!ND WE HAD A TABLE AND DIDNkT HAVE VERY MUCH FURNITURE IN THE
HOUSE ) CAN REMEMBER TWO OLD BEDS THE OLD GREAT BIG HIGH POST BEDS
AND OLD WALNUT ) BELIEVE THEY WERE 7E HAD STRAW MATTRESSES $ID
YOU EVER SLEEP ON A STRAW TICK 9ES YOU KNOW WHAT )kM TA>/H
)kM NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY BOY AM ) 3O AN OLD STRAW TICK>!ND
THEY HAD AN OLD WASHSTAND MOTHER HAD RIGHT BETWEEN THEM !ND IT
HAD MARBLE IN THE MIDDLE HERE AND TWO LITTLE THINGS ON THE SIDE LITTLE
DRAWERS YOU PULL OUT ) REMEMBER THAT !ND OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE
WE HAD AN OLD TRUNK THAT HAD THOSE LITTLE HOLES BEAT IN IT YOU KNOW )T
WAS THEM LITTLE TICK
TACK OR EVER WHAT YOU CALL IT ON THE?ON THE?THE
METAL !ND MAMAkS SAFE OUT IN THE KITCHEN HAD THE SAME KIND OF
STUFF ON !ND PAPA GIVE US A?A?A BENCH THAT WE SET BEHIND THE TABLE
TO EAT
%
!ND LOOK ) NEVER WILL FORGET $ID YOU EVER EAT ON A OLD WOODEN
BENCH IN THE KITCHEN /H MY MY !ND ) REMEMBER MOTHER USED TO
HOLLER AT DINNER TIME AND ALL THOSE LITTLE "RANHAMS WOULD WASH THEIR
FACE AND UNDER THE TABLE YOU KNOW AND UP ON THE BENCH ON THE
OTHER SIDE !ND WEkD HAVE A GREAT BIG POT DINNER -ULLIGAN STEW
MAINLY !ND EACH ONE WOULD GET HIM A PLATE FULL !ND WE BAKED OUR
BREAD MAMA BAKED IT IN A?IN A?A BREAD PAN CORN BREAD !ND SHEkD
CUT IT IN THE MIDDLE AND PUT IT AND SET ON THE TABLE AND>9OU KNOW
*ESUS BROKE BREAD AND BLESSED IT (E NEVER CUT IT SO EACH PERSON
BROKE HIS OWN PIECE OF BREAD 4HATkS +ENTUCKY BROTHER A WAY DOWN
THERE
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3O SHEkD GET THIS UNBOLTED MEAL AND MAKE THE FLOUR !ND )
USED TO SET RIGHT NEXT TO DAD WHERE THE BREAD DID AND )kD ALWAYS
MANAGE TO GET A CORNER OF THE BREAD )T WAS BROWN AND CRUSTY YOU
KNOW )kD GET THAT PART THERE AND THEN WEkD HAVE?HAVE BEAN SOUP AND
)kD>9OUkD CRUMBLE THE CORN BREAD !ND YOU KNOW THAT WOULDNkT
GO BAD RIGHT NOW 4HATkS RIGHT JUST TO THINK OF IT ITkD BE FINE
%
!ND ) REMEMBER WEkD SET THERE AND EAT )kVE EATEN MANY PLACES
SINCE THEN BUT OH BROTHER AND SISTER IF ) COULD ONLY GO BACK TO THAT
ONE MORE TIME 4HATkS RIGHT TO THOSE OLD TIMES BACK THERE AND ALL
THE LOVED ONES (OW WEkD GATHER AROUND THERE
!ND ) REMEMBER WHEN THEY MOVED FROM THERE TO ANOTHER PLACE
!ND HOW DAD USED TO TAKE US DOWN TO TOWN ON 3ATURDAY NIGHT 4HAT
WAS A BIG NIGHT 4HEY HAD A LITTLE OLD *ERSEY WAGON DROVE A LITTLE
MULE ) REMEMBER HIS NAME l#OOTSIE m THEY CALLED HIM !ND A LITTLE
OLD MULE AND DAD WOULD GO GET IT !ND )kD SEE HIM COME IN WHEN
HE>-Y DAD WAS A SMALL MAN WAS ABOUT MY SIZE !ND ) USED TO SEE
HIM WHEN HE WOULD ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES 7E HAD A GLASS TACKED ON A
TREE ON THE OUTSIDE AND A WASH BENCH 9OU REMEMBER WHEN YOU USED
TO HAVE THAT AND THE>-OM WOULD MAKE THE HAND TOWELS OUT OF
AN OLD MEAL SACK PULL THE HEMS OF THE STRINGS OUT YOU KNOW MAKE
A LITTLE FRINGE ON THEM 4HEY WAS ROUGH> >7HEN SHEkD GET MY
EARS ) THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL ROUGH !ND SHE WOULD STAND ME UP
AND?AND?AND WOULD MAKE ME WASH MYSELF AND SHEkD USE IT ROUGH
AND>
%
!ND ) REMEMBER SEEING DAD WHEN HEkD ROLL HIS SLEEVES UP AND?
AND WASH AND ) THOUGHT l/H MY MY DADDY HEkLL NEVER DIE ,OOK
AT THOSE BIG MUSCLESm (E WAS A LOGGER AND GREAT BIG STRONG ARM )
THOUGHT l/H MY LOOK AT HIM HEkLL NEVER DIE m BUT HERE WE HAVE NO
CONTINUING CITY (E LEFT A YOUNG MAN A LOT YOUNGER
LOOKING WHEN HE
DIED THAN ) AM NOW
%
!ND THEN WHEN>! LITTLE LATER ON ALONG ) REMEMBER THEN
THE OLD HOUSE WHERE IT STOOD ) LOOK AT THAT OLD HOUSE AND ) THOUGHT
l/H MY ISNkT THAT STRONG (OW WONDERFUL WHAT THE STRUCTURE OF IT
ISm ) SAID l4HAT HOUSE WILL BE THERE FOR MANY GENERATIONSm ) WAS
PASSING BY JUST BEFORE ) COME DOWN HERE AND THEY HAD A HOUSING
PROJECT BUILT THERE NOW .OTHING TO REPRESENT>
) REMEMBER THE OLD FIELD OUT THROUGH THERE WHERE WE?BROTHER
AND ) USED TAKE AND CATCH THOSE OLD MEADOWLARKS GO OUT AND TRY TO
GET THEM OUT IN THE FIELD 2UN DOWN THROUGH THERE>!ND MY MY
YOU DONkT KNOW WHAT )kD GIVE TO GET TO RUN DOWN THAT PATH AGAIN
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
-9 ,)&% 34/29
BAREFOOTED TO MEET DAD WHEN HE COME ACROSS THE FIELD PICK ONE UP
IN ONE ARM ONE THE OTHER WALK WITH US TO THE HOUSE /H MY THOSE
GOLDEN DAYS
) REMEMBER WHEN DAD STANDING OUT THERE>!ND ) THOUGHT
l/H HOW GREAT HOW THIS ALL ISm -ANY OF YOU HAVE SIMILAR
EXPERIENCES BUT THEM CITIES IS PASSING AWAY 4HOSE HOUSES ARE GONE
(ERE WHERE THE OLD SPRING WHERE ) USED TO LAY DOWN AND DRINK COLD
WATER> >)T ISNkT EVEN THERE NO MORE 7E HAVE NOTHING EARTHLY
HERE THATkLL LAST VERY LONG
%
.OTICE DOWN THERE TOWARD THE SCHOOL>/H HOW ) REMEMBER
GOING TO SCHOOL THOSE GREAT DAYS ) REMEMBER DAD AND MOTHER USED
TO GO TO TOWN ON 3ATURDAY NIGHT 5S KIDDIES WOULD WANT TO GO WITH
THEM !ND THEYkD PAY THEIR GROCERY BILL 0OP MADE A WHOLE SEVENTY
FIVE CENTS A DAY 'REAT MONEY THEN BUT HE HAD TO FEED FIVE CHILDREN
ON IT
!ND LOOK ALL OF YOU KNOW FROM MY TESTIMONY WHEN )kM
TELLING THINGS WHETHER ITkS GOOD OR BAD )kVE GOT TO BE TRUTHFUL AND
HONEST 9OUkLL KNOW IT AT THE JUDGMENT SO WHY NOT KNOW IT HERE
-Y FATHER DRINK VERY VERY HEAVY )RISH AND HE JUST>&ACT ITkS WHAT
KILLED HIM
%
.OTICE AND ) REMEMBER WHEN HE WOULD COME IN AND WEkD GO
TO TOWN ON 3ATURDAY NIGHT 7EkD ALL GET IN A LITTLE OLD *ERSEY WAGON
GO TO TOWN PAY THE GROCERY BILL 7EkD WRAP UP IN BLANKETS IF IT WAS
WINTERTIME )N THE SUMMERTIME WEkD SET ON SOME STRAW 7EkD STOP
DOWN AT THE CORNER THE OLD 3PEETkS GROCERY !ND ) REMEMBER WHEN
THEYkD PAY THEIR GROCERY BILL POP WOULD GET A SACK FULL OF CANDY FOR
A TREAT !ND HEkD BRING IT OUT 4HAT WAS FOR US BOYS "OY THEREkD BE
FIVE LITTLE PAIR OF BLUE EYES LOOKING AT THAT SACK OF CANDY AND EVERY
STICK>4HAT OLD PEPPERMINT CANDY WAS GOOD !ND EVERY STICK MUST
BE BROKE EQUALLY !ND IF THEREkD HAPPENED TO BE ONE THATkD COME UP
NOT ENOUGH STICKS EVERY EYE WOULD SEE THAT WAS BROKE JUST EXACTLY
RIGHT 9ES SIR !ND WEkD SET THERE AND DIVIDED UP THAT CANDY AND WE
WOULD EAT IT !ND ) WOULD SOMETIMES TRY TO PLAY WHEN )kD SUCK ON
MY PIECE OF CANDY AWHILE AND PUT IT IN MY POCKET AND KEEP IT !ND
-ONDAY MOM WOULD SAY l7ILLIAMm
)kD SAY l9ES MAkAMm
l#OME GET ME A BUCKET OF WATERm
)kD SAY TO MY BROTHER l(UMPY )kLL LET YOU SUCK ON THIS PIECE
OF CANDY IF YOUkLL GO GET THIS BUCKET OF WATER FOR MEm /H ) LET HIM
HAVE TWO LICKS OFF OF IT .OW -ONDAY WAS EASY DAY FOR ME IF )
COULD JUST RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF EATING THAT CANDY /LD PEPPERMINT
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4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
STICKS DO YOU REMEMBER IT )T WAS GOOD /H MY ) GUESS ) COULD GO
OUT TOMORROW AND BUY ME A BOX OF (ERSHEYkS BUT IT WOULD NEVER
TASTE LIKE THAT 4HATkS THE BEST CANDY ) EVER EAT !ND WEkD KEEP IT
OVER YOU KNOW !ND WEkD HIRE ONE ANOTHER ABOUT ;"LANK SPOT ON
TAPE?%D=>LIMITED AMOUNT OF FOOD AND STUFF WITH WHAT WE COULD
BILL !ND LISTEN> >MAMA>
% ,OOK FRIENDS IT ISNkT A SIN TO BE POOR .O IT ISNkT !ND MAYBE
NONE OF YOU HAS HAD TO GO DOWN THIS TRAIL YOU DONkT KNOW WHAT
IT IS 4HATkS THE REASON THAT ) COULD NEVER BE A RICH MAN WHEN ) SEE
POOR LITTLE CHILDREN ON THE STREET WITHOUT CLOTHES TO WEAR AND PEOPLE
WITHOUT COAL IN THE WINTERTIME (OW COULD ) SET AND HOLD MONEY IN
MY HANDS AND SUCH AS THAT GOING ON ) COULDNkT DO IT .O ONE WITH
ANY KIND OF A HEART COULD DO IT 4HATkS RIGHT ) DONkT SEE HOW RICH
PEOPLE CAN HEAP THEIRSELVES TOGETHER TREASURES LIKE THAT .O SIR 'OD
HAVE MERCY )kM SEEKING A CITY THAT IS TO COME WHOSE "UILDER AND
&OUNDER AND -AKER IS 'OD
% !ND ) REMEMBER JUST A LITTLE BRIEF CASE ) REMEMBER ONE YEAR
) WENT TO SCHOOL ALL YEAR WITHOUT A SHIRT 4HERE WAS A RICH WOMAN
MY DADDY WAS WORKING FOR SHE GIVE ME A COAT ) NEVER WILL FORGET
IT 7HEN ) WENT TO SCHOOL FIRST MAMA MADE ME A PAIR OF>SOME
CLOTHES ) THINK IT WAS OUT OF POPkS COAT WHEN HE GOT MARRIED ;"LANK
SPOT ON TAPE?%D=>HAD GREAT BIG WHITE BUTTONS ON IT ;"LANK SPOT
ON TAPE?%D= LITTLE PANTYWAIST TYPE YOU KNOW !LL THE KIDS LAUGHED
AT ME SAID ) LOOKED WIMPY ) DIDNkT CARE WHAT THEY SAID )F THAT
WAS MY DADDYkS COAT IF IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR DADDY IT WAS GOOD
ENOUGH FOR ME ) WISHED ) HAD IT TODAY
) REMEMBER THAT WINTER ) HAD NO COAT TO GO TO SCHOOL )
REMEMBER ONE DAY GOING TO SCHOOL IT GETTING UP TOWARDS -ARCH )
HAD THIS OLD COAT AND HAD IT PINNED UP LIKE THIS )T GET WET OR ANYTHING
IN SCHOOL ) HAD TO WEAR THIS LITTLE OLD COAT ) DIDNkT HAVE NOTHING ON
FOR ) COULDNkT HAVE NOTHING
) REMEMBER THE TEACHER SAID TO ME SAID l7ILLIAM WHY DONkT
YOU TAKE OFF THAT COAT m
) SAID l4EACHER )?)kM COLDm ) WASNkT ) COULDNkT TAKE IT OFF
3HE SAID l-OVE OVER THERE AT THE STOVEm 3HE FIRED THAT STOVE
UP AND SWEAT RUN DOWN MY FACE 3HE SAID l!RENkT YOU WARM YET m
) SAID l.O MAkAMm .OW ) COULDNkT TAKE IT OFF ) DIDNkT HAVE
ON NOTHING UNDER IT 3HE HAD IT PINNED UP LIKE THIS
!ND SHE SAID l7ELL YOUkVE GOT TO?A BAD COLD 9OU GOT TO GO
HOMEm !ND SHEkD SEND ME HOME
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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%
) REMEMBER THE FIRST SHIRT THAT ) GOT AFTER THAT -Y FATHERkS
SISTERkS CHILDREN COME OVER !ND ONE OF THEM WAS A GIRL ABOUT MY
AGE 4HEY STAYED TWO OR THREE DAYS AND WHEN THEY WENT BACK THE GIRL
LEFT A DRESS THERE ONE OF HER DRESSES ) GOT TO LOOKING AT THAT DRESS )T
HAD SHORT SLEEVES ) THOUGHT l) CAN MAKE A SHIRT OUT OF THATm !ND )
CUT THE?THE DRESS PART OFF AND PUT IT ON YOU KNOW AND TOOK OFF MY
COAT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD 3O>/NLY THE BUTTONS WAS IN THE BACK
OF IT "UT ) GOT INTO IT AND HAD WENT DOWN TO SCHOOL AND ALL THE KIDS
BEGIN TO LAUGH AT ME ) REMEMBER THOUGH IF IT HAD THAT LITTLE DUGEY
MA
FLOCK STUFF ON IT YOU KNOW LITTLE WHAT
DO
YOU
CALL
IT 7HAT IS IT
2ICK
RAT 4HATkS RIGHT RICK
RAT ALL OVER IT YOU KNOW UP AND DOWN
THE SIDES LIKE THAT AND?AND IT>) SAID THAT WRONG DIDNkT ) 2ICK
RACK 2ICK RACK 4HATkS RIGHT !LL RIGHT 4HEN ) HAD ALL UP AND DOWN
IT>
!ND ) SAID l9OUkRE LAUGHING AT THAT m ) SAID l,OOK YOU JUST
DONkT KNOW 4HATkS PART OF MY )NDIAN SUITm )NDIAN SUIT -Y COUSINkS
DRESS 4HEY ALL LAUGHED AT ME AND MADE SO MUCH FUN ) HAD TO GO
HOME CRYING /H MY 7HAT CROSSES> >
%
!LL RIGHT .OW THOSE OLD TIMES PASS BY ) REMEMBER GOING TO
SCHOOL 7E KIDS WE COULDNkT TAKE OUR DINNER LIKE OTHER CHILDREN
,OT OF THEM HAD?WOULD>4HEIR MOTHERS WOULD BAKE BREAD THEYkD
MAKE SANDWICHES YOU KNOW AND PUT STUFF BETWEEN THEM "UT WE
COULDNkT AFFORD THAT KIND OF BREAD ) HAD A LITTLE HALF
A
GALLON SYRUP
BUCKET !ND WEkD TAKE A LITTLE JAR IN THERE AND HAD GREENS IN ONE 4HE
OTHER ONE HAS MAYBE BEANS OR WHATEVER WE HAD LEFT OVER A PIECE OF
CORN BREAD LAYING THERE AND TWO SPOONS !ND WE?WEkRE ASHAMED TO
EAT BEFORE THE OTHER CHILDREN BROTHER AND ) !ND WEkD SLIP OUT AND GO
OVER THE HILL GO DOWN TO THE EDGE OF THE WOODS AND WEkD SET THERE
AND EAT BETWEEN US
%
,OOK THAT BROTHERkS IN GLORY TODAY /H MY HOW ) WISHED HE
WAS HERE )?) TELL YOU>.OT LONG AGO ) WAS COMING OUT OF 4EXAS
FROM A MEETING /H ) WAS SO TIRED 7IFE SAID l,ETkS RIDE UP THE
ROADm 7E WENT UP THE ROAD AND PASSED BY THE OLD SCHOOL WHERE WE
USED TO GO TO SCHOOL AT ) WOULD LOOK AT THE PLACE AND ) THOUGHT l/H
MY>m ) STOPPED ) SAID l) WANT TO DRINK FROM THAT OLD WELL OVER
THEREm !ND ) WENT OVER TO GET A DRINK OF WATER AND ) PUMPED IT AND
DRINK ) LEANED ACROSS THE FENCE LIKE THIS WAS LOOKING 4HE BABY AND
WIFE WERE PICKING SOME VIOLETS THERE IN THE YARD ) BEGIN TO THINK OF
DIFFERENT THINGS AND REMEMBER SEEING ALL OF US LITTLE OLD BOYS LINED UP
THERE TIME OF THE &IRST 7ORLD 7AR !ND THEYkD>
) WAS A LITTLE OLD BOY AND WEkD HAVE OUR HANDS LEANING ON
THEIR SHOULDERS AND ALL THEM STOCKINGS DOWN WHAT HAD STOCKINGS
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AND?AND OR SHOES AND THE TOES ALL OUT OF THEM STANDING THERE )
REMEMBER A TIME ITkS RIGHT AFTER #HRISTMAS -AMA POPPED SOME
CORN !ND WE TAKEN SOME IN A SACK TO SCHOOL 4HAT WAS A RARITY 3HE
POPPED IT TO STRING ON THE #HRISTMAS TREE WHAT SHE HAD LEFT OVER !
LITTLE OLD CEDAR TREE WEkD CUT DOWN OUT IN THE FIELD PUT THE POPCORN
AROUND IT TO GET SOME PAPERS AND MAKE THEM LOOPS !T SCHOOL PUT
THEM AROUND WE GOT AT SCHOOL
%
!ND ) REMEMBER SETTING THERE LOOKING ) REMEMBER MOTHER
GIVE US THAT SACK OF POPCORN AND WE PUT IT IN THE CLOAK ROOM WHERE
WE USED TO HAVE TO KEEP OUR?OUR COATS AND OUR LUNCHES !ND )
HAPPENED TO THINK ABOUT THAT POPCORN ) RAISED UP MY HAND 4EACHER
SAID l7HAT DO YOU WANT 7ILLIAM m
) SAID l-AY ) BE EXCUSED m
3AID l9ESm
) WENT OUT TO THE CLOAK ROOM AND REACHED DOWN IN THERE AND
GOT ME A GREAT BIG HAND OF THAT POPCORN WENT OUT AND STOOD BEHIND
THE SCHOOLHOUSE AND EAT THAT POPCORN AND COME BACK IN 7HEN
DINNER TIME COME WE WENT IN TO GET OUR LUNCH AND WENT OVER THE
HILL !ND %DWARD SAID TO ME HE SAID l3AY BROTHER SOMETHINGkS
HAPPENED TO THAT POPCORNm
l)T SURE HAS HASNkT IT m ) KNOWED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO IT )kD
EAT IT
%
3TANDING THERE LEANING OVER THE FENCE AND THINKING ABOUT THAT
) SAID l'OD )kD GIVE ALL THE WORLD AND MY LIFE NOW IF ) COULD TAKE
HIM THAT HANDFUL OF POPCORN TO WHERE HE WAS AT AND GIVE IT BACK TO
HIM (E DIED BEFORE WE EVER COME TO A PLACE WHERE WEkD HAVE VERY
MUCH JUST ENOUGH TO BARELY LIVE ON 'OD CALLED HIS PRECIOUS LIFE
) WAS OUT WEST WORKING ON A CATTLE RANCH AND HE DIED IN THE
HOSPITAL CALLING FOR ME 9OU COULD HEAR HIS SCREAMS PLUMB DOWN
THE STREET A HOLLERING l"ILL COME TO MEm /NE OF THESE DAYS WHEN
) CROSS THE PORTAL )kLL BE THERE 4HATkS RIGHT (E GOT SAVED JUST BEFORE
GOING
%
) REMEMBER LOOKING AT IT THERE AND THINKING ABOUT THAT )
THOUGHT>) LOOKED UP ON THE HILL WHERE WE USED TO SLEIGH RIDE )
REMEMBER THE TIME ? -AMA WORKED FOR THE GOVERNMENT
SEWED SHIRTS FOR THE SOLDIERS 4HEY HAD BUNDLES OF SHIRTS AND THATkS
HOW WE LIVED 4HEY HAVE TO GO DOWN OF A WEEKEND TAKE THE SHIRTS
DOWN 3HE GOT FOUR DOLLARS AND FORTY
FOUR CENTS TO MAKE A BUNDLE OF
SHIRTS 4HATkS WHAT WE LIVED ON
%
!LL RIGHT 7HEN SHE WAS GOING DOWN ) REMEMBER US LITTLE
BOYS>3HE COULDNkT BUY US A SLED !ND ALL THE BOYS HAD SLEDS OUT ON
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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THE HILL RIDING #OME A GREAT SNOW AND SLEETED AND FROZE OVER THE TOP
AND WE WOULD SLIDE DOWN THE HILLS ON OUR SLED "ROTHER AND ) DIDNkT
HAVE ANY SLED SO WE WENT DOWN TO THE OLD COUNTRY DUMP GOT A BIG
OLD DISH PAN !ND WEkD SET IN THE DISH PAN AND PUT OUR LEGS AROUND
ONE ANOTHER AND HUGGED EACH OTHER $OWN THE HILL WEkD GO 7E
MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN AS MUCH CLASS AS THE REST OF THEM BUT WE WERE
RIDING JUST THE SAME SO WE>4HAT DONE ALL RIGHT UNTIL THE BOTTOM
CAME OUT OF THE THING THEN WE COULDNkT RIDE NO MORE IN THAT 3O WE
WENT DOWN AND GOT US AN OLD LOG 7EkD GET UP ON THE HILL AND GET ON
THIS LOG AND HERE WE WOULD GO DOWN THE HILL ON THE LOG /H MY
%
) REMEMBER DURING THE TIME ) WANTED TO BE A SOLDIER )kD SEE
THOSE SOLDIERS COME UP THE 5TICA 0IKE THAT FLAG A FLYING MY THE
BANNER IS ROLLING THE DRUMS A BEATING )kD STAND THERE A LITTLE BITTY
BOY AND MY MOUTH OPEN MY HAIR HANGING DOWN IN MY FACE l/H
WHEN ) GET TO BE A MAN )kM GOING TO BE A SOLDIERm )kD SEEN WITH
THEM LEGGINGS ON AND STANDING 4HEYkD HOLLER l!TTENTION m AND
EVERYBODYkD STAND )kD SAY NOW l/H MYm !ND WHEN ) GOT OLD
ENOUGH AND THE WAR COME ON THEY WOULDNkT RECEIVE ME /NE THING
BEING A MINISTER AND ANOTHER THING ) GUESS ) JUST WASNkT MAN ENOUGH
TO GO 4HEY WOULDNkT TAKE ME ) TRIED MANY TIMES TRIED TO VOLUNTEER
AND THEY SAID l7EkLL CALL YOU IF WE NEED YOU 2EVEREND "RANHAM GO
ON BACKm
) THOUGHT l7ELL>m "UT FRIENDS ) FINALLY GOT TO PUT ON A
UNIFORM 4HATkS RIGHT
%
) REMEMBER ,LOYD &ORD A FRIEND OF MINE (E USED TO RO?
BELONG TO WHAT THEY CALL THE ,ONE 3COUTS 4HEY SOLD PAPER CALLED
l0ATHFINDERm OR SOMETHING !ND HE GOT A "OY 3COUT SUIT FOR THAT
.OW )>/H ) ADMIRED THAT BOY ) SAID TO HIM ) SAID l,LOYD WHEN
YOU WEAR THAT OUT WILL YOU GIVE IT TO ME m
(E SAID l3URE )kLL GIVE IT TO YOUm "UT MY THAT SUIT LASTED A
LONG TIME LOOKED LIKE IT )T GOT TO A PLACE TILL ) THOUGHT THE THING NEVER
WOULD WEAR OUT 3O FINALLY>(E SAID HEkD GIVE IT TO ME WHEN IT WORE
OUT 7ELL ) WENT ON FOR A WHILE !FTER WHILE ) MISSED HIM WEARING IT
) SAID l,LOYD WHAT BECOME OF THE SUITm
(E SAID l7ELL "ILLY )kLL SEE IF ) CAN FIND THEMm (E LOOKED
AROUND AND COME BACK AND SAID l7ELL "ILLY m HE SAID lTHE?THE
LAST PIECE OF IT m SAID lJUST WENT TO PIECES AND?AND MOTHER TAKEN
THE COAT AND MADE THE DOG A PALLETm !ND SAID l)TkS ALL RUINED AND
GONE NOWm 3AID l) COULDNkT FIND A PIECE OF IT ONLY JUST ONE LEGGINGm
) SAID l7ELL BRING THAT TO MEm *UST ONE LEGGING A LITTLE?HAD
A DRAWSTRING LITTLE LEGGING ABOUT LIKE THAT !ND HE BROUGHT THAT ONE
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LEGGING TO ME AND l/H MY HOW ) LIKED THAT LEGGINGm 3O ) PUT IT ON
AT HOME YOU KNOW AND ) THOUGHT l(OW DANDY )F ) CAN JUST LET THE
SCHOOL KIDS SEE ME WITH THAT LEGGING ON>m
% 3O ) WENT DOWN THAT DAY ) REMEMBER GOING TO SCHOOL !ND )
GOT UP ON THE HILL JUST RIGHT AND ) THOUGHT l.OW HOW AM ) GOING
TO DO )kVE GOT TO FIND EXCUSE TO PUT THAT LEGGING ON SO THEY WONkT
KNOW THAT THATkS THE ONLY LEGGING ) GOT 3O )?) DONkT KNOW WHAT TO
DOm !ND ) PUT IT BACK IN MY COAT AND ) WENT ON TO SCHOOL !ND
THERE %DWARD AND ) WERE RIDING DOWN THE HILL ON THIS OLD LOG AND )?)
TURNED OVER ON THE LOG AND ) ACT LIKE ) HURT MY LEG ) SAID l/H MY
l .EVER HURT ) SAID l/H MY MMM WHEW THAT WAS A STRAIN ON MY
LEGm ) SAID l)T JUST REMINDS ME )kVE GOT ONE OF MY LEGGINGS TO MY
SUIT IN HEREm ) SAID l4HATkLL HELP MY LEG A WHOLE LOTm !ND ) PUT IT
ON AND WENT INTO SCHOOL
) WAS GOING TO>9OU KNOW THE OLD BLACKBOARDS WE USED TO
HAVE AT SCHOOL ) WAS GOING TO WRITE ON THE BLACKBOARD SO ) STOOD
THIS A WAY 3EE PUT MY LEG LIKE THIS ON THE OUTSIDE?ONE THAT HAD
THE LEGGING ) TURNED SIDEWAYS LIKE THIS AND WRITE 3EE %VERYBODY
AND?AND ALL THE KIDDIES GOT TO LAUGHING AT ME ABOUT IT LIKE THAT
AND THEY>) GOT TO CRYING TEACHER MADE ME GO HOME (AD ONE
LEGGING>
% "UT BROTHER SISTER TODAY )kVE GOT A UNIFORM AND )kM IN
THE ARMY THE ARMY OF THE ,ORD FIGHTING THE FOES OF THE WICKED
DRESSED>9OU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT BUT ) KNOW ITkS THERE
) FEEL IT THE ARMOR OF 'OD THE FULL 'OSPEL IN MY HEART BAPTISM
OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT 'OD WORKING SIGNS AND WONDERS THE HELMET OF
FAITH SHIELD OF FAITH AND THE HELMET OF?OF SALVATION SHOD WITH THE
'OSPEL THE SWORD IN HAND JOINED WITH YOU RANKS OUT HERE NOW BUT
OUR ARMORkS INSIDE OF US
% ,OOKING UP THERE AND THINK OF THE THOSE OLD TIMES ) STARTED
CRYING WIFE SAID l) THOUGHT YOU COME HOME TO RESTm
) SAID l(ONEY ) THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS ) THINK j7HERE
IS 2ALPH &IELDS km 'ONE l7HEREkS 7ILMER m 'ONE l7HEREkS MY
BROTHER %DWARD m (EkS GONE l7HEREkS 2OLLIN (ALLOWAY m 'ONE
(ERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING CITY
) LOOKED BACK UP ON THE HILL TO SEE WHERE THE OLD PLACE WAS )
THOUGHT IF ) CAN JUST VISUALIZE SEEING THAT LITTLE OLD LINE LITTLE OLD?
THROUGH THAT BROOM SEDGE THERE GOING UP TO THE HOUSE>'ONE 4HE
HOUSE IS GONE $ADDYkS GONE /H MY HERE WE HAVE NO CONTINUING
CITY BUT WEkRE SEEKING ONE TO COME WHOSE "UILDER AND -AKER IS 'OD
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-Y FRIENDS ARE GONE MY BROTHERkS GONE DADDYkS GONE MY
HOMEkS GONE -OTHER AND ) ARE LEFT FOR THE STORY
%
.OTICE THEN>4HINK OF ALL THOSE THINGS AND HOW ) CHEATED
MY BROTHER OUT OF A HANDFUL OF POPCORN )T ALL COME BACK TO ME THEN
"ROTHER SISTER DONkT NEVER DO ANYTHING WRONG FOR ITkLL COME BACK TO
YOU JUST AS SURE AS YOUkRE LIVING $O RIGHT YOUkRE BOUND TO COME OUT
RIGHT
%
!ND THEN ) REMEMBER>)kLL HAVE TO HURRY jCAUSE ITkS GETTING
LATE GET RIGHT DOWN NOW ITkS>(AVE TO LEAVE IN A FEW MOMENTS )F
YOUkLL GIVE ME YOUR ATTENTION AS YOU HAVE BEEN ) THINK YOUkRE AWFULLY
NICE
/N DOWN ) WISH ) HAD TIME TO MOVE IN AND GET THE STORY OF
THE COMING OF THE GIFT AND SO FORTH BUT )kLL HAVE TO KINDLY SKIP THAT
) REMEMBER THE TIME MANY OF YOUkLL READ IT IN BOOK AND SO FORTH
HOW THE !NGEL OF THE ,ORD APPEARED TO ME DOWN TOLD ME NEVER TO
SMOKE OR TO DRINK OR DEFILE MY BODY IN ANY WAY THAT THEREkD BE A
WORK FOR ME TO DO WHEN ) GOT OLDER APPEARED TO ME IN A BUSH AND
HOW THEY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD IT -Y MOTHER COULD GIVE YOU THE
STORY STANDING HERE !ND HOW THAT EVEN MY BEST GIRLFRIEND ONE TIME
CALLED ME A BIG SISSY BECAUSE THAT ) WOULDNkT SMOKE A CIGARETTE
%
!ND ) ALWAYS HAD MY OPINION OF A CIGARETTE SMOKING WOMAN
AND ) HAVENkT CHANGED IT 4HATkS RIGHT )TkS THE LOWEST THING THAT
WOMEN EVER DONE 4HATkS RIGHT 4O SEE THEM SETTING IN A PLACE>4HE
OTHER DAY ) STARTED TO HOLLER l&IRE m RIGHT HERE IN THIS CITY ! WOMAN
SETTING THERE AND SMOKE COMING ALL OUT AROUND HER LIKE THAT AND A
POOR LITTLE BABY LAYING IN HER ARMS ) THOUGHT l9OU WANT THAT BABYkS
EYE TO BE AN ASH TRAY 'OD NEVER GIVE YOU THAT BABY FOR THAT PURPOSE
YOUR DUTY TO RAISE IT RIGHTm
!ND WOMEN LISTEN HERE TAKE MY ADVICE IF YOU DO SMOKE OH
IN *ESUSk .AME FORGET ABOUT IT .EVER DO THAT THATkS AWFUL $ONkT DO
THAT FOR ) KNOW IF THIS SPIRIT THAT BOTHERS ME>.OW DONkT GET UP
AND GO EVERYBODY WILL KNOW HOW GUILTY YOU ARE 3EE
.OW AND ) KNOW ONE THING IF THIS !NGEL OF THE ,ORD COME
FROM 'OD AS ) KNOW )T DOES YOUkLL CERTAINLY ANSWER AT THE DAY OF
JUDGMENT FOR DOING IT 7EkRE IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LATTER DAYS PEOPLE
HEADY HIGH
MINDED CANkT TELL THEM NOTHING THEY KNOW IT ALL 4HEY
WONkT STOP AND LISTEN TO HUMAN TO REASONING ,ISTEN 3TOP THOSE
THINGS ,IVE RIGHT AND LIVE BEFORE 'OD
%
) TELL YOU ONE THING YOU GET THE (OLY 3PIRIT AND THEN YOU CAN
GO AHEAD AND SMOKE AFTER YOU GET THE (OLY 3PIRIT 3OMEONE SAID TO
ME THE OTHER DAY l$ID YOU EVER BAPTIZE ANYBODY THAT SMOKED m
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
) SAID l,OOK HERE BROTHER ) HAVE A YARDSTICK AT MY CHURCH
3EE ) TEACH THE PEOPLE WHATkS THE TRUTH AND THEN WHEN THEY RECEIVE
#HRIST #HRIST TAKES CARE OF THE REST OF ITm
(EREkS THEREkS AN OLD OAK TREE OUT HERE )T HOLDS ITS LEAVES ALL THE
YEAR THROUGH ALL THE WINTER 3PRINGTIME COME THEREkS THEM OLD DEAD
LEAVES HANGING ON IT 9OU DONkT HAVE TO GO PICK THE LEAVES OFF TO MAKE
NEW ONES COME ON *UST LET THE NEW LIFE COME UP THE OLD LEAF GOES
OFF 4HATkS RIGHT ,ET THE (OLY 3PIRIT COME INTO A PERSONkS HEART THEY
CLEAN UP AND FIX UP AND A FEW THINGS RIGHT 4HATkS RIGHT *UST GET THEM
TO #HRIST THATkS ALL 4HEN ITkS 'ODkS BUSINESS FROM THEN ON
%
.OW ) NEVER TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND WHAT THEY
CANkT DO AND WHAT>4HATkS UP BETWEEN THEM AND 'OD BUT )
KNOW THAT ONE OF THE LOWEST THINGS THAT ) EVER SEE WOMEN DO IS
SMOKING )>)F ) HAVE TO SEE THEM SET THERE AND ACT LIKE THAT ITkS JUST
SOMETHING IN ME ) WISHED ) DIDNkT FEEL THAT WAY BUT ITkS SOMETHING
IN ME MAKES ME FEEL THAT WAY !ND )>)TkS NOT ME ITkS (IM !ND )
KNOW BY THAT WHAT ITkLL BE AT THE JUDGMENT SO ESCAPE THAT 9OU DONkT
HAVE TO DO IT 'ET AWAY FROM IT 3TAY AWAY FROM IT 9OU CANkT COME
IN THIS PRAYER LINE WITHOUT IT BEING CALLED OUT ON YOU THATkS ONE THING
SURE (EkLL CALL IT EVERY TIME
%
!ND NOTICE THIS ONE THING NOW ,ATER ON DOWN THROUGH LIFE )?)
HAD GIRLFRIENDS LIKE ALL BOYS !ND ) REMEMBER ) WAS A LITTLE SKEPTIC OF
GIRLS ) SEEN THE WAY WOMEN ACT !ND FRANKLY ) NEVER DID HAVE VERY
MUCH USE FOR WOMEN ) DONkT MEAN YOU SISTERS NOW BUT )>*UST TO
SEE HOW UNTRUE THEY WERE SOME OF THEM>) WAS AROUND WATCHED
MY FATHER DRINKING AND HUNG AROUND THOSE PLACES AND MAYBE )kD BE
AROUND AND )kD SEE HOW WOMEN COME OUT AND LIVING UNTRUE !ND A
LOT OF THEM WOMENkS DONE GONE ON TO MEET THE JUDGMENT NOW AND
WILL HAVE TO STAND THERE IN THAT DAY
!ND ) SAID )kD NEVER GET MARRIED NEVER WANT NOTHING TO DO
WITH ONE )kLL BE A TRAPPER AND A HUNTER ALL MY LIFE AND )kLL NEVER HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GIRLS 3O WHEN ) GOT TO BE ABOUT>7HEN )
WAS EVEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD )kD PASS DOWN THE STREET )kD
SEE A GIRL ON ONE SIDE AND ) THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING SAY SOMETHING )kD
CROSS OVER AND GO OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE BECAUSE ) JUST DIDNkT WANT
NOTHING TO DO 4HATkS ALL DIDNkT WANT HOOKED UP?CAUGHT UP WITH IT
OR ANYTHING ) WANTED TO KEEP AWAY FROM IT !ND SO ) WENT AHEAD
"UT FINALLY ) FOUND A GIRL THAT WAS A REAL GIRL 3HE WAS A #HRISTIAN 3HE
AFTERWARDS BECOME MY WIFE
%
) GUESS YOU WONDER HOW ) EVER GOT MARRIED BEING SO BASHFUL
) TELL YOU HOW THAT HAPPENED JUST QUICKLY AS ) CAN ) MET HER 3HE
WAS A?A PRETTY GIRL BUT SHE WAS SUCH A LADY THE WAY SHE CARRIED
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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HERSELF !ND )kM SO GLAD THAT HER LITTLE BOY HEARING THIS AFTERNOON
HEkS HEARING THIS AND ) CAN SAY HIS MOTHER WAS A GENUINE LADY 9ES
SIR
!ND ) MET HER SHE WAS A MEMBER OF A CHURCH UP THERE !ND
SHE ASKED ME TO GO TO CHURCH WITH HER AND ) DID !ND ) KEPT GOING
WITH HER A LONG TIME AND )?) THOUGHT SHE WAS PRETTY 3HE WAS A
REAL GIRL SO )>"UT THE ONLY THING WAS )kD BEEN GOING WITH HER FOR
ABOUT A YEAR AND SOMETHING AND ) KNEW A GIRL LIKE THAT ) COULDNkT
TAKE UP OF HER TIME IF ) WASNkT GOING TO GET MARRIED SO )kD HAVE TO
LET SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WANTED TO GET MARRIED HAVE HER AND THAT WAS
GOING TO BE AN AWFUL SPOT TO PULL AWAY FOR ME
%
3O YOU KNOW HOW YOU THINK THEY ALL LOOK YOU KNOW WITH TEETH
LIKE PEARL AND EYES LIKE A DOVE YOU KNOW AND ON LIKE THAT !LL OF YOU
GET THEM>
$ONkT YOU THINK THAT OF YOUR WIFE YOU KNOW 9OU OUGHT TO
CONTINUE THINKING THAT OF HER TOO 4HATkS RIGHT 4HATkS RIGHT +EEP
THAT THOUGHT IN MIND SHEkS JUST AS SWEET>7AIT TILL SHEkS MADE
IMMORTAL ON THE OTHER SIDE THEN LOOK AT HER 3HE WONkT NEED ANY
WHAT DO YOU CALL THEM MANICURE STUFF YOU PUT ON YOUR FACE HERE
TO MAKE HER LOOK RIGHT THEN 'OD WILL HAVE IT>
%
) BELIEVE THEY WERE>) CANkT BELIEVE SCIENTISTS THAT WOMEN
WHEN THEY WAS A UGLY LOOKING THING AND WHATEVER THEY WAS AND MEN
WITH HAIR OF OUT HIS NOSE LIKE THAT AND LOOK LIKE A PREHISTORIC ANIMAL
) BELIEVE THAT WHEN 'OD WOKE !DAM UP TO LOOK AT %VE SHE WAS THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL THING THAT EYES HAS EVER LOOKED AT 4HATkS RIGHT )T
GOES TO SHOW THAT MAN EVEN THIS DAY THE DESIRE IN MEN CRAVES LOOK
AT A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 7HY "ECAUSE THAT?THAT STRAIN COMES DOWN
THROUGH THAT TIME 3EE LIKE THAT TO KNOW THAT THAT THAT WAS GIVEN
PLUMB FROM GARDEN OF %DEN
!ND ) CAN SEE HER SETTING THERE HER LOVELY HAIR HANGING DOWN
AROUND HER HIPS !DAM LOOKED AT HER IT WAS THE FLESH OF HIS FLESH
AND BONE OF HIS BONE ) CAN SEE HIM TAKE HER BY THE ARM AND WALK
DOWN THROUGH %DEN OH MY $ONkT WORRY MOTHER ITkLL BE THAT WAY
SOMEDAY AGAIN 4HATkS RIGHT 4HEREkLL BE NO OLD THERE AND THEREkLL BE
NO BABIES THEYkLL ALL BE ABOUT ONE AGE MARCHING ON
%
.OTICE THEN WHAT HAPPENED ) THOUGHT l7ELL NOW )kVE GOT TO
ASK HER AND ) JUST HAVENkT GOT THE HEART TO ASK HER ) DONkT KNOW WHY
)kVE GOT TO LET HER GO IF SHE WONkT MARRY ME
.OW HER FATHER WAS MAKING ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED AND SOMETHING
DOLLARS A MONTH AND ) WAS MAKING TWENTY CENTS A HOUR DIGGING
DITCHES -Y>) HAD AN OLD CRIPPLED UP &ORD WAS IN AWFUL CONDITION
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
!ND THEN ) HAD A>4HATkS ABOUT ALL ) HAD ) DIDNkT EVEN HAVE A SUIT
) HAD A TROUSERS OF ONE KIND AND A COAT OF ANOTHER "UT SHE LOVED ME
) KNOW AND ) KNOW ) LOVED HER
!ND )kD GO TO CHURCH WITH HER AND SHE WAS VERY SWEET GIRL
3HE WAS JUST PEACEFUL AND NICE 4HEN ) THOUGHT l.OW )kVE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT !ND WHAT AM ) GOING TO DO m !ND ) DIDNkT HAVE
NERVE ENOUGH TO ASK HER 9OU KNOW WHAT ) DONE ) WROTE HER A LETTER
3URE DID 4HATkS AN AWFUL WAY TO BECOME MARRIED BUT 3EE ?BUT )
WOULD>
.OW IT WASNkT JUST l$EAR -ISS>m IT HAD A LITTLE YOU
KNOW> >) FIXED IT UP THE BEST THAT ) COULD AND )?) GOT IT ALL
FIXED OUT YOU KNOW !ND ) TOOK IT GOING TO WORK AND )?)?) DROPPED
IT IN THE MAIL 7ELL WHEN 7EDNESDAY NIGHT WAS COMING WE HAD A
DATE TO GO TO CHURCH AND )?) BEGIN TO THINK l7HAT IF HER MOTHER
GOT A HOLD OF THAT m /H MY
%
.OW HER FATHER WAS A GOOD HEARTED $UTCHMAN AND>"UT HER
MOTHER IS A FINE WOMAN BUT ONE OF THOSE PRISSY TYPES YOU KNOW
AND )>3HE DIDNkT LIKE ME VERY WELL 3O SHE NEVER MISTREATED ME
BUT SHE JUST DIDNkT LIKE ME 3O ) THOUGHT l/H HOW AM ) GOING TO
GET BY HER m 3O ) BEGIN TO THINK WHEN 7EDNESDAY NIGHT COME ON
l7HAT IF SHE GOT THAT LETTER AND SHEkS THE ONE THAT MEETS ME ON THE
PORCH .OW WHAT AM ) GOING TO DO m ) BEGIN TO THINK l) JUST WONkT
GOm 4HEN ) THOUGHT l7ELL IF ) DONkT )kVE LOST MY GIRLFRIEND .OW
WHAT AM ) GOING TO DO m ) HAD TO DO SOMETHING 3O ) WENT ON UP )
THOUGHT l/H )kLL TAKE A CHANCEm
%
!ND ) WENT UP THERE AND NOBODY OUT ) KNOWED BETTER THAN
TO BLOW THE HORN FOR HER TO COME OUT 3HEkD TELL ME ABOUT THAT IF )
WASNkT MAN ENOUGH TO WALK UP TO THE DOOR AND ASK FOR HER ) DIDNkT
GO OUT ) THINK THAT GIRLS THAT TAKES THAT ATTITUDE NOW WOULD BE A LOT
BETTER OFF 4HATkS RIGHT 4HATkS RIGHT
!ND SO ) WENT UP TO THE DOOR AND ) KNOCKED AT HER DOOR AND
GETTING KIND OF WARM YOU KNOW !ND ) THOUGHT l7HOkS COMING TO
THE DOORm
!ND SHE OPENED THE DOOR SHE SAID l/H HELLO "ILLYm
!ND ) SAID l(ELLO THEREm 3HE LOOKED AT ME AND ) THOUGHT
l/H MY MY MY HERE IT ISm
4HEN SHE SAID l7ONkT YOU COME IN m
) THOUGHT l/H THEY GET ME IN THERE THEN ) KNOW )kM IN FOR ITm
9OU KNOW ) SAID l)?)?)kLL JUST WAIT RIGHT HERE ON THE PORCHm
3AID l/H STEP INm 3AID l-OTHERkS HEREm
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
-9 ,)&% 34/29
!ND ) THOUGHT l) KNOW NOT TO STEP INm 3O>
3AID l-OTHERkS HERE STEP INm
) SAID l!W WELL AW )S IT ALL RIGHT IF ) WAIT RIGHT>m
!ND SHE SAID l.O STEP INm
%
3O ) STEPPED AND JUST STOOD AND JUST BARELY STEPPED IN TOO 3HE
SHUT THE DOOR AND ) WAITED A LITTLE WHILE AND ) THOUGHT l/H MYm
3HE GOT READY COME OUT !ND ) THOUGHT l7ELL MUST BE ALL RIGHTm 3O
) THOUGHT l7HATkS SHE GOING TO SAY NOW 4HIS IS MY LAST DAY ) KNOW
THAT "OY SHEkS GOING TO TELL ME TWENTY CENTS A HOUR ) COULD NEVER
MAKE HER A LIVING LIKE THAT LIVING IN A HOME THAT SHE DOES 3O ) WENT
ON WENT DOWN TO CHURCH THAT NIGHT AND ) WAS THINKING l/H MYm
2IGHT AFTER CHURCH HAD IT MADE UP>
3EE THERE IF YOU CROSS THE BRIDGES BEFORE YOU GET TO IT ) SAID
l.OW WELL SHEkLL TELL ME AFTER CHURCH j7ELL "ILLY )kM SORRY BUT
THIS IS OUR LAST NIGHT TOGETHERkm ) COULD JUST HEAR HER SAY IT /H )
JUST KNOWED SHE WAS GOING TO SAY IT 3O ) WENT OUT ) NEVER HEARD A
THING THAT $R $AVIS SAID AND HE JUST PREACHED ON ) NEVER HEARD A
THING )?) WAS WORRYING ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN ) GET
OUTSIDE OF CHURCH
%
4HAT NIGHT WHEN WE LEFT THE CHURCH AND WE STARTED WALKING
HOME YOU KNOW ) WAS WALKING DOWN AND THE MOON WAS SHINING
BRIGHT 3HE SAID l$ID YOU WORK HARD "ILLY m
) SAID l) SURE DIDm ) THOUGHT l3HE NEVER GOT THAT LETTER 3EE
3HE NEVER GOT THAT LETTER )T HUNG UP IN THE MAIL BOX OR IT HASNkT BEEN
DELIVEREDm ) GOT PRETTY BRAVE THEN !ND ) SAID l!LL RIGHTm ) BEGIN TO
LOOK OVER AT HER LOOK HER RIGHT IN THE FACE !ND ) THOUGHT SHEkD PASS
THROUGH AND THAT MOON SHINE ON HER HOW PRETTY SHE LOOKED 9OU
KNOW 3O ) THOUGHT l/H MY WHEW ) HOPE SHE DONkT GET THAT LETTER
NOW jCAUSE )>m 'OING ON LIKE THAT AND ) WAS GETTING PRETTY BRAVE
YOU KNOW
3HE SAID l"ILLYm
!ND ) SAID l9ESm
3HE SAID l) GOT YOUR LETTERm
4HOUGHT l/H>m !ND ) SAID TO THAT l5M YOU DID m
3HE SAID l5H
HUHm 3HE KEPT ON WALKING ON
!ND ) THOUGHT l7ELL WOMAN DO SOMETHING 4ELL ME TO GET
AWAY OR DO SOMETHINGm 9OU KNOW HOW WOMEN CAN KEEP YOU IN
SUSPENSE 9OU BROTHERS KNOW WHAT )kM TALKING ABOUT !ND )kM>)
JUST KEPT WALKING ON SO )>) SAID l7ELL MAYBE SHE NEVER READ ITm
) SAID l$ID YOU READ IT m
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3HE SAID l5H
HUHm 3HE KEPT WALKING ON ) THOUGHT l/H MY
SAY SOMETHING jFORE YOU GET UP THERE AT THE HOUSE HURRY UPm 3O>
!ND ) SAID l$ID YOU READ ALL OF IT m
3HE SAID l5H
HUHm
) SAID l7HATkD YOU THINK ABOUT IT m 9OU KNOW
3AID l)T WAS ALL RIGHTm
%
7ELL WE GOT MARRIED 4HERE YOU ARE SO> >7E GOT
MARRIED !ND JUST BEFORE WE GOT MARRIED ) KNOWED ) HAD TO?TO ASK
HER PARENTS FOR HER 3HE SAID l9OUkLL HAVE TO ASK MOTHER AND DADDYm
) THOUGHT l/H OH )kM IN FOR IT AGAINm ) SAID l(OW ABOUT
JUST ASKING YOUR DADDY m
3HE SAID l/H EITHER ONE OF THEMm
) SAID l4HANK YOU HONEYm ) WENT ON OUT AND REMEMBER
THAT NIGHT ) WAS GOING TO ASK HER DADDY AND ) WAS SETTING THERE SO
NERVOUS (E LIKED ME>!ND SO ) SAID>) WAS SO NERVOUS AND
SHEkD LOOK OVER AT ME LAUGHING !ND THEN SO ) GOT UP OFF THE?THE
DUOFOLD ) WALKED OVER AND SHE SAID l'OOD NIGHTm
!ND ) SAID l'OOD NIGHTm ) SAID l!
HEM -R "RUMBACH>m
(E SAID l9EAH>m
) SAID l#OULD )?)?) SPEAK TO YOU JUST A MOMENT m
(E SAID l3UREm
(E COME WALKING OUT YOU KNOW GREAT BIG FELLOW WALKED OUT
ON THE PORCH AND ) SAID l3URE IS A FINE NIGHTm
(E SAID l9ES IT IS "ILLYm
) SAID l-Y ) LIKE THIS WEATHER DONkT YOU m !ND )kM SO NERVOUS
) DIDNkT KNOW WHAT TO DO
(E SAID l9ESm 3AID l'O AHEAD "ILL YOU CAN HAVE HERm
) SAID l$O YOU MEAN IT #HARLIE m
(E SAID l9EAHm
) LIKE HIM TODAY -Y ) THOUGHT JUST THEN ) THOUGHT l/H MY
THAT WAS FINEm ) SAID l9OU TALK TO MOTHER ABOUT IT 7ILL YOU DO IT m
(E SAID l/H YES )kLL FIX THAT UP ITkS ALL RIGHTm
%
) SAID l#HARLIE LOOK m ) SAID l) CANkT MAKE HER A LIVING THE
WAY YOU DOm ) SAID l)?)?)kM ONLY MAKING TWENTY CENTS AN HOURm
) SAID l)?) CANkT MAKE HER>"UT #HARLIE ) LOVE HER WITH ALL MY
HEART AND )kLL WORK AS HARD AS ) CAN TO MAKE HER A LIVINGm
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(E PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER A FINE MAN SAID l"ILLY )kD
RATHER YOU HAVE HER THAN ANYBODY ) KNOW OFm (E SAID l9OUkLL BE
GOOD TO HER !ND AFTER ALL HAPPINESS DONkT CONSIST OF HOW MUCH THE
WORLDkS GOOD YOU OWNm 4HATkS RIGHT FRIEND
!ND ) SAID l#HARLIE WEkLL BE HAPPYm
!ND HE SAID l7ELL ) HOPE THAT YOU ARE "ILLYm !ND HE SAID
l"E GOOD TO HERm
) SAID l) WILLm
(E SAID l)kM GLAD TO KNOW THAT YOUkRE GOING TO GET MARRIEDm
%
7E WERE MARRIED WE WERE HAPPY !ND OH MY WE DIDNkT HAVE
NOTHING ) REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT TO HOUSEKEEPING WE RENTED TWO
ROOMS AND ) WENT OUT AND BOUGHT AN OLD SECOND HAND COOKING STOVE
AND ) PAID A DOLLAR AND SEVENTY
FIVE CENTS FOR IT AND PAID A DOLLAR FOR
THE GRATES TO GO IN IT 3OMEWHERE AND ) WENT TO 3EARS AND 2OEBUCKS
AND GOT ONE OF THEM TABLES BREAKFAST SETS THATkS NOT PAINTED !ND )
REMEMBER ) PAINTED A BIG SHAMROCK ON IT jCAUSE ) WAS )RISH ) PAINTED
A BIG SHAMROCK ON IT SHE JUST LAUGHED ABOUT IT
7E HAD AN OLD FOLDING BED !NYBODY KNOW WHAT A FOLDING BED
IS 3OMEBODY GIVE IT TO US AND WE HAD TWO LINOLEUM RUGS AND AN OLD
FOLDING BED 7E WENT TO HOUSEKEEPING BUT BROTHER IT WAS HOME 7E
HAD EACH OTHER AND THATkS ALL WE CARED FOR
%
) BECOME A MINISTER AND WAS PREACHING THE 'OSPEL THEN AND )
HAD A LITTLE CHURCH AND WAS PREACHING THE 'OSPEL ) DIDNkT MAKE VERY
MUCH !ND AFTER AWHILE 'OD BLESSED US IN OUR HOME AND MY LITTLE
"ILLY 0AUL WHO IS SETTING BACK THERE IN THE AUDIENCE COME ON THE
SCENE ) ASKED 'OD TO GIVE ME A LITTLE BOY AND WHEN HE WAS BORN IN
THE HOSPITAL ) FIRST HEARD HIM SCREAM IN THE ROOM DELIVERY ROOM )
SAID l,ORD ITkS A BOY AND ) NOW GIVE HIM TO YOU (IS NAME SHALL BE
CALLED "ILLY 0AULm !ND THE DOCTOR COME OUT IN A FEW MINUTES SAID
l9OU HAVE A FINE BOY IN THERE 9OU LIKE TO SEE HIM m
) SAID l9ES HIS NAME IS "ILLY 0AULm !ND SO HE COME OUT AND
HERE HE IS WITH ME TODAYm
%
7ENT ON AND WE STRUGGLED AND WORKED AND TRIED TO MAKE A
LIVING AND GO ON THE BEST WE COULD )kLL HURRY RIGHT THROUGH NOW AS
QUICK AS POSSIBLE TO THIS TEAR STRAINED PART
!ND THEN WHY WEkRE DOING FINE 7E SAVED OUR MONEY ) WAS
STILL PAYING FOR MY OLD &ORD !ND )?) REMEMBER WE GOT A TIME
WHERE WE WAS?) COULD GO UP TO $OWAGIAC -ICHIGAN /LD "ROTHER
2YAN HEkS SOMEWHERE IN HERE TODAY ) BELIEVE YOUkLL SEE HIM ALONG
HERE (EkS COMING IN (EkS AN OLD MAN ) USED TO THOUGHT HE BELONGED
TO THE (OUSE OF $AVID jCAUSE HE HAD A LONG BEARD AND HAIR ) WENT
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TO SEE HIM AT -ICHIGAN TO FISH A LITTLE WHILE 7EkD SAVED OUR MONEY
AND SHE WANTED TO STAY HOME jCAUSE THEY HAD A?A WORKING GROUP IN
THE CHURCH AND SHE COULDNkT LEAVE TO GO WITH ME !ND ) COULD DRIVE
)T WAS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED OR BETTER MILES UP THERE !ND ) WENT UP TO
SPEND TWO OR THREE DAYS FISHING
%
!ND ON MY ROAD BACK ) PASSED THROUGH -ISHAWAKA )NDIANA
!ND THERE WAS A PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THE WORST CHURCH MANNERS )
EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE THEY WERE SCREAMING AND SHOUTING 7ELL ) NEVER
SEEN ANYTHING ACT LIKE THAT 3O ) THOUGHT l) BELIEVE )kLL SEEm !ND IT
WAS A 0ENTECOSTAL GROUP OF PEOPLE 4HE MINISTER WAS NAMED 2AUGH
WHERE THEY WAS HOLDING>-IGHT SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW 2EVEREND
-R 2AUGH FROM -ISHAWAKA )NDIANA
!ND THEY HAD A 0ENTECOSTAL GROUP 7ELL ) WENT AND STOPPED
AND WENT TO THE DOOR AND POLICE WAS DIRECTING THE TRAFFIC ON THE
OUTSIDE 4HEY WAS ALL UP AND DOWN THROUGH THERE AND THOSE PEOPLE
WERE CLAPPING THEIR HANDS AND SCREAMING AND RUNNING UP AND DOWN
THE AISLES AND SHOUTING ) THOUGHT l-Y MY WHAT A GROUPm 7HY
HAVE YOU HEARD THAT LITTLE SONG l3OMETHING GOT A HOLD OF MEm
)T BEGIN TO WORK ON ME A LITTLE BIT YOU KNOW 7ELL ) THOUGHT
l7ELL>m
%
) COUNTED MY MONEY ) HAD EXACTLY TWO DOLLARS AND SEVENTY
FIVE
CENTS AND HAD TO GO HOME 3O ) COUNTED HOW MUCH GASOLINE IT WOULD
TAKE ME A TANK OF GAS TO GET HOME ) HAD SEVENTY
FIVE CENTS LEFT 3O
THEY>'OING ON THEIR MEETING WAS GOING ON THEY WAS HAVING A
CONFERENCE A NATIONAL CONFERENCE !ND ) WENT DOWN AND GOT ME
A WHOLE BIG BUNCH OF STALE ROLLS WITH SUGAR ON THEM AND WRAPPED
THEM UP AND PUT THEM UNDER MY SEAT !ND ) KNOWED ) COULD LIVE OFF
OF THAT !LTHOUGH THEY WAS HAVING DINNER THERE AND SO FORTH BUT
) HAD NO MONEY TO PUT IN SO ) DIDNkT WANT TO EAT FROM THEM WHEN
) COULDNkT PUT NOTHING IN THE OFFERING 3O ) COULDNkT FIND A PLACE TO
STAY SO ) WENT OUT IN THE COUNTRY IN AN OLD CORNFIELD AND STRETCHED
OUT MY SEAT OUT OF MY CAR AND PUT MY TROUSERS UNDER THERE TO PRESS
THEM THAT NIGHT AND LAID DOWN
%
!ND ) KNOW THAT NIGHT THEY HAD A BIG BUNCH THERE AND THEY
BEGIN TO PREACH AND THEY SAID l!LL THE PREACHERS COME TO THE
PLATFORMm 4WO OR THREE HUNDRED PREACHERS WALKED TO THE PLATFORM
!ND THEY HAD DIFFERENT ONES THEY SAID l.OW WE HAVENkT GOT TIME
FOR ALL OF YOU TO PREACH *UST STAND UP AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND WHERE
YOU ARE !ND WHEN IT COME MY TIME ) SAID l2EVEREND "RANHAM
*EFFERSONVILLE )NDIANAm 3ET DOWN l%VANGELIST m LIKE THAT *UST ON
NEXT LIKE THAT AND WENT ON THROUGH
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!ND DIRECTLY HE SAID SOME MAN WAS GOING TO PREACH A COLORED
MAN 4HEY HAD TO HAVE IT IN THE NORTH jCAUSE THEY COULDNkT HAVE IT
IN THE SOUTH ON ACCOUNT OF THE COLORED AND WHITE TOGETHER 4HEY
BROUGHT AN OLD FELLOW OUT THERE HE HAD ON ONE OF THOSE GREAT BIG
OLD PREACHER COATS YOU KNOW THEM LONG>/LD COLORED MAN A LITTLE
BIT OF A RIM OF HAIR AROUND LIKE THAT COME WALKING OUT LIKE THIS YOU
KNOW !ND )kD HEARD ALL GOOD PREACHING THAT DAY (E WALKED UP
%
&IRST TIME ) EVER SEEN A MICROPHONE !ND ) WAS WATCHING THE
PUBLIC ADDRESSING OUTFIT LITTLE BITTY THING HANGING THERE AT THE BIG
TABERNACLE -Y IT ALL LOOKED GOOD TO ME !ND ) WAS LOOKING AROUND
YOU KNOW BUT WHAT AMAZED ME IS THOSE PEOPLE SO FREE AND HAPPY
-Y ) DIDNkT WAS USED TO THAT
!ND THEN THIS OLD MAN COME OUT THERE ) THOUGHT l,OOK LIKE
THEYkD HAVE SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN PREACH INSTEAD OF THAT OLD MAN
ABOUT DEAD !ND HE COME WALKING OUT THERE LIKE THIS HE SAID l7ELL m
HE SAID l#HILDREN>m (E GOT TO TALKING YOU KNOW (E TOOK HIS
TEXT
.OW PREACHERS BEEN PREACHING ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF THE (OLY
3PIRIT AND ) WAS LISTENING CLOSE AND ALL THESE THINGS "UT HE TOOK
HIS TEXT FROM BACK OVER IN *OB l7HERE WAS YOU WHEN ) LAID THE
FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD WHEN THE MORNING STARS SANG TOGETHER
AND SONS OF 'OD SHOUTED FOR JOY m AND HE BEGIN TO PREACH ON THAT
AND HIM>4HEY PREACH THOSE THINGS DOWN HERE BUT HE WENT UP
BACK THERE WITH *OB COME DOWN THROUGH ETERNITY AND DOWN AND
COME BACK ON THE HORIZONTAL RAINBOW COMING !BOUT TIME HE GOT
PREACHING THERE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES THAT OLD STOVED UP MAN LET OUT
A YELP AND SCREAMED AND JUMPED UP IN THE AIR AND CLICKED HIS HEELS
TOGETHER THROWED HIS CHEST BACK TIPPED OFF THAT PLATFORM LIKE A LITTLE
BANTAM CHICKEN SAID l7ELL YOU AINkT EVEN GOT ROOM UP HERE FOR ME
TO PREACHm
) LOOKED AT THAT AND ) SAID l-Y THATkS WHAT ) WANT )F ITkLL
MAKE AN OLD MAN ACT LIKE THAT WHAT WOULD IT DO TO ME m )F ITkS
THAT> >7HY ) THOUGHT l4HATkS WHAT ) WANTm !ND ) SAID l)
AINkT GOING HOME TILL ) FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THISm
%
4HAT NIGHT OUT THERE ) KNELT DOWN ) SAID l/H 'OD THEM
PEOPLEkS GOT SOMETHING THAT ) WANTm ) SAID l,ET ME HAVE SOME OF
THATm !ND ) WAS>,ISTEN ) SAID l.OW GIVE ME FAVOR WITH THEM
SOMEWHERE 7HEN ) GO DOWN THERE m ) SAID l-AY )kLL JUST>-AYBE
JUST THEM THINGS GET ALL OVER ME AND )kLL FEEL THAT WAYm
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4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
3O ) WENT ON DOWN THERE 9OU KNOW THE "APTISTS DONkT ACT LIKE
THAT YOU KNOW THEY HAVE THE>9OU KNOW !ND NOW NO DISREGARDS
TO THE "APTIST CHURCH NOW AND THATkS ALL RIGHT )F THE "APTISTS
WOULDkVE STAYED BACK>
%
,ISTEN NOT LONG AGO ) WAS PREACHING IN A "APTIST CHURCH JUST AS
HARD AS ) COULD PREACH AND ALL OF THEM SETTING THERE JUST AS STARCHY )
SAID l3AY IS THIS THE "APTIST CHURCH m
0ASTOR SAID l9ES SIRm
) GOT UP PREACHING AGAIN AND ) GET A LITTLE WILD ) GUESS YOU
KNOW THAT 3O ) GOT OH PREACHING UP LIKE THAT NOBODY SAID l!MENm
) SAID l3AY IS THIS THE "APTIST CHURCH m
3AID l9ES SIRm
) SAID l,OOK YOU ALL NOT "APTIST YOUkRE JUST CHURCH JOINERS
$OWN IN +ENTUCKY WHERE ) COME FROM WHEN WE "APTISTS DOWN THERE
WHEN WE GET SAVED WEkD BE DOWN AT THE ALTAR AND BEAT ONE ANOTHER
ON THE BACK TILL WE COME THROUGH 4HATkS REAL "APTISTS BROTHERm
4HATkS RIGHT 4HATkS THE KIND OF "APTISTS WE NEED TODAY 4HATkS RIGHT
4HATkS EXACTLY RIGHT
%
!ND THEN )>"UT THESE PEOPLE>(OW THEY WERE GOING ON
AND PRAISING THE ,ORD !ND ) WENT OUT AND ) PRAYED l'OD LET ME GET
SOME OF THAT 4HATkS WHAT ) WANTm
.EXT DAY ) WENT OUT TO CHURCH ABOUT TEN OkCLOCK 4HEY JUST GOT
THROUGH BREAKFAST AND )kD HAD MY ROLLS !ND ) COME DOWN AND GOT
ME A DRINK AT A FOUNTAIN DOWN THERE IN THE CITY DROVE MY OLD &ORD
UP GOT OUT ) PUT ON A PAIR OF THEM SEERSUCKER TROUSERS THAT MORNING
AND A LITTLE OLD TEE SHIRT l.OBODY KNOWED ME NOT A SOULm ) WALKED
IN SET DOWN BY A COLORED MAN !ND ) WAS SETTING THERE YOU KNOW
AND ) THOUGHT l/H MY l !LL OF THEM WAS CLAPPING THEIR HANDS AND
SINGING AND SHOUTING AND SCREAMING ) THOUGHT l/H MY IF ) JUST
HAD GRACE ENOUGH TO DO THAT )F ) CAN JUST GET LOOSE TO DO THAT ) WANT
THATm
!ND ) WAS WATCHING !ND BYE AND BYE AFTER AWHILE A LITTLE
FELLOW COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE (IS NAME WAS +IRCH FROM
#INCINNATI AND /HIO !ND HE SAID l4HERE WAS A YOUNG MINISTER ON
THE PLATFORM LAST NIGHT BY THE NAME OF "RANHAMm 3AID l7E WANT
HIM THIS MORNING TO COME TO THE PLATFORM FOR THE MORNING MESSAGEm
3EERSUCKER TROUSERS TEE SHIRT>-Y>.OT ME
%
) WAS WAY BACK THERE ) JUST KIND OF SCOOTED DOWN IN THE SEAT
LIKE THIS 3O THEY BEGIN AND HE WENT AHEAD AND THEY SANG ANOTHER
SONG (E SAID l!NYBODY INSIDE OR OUT KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF -R
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"RANHAM &OR HEkS THE YOUNGEST PREACHER ON THE PLATFORMm (E SAID
l#OME TO THE PLATFORM m SAID lWE?YOUkRE TO BRING THE MORNING
MESSAGEm ) JUST SET REAL CLOSE NEVER SAID NOTHING
4HAT COLORED FELLOW LOOKED OVER AT ME SAID l$O YOU KNOW
HIM m
/H MY 7HAT COULD ) SAY ) SAID l9ES SIRm
(E SAID l'O GET HIMm
/H )?)?)?) COULDNkT LIE TO THE MAN 9OU SEE ) SAID l,ISTEN
FELLOW ) WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHINGm
3AID l9ES SIRm
) SAID l)?)?)kM?)kM "ROTHER "RANHAM YOU SEE m BUT ) SAID
l) CANkT GET UP THEREm ) SAID l,OOK AT THESE TROUSERS 3EE ,OOK AT
THIS TEE SHIRTm
(E SAID l4HEM PEOPLE DONkT CARE HOW YOU DRESSm
) SAID l"UT LOOK )?)?) CANkT GO UP THEREm ) SAID l9OU JUST
KEEP STILL $ONkT TELL THEM )kM HERE 3EE *UST KEEP STILLm
(E SAID l!NYBODY KNOW WHERE 2EVEREND "RANHAM IS m
4HAT COLORED MAN SAID l(ERE HE IS (ERE HE ISm 3EERSUCKER
TROUSERS TEE SHIRT MY>-Y FACE WAS RED YOU KNOW /H MY 7HAT
WAS ) GOING TO DO ) GOT A HOLD OF MY "IBLE ) SAID l,ORD ) PRAYED
LAST NIGHT FOR SOMETHING MAYBE ITkS 9OUm ) SAID l) DONkT KNOW WHAT
)kM GOING TO DO ) CANkT PREACH AROUND WHERE THEM FELLOWS AREm )
GO UP THERE !ND ) STARTED TO WALKING UP %VERYBODY LOOKING AT ME
YOU KNOW AND THEM SEERSUCKER TROUSERS !ND YOU KNOW HOW THEYkD
BE PRESSED UNDER A &ORD SEAT SO>4HIS?THIS OLD TEE SHIRT AND IT
STAINED ALL OVER YOU KNOW
%
) STARTED WALKING UP> >) WAS UP FISHING 3O )?) STARTED
WALKING UP THERE AND ) SAID l7HY WHY PEOPLE m ) SAID l)kM JUST
A LITTLE BIT>) DONkT KNOW WHAT ) AM m ) SAID l)?)?) FEEL KINDLY
FUNNY m ) SAID l)?)?)kM NOT USED TO YOUR ALLkS RELIGION m ) SAID
l!ND>m !ND ) SAID l)?)?) WANTED TO SPEAK JUST A LITTLE )kLL DO
THE BEST ) CANm !ND SO ) GOT UP OVER THERE?OVER THERE WHERE THE RICH
MAN LIFTED UP HIS EYES IN HELL -Y SOMETHING GOT A HOLD OF ME 4HE
NEXT THING ) KNOWED IT WAS ABOUT A HALF
HOUR LATER ) WAS OUT IN THE
YARD -Y WHAT A TIME WE HAD
%
(ERE COME A FELLOW UP WITH A BIG PAIR OF 4EXAS BOOTS ON A BIG
HAT SAID l)kM 2EVEREND SO
AND
SOm ) THOUGHT l7ELL ) AINkT SO BAD
DRESSED AFTER ALLm ) SAID l!RE YOU A MINISTER m
(E SAID l3UREm 3AID l) HEARD YOUR MESSAGE ) HEARD YOU
WAS A EVANGELISTm ,IKE FOR YOU TO COME DOWN IN 4EXAS AND HOLD
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ME A REVIVALm ) SAID l7ELL LOOK )kM JUST A YOUNG PREACHER ) JUST
STARTEDm ) SAID l) AINkT HAVENkT GOT INTO THIS WAY JUST RIGHT WITH YOU
ALL /H m ) SAID l) LIKE ITm
%
! FELLOW TAPPED ME ON THE SHOULDER !ND HE LOOKED AND HE HAD
ON A PAIR OF THOSE THERE KNICKER
BOCKER PANTS BLOUSED AT THE KNEES
LIKE ) USED TO WEAR WHEN ) WAS A LITTLE BOY GOLF CLOTHES (E SAID l)kM
%LDER SO
AND
SO FROM -IAMIm
) SAID l9OU A PREACHER m
(E SAID l9ES SIRm
) THOUGHT l7ELL )kM ALL RIGHT THENm
3O HE SAID l7HY HEREm 3AID l7ILL YOU COME AND HOLD A
MEETING FOR ME m
%
!ND A LADY COME UP FROM SOMEWHERE WAY UP IN THE )NDIAN
COUNTRY SAID l/H BROTHER WE NEED YOU UP THEREm
) THOUGHT l4HANK 9OU ,ORD 4HANK 9OU -AYBE THIS IS WHAT
9OUkRE GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR MEm ) GOT OVER THERE AND ) BEGIN
TO TAKE DOWN THEIR NAMES AND ADDRESS ) SAID l)kLL FIND OUT )kLL TALK IT
OVER WITH THE ,ORD WITH MY FAMILY>m
7HEN ) WENT HOME )kLL NEVER FORGET 2UNNING IN>-Y WIFE
ALWAYS MET ME WITH HER ARMS STRETCHED OUT ) CAN SEE HER YET TODAY
BLESS HER HEART 3HE COME RUNNING TO THE DOOR ) SAID l/H HONEY
) GOT SOMETHING TO TELL YOU ) MET THE BEST BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE
WORLD ) BEGIN TO TELL HER ALL ABOUT HOW THEY WAS ACTING 3HE SAID
l7ELL WHERE THEY AT m
) SAID l5P AT -ISHAWAKA )NDIANAm ) SAID l9OU THINK THEYkRE
ASHAMED OF THEIR RELIGION 4HEY JUST SCREAM AND SHOUT RUN SHAKE
ONE ANTHERkS HANDSm ) SAID l4HEY DONkT CARE 4HEYkRE JUST AS FREE
LIKE BIRDS IN THE AIRm ) SAID>
%
3HE SAID l7ERE THEY AT m
!ND ) SAID l5P IN -ISHAWAKA ! WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM UP
THEREm !ND ) WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING 2EACHED DOWN IN MY
POCKET ) SAID l4HEY HAVE GIVEN ME INVITATIONS TO COME TO THEIR
CHURCHES TO PREACHm ) SAID l9OU BELIEVE IT m
3HE SAID l)S THAT TRUE HONEY m
) SAY l9EAHm
3HE SAID l7ELL MAYBE YOU COULDNkT PREACH IN THEIR KIND OF
CHURCHm
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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) SAID l4HEY ASKED ME TO COMEm ) SAID l7ELL )kLL GOm 3O
SHE>7ELL ) SAID l7OULD YOU GO WITH ME m 'OD BLESS HER HEART
SHEkD ALWAYS GO
3HE SAID l9ES HONEY WHEREVER YOU GO )kLL GO WITH YOUm 7E
DIDNkT HAVE NO MONEY 7E WENT IN AND COUNTED OUR MONEY WHAT WE
HAD AND ) DIDNkT HAVE EVEN ENOUGH TO MAKE A PAYMENT ON MY CAR )
SAID l7ELL LOOK HONEY THE?THE?THE "IBLE SAID DONkT TAKE NOTHING
AND TAKE NO THOUGHTm ) SAID l4HE "IBLE SAID IF YOU GOT TWO COATS
GIVE ONE OF THEM TO YOUR BROTHER AND GO ON OUT AND (EkD SUPPLYm
.OW ) SAID l$O YOU THINK IF YOU AND THE BABY COULD GO ON AND
BE>m
l9ES YES WEkLL DO ITm
%
.EXT THING WE HAD TO TELL OUR PARENTS THEN !ND ) WENT AND TOLD
MY MAMA HERE /F COURSE MAMA ITkS ALL RIGHT WITH HER )kM THANKFUL
FOR A GOOD MOTHER AND SAID l3URE HONEY 'OD BLESS YOUm
4HEN WE HAD TO GO !ND THIS TIME HER FATHER AND MOTHER HAD
SEPARATED SO ) HAD TO GO TO HER MOTHER !ND WHEN ) WENT TO HER
MOTHER SHE SAID l7ILLIAM>m
/H MY ) KNEW WHAT WAS UP 3HE SAID l9OU CANNOT TAKE MY
DAUGHTERm
) SAID l,OOK A>,OOK THEMkS THE NICEST BUNCH OF PEOPLEm
3HE SAID l)kVE HEARD OF THAT BUNCH OF PEOPLE THEYkRE HOLY
ROLLERSm !ND SHE SAID l9OUkRE NOT PULLING MY GIRL OUT ACROSS THIS
WORLD 4ODAY SHEkS GOT SOMETHING TO EAT AND TOMORROW SHEkS STARVING
AMONGST THAT BUNCH OF TRASHm !ND BROTHER ) COME TO FIND OUT THIS
AND ) SAY IT FROM MY HEART l7HAT SHE CALLED TRASH IS THE CREAM OF
THE CROPm 4HATkS EXACTLY RIGHT ) SAY THAT WITH REVERENCE 4HATkS TRUE
.OW
%
3HE SAID>!ND ) SAID l7HY SHEkS MY WIFE AND SHE WANTS
YOU>m
3HE SAID l7ELL MAMA ) WANT>m 7ELL THERE IT WAS
!ND ) SAID>3HE STARTED>3HE SAID l7ELL IF SHE GOES HER
MOTHER WILL GO TO THE GRAVE BROKENHEARTEDm !ND THE WIFE STARTED
CRYING
7ELL NOW ) COULDNkT STAND THAT SO ) TOLD HER ) SAID l7ELL
WEkLL WAIT AND GO LATERm .OW THEREkS WHERE ) MADE MY MISTAKEm
.OW IF ) WOULD HAVE WENT ON THIS GIFT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION
WAY BEFORE THAT jCAUSE )kD COME AMONGST PEOPLE WHO WOULD
RECOGNIZE IT 9OU SEE "UT ) SAID l7ELL WE WONkT GOm
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
!ND BROTHER SISTER FROM RIGHT THEN MY TROUBLES START 4HE FIRST
THING YOU KNOW MY CHURCH BEGIN TO DROP OFF -Y BROTHER WAS KILLED
SUDDENLY HIS NECK BROKE IN THE STREET (E WAS RIDING IN A CAR LIKE THIS
WITH HIS ARM OUT HIS NECK WAS BROKE HIS BLOOD POURED OUT ON MY
OTHER BROTHERkS BODY ) RUN TO MEET HIM BUT IT WAS TOO FAR HE DIED
BEFORE ) COULD GET TO HIM -Y SISTER
IN
LAW DIED A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT
-Y FATHER DIED IN MY ARMS %VERYTHING BEGIN TO GO WRONG
4HEN THE j &LOOD CAME ON 9OU HEARD ABOUT IT MANY OF YOU
ON YOUR RADIOS AND THINGS 4HE /HIO 2IVER SPREAD OUT THROUGH THE
COUNTRY
%
-Y WIFE TAKEN PNEUMONIA ,ITTLE OLD $R !DAIR ) SHALL NEVER
FORGET HIM (E COME 7EkRE BUDDIES 7EkD FISH TOGETHER AND HUNT
TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING ONE OF THE BEST DOCTORS MEDICAL DOCTORS
THERE IS IN THE COUNTRY !ND HE>7E WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER (E
COME UP THERE AND LOOKED AT HER SAID l"ILLY m SAID lTHAT GIRLkS
GOT PNEUMONIAm )kD JUST TAKEN HIM HIS #HRISTMAS PRESENT (E?HE
NEVER>
'OD HAD GIVE US A LITTLE GIRL BETWEEN THAT TIME LITTLE 3HARON
2OSE ) COULDNkT CALL HER THE 2OSE OF 3HARON BUT ) COULD CALL HER
3HARON 2OSE !ND ) CALLED HER 3HARON 2OSE !ND 'OD GAVE HER TO US
AND SHE WAS A SWEET LITTLE LUMP AND WE JUST LOVED HER SO MUCH !ND
SHEkD JUST GOT TO A PLACE TO WHERE THE MOTHER WOULD SET HER IN HER
LITTLE THE lFOUR CORNERS m YOU KNOW OUT IN THE YARD AND )kD COME
UP AND )kD BLOW THE HORN ON THE CAR LIKE THAT 3HEkD RECOGNIZE SHEkD
AND LIFT HER LITTLE ARMS AND GO l'OO GOO GOO GOOm -Y HOW ) LOVED
THAT LITTLE LUMP OF HUMAN FLESH )kD HOLD HER IN MY BOSOM AND KISS
HER AND LOVE HER -Y LITTLE BOY>
) JUST LOVE LITTLE CHILDREN AND 'OD HAD GIVE THEM TO ME !ND
)kD PUT THEM BOTH ON MY BACK AND PIGGYBACK AND RIDE AROUND YOU
KNOW JUST AS HAPPY AS WE COULD BE NOTHING> >BUT JUST>3HE
HAD JUST THE TWO CHILDREN IN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS !ND THEN>
%
"UT SHE TAKEN PNEUMONIA WHEN SHE WENT TO GET THE CHILDREN A
#HRISTMAS PRESENT !ND THE DOCTOR SAID SHEkLL HAVE TO LAY RIGHT HERE
"ILLY jCAUSE SHEkS?PROBABLY WILL DIE IF?IF SHE EVER MOVES "UT HER
MOTHER COME UP AND SAID SHE WAS GOING TO MOVE HER DOWN TO HER
HOUSE !ND $R !DAIR SAID l3HEkLL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER DOCTOR jCAUSE
) WOULDNkT DO IT "ILLY m WOULDNkT PERMIT IT
3O THEY?SHE WENT AND DISMISSED HIM AND GOT ANOTHER DOCTOR
AND TAKEN HER DOWN THERE !ND THE FLOOD BROKE THROUGH AND THEN ALL
OF US WAS PUT ON THE RESCUE TO?TO WORK WITH THE FLOOD 7E RUSHED
HER OUT TO THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL WHERE THEY TEMPORARY PLACED THE
HOSPITAL 4HE DIKES WAS BREAKING THROUGH THE CITY WAS WASHING AWAY
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)kLL NEVER FORGET THOSE NIGHTS ) REMEMBER THEY CALLED ME
"OTH BABIES WAS SICK WITH PNEUMONIA AND SHE WAS LAYING SICK WITH
PNEUMONIA OUT IN THE HOSPITAL THERE WITH A FEVER A HUNDRED AND FIVE
AND BOTH BABIES SICK
!ND ) COME UP>) COME UP AND HAD MY CAR AND ) HAD A
BOAT AND ) WAS RAISED ON THE RIVER AND SAID>) OPERATED A BOAT
PRETTY WELL !ND EVERYBODY WAS JUST PULLING PEOPLE OUT OF THE FLOOD
AND PEOPLE DROWNING AND EVERYTHING !ND ) GOT MY BOAT>) WAS
WORKING ON A WALL AND SOME OF THEM COME SAID l/H THE?GET DOWN
HERE PREACHER RIGHT QUICK AND GET YOUR BOAT IN DOWN HEREm 4HE DIKE
BROKE YOU KNOW OVER ON #HESTNUT 3TREET AND THE HOUSES ARE WASHED
AWAY AND THEREkS A MOTHER ON TOP OF THE HOUSE OUT THERE WITH A
BUNCH OF LITTLE CHILDREN ABOUT ELEVEN OkCLOCK AT NIGHT
%
) RUSHED DOWN THERE REAL QUICK AND THROWED MY BOAT IN THE
WATER STARTED IT UP !ND ) HAD TO BUCK THOSE WAVES AS HIGH AS THIS
TENT ALMOST UP IN THERE WHERE THEY JUST A DASHING AGAINST THE SIDE
OF THOSE BUILDINGS LIKE THAT !ND ) HEARD A MOTHER SCREAMING )
LOOKED OVER THERE AND SHE WAS STANDING ON THE TOP PORCH OUT OVER
HER HOUSE AND THE?THE WAVES JUST SHAKING THAT HOUSE LIKE THAT WITH
FOUR OR FIVE LITTLE CHILDREN STANDING AROUND HER ) COULD SEE WHERE
THE STREET LIGHTS HADNkT WENT OUT YET DOWN THROUGH THERE !ND )
WENT UP THROUGH THE ALLEY LIKE THIS WITH THE BOAT AND IT JUST WASHING
THINGS FROM UNDER IT 7ENT DOWN THROUGH THAT WAY &INALLY CAUGHT
TO THE POST AND THROWED THE ROPE AROUND AND RUN IN THE MOTHER
HAD FAINTED !ND ) PICKED HER UP AND PULLED ALL THE CHILDREN PACKED
THEM PUT THEM IN THE BOAT AND GOT BACK
%
*UST AS ) GOT TO THE BANK ) HEARD HER SAY l/H MY BABY MY
BABY>m 7ELL ) THOUGHT SHEkD LEFT A LITTLE BABY IN THERE l7HEREkS
MY BABY m THOUGH SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE?A LITTLE ABOUT THREE
YEAR OLD CHILD SHE HAD THERE
!ND ) SAID l/H MY A LITTLE BABY LAYING IN THAT HOUSE>m
!ND ) WENT BACK AGAIN AND ) KNOWED THE POOR LITTLE THING HOW ) LOVE
CHILDREN !ND THE WAVES WERE HORRIBLE THEN ) JUST GOT TO THE HOUSE
AND THROWED THE ROPE AROUND AGAIN AND WENT IN LOOKING ALL AROUND
) COULDNkT FIND NO BABY AND JUST THEN ) HEARD THE HOUSE GIVE AWAY
!ND JUST AS IT GIVE AWAY ) RUN REAL QUICK TO THE PORCH AND GRABBED
THE?THE ROPE AT THE COLUMN WENT DOWN AND PULLED THE SLIP KNOT OUT
OF IT AND THEN THE CURRENT CAUGHT ME AND OUT TO THE RIVER ) WENT LIKE
THAT
%
!ND ) GOT OUT THERE AND ) COULDNkT GET MY OUTBOARD STARTED ON
LIKE THAT THE STRING JUST FROZE 3LEETING AND SNOWING AND ) WAS TRYING
TO GET IT STARTED )T WOULDNkT START !ND THE CURRENT CAUGHT ME AND
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THERE THE FALLS JUST BELOW ME !ND ) KNOWED WHAT WAS GOING !ND
THERE SETTING IN THAT BOAT OUT THERE ROCKING BACK AND FORTH AND THE
WAVES TWISTING LIKE THIS ME PULLING ON THAT STRING AND IT WOULDNkT
START !ND )kD PULL AGAIN IT WOULDNkT START ) THOUGHT l/H MY A HALF
A MILE FARTHER AND DOWN THROUGH THAT CHUTE )kLL GO AND THEYkLL NEVER
FIND A PIECE OF ME WHEN ) GO DOWN THROUGH THEREm ) THOUGHT l/H
'OD THE WAGES>m 4HE WAY OF A TRANSGRESSORkS HARD FRIENDS $ONkT
YOU NEVER GET THAT BUT WHAT IT IS !ND ) THOUGHT l/H 'OD>m
) BEGIN TO REMEMBER IT ) BEGIN TO REMEMBER (IM THEN THAT (E
CALLED ME TO GO AND ) DIDNkT GO AND ) REFUSED TO GO $URING THAT TIME
THOUGH WEkD WENT AHEAD AND RECEIVED THE (OLY 3PIRIT BOTH OF US
%
!ND ) WAS PULLING THE STRING IT WOULDNkT START ) GOT DOWN )
THOUGHT l4HEREkS LITTLE "ILLY 0AUL )kLL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN 4HEREkS
LITTLE 3HARON 2OSE )kLL NEVER SEE HER AGAIN 4HEREkS WIFE LAYING THERE
IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AT THE POINT OF DEATH )kLL NEVER SEE THEM WHEN
THEY BREAK THE NEWS TO HER THAT )kM GONE AND FIND MY TRUCK SETTING
THERE AND THEN IT>7ELL SOME OF THEM MIGHTkVE SEEN THE HOUSE
MOVE AWAY 7HAT WILL HAPPEN m ) SAID l'OD HAVE MERCY UPON
ME 0LEASE DEAR 'OD ) DONkT WANT TO DIE )kM SORRY THAT ) DID WHAT
) DIDm ) SAID l(ELP ME TO START>m ) PULLED THE CHAIN AND AWAY IT
STARTED #UT THROUGH AND COME WAY DOWN BY (OWARDkS 0ARK AND
COME BACK 7ENT AND GOT MY CAR REAL QUICK LEFT MY BOAT TIED UP TOP
OF THE TREE WHERE ) COULD GET BACK TO IT !ND ) COME UP AND GOT MY
CAR REAL QUICK !ND SOME OF THEM SAID l7HY THE GOVERNMENT DEPOT
WASHED AWAY AWHILE AGO m WHERE THE WIFE WAS
%
!ND ) RUN UP THROUGH THERE REAL QUICK AND ) MET A MAJOR THERE
!ND )?) STOPPED AND ) SAID l-AJOR 7HEATLEY>m ) KNEW HIM )
SAID l)S IT TRUE THAT )> m
(E SAID l9ES THE WATER BROKE THROUGHm SAID l!LL THAT
HOSPITAL BUNCH WAS TAKEN OUT THOUGHm 3AID l) THINK THAT ALL OF THEM
GOT ON A CAR A TRAIN AND THEYkVE GONE TO #HARLESTOWN )NDIANA AND
YOU CAN FIND THEM UP THEREm
) JUMPED IN MY CAR ) REMEMBER THE LAST TIME ) SEEN MY LITTLE
ASSOCIATE PASTOR (E GRABBED ME BY THE HAND HE SAID l"ROTHER
"RANHAM IF ) NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN )kLL SEE YOU IN THE MORNINGm !ND
THATkS THE LAST SALUTATION ONE ANOTHER AS WE SALUTED ONE ANOTHER (E
DIED DURING THE TIME OF THE FLOOD !ND ALL>/H HE NEVER DIED HE
WENT HOME TO BE WITH *ESUS DURING THE TIME OF THE FLOOD A LITTLE BOY
FILLED WITH THE (OLY 'HOST A LITTLE &RENCHMAN $E!RK WAS HIS NAME
%
!ND AWAY WE WENT )?) WENT OUT THERE TO TRY TO?TO GET
ACROSS AND WHEN ) GOT MY BOAT DOWN THERE AND GOT UP THERE THE
,ANCASSANGE #REEK UP THERE HAD BACKED THROUGH FOR ABOUT EIGHT
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MILES OF WATER THROUGH THERE TWISTING 4HERE WASNkT A RIVER WHERE IT
CUT AROUND !ND SOME OF THEM SAID l7ELL THAT TRAIN THAT CROSSED
WENT OVER A TRESTLE 4HE TRESTLE WASHED AWAY AND EVERY ONE OF THEM
WAS DROWNED RIGHT BY THE> >m
/H MY ) SAID l)T CANkT BE )T CANkT BE m AND ) TRIED AGAIN )
TRIED TO PIERCE IT !ND ) COULDNkT>TRY INTO THE NIGHT 4HE WATERS
TAKEN ME BACK #OME TO FIND MYSELF CUT OFF FROM EVERYBODY SETTING
OUT MAROONED UP ON A HILL !ND THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE OR SIX DAYS )
HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ALL OVER MY WRONGS WHEN 'OD CALLED ME
TO GO AND ) DIDNkT GO !ND SETTING THERE THINKING l-Y BABY AND WIFE
HAS DROWNED -Y MOTHER WHERE WAS SHE AT ) DIDNkT KNOW WHERE SHE
WAS AT ) DIDNkT KNOW WHERE NO ONE WAS AT
% !ND FINALLY WHEN THE RIVERS DROPPED ENOUGH THAT ) COULD GET
A BOAT ACROSS ) RUSHED ACROSS !ND ) SAID l-AYBE THEY WENT TO
#HARLESTOWN>m 4HEY TOLD ME THE BOAT?THE BOAT GOT THROUGH?)
MEAN THE TRAIN GOT THROUGH !ND ) WENT TO A GREAT BIG PLACE AT
#HARLESTOWN WHERE THEY WAS KEEPING ALL THE REFUGEES !ND ) WENT
IN THERE THEY KNOWED NOTHING ABOUT NOBODY NAMED "RANHAM IN
THERE !ND ) WALKED OUT ON THE STREET ) MET OLD #OLONEL (AY A
VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HE SAID l"ILLY m HE SAID lTHAT TRAIN WENT
THROUGH HERE ) DONkT THINK IT EVEN STOPPED WAS RAN ON THROUGH THE
DISPATCHERkS OFFICEm
(E WENT DOWN THERE AND SAID l9ES m SAID lTHE ENGINEER OF THE
TRAIN WILL BE IN JUST IN A FEW MOMENTS THAT DROVE THAT TRAIN THROUGHm
3AID l)T WAS A CATTLE CARm (ER FATHER WAS A BROTHERHOOD ORGANIZER
ON THE 0ENNSYLVANIA DRIVES THE SOUTH> >THROUGH NOW !ND
THERE IT WAS GOING OUT ON A CATTLE CAR !ND THE SLEET AND RAIN UPON
THEM ) KNOWED THEY COULDNkT LIVE LIKE THAT AND ) HAD>;"LANK SPOT
ON TAPE?%D=
% 4WO SICK CHILDREN>!ND SO HOW COULD ) GET TO #OLUMBUS )
WAS CUT OFF !ND THERE WALKING DOWN THE STREET CRYING WRINGING MY
HANDS DONkT KNOW WHAT WOULD TAKE PLACE )>3OMEONE WAL?RUN
UP TO ME SAID l"ILLY YOUkRE LOOKING FOR (OPE ARENkT YOU m
!ND ) SAID l9ESm 4HAT WAS MY WIFEkS NAME 4HEY USED TO CALL
HER (OPE ME &AITH AND LITTLE BABY LITTLE "ILLY #HARITY
3O THEY SAID l9OU LOOKING FOR HER m !ND ) SAID>3AID l-Y
GIRLFRIEND IS AT #OLUMBUS )NDIANA AND YOUR WIFE IS LAYING BY HER SIDE
DYING WITH> >TUBERCULOSISm
) SAID l.O IT CANkT BEm
3AID l9ES SHE ISm
) SAID l#AN YOU GET ME THERE m
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3AID l9ES IF YOU CAN WALK A WAYSm
) SAID l) CAN WALK ANYWHEREm
%
7E GOT UP AND GOT IN THE CAR AND ) WENT TO #OLUMBUS ) WENT
UP THERE AND ) THOUGHT l7HEREkS SHE AT m ) RUN INTO THAT>4HEY
HAD HER IN A?IN A "APTIST CHURCH DOWN ON THE BASKETBALL COURT
GYMNASIUM !ND ) STARTED DOWN THROUGH THERE HOLLERING>4HEREkS
COTS EVERYWHERE AND PEOPLE WAS STRETCHED ALL LIKE THIS AND EVERY
SICKNESS AND EVERYTHING ) STARTED SCREAMING TOP OF MY VOICE l(OPE
OH (OPE WHERE ARE YOU HONEY 7HERE ARE YOU m ) LOVED HER ) LOVE
HER YET 3HEkS IN HER GRAVE OUT THERE BUT 'OD KNOWS SHE WAS A GOOD
'OD SAVED WOMAN
!ND ) LOOKED AND ) WAS CRYING SCREAMING l/H WHERE ARE YOU
(OPE m ) LOOKED OVER THERE AND ) SEEN AN OLD POOR BONY HAND GO UP
IN THE AIR )T WAS HER )kLL NEVER FORGET HOW ) FELT -Y HEART BEGIN TO
DROP !ND ) RUN OVER TO HER AND FELL DOWN AND GRABBED HER HAND
3HE DID WEIGH ABOUT A HUNDRED AND THIRTY POUNDS SHE PROBABLY
WEIGHED SIXTY OR SEVENTY THEN
%
) WAS CRYING ) SAID l7HERE "ILLY 7HEREkS 3HARON m 3HE SAID
l4HEYkRE IN A HOME SOMEWHEREm 3AID l)kM GOING>) ARENkT ) "ILLm
!ND ) SAID l.O HONEY YOU LOOK ALL RIGHT 9OUkRE GOING TO BE
ALL RIGHTm ) SAID l/H 'OD HAVE MERCY 0LEASE DEAR *ESUS m ) SAID
lWILL 9OU HAVE MERCY ,ET MY WIFE GET WELLm
!ND ) WAS PRAYING SOMEBODY WAS PATTING ME ON THE BACK )T
WAS THE DOCTOR SAID l9OU 2EVEREND "RANHAM m ) SAID l9ESm 3AID
l#OME ASIDE A MINUTEm
) WENT OVER ) SAID l9ES DOCTOR m
3AID l)SNkT 3AM !DAIR YOUR DOCTOR AT HOME m
!ND ) SAID l9ES SIRm
(E SAID l7ELL )kM GOING TO TELL YOU m SAID lYOU BETTER GET
READY FOR THISm 3AID l9OUR WIFE IS GOING TO DIE m SAID lSHEkS GOT
4"m
!ND ) SAID l4HATkS GALLOPING CONSUMPTIONm
!ND SAID l3HE WONkT LAST FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILEm
) SAID l$OCTOR NO SHE CANkT GOm ) SAID l9OU LOOKED AT MY
BABIES m
3AID l9ES THEY BOTH BEEN SICK BUT THEYkRE GETTING BETTERm
!ND ) SAID l/H LOOK )kM GOING TO TAKE HER HOMEm
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!ND HE SAID l9OU CANkT DO THATm 3AID l9OU JUST STAY RIGHT
HEREm 7ELL AFTER FINALLY WHEN ) DID GET HER DOWN HOME SHE JUST
KEPT GETTING WORSE WORSE AND WORSE ALL THE TIME
%
$R !DAIR CAME BACK 4HEY GIVE HER PNEUMOTHORAX TREATMENTS
4HEY DONE EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE 3HE KEPT GETTING WORSE )kD
PRAY AND CRY AND BEG WITH ALL MY HEART ,OOKED LIKE IT WAS JUST AS
BLACK BEFORE ME AS IT COULD BE
&INALLY THEY TAKEN HER OUT TO THE HOSPITAL 4HEY SENT AND GOT
DOC?A DOCTOR FROM ,OUISVILLE (E COME OVER AND LOOKED AT HER
AND HE SAID l.Om $R $ILLAR FROM THE 4" SANATORIUM AND HE SAID
l4HEREkS NOTHING COULD BE DONE FOR HER REVEREND m SAID lSHEkS GOING
TO DIE THATkS ALLm 3AID l*UST MIGHT AS WELL MAKE READY FOR HER TO
DIE m SAID lBECAUSE ITkS DOWN IN BOTH LUNGS AND HAS JUST GOT SUCH A
HOLD OF HER TILL THEREkS NO HOPES OF SAVING HERm
7HAT WAS ) GOING TO DO /H MY !LL THE TIME ) COULD HEAR THAT
RINGING IN MY EARS l) CALLED YOU AND GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY 9OU
WOULDNkT GO m LIKE THAT 9OU REAP WHAT YOU SOW EVERY TIME
%
!ND ) REMEMBER ) WENT AHEAD TRYING TO WORK TRYING TO GET
THINGS SO WE COULD EAT AND ) COULD PAY MY BILLS !ND ) WAS WORKING
ONE DAY 'ETTING WORSE ALL THE TIME SHE WAS !ND ) HEARD IT COME IN
SAID FOR ME TO REPORT AT ONCE AT THE HOSPITAL FOR MY WIFE WAS DYING
!ND ) NEVER WILL FORGET ) TOOK OFF MY HAT TOOK OFF MY COAT
LAID IT DOWN ) SAID l/ 'OD HAVE MERCY ON ME AND LET ME SPEAK TO
HER AGAIN BEFORE SHE GOESm ) TURNED THE CAR AND ) WAS JUST CLOSE TO
(ENRYVILLE )NDIANA OR AT 5NDERWOOD ) MEAN !ND DOWN THE ROAD )
CAME RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND RUN UP THE
STEPS REAL QUICK GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL !ND AFTER ) WENT IN ) SEEN
LITTLE $OCTOR !DAIR COMING DOWN THE HALL WITH HIS HEAD DOWN (E
LOOKED AT ME LIKE THAT 4EARS BROKE THROUGH AND (E TURNED HIS FACE
AND STARTED RUNNING AND MOTIONING TO ME !ND ) WENT UP TO HIM )
PUT MY ARM AROUND HIM ) SAID l$OC LOOK 3AM COME HERE 7HATkS
WRONGm
!ND HE SAID l) BELIEVE SHEkS GONE "ILLm
) SAID l3URELY NOTm ) SAID l'O WITH ME DOCm
(E SAID l"ILLY HOW COULD ) GO IN THERE m 3AID l4HE GIRL
COOKED ME A MANY A DINNER 3HE WAS LIKE MY SISTERm 3AID l(OW
COULD ) GO IN TO DO IT m 3AID l) DONkT WANT TO SEE HER NO MOREm (E
SAID l9OU STAY OUT HEREm
!ND ) SAID l)kM GOING TO SEE HERm
3AID l$ONkT GO IN THERE "ILLm
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7ELL ) SAID l9EAH )kM GOING YOU KNOW AND>m
(E SAID l(EREm #ALLED ONE OF THE NURSES l9OU GO WITH HIMm
3HE HAD A LITTLE RED MEDICINE OR SOMETHING OR OTHER 4HE LITTLE THING
SAID l4AKE THISm
) SAID l) DONkT NEED THATm
%
) WALKED IN ) SAID l) WANT TO GO ALONEm ) PULLED THE DOOR
BEHIND ME ) LOOKED OVER THERE 3HE HAD REAL DARK EYES AND BLACK HAIR
'ERMAN GIRL 3HE WAS ALL DOUBLED UP LIKE THIS ) LOOKED DOWN UPON
HER SHE WAS JUST SO STILL ) PUT MY HAND ON HER FOREHEAD )T WAS REAL
STICKY DIDNkT LOOK LIKE SHE HAD ANY LIFE ) PUT MY HAND OVER ON HER
HEAD AND ) SAID l/ 'OD PLEASEm ) SAID l4HATkS MY BABYkS MOTHER
,ET ME TELL HER GOOD
BYE 7ILL 9OU DO IT ,ORD ,ET ME TELL HER GOOD
BYE ) DONkT WANT HER TO GO WITHOUT TELLING HER GOOD
BYE 7ILL 9OU
HELP ME DEAR 'OD IF THEREkS FORGIVENESS IN 9OUR GREAT HEART 7ILL
9OU JUST LET ME SAY GOOD
BYE TO HER m
(ER HEAD MOVED ) LOOKED DOWN )F ) LIVE A HUNDRED YEARS )kLL
NEVER FORGET THOSE BIG DARK EYES LOOKED AT ME 3HE COULDNkT TALK 3HE
MOTIONED HER FINGER !ND )?) GOT DOWN 3HE SAID l7HY DID YOU CALL
ME m
) SAID l7HY HONEY YOUkRE NOT GOINGm
3HE SAID l9ES ) AMm 3HE SAID l) DONkT MIND IT "ILL ) JUST
HATE TO LEAVE YOU THE BABIESm 3HE SAID l"UT ) KNOW>m
7ELL THEN ) SAID l(ONEY YOU?YOUkRE NOT GOING .O?NO
YOUkLL GET ALL RIGHT YOUkRE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHTm
3HE SAID l.OW "ILL>m
%
*UST THEN THE NURSE BROKE IN 3HE SAID l2EVEREND "RANHAM
YOU COME ON OUTm
3HE SAID l#OME HERE m TO THE NURSE !ND SHE SAID l%VELYN m
SHE KNEW HER A SCHOOLMATE 3AID l)F YOU EVER GET MARRIED ) HOPE
YOU HAVE A HUSBAND LIKE MINEm
!ND ) SAID l/H HONEY DONkT SAY THATm
3HE SAID l) DOm %VELYN STARTED CRYING WENT BACK OUT 3HE
SAID l) WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING HONEYm 3HE SAID l)kM GOING m
AND SHE SAID l)TkS GLORIOUS TO GOm 3HE SAID l) WAS ON MY ROAD AND
) HAD SOMEONE BY EACH ARM LOOKED LIKE WHITE ANGELS AND THEY WERE
TAKING ME DOWN THROUGH A WHITE PATH TO MY HOMEm 3AID l) COULD
HEAR YOU CALLING WAY BACK UP THE ROADm /H OH 3AID l(ONEY YOUkRE
JUST AS PEACEFUL m SAID lGREAT PALM TREES AND BIRDS LIKE THE DAWN OF
A MORNING AND> >TROPICSm
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%
9OU KNOW WHAT ) THINK ) THINK SHE WAS JUST ON THAT BREACH
BETWEEN THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL 3HE SAID l) BEEN TAKING
A WALKm 3AID l0ROMISE ME ONE THING THAT YOUkLL ALWAYS PREACH THIS
GLORIOUS 'OSPEL OF THE (OLY 3PIRIT m SHE SAID lFOR IT SURE PAYS WHEN
YOUkRE GOING "ILLm 3HE SAID l) GUESS YOU KNOW WHY )kM GOING DONkT
YOU HONEY m
!ND ) SAID l$ONkT SAY ITm
3HE SAID l.O NOT YOUR FAULT IT WAS MINEm
) SAID l9ES HONEY IF ) WOULDNkT HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR MOTHER
WOULDkVE LISTENED TO 'OD INSTEAD OF SOME WOMAN )kD BEEN BETTER
OFF WOULDNkT ) m
3HE SAID l4HATkS RIGHT HONEY BUT ITkLL COME OUT ALL RIGHT FOR
YOUm
) SAID l(OPE DONkT LEAVE ME
!ND SHE SAID l) HAVE TO GO HONEYm 3AID l) HATE TO LEAVE YOU
AND THE BABIESm 3HE SAID l0ROMISE ME SOMETHING WILL YOU m 3AID
l) GOT SOME THINGS TO TELL YOUm
!ND ) SAID l!LL RIGHTm
%
3AID l) HAVE TO TELL YOU QUICKLY jCAUSE )kM GOING BACK THEYkRE
WAITING ON MEm 3HE SAID l$ONkT THINK )kM BESIDE MYSELF )kM NOTm
3HE SAID l9OU REMEMBER THAT TIME YOU WAS IN ,OUISVILLE AND YOU
WANTED TO BUY THAT LITTLE OLD RIFLE AND YOU DIDNkT EVEN HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT m
) SAID l9EAHm
3HE SAID l) ALWAYS WANTED TO GET YOU THAT RIFLEm 3HE SAID
l)kVE BEEN SAVING THE NICKELS TO TRY TO GET ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE
THAT DOWN PAYMENT FOR IT THREE DOLLARSm !ND SHE SAID l!FTER )kM
GONE WHEN YOU GO HOME LOOK UP ON THE TOP OF THE OLD FOLDING BED
UNDER THAT NEWSPAPER !ND PROMISE ME YOUkLL GET THE RIFLE 9OU WANT
IT SO BADm
9OUkLL NEVER KNOW HOW ) FELT WHEN ) WENT BACK HOME AND
FOUND ABOUT TWO DOLLARS AND SEVENTY
FIVE OR EIGHTY CENTS LAYING THERE
IN NICKELS WHERE SHEkD SAVED IT ALLOWANCING HERSELF DO WITHOUT
STOCKINGS MAINLY TO PUT IT UP THERE 4HATkS A REAL WIFE
%
l.OW m SHE SAID lANOTHER THING ) WANT TO TELL YOUm 3HE SAID
l9OU REMEMBER THAT TIME THAT YOU BOUGHT ME THEM STOCKINGS ) SENT
YOU DOWN TO GET STOCKINGS m
!ND ) SAID l9ESm
3HE SAID l4HEM WAS THE WRONG STOCKINGSm
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4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
(OW IT WAS WE WERE GOING TO &ORT 7AYNE ) WAS GOING TO
PREACH THAT NIGHT UP THERE !ND ) WAS GOING UP TO &ORT 7AYNE AND
SHE SENT ME DOWN TO GET SOME STOCKINGS 4HEREkS TWO DIFFERENT KINDS
/NEkS CALLED CHIFF?CHIFFON 4HATkS THEM 7HATkS THE OTHER ONE
2AY?RAYON 2AYON AND CHIFFON !ND SHE TOLD ME SHE SAID l'O GET
ME A PAIR>m )S THE RAYON THE BEST !LL RIGHT 3HE SAID l4HEY COST
SIXTY
NINE CENTSm 3HE SAID l'O GET ME A PAIR OF?OF RAYON STOCKINGS
WHILE )kM?WHILE )kM GETTING READYm
!ND ) WENT DOWN TO GET IT !ND ) WAS GOING DOWN THE STREET )
NEVER DID BUY ANY CLOTHES FOR WOMEN DIDNkT KNOW ANY CLOTHES ) WAS
GOING DOWN>3HE SAID l#HIFFONm
l#HIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON>m
3OMEBODY SAID l(ELLO "ROTHER "RANHAMm
) SAID l(ELLO>#HIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON
CHIFFON CHIFFON>m
'O ON DOWN SAY l(OW YOU GETTING ALONG "ILLY m
) SAID l&INE>#HIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON CHIFFON>m
!ND ) PASSED AROUND A CORNER AND A?A FISHERMAN FRIEND OF
MINE MET ME AT THE CORNER (E SAID l/H "ILLY 0ERCH OUT ON THE
PIERS ARE BITINGm
) SAID l3URE ENOUGH #RAWFISH IS WHAT THEYkRE HITTING m ) SAID
l7ELL ) GOT TO GO TO &ORT 7AYNEm ) SAID l)kLL MEET YOU -ONDAY m
AND WEkRE TALKING LIKE THAT 4HEN WHEN HE LEFT ) FORGOT WHAT IT WAS
%
7ELL SHE SENT ME TO 0ENNEYkS TO GET IT 3O ) USED TO GO WITH
A LITTLE GIRL BY NAME OF 4HELMA &ORD AND SHE WAS WORKING AT
.EWBERRYkS AND ) KNOW THAT THE?THAT THEY KEPT THEM STOCKINGS IN
THERE SO ) WENT IN AND THOUGHT )kD ASK HER 7ELL ) DIDNkT WANT TO
SHOW MY IGNORANCE TO THE PEOPLE !ND ) WENT OVER THERE AND )
SAID>3HE SAID l(ELLO "ILLYm
!ND ) SAID l(I 4HELMAm
3AID l7HAT DO YOU WANT m
) SAID l! PAIR OF SOCKS FOR (OPEm
3AID l! PAIR OF WHAT m
!ND ) SAID l3OCKSm
3AID l(OPE DONkT WEAR SOCKSm
!ND ) SAID l9ES MAkAM 3HE WANTS SOCKS AND SHE WANTS THAT
FULL STYLE THAT THING IN THE BACK YOU KNOW AND EVER WHAT IT IS YOU
KNOWm ) SAID>
3HE?SHE SAID l3HE WANTS STOCKINGSm
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) SAID l7ELL EVER WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL THEM>m 4HEN )
THOUGHT )kD ALREADY SHOWED HOW DUMB ) WAS AND ) DIDNkT WANT TO
GET INTO IT WORSE
%
3HE SAID l7HAT KIND DOES SHE WANT m
) SAID l7HAT KIND YOU GOT m
!ND SHE SAYS>7HATkS THAT PRONOUNCED !S RAYON #HIFFON
)S THAT THE KIND 7ELL SHE STARTS AND SAID l7ELL WEkVE GOT SOME
RAYONm 7ELL ) NEVER HEARD>
) SAID l4HATkS WHAT SHE WANTSm 3EE 3OUND LIKE CHIFFON TO ME
CHIFFON RAYON 3EE !ND ) SAID l4HATkS WHAT SHE WANTSm
!ND SHE SAID l3HE DONkT WANT RAYONm
) SAID l4HATkS WHAT SHE WANTSm !ND SO SHE WENT AND GOT
THEM )T WAS ONLY ABOUT TWENTY SOMETHING CENTS
7HY ) SAID l'IVE ME TWO PAIR OF THEMm
3HE SAID l!RE YOU SURE OF THAT m
3AID ) SAID l4HATkS WHAT SHE WANTSm
3O ) TOOK THEM UP THERE 9OU KNOW HOW YOU WENT?BROTHERS
LIKE TO SHOW OFF TO YOUR WOMEN YOU KNOW !ND ) SAID l/H>m )
SAID l)kM !BRAHAMkS SONm ,ITTLE GIDDISH ) SAID l9OU KNOW HOW TO
SHOP (UH m 3HE SAID l$ID YOU GET ME CHIFFON STOCKINGS m
) SAID l9ESm 4HAT WAS WHAT THE GOOD KIND WAS !ND ) SAID
l9ES MAkAM 4HATkS WHAT ) GOTm !ND SHE WAS LADY ENOUGH NOT TO
TELL ME ABOUT IT !ND WHEN SHE GOT TO &ORT 7AYNE ) THOUGHT IT WAS
STRANGE SHE HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER PAIR OF STOCKINGS
%
"UT WHAT IT WAS SHE TOLD ME SAID l(ONEY ) DIDNkT WANT TO
TELL YOUm 3HE WAS TOO MUCH A LADY THEN 3AID l) HAD TO GIVE THEM TO
YOUR MOTHER )T WAS FOR AN OLDER PERSONm 3AID l)kM SORRY ) KEPT IT
BACK FROM YOU BUT ) JUST COULDNkT TELL YOUm
) SAID l"LESS YOUR HEART SWEETHEARTm
3AID l/NE MORE THING ) WANT YOU TO PROMISE ME YOU WONkT
LIVE SINGLEm
) SAID l/H (OPE ) CANkT PROMISE THATm
3HE SAID l$ONkT LIVE SINGLE AND HAVE MY CHILDREN PULLED ABOUT
FROM POST TO POSTm 3HE SAID l)?)kM?)kM GOING "ILLm 3HE SAID
l7ILL YOU PROMISE ME m
) SAID l(ONEY ) CANkT PROMISE THATm
3AID l0ROMISE ME WONkT YOU m THE POOR OLD FEEBLE HANDS
REACHING UP TO ME 3AID l'ET A GOOD GIRL THATkS GOT THE (OLY 3PIRIT
3HEkLL TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDRENm 3HE SAID l"ILL )kLL MEET YOU THEREm
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
) SAID l!LL RIGHT HONEYm ) SAID l!RE YOU REALLY GOING m
3HE SAID l9ES )kM GOINGm
) SAID l3WEETHEART SOMEDAY SO HELP ME 'OD>m ) SAID l)kLL
TAKE YOU OUT HERE TO 7ALNUT 2IDGE AND )kLL BURY YOU AND )kLL LEAVE A
PLACE THERE FOR MYSELF AND THE KIDDIESm
3HE SAID l"E>/NE THING 0ROMISE ME TOO THAT YOUkLL NEVER
LET LOOSE BUT YOUkLL PREACH THIS 'OSPEL THAT YOU HEARD UP THERE AT
-ISHAWAKAm
) SAID l) PROMISEm
3HE SAID l)TkS GLORIOUS TO DIE BY "ILLm !ND SAID l) HATE TO
LEAVE YOU AND THE BABIES BUT ITkS SO GOOD TO GO BACKm
!ND ) SAID l(ONEY ON THAT DAY THE SUN WILL BE AS BLACK AS
SACKCLOTH BLOODY 4HE SKIES WILL BE WAVING AND GRAY TOOm ) SAID l)F
)kM ALIVE )kLL BE ON THE BATTLEFIELD BUT IF )kM NOT )kLL BE SLEEPING BY
YOUR SIDE !ND IF YOU GO BEFORE ) DO IF )kM ALIVE AND YOU GO BEFORE
) DO WHEN YOU SEE THE CITY COMING LOWERING DOWN FROM 'OD OUT OF
HEAVEN m ) SAID lGO OVER TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE GATE STAND THERE BY
THE BIG PILLAR 7HEN YOU SEE !BRAHAM )SAAC AND *ACOB AND THEM
COMING BY m ) SAID lSCREAM MY NAME AS LOUD AS YOU CAN "ILL "ILLm )
SAID l)kLL GATHER THE CHILDREN TOGETHER AND )kLL MEET YOU THERE AT THE
GATEm
3HE SAID l)kLL MEET YOU HONEYm !ND ) KISSED HER 4HAT WAS
MY LAST DATE WITH MY WIFEm !ND BROTHER SISTER NOW SOMETIMES ) GET
WEARY AND TIRED BUT )kM GOING TO KEEP THAT APPOINTMENT /NE DAY
)kM GOING TO MEET HER
%
) WALKED OUT OF THE BUILDING WENT HOME OH MY MY HEART
BREAKING ) COULDNkT STAND IT -OTHER TOLD ME l#OME TO HER HOUSEm )
COULDNkT DO IT ) WENT OVER THAT NIGHT ) WAS GOING AROUND THE HOUSE )
WENT IN THE ROOM LAID DOWN ) SHUT THE DOOR 7HEN ) SHOVED THE>)
WAS LAYING ON THE COT AND ) SHOVED MY FOOT SHOVED IT TOGETHER AND
WHEN ) DID THERE WAS HER COAT HANGING ON THE BACK OF THE DOOR )?
)>)T WAS ALL OVER AGAIN
*UST THEN SOMEBODY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR SAID l"ILLY m
!ND ) SAID l9ESm
3AID l) GOT SOME BAD NEWS TO TELL YOUm
) SAID l7ELL ) WAS RIGHT THERE WHEN SHE DIEDm
l4HATkS NOT ALL OF IT 9OUR BABYkS DYING TOOm
) SAID l.Om
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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l9ESm 3AID l$R !DAIR JUST LEFT AND SAID NOT LET YOU COME TO
THE HOSPITAL ITkS DYING NOW WITH TUBERCULAR MENINGITISm
) COULDNkT STAND IT NO LONGER 4HEN GOT?) GOT UP 4WO MEN
SETTING IN AN OLD TRUCK WE WENT OUT THERE TO THE HOSPITAL AND ) WENT
IN $OC SAID l9OU CANkT GO IN THEREm
) SAID l9ES ) CANm
l.O YOU CANkT m SAID l"ILLY YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT "ILLY
0AULm 3AID l3EE SHEkS GOT MENINGITIS 3HEkS CONTRACTED THAT FROM
HER MOTHER m !ND HE SAID lIF YOU GO IN THERE YOU MIGHT TAKE IT TO
YOUR BOYm
) SAID l$OC ) MUST GOm
(E SAID l9OU CANkTm 3O HE SET ME DOWN IN A ROOM !S SOON AS
HE GOT AWAY ) SLIPPED IN ANYHOW
%
!ND ) WENT DOWN THERE )T WAS A LITTLE OLD HOSPITAL AND THERE
WHEN ) WALKED INTO THE ROOM>)kLL NEVER FORGET IT THERE LAID MY
LITTLE EIGHT MONTH OLD DARLING LITTLE 3HARRY LAYING THERE !ND SHE WAS
SUFFERING SO HARD HER LITTLE LEGS WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN LIKE THAT
FAST )T LOOKED LIKE HER LITTLE HANDS WAS WAVING AT ME GOOD
BYE )
LOOKED AT HER AND SHE WAS SUFFERING SO HARD ) SAID l3HARRY DO YOU
KNOW YOUR DADDY HONEY m ) SHOOED THE FLIES OUT OF HER EYES !ND
WHEN SHE LOOKED AT ME>3HE WAS SUFFERING SO HARD TILL ONE THOSE
LITTLE BABY BLUE EYES HAD CROSSED
) NEVER COULD STAND TO SEE A CROSS
EYED CHILD FROM THEN )kVE
NEVER SEEN ONE PASS THE PLATFORM BUT WHAT WAS HEALED +NOW ) SAID
THERE IT TAKES THE CRUSHING TO BRING FORTH THE FRAGRANCE )S THAT RIGHT
) SEEN FOUR HUNDRED AND SOMETHING CROSS
EYED CHILDREN HEALED IN SIX
MONTHS /H WHEN ) SEE A CROSS
EYED CHILD ) THINK OF MY LITTLE 3HARRY
LAYING THERE 3HE WAS SUFFERING SO HARD AND SHE LOOKED AT ME HER
LITTLE EYES CROSSED AND HER LITTLE HAND TRIED TO WAVE AT ME
%
!ND ) SAID l+NOW DADDY HONEY m AND HER LITTLE LIPS TRYING
TO SPEAK TO ME LIKE THIS lGOOm TO ME AND THEY WERE QUIVERING SHE
WAS DYING ) PUT MY HAND OVER ON HER ) SAID l/ 'OD PLEASE 'OD
DONkT TAKE HER 9OU TOOK MY WIFE 9OU TOOK MY DADDY AND 9OUkVE
TOOK>/ 'OD ISNkT THERE FORGIVENESS IN 9OUR GREAT HEART m ) SAID
l0LEASE DEAR 'OD PLEASE SPARE MY BABYm ) PUT MY HAND ON HER )
KNELT DOWN ) SAID l7ONkT 9OU DO IT ,ORD ,OOKED UP ,OOKED LIKE
A BLACK SHEET BEGIN TO UNFOLD COMING DOWN /H ) KNOWED SHE WAS
GONE
) LOOKED DOWN AT HER ) THOUGHT l/H MY IF ) HAD IT TO LIVE
OVER AGAIN THEY WOULD NEVER BE TRASH ) DONkT CARE WHO WOULD SAY
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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THEY WEREm ) SAID l/H IF ) COULD JUST GO BACK )kD NEVER LISTEN TO
ANOTHER THING ANYBODY TOLD ME ) WOULD LISTEN TO 'OD AND (IM
ALONE )kD LISTEN TO (IMm
) LOOKED DOWN AT HER AND ) KNOWED SHE WAS GOING ) LAID
MY HAND OVER ON HER l/H ) LOVE YOU SWEETHEART DADDYkS GOING
TO> >YOU )T WONkT BE SO HARD JUST WAVE AT ME ) JUST SAME
THING DADDY COMING UP HOME ) SAID l9OU WAVED AT ME THEN WHEN )
COME THROUGH THE STREETm ) PLACED MY HAND OVER ON HER LITTLE HEAD )
SAID l,ORD 9OU GAVE HER AND 9OU TAKEN HER AWAY 4HOUGH 9OU SLAY
ME YET )kLL TRUST 9OU 9OUkRE STILL MY 3AVIOUR ) LOVE 9OUm )kM NOT A
BABY "UT WHEN ) THINK ABOUT IT TEARS ME TO PIECES
%
) THOUGHT l/H 'OD HOW COULD 9OU JUST TAKE THAT PRECIOUS
THING FROM MY HEART m ) LOOKED DOWN AT HER AND ) SAID?) SAID
l.OT MY WILL THOUGH LET THINE BE DONE 'OD IF 9OU SLAY ME )kM
JUST GOING TO TRUST 9OUm ) SAID l'OD BLESS YOU HONEY 'OOD
BYE
3HARRY 9OUkRE>) WILL PUT YOU IN MOTHERkS ARMS IN A FEW HOURS
UP THERE IN A CASKET WHERE SHEkS LAYING NOW !ND ONE DAY DADDY
WILL SEE YOU AGAINm ) STEPPED BACK AND EVERY BONE IN ME SEEMED
LIKE WENT TO PIECES ) SHRUNK TO THE FLOOR 4HE !NGELS OF 'OD COME
DOWN AND PACKED HER LITTLE SOUL TO BE WITH HER MOTHER 3HE WENT
TO MEET MOTHER TUCKED HER LITTLE HELPLESS BODY IN THE ARMS OF HER
DEAR MOTHER 7E WENT OUT THERE TO THE GRAVES AND BURIED THEM
2EVEREND 3MITH FROM THE -ETHODIST CHURCH WALKED UP THERE AND
TOOK A HANDFUL OF DIRT SAID l!SHES TO ASHES AND DUST UNTO DUST AND
EARTH TO EARTHm 4HEM OLD CLODS BEGIN TO BEAT ON TOP OF THAT CASKET AS
IT WENT DOWN IN THE GRAVE ) RAISED UP ) COULDNkT STAND IT
%
7AY BACK UP ON THE SIDE OF THE HILL WAS SOME BIG CEDAR TREES )
HEARD THE WIND WHISTLING THROUGH THERE )T SEEMED LIKE THE SONG SAID
4HEREkS A LAND BEYOND THE RIVER
4HAT THEY CALL THE SWEET FOREVER
!ND WE ONLY REACH THAT SHORE BY FAITHkS DECREE
/NE BY ONE THEY GAIN THE PORTALS
4HERE TO DWELL WITH THE IMMORTALS
3OMEDAY THEYkLL RING THOSE GOLDEN BELLS FOR YOU AND
ME
,AST %ASTER A YEAR AGO HER LITTLE SON THERE "ILLY AND ) WEkD GO
TO THE GRAVE EARLY OF A MORNING HAD A LITTLE BUNDLE OF FLOWERS UNDER
HIS ARMS ) SAID l,ETkS GO VISIT MAMAkS GRAVEm
7E WERE GOING ALONG THERE WITH THE FLOWERS COMING DAY ) TOOK
OFF MY HAT AND THE LITTLE FELLOW TOOK OFF HIS HAT ) HEARD HIM CHUGGLE
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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) SAID l$ONkT CRY SONNYm ) PUT MY ARM AROUND HIM 7E SET IT DOWN
BY THE SIDE OF THE GRAVE ) READ IT l2IGHT HERE LAYS (OPE !MELIA
"RANHAM AND DARLING DAUGHTER 3HARON 2OSEm ) SAID l3WEETHEART
THE RE?RE?REASON WEkRE KNEELING HERE "ILLY IN *ERUSALEM THEREkS AN
EMPTY GRAVE THIS MORNING 4HATkS RIGHT !ND YOUR MOTHER DIED IN
(IM 7HO ROSE AGAINm ) SAID l3OMEDAY WEkLL SEE MAMA AND SISSY
AGAIN IN A BETTER LANDm
% !FTER MY WIFE THEYkD BURIED HER ) WENT HOME ) TRIED TO GO TO
WORK ) HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT AND FRANKLY ON THAT TILL JUST
RECENTLY GOT OUT OF IT
-Y FATHER HAD DIED NO INSURANCE 7E COULDNkT AFFORD INSURANCE
OR NOTHING AND THERE HE WAS "Y THE WAY )kM NOT AN INSURANCE
PERSON
-Y ASSURANCE>/NE GUY COME TO ME THE OTHER DAY SAID l)
WANT TO SELL YOU SOME INSURANCEm
) SAID l)>,ISTEN DONkT TALK TO ME ABOUT THATm ) SAID l)
HAVE INSURANCEm
3AID l/H YOU HAVE INSURANCE m
) SAID l9ES SIRm
3AID l7HAT IS IT m
) SAID l"LESSED ASSURANCE *ESUS IS MINE /H WHAT A FORETASTE
OF GLORY DIVINEm
(E SAID l4HATkLL NOT PUT YOU IN THE GRAVE UP HEREm
) SAID l)kM NOT WORRIED ABOUT GETTING IN THERE 4HATkLL BRING ME
OUTm ) SAID l)kM WORRIED ABOUT COMING OUT NOT GOING INm ) SAID
l4HATkS RIGHTm ) AINkT GOT NOTHING AGAINST INSURANCE ITkS ALL RIGHT 9OU
SEE 4HATkS ALL RIGHT !ND SOME PEOPLEkS INSURANCE POOR 4HATkS RIGHT
"UT ) TELL YOU OF AN INSURANCE YOU CAN COLLECT ON IT RIGHT NOW *UST
NOW THE (OLY 3PIRIT OF 'OD )S RIGHT 4HE ASSURANCE OF THE DEATH
BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF #HRIST AND WEkLL COME OUT AGAIN
% 4HEN WHEN ) WAS THERE PAYING ON THOSE DEBTS /NE MORNING
) REMEMBER GETTING UP ON A POST ) WAS WORKING FOR A ELECTRICAL
COMPANY TRYING THE 0UBLIC 3ERVICE #OMPANY OF )NDIANA ) WAS
WORKING REAL EARLY ONE MORNING ) WAS TAKING DOWN SOME TAPS ) WAS
SINGING
/N THE HILL FAR AWAY
3TOOD AN OLD RUGGED CROSS
4HE EMBLEM OF SUFFERING AND SHAME
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
) NOTICED THE SUN COMING UP SHINE AGAINST THE TELEPHONE POLE?
OR THE ELECTRIC POLE AND THAT CROSS ARM LOOKED LIKE THE PICTURE OF
SOMEONE HANGING ON THE CROSS WIGGLING OUT THERE ON THE HILL THE
SHADOW ) SAID l9ES IT WAS MY SINS THAT PUT (IM THERE )T WAS MY
DISOBEDIENCE THAT PUT (IM THERE (E DIED FOR MEm ) BECOME SO>)
WAS>) COULD SEE MY WIFE GOING BUT ) COULDNkT SEE THAT BABY GOING
) JUST COULDNkT DO IT AND ) SAID l/ 'OD WHY DID 9OU TAKE THAT
PRECIOUS LITTLE THING FROM ME (ERE ) AM LEFT ALONE IN THE WORLD ME
AND THE BOY TO WANDER AROUND TOGETHERm ) SAID l7HY DID 9OU TAKE
HER ,ORD m ) GOT SO WORKED UP TILL ) SAID l3HARRY HONEY DADDYkS
COMING TO SEE YOU THIS MORNINGm ) PULLED OFF MY RUBBER GLOVE 4HERE
LAID TWENTY
THREE HUNDRED RUNNING RIGHT BY ME BREAK EVERY BONE IN
YOUR BODY ) SAID>'ONE CRAZY>) PULLED MY GLOVE ) SAID l3HARRY
DADDYkS COMING TO SEE YOU ) CANkT STAY AWAY FROM YOU ANY LONGERm
) SAID l'OD ) HATE TO BE A COWARD BUT ) CANkT STAND IT MY HEARTkS
A BREAKING ) CANkT STAND ITm 4HE NEXT THING ) KNEW ) WAS SETTING ON
THE GROUND (OW ) EVER GOT DOWN FROM THERE 'OD ONLY KNOWS !ND
) BELIEVE IF THAT GIFT HADNkT BEEN FOREORDAINED AND PUT IN THERE )kD
HAVE BEEN GONE RIGHT THERE jCAUSE ) MADE UP MY MIND ) WAS GOING TO
TAKE MY LIFE AS A SUICIDE CASE )kD LOST MY MIND )kD GONE CRAZY !ND
) GOT?WENT HOME ) SAID l/H>m ) PUT MY TOOLS IN THE CAR ) SAID
l)kM GOING HOME )kVE GONE CRAZYm
%
!ND ) WENT HOME AND STAYED WITH MAMA THAT DAY AND THAT
NIGHT ) WAS GOING AROUND THE HOUSE AND ) PICKED UP THE MAIL !ND AS
SOON AS ) WENT THERE>) FASTED BACK IN A LITTLE OLD ROOM THERE A LITTLE
OLD FIREPLACE AND ) MEAN A LITTLE OLD STOVE SETTING THERE A LITTLE OLD
COT ) STAYED RIGHT THERE AT THE HOME )T WASNkT>) DIDNkT WANT TO GO
NOWHERE ELSE 4HERE WASNkT VERY MUCH THERE THAT OLD FURNITURE BUT
SHE AND ) LIVED TOGETHER WITH IT IT WAS OURS )T WAS A WHOLE LOT 4HATkS
RIGHT )T AINkT THE VALUE OF ANYTHING ITkS THE WAY YOU LOOK AT IT 4HATkS
RIGHT !ND )kVE ALWAYS LIVED TOGETHER HERE ITk HERS SHE LOVED IT SHE
KEPT IT CLEAN ) WANT TO STAY RIGHT HERE WITH IT TILL ) DIE TOO
!ND ) WAS STAYING THERE AND )kD COME IN OF A NIGHT AND )kD
LOOK AROUND OVER HER THINGS THEN ) WOULD LAY DOWN 4HAT NIGHT
WHEN ) COME IN THERE LOOKED AT THESE LETTERS AND THE FIRST ONE HAD
ON IT SAID l-ISS 3HARON 2OSE "RANHAM m HER LITTLE #HRISTMAS SAVING
EIGHTY CENTS !ND ) LOOKED AT IT ) THOUGHT l/ 'OD>m ) KNELT DOWN
ON THE FLOOR ) SAID l/ 'OD ) CANkT STAND IT )kM GOING TO DIEm )
SAID l0LEASE FORGIVE ME 7ILL 9OU ALWAYS> >ME ,ORD 0LEASE
HAVE MERCY ON MY POOR SINFUL SOULm ) SAID l$ONkT LET ME BE HERE
)kVE>9OU>)kVE DIED TO MYSELF WHY AM ) ON THE EARTH m ) SAID
l) CANkT STAND IT LOSING MY BABY AND ALL ) GOTm !ND ) SAID l)TkS JUST
AFTER ME DAY AND NIGHTm
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%
!ND ) WENT TO PRAYING ) GOT REAL SLEEPY A HAZE COME UPON ME
) WENT TO SLEEP ) DREAMED THAT ) WAS OUT WEST AND ) WAS WALKING
DOWN BY THE SIDE OF A?A PRAIRIE AS IT USED TO BE ) SEEN AN OLD PRAIRIE
SCHOONER THE WHEEL WAS BROKEN AND LAYING DOWN SIDEWAYS AND )
WAS SINGING THAT SONG OR WHISTLING l4HE WHEEL ON THE WAGON IS
BROKEN>m jCOURSE THAT WAS OUR BROKEN FAMILY 9OU SEE THEN
!ND?AND IT WONkT RUN NO MORE !ND ) WAS WHISTLING LIKE THAT lTHE
WHEEL ON THE WAGONkS BROKEN m GOING ALONG !ND THERE STEPPED OUT
FROM THE SIDE THAT WAGON WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLOND
HEADED GIRL
) EVER SEEN 3HE WAS DRESSED WITH SNOWY WHITE HER PRETTY LITTLE BLUE
EYES A SHINING HER BLOND HAIR SHE SAID l(ELLO DADm
) TIPPED MY HAT UP SAID l(OW DO MISS m
!ND SHE SAID l(ELLO DADm
) SAID l$AD ) BEG YOUR PARDONm
3HE SMILED AND ) SAID>3HE SAID l7ELL DONkT YOU KNOW ME m
) SAID l7ELL LADY YOUkRE AS OLD AS ) AM (OW COULD ) BE YOUR
FATHER m
3HE SAID l$ONkT YOU KNOW YOUR TEACHING DAD 9OU TEACH
IMMORTALITYm
%
3EE ) DONkT BELIEVE THEREkLL BE LITTLE BABIES IN HEAVEN )F THEYkRE
RESURRECTED LITTLE BABIES THEYkLL ALWAYS BE LITTLE BABIES )F THEYkRE
REAL OLD PEOPLE THAT RESURRECTS ON A CANE OR CRUTCH ITkD BE THAT
WAY IMMORTALITY DONkT KNOW 7EkLL BE ONE AGE ONE THING FOREVER
7EkLL BE OF ONE AGE ) BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART ABOUT THE AGE OF
*ESUS )>4HATkS JUST MIGHT BE A THOUGHT BUT ) DONkT>) KNOW
IMMORTALITY IF ITkS RESURRECT A LITTLE BABY THAT BIG IT WILL ALWAYS
BE THAT WAY ) BELIEVE WEkLL BE ONE AGE THEREkLL BE NO OLD OR YOUNG
7EkLL BE JUST IN THAT MIDDLE AGE RIGHT THERE FOREVER ) BELIEVE MEN AND
WOMEN>
,IKE 'OD WHEN (E DIDNkT TELL %VE SHE WAS A LITTLE BITTY THING
GROWED UP OR !DAM (E JUST MADE THEM IN (IS OWN IMAGE AND
THATkS THE WAY (EkLL DO IT AGAIN THEYkRE A FULL GROWN STATURE OF
PEOPLE
%
!ND SHE SAID l$ONkT YOU REMEMBER YOUR TEACHING OF
IMMORTALITY m
!ND ) SAID l/H WHO ARE YOU m
!ND SHE SAID l$OWN ON EARTH ) WAS YOUR LITTLE 3HARONm
) SAID l3HARRY THATkS NOT YOU HONEY m
3HE SAID l9ES IT IS DADDYm 3HE SAID l7HEREkS "ILLY 0AUL MY
BROTHER m
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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) SAID l7ELL HONEY ) DONkT UNDERSTANDm
3HE SAID l-OTHERkS LOOKING FOR YOUm
) SAID l7HEREkS -OTHER AT m
3HE SAID l5P AT YOUR HOME YOUR NEW HOMEm
) SAID l-Y HOME m ) SAID l(ONEY )?)?)?)?)?) NEVER HAD A
HOMEm ) SAID l"RANHAMS DONkT HAVE HOMESm
3HE SAID l"UT DAD YOU GOT ONE HEREm !ND ) TURNED TO LOOK
AND THERE WAS A GREAT MANSION GLORY OF 'OD COMING UP
!ND ) SAID l)S THAT MINE m
3HE SAID l9EAH MOTHERkS UP THERE WAITING FOR YOUm
) SAID l!LL RIGHTm
3HE SAID l)kM GOING TO WAIT FOR "ILLY )kLL STAND RIGHT HERE )kLL
BE UP AFTER WHILEm 3AID l-OTHER WANTS TO SEE YOUm
) TOOK OFF AS HARD AS ) COULD RUNNING 7HEN ) GOT UP THERE )
STARTED RUN UP THE BIG STEPS LIKE THAT !ND ) LOOKED COMING WALKING
OUT ON THE STEPS HERE SHE COME IN ALL OF HER BEAUTY WHITE ROBE ON
DARK HAIR HANGING DOWN HER ARMS REACHING OUT ) RUN TO HER AND
GRABBED HER HANDS AND KNELT DOWN ) SAID l/H (OPE HONEY ) SAID
l) CANkT STAND IT NO LONGER )kM JUST ABOUT TO GO WILD !ND )?SINCE
YOUkVE LEFTm
3HE SAID l) SEEN ALLkS WENT ON "ILLm 3HE SAID l0ROMISE ME
SOMETHINGm
) SAID l7HAT m
3HE SAID l0ROMISE ME YOU WONkT WORRY NO MOREm
) SAID l) SEEN 3HARRY HONEY $IDNkT OUR GIRL MAKE A BEAUTIFUL
WOMAN m
3AID l9ESm 3AID l3HEkS WAITING FOR "ILLY ISNkT SHE m
!ND ) SAID l9ESm
%
3HE SAID l0ROMISE ME YOU WONkT WORRY WILL YOU m 3AID
l3HARON AND ) ARE BETTER OFF THAN YOU ARE /H HONEY m SHE SAID
l*UST PROMISE ME YOU WONkT WORRYm
!ND ) SAID l!LL RIGHT ) WONkT WORRY NO MOREm !ND SHE
KINDA RAISED UP LIKE THIS AND LOOKED AROUND AND SHE SAID l7ILL
YOU SET DOWNm !ND ) LOOKED THEREkS A GREAT BIG CHAIR SETTING THERE
!ND ) LOOKED AT THAT CHAIR AND ) LOOKED BACK AT HER 3HE SAID l)
KNOW WHAT YOUkRE THINKINGm (EREkS WHAT IT WAS 7HILE WE WAS A
PREACHING>.OW WE DIDNkT HAVE NOTHING JUST THEM OLD HICKORY
BOTTOM CHAIRS 7E WAS LIVING IN A HOUSE !ND )?)kD PREACH HALF THE
NIGHT WORK ALL DAY LONG WITH A AIR HAMMER AND PICK AND SHOVEL )kD
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
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COME IN AT NIGHT AND ) WANTED TO BUY ONE OF THEM CHAIRS THEM YOU
KNOW -ORRIS CHAIRS YOU CALL THEM WHATEVER IT IS YOU KNOW LOUNGE
CHAIRS !ND ) WANTED TO BUY ONE 4HEY WAS FOR SALE THEN FOR FIFTEEN
DOLLARS AND NINETY FIVE CENTS !ND ) WOULD JUST PAY A DOLLAR DOWN AND
A DOLLAR A WEEK TO PAY FOR IT !ND ) HAD GOT ONE AND MOVED IT INTO THE
HOUSE AND MY )kD SET THERE OF A NIGHT AND JUST RELAX WHEN ) COME IN
STUDY THE "IBLE TILL )kD GO TO SLEEP
!ND ONE DAY WHILE ) COME IN AND )kD GOT A DUN ) COULDNkT
MAKE THE PAYMENT THAT WEEK 4HE NEXT WEEK PASSED ) COULDNkT MAKE
THE PAYMENT AND THEY SENT TO COME GET MY CHAIR !ND SO )?) JUST
COULDNkT MAKE THE PAYMENT ) JUST COULDNkT DO IT 3O ) TOLD HER ) SAID
l9OU CALL THEM UP AND TELL THEM TO COME GET IT HONEYm
% !ND SO ) REMEMBER COMING IN THAT EVENING 3HEkD BAKED ME
A CHERRY PIE )?) LOVE CHERRY PIE SO WELL !ND ) WENT IN SHEkD HAD
SOME OF THE BOYS TO DIG SOME FISHING WORMS SO ) COULD GO FISHING
4HEY WAS SETTING OUT 3HE WAS A REAL GIRL !ND SO AND SHE HAD SET OUT
THERE AND WE COME IN TO EAT SUPPER ) SEEN SHE WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY
OR SEEMED TO BE OR PUTTING ON SOMETHING 3HE HAD A BIG CHERRY PIE
AND ) WAS EATING IT !ND AFTERWARDS ) KINDkVE SUSPICIONED SOMETHING
3O ) SAID l,ETkS GO IN THE FRONT ROOMm
3HE SAID l/H LETkS GO FISHING FIRST DOWN AT THE RIVERm
) SAID l.O LETkS GO IN THE FRONT ROOMm !ND SHE PUT HER ARM
AROUND ME 7HEN ) WALKED IN THE ROOM THE CHAIR WAS GONE
3HE STARTED CRYING SHE PUT HER HEAD OVER ON MY SHOULDER SHE
SAID l)kM SORRY HONEY ) TRIED EVERYTHING TO BORROW TWO DOLLARS
EVEN m BUT SAID l) COULDNkT DO ITm 7EkD PAID ABOUT TEN DOLLARS ON
IT AND SAID l) COULDNkT DO IT WE JUST HAD TO LET IT GOm !ND THEN SHE
LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID l7ERE YOU THINKING OF THAT m AND ) SAID
l9ESm
3HE SAID l7ELL SWEETHEART THEREkLL NEVER BE NOBODY COME AND
GET THIS ONE )TkS ALREADY PAID FOR )T BELONGS TO YOUm 3AID l9OUkVE
BEEN SO TIRED YOU BEEN PREACHING AND PRAYING FOR THE SICKm
)?) WASNkT PRAYING FOR THE SICK THEN 3O ) KNOW THAT SOMETIME
MY GOING WILL PROBABLY BE FROM THE PLATFORM PRAYING FOR THE SICK
4HAT BEEN THE THING THAT WAS HELD THE GIFT UP
% 3HE SAID l"UT THEYkLL NEVER COME TAKE THISm 3AID l)TkS YOURS
.OW SET DOWN AND REST AWHILEm /NE OF THESE DAYS FRIENDS ) DONkT
KNOW IF DAY AND NIGHT ) TRIED ALL THAT ) CAN DO TO LIVE AND DO WHATkS
RIGHT BEFORE 'OD /NE OF THESE DAYS )kM GOING HOME TO REST 4HATkS
RIGHT /NE OF THESE TIMES YOUkLL SEE IT THE PAPER ) WANT YOU TO STOP
AND SING l/NLY "ELIEVEm 4HEYkRE GOING TO PLAY THAT WHEN THEY PUT
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
ME IN THE GRAVE AND THERE STAY IF ) GO BEFORE *ESUS COMES THEYkLL PUT
ME IN THE GRAVE AND WHEN ) DO )kM GOING HOME WHERE ) GOT A CHAIR
TO SET DOWN IN TO REST A LITTLE WHILE #OME OVER THERE ) WISH ) COULD
MEET EVERY ONE OF YOU OVER THERE ) BELIEVE THEREkS A LAND BEYOND THIS
HERE BEYOND THE VALE OF TEARS AND SORROWS AND HEARTACHES ) HAVE
PREACHED DAY AND NIGHT )kVE STAYED TILL EYES SHUT CRYING )kVE STAND AT
THE PLATFORM UNTIL THEY HAD TO PACK ME OUT 7HY "ECAUSE )kVE TRIED
TO MAKE UP FOR THE TIME THAT ) LOST BACK THERE
"ROTHER SISTER YOU LOOK THEN THERE AND THINK l/H THIS IS EASY
THESE HERE THINGS 9OU DONkT KNOW WHATkS BEHIND THE LIFE 4HATkS
RIGHT 4HIS OLD HEARTkS BEEN BROKE AND TORE TO PIECES UNTIL 'OD GETS
OUT BUT SOMEDAY ITkLL BE OVER 4HERE )kM GOING TO HAVE A HOME
7ONkT YOU MEET ME OVER THERE 7OULD YOU LIKE MEET ME )kD LIKE TO
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU
% *UST AS SURE AS ) STAND ON THE PLATFORM ) BELIEVE THEREkS A HEAVEN
TO GO TO ) BELIEVE THEREkS A LAND OF REST WHERE WE LIVE AT ) DONkT CARE
IF ) HAD TO EAT SODA CRACKERS AND DRINK BRANCH WATER ) WOULDNkT
COMPROMISE ON THIS 'OSPEL )TkS THE TRUTH OF 'OD ) DONkT CARE IF )kM
CALLED l(OLY ROLLERm OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL ME 4HATkS ALL RIGHT
) KNOW ITkS THE TRUTH )kVE STOOD BY THEM WHEN THEY WERE DYING AND
HEAR THEM SAY
(APPY DAY (APPY DAY
3INCE *ESUS WASHED MY SINS AWAY
(E TAUGHT ME HOW TO WATCH AND PRAY
!ND LIVE REJOICING EVERY DAY
)T AINkT WHAT YOU DO HERE ITkS THE WAY YOU GO OUT OF THIS LIFE
!ND ) KNOW WITHOUT THE (OLY 3PIRIT YOUkRE LOST 7ONkT YOU RECEIVE
(IM THIS AFTERNOON
% ,ETkS BOW OUR HEADS /UR TIMES HAS GONE ON (EAVENLY &ATHER
/ 'OD>/ 'OD WHEN MY MIND GOES BACK TO ALL THOSE OLD TRACKS
DOWN ALONG THE TIME> >7HEN SHE LOOKED AROUND AND>/H IT
WAS SO PERFECT !ND ) THOUGHT l/ 'OD ) KNOW SHEkS AT REST NOW -Y
LITTLE BABY LITTLE 3HERRYkS OVER THERE / 'OD THEREkS BROTHER>/H
SOON ) SHALL GO ,ORD (ELP ME (ELP ME TO BE TRUE HELP ME TO BE
FAITHFUL )kM SORRY THAT ) DID WHAT ) DID IN THE BEGINNING ,ORD HOW )
SHUNNED TO PREACH THE 'OSPEL HOW ) FAILED AND MAYBE MEN WILL BE
LOST BECAUSE OF IT BUT / 'OD HELP ME NOW TO MAKE UP FOR IT
(ERE WE ARE HERE IN THIS CITY )kM PASSING BY DOING ALL THAT )
CAN ,ORD TO EXALT 4HY 3ON #HRIST *ESUS 7HO DIED AND WHEN (E
DID (E SAVED -AYBE HERE THIS DAY &ATHER THEREkS THOSE WHO ARE
LOST DONkT KNOW WHERE THEYkRE STANDING ) DONkT KNOW WHERE IN SIN
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
-9 ,)&% 34/29
AND DARKNESS LOST WANDERING IN DARKNESS SOMEDAY SHALL WIND UP IN
A #HRISTLESS GRAVE IN THIS A DEVILkS ETERNITY TO SPEND /H HELP DEAR
&ATHER
% "LESS MY POOR LITTLE ORPHAN BOY SETTING THIS AFTERNOON
WEEPING LOOKING ON THINKING OF HIS DEAR MOTHER THAT CROSSED THE
VEIL "UT 9OU HAD TO BREAK OUR HEARTS .OW 9OUkVE GIVE ME ANOTHER
LOVELY LITTLE SWEET 2EBEKAH (OW ) THANK 9OU ,ORD 4HE ,ORD
GIVETH THE ,ORD TAKETH AWAY BLESSED BE THE .AME OF THE ,ORD
!NOTHER COMPANION TO LIVE WITH>4RYING TO DO ALL THAT ) KNOW HOW
TO DO TO LEAD PEOPLE TO YOU )kM SO GLAD AND HAPPY FOR THIS MEETING
HERE ) REALIZE THAT OUR PARTING DOWN HERE WEkLL MAY NEVER MEET AGAIN
UNTIL WE MEET UP THERE TO FACE ALL THE DEEDS THATkS DONE IN OUR LIFE
4HEN &ATHER WHAT WILL BE THEN (ELP US TO MEET EACH OTHER THERE
WONkT YOU ,ORD 4HOSE HANDS WENT UP THIS AFTERNOON WANTING AN
APPOINTMENT WE CAN MEET TOGETHER SOMEDAY IN A BETTER LAND WHERE
WE WONkT CROSS THE DESERTS AND PLAINS AND AROUND THE COUNTRIES TO
PRAY FOR THE SICK NO MORE ITkLL ALL BE OVER THEN 4HEYkLL BE NO SICKNESS
OR SORROW
"LESS WILL 9OU ,ORD TODAY "LESS ALL THOSE WHO ARE HERE "LESS
THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED OF #HRIST JUST AT THIS MOMENT 7ONkT 9OU
GRANT IT &ATHER )N *ESUSk .AME
% 7HILE YOU HAVE YOUR HEADS BOWED IN PRAYER IF YOU WILL HOW
MANY IN HERE WOULD LIKE TO SAY l"ROTHER "RANHAM GOING PUT UP MY
HAND ) WANT YOU TO PRAY FOR ME RIGHT NOW THAT )kLL BE A #HRISTIAN
0UT UP YOUR HAND 4HATkS>'OD BLESS YOU YOU AND YOU AND YOU
/H MY /UTSIDE WAY OUT THERE IS THERE SOME 'OD BLESS YOU OUT
THERE ) SEE YOUR HANDS /H MY HUNDREDS OF HANDS UP
7HAT A MARVELOUS TIME THE (OLY 3PIRIT GIVES US ) LOOKED UPON
YOU>) KNOW A WHILE AGO A LITTLE OFFERING WAS TAKEN UP FOR ME TO
HELP ME TO LIVE 9OU PUT YOUR SUBSTANCE IN THERE PART OF YOUR LIVING
YOUkRE SHARING IT WITH ME /H ITkS>) WANT TO TELL YOU 7ONkT YOU
PLEASE ACCEPT *ESUS SO WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER FOREVER ) WANT TO IF
IN RETURN ) WANT TO INVITE YOU TO *ESUS TO 7HOM THAT YOU CAN LIVE
FOREVER 7ILL YOU COME WHILE THE SISTER GOES TO THE PIANO
% )kM GOING TO ASK l(OW MANY HERE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE #HRIST
AND BE FILLED WITH THE (OLY 3PIRITkS ,IFE TODAY m #OME AND SAY
l"ROTHER "RANHAM BY GRACE OF 'OD )kM ACCEPTING #HRIST NOW AS MY
3AVIOUR AND )kM COMING RIGHT FORWARD 'IVE ME MY HAND STANDING
HERE ON THIS PLATFORM 9OU PRAY WITH ME ) WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN
TOO WHEN ) GOm 7ILL YOU COME WHILE THEYkRE PLAYING l!LMOST
0ERSUADED .OW TO "ELIEVEm 7ILL YOU DO IT WHILE WE ALL STAND ALL
OVER THE BUILDING EVERYWHERE OR IN THE TENT HOWEVER MANY HERE
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
%VER>0EOPLE KEEP YOUR PLACES #HRISTIANS PRAY LIKE NOT BEFORE 4HIS
MAY BE THE LAST TIME THAT WE MEET ON THIS EARTH 7ILL YOU COME RIGHT
DOWN HERE NOW AROUND THE PLATFORM WHILE WE PRAY 'OD BLESS YOU
SISTER 3OMEONE ELSE NOW WHILE WE ALL SING 'OD BLESS YOU SISTER 'OD
BLESS YOU 'OD BLESS YOU SISTER AND YOU TOO 'OD BLESS YOU BROTHER
%
7ILL YOU COME NOW ALL OF YOU THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET A BLESSING
FROM 'OD> >THE SAVING OF YOUR SOUL TO SALVATION -OTHER
COMING WITH HER TWO LITTLE GIRLS 'OD BLESS> >'OD BLESS YOU
HONEY #OME HERE LETkS HAVE YOUR LITTLE HAND 'OD BLESS YOU
SWEETHEART /H MY 'OD SPOKE TO YOU ! LITTLE GIRL SETTING HERE HER
LITTLE DARK EYES LOOKING UP FULL OF TEARS>4HE "IBLE SAID l! LITTLE
CHILD SHALL LEAD THEMm 4HE GRANDMOTHER>'OD BLESS YOU MOTHER
'OOD OLD MOTHER WITH A SCARF AROUND HER HEAD IS COMING 7ONkT YOU
COME !LL OF US TOGETHER NOW AS THEYkRE SINGING
l!LMOST PERSUADED m .OW TO BELIEVE 'OD BLESS
YOU BROTHER SISTER 4HATkS WHERE YOU START LIFE
#OME SISTER
l>MOST PERSUADED m /F #HRIST TO RECEIVE
3EEMS NOW SOME SOUL TO SAY> >
l'O>m 'OD BLESS YOU SISTER 'OD> >
7ONkT YOU COME 7ONkT YOU COME ,ET EVERY SINNER COME
FORWARD WILL YOU NOW #OME FORWARD BY THIS CONFESSION OF *ESUS
#HRIST .O MATTER WHAT CHURCH YOU BELONG TO IF YOU HAVENkT BEEN
BORNED AGAIN WONkT YOU COME FORWARD NOW 9OUR NAME ON A CHURCH
BOOK DOESNkT SAVE DEAR FRIENDS 4HIS MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME THAT
THEREkS EVER A ALTAR CALL THAT YOUkLL SET BY
2EMEMBER A CROWD OF THIS SIZE SIX MONTHS FROM TODAY
THEREkLL BE A GROUP OF YOU WONkT BE ON EARTH 4HINK OF IT 2EMEMBER
THEREkS AT LEAST TWO DOZEN PEOPLE IN HERE THAT WONkT BE HERE A YEAR
FROM TODAY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE GATHERED OR MORE
HERE THIS AFTERNOON 4HERE WONkT>4HEREkLL BE AS MANY AS MAYBE
A FIFTY OF YOU IN A YEAR OF TODAY WILL BE GONE 4HIS MAY BE YOUR LAST
OPPORTUNITY !LL THE EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE IN PUTTING YOUR NAME ON
THE BOOK DONkT BELIEVE THAT #OME FORWARD IF YOU BELIEVE ME TO BE
'ODkS SERVANT !CCEPT MY WORD )F YOUkRE NOT BORNED AGAIN WILL
YOU COME JUST NOW WHILE WE SING THAT VERSE AGAIN #OME ON NOW
EVERYBODY
l!LMOST PERSUADED m .OW TO BELIEVE
l!LMOST PERSUADED m 'OD BLESS YOU SISTER TO
RECEIVE
/H SEEMS NOW SOME SOUL TO SAY
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
-9 ,)&% 34/29
l/H GO 3PIRIT GO 4HY WAY
3OME MORE CONVENIENT DAY /N 4HEE )kLL !LL
RIGHT> >
% 7HAT IF THAT DAY COMES FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE BUT IT ISNkT
CONVENIENT FOR (IM THEN
) STOOD NOT LONG AGO BY THE SIDE OF A MAN THAT WAS DYING WHO
REFUSED #HRIST (E SCREAMED AND TOLD l4AKE THOSE DEMONS AWAY
FROM ME 4HEYkRE WRAPPED IN CHAINS $ONkT LET THEM GET MEm
) STOOD BY A WOMANkS SIDE WHO HAD ABORTION CASES KILLING LITTLE
CHILDREN 3HE SAID l,ITTLE COLD BABIES HANDS ARE RUNNING THROUGH MY
HAIRm 3HE SAID l,ET THAT> >AWAY FROM THE WINDOW THERE WITH
THOSE GREAT BIG HEADS ON ITm
"ROTHER ) SEEN A MAN WHO SHOT ANOTHER ONE CALLING OF HIS
BLOOD ON HIS HANDS HEkD DODGED THE LAW BUT HE WAS STANDING BEFORE
'OD THEN
) STOOD BY A #HRISTIAN NOT LONG AGO OLD $ADDY (AYES HIS
WHITE FLOWING BEARD SAID l2AISE MY HANDSm 3AID l! HAPPY DAY
SINCE *ESUS WASHED MY SINS AWAYm )kVE SEEN THEM GO IN ALL KINDS OF
CONDITIONS !ND YOUkRE GOING TO GO IN SOME CONDITION AND THEREkLL BE
A MANY MANY OF YOU WILL HAVE TO MEET THAT BEFORE A YEAR FROM TODAY
MAYBE ALL OF YOU FOR ALL ) KNOW BUT YOU KNOW YOU GOT TO 7ONkT YOU
COME HERE NOW
#HRISTIANS OVER TO MY RIGHT IN HERE 7ONDERFUL /UTSIDE
ANYBODY HASNkT BEEN BORNED AGAIN (OW MANY IS BORNED AGAIN THEN
RAISE YOUR HAND 4HATkS IT 7ONDERFUL
7HY THEN LOOKY HERE FRIENDS (ERE IS THE CREAM 4HEREkS NOT
ONE SINNER LEFT IN THE BUILDING (EREkS THE SINNERS ARE STANDING HERE AT
THIS DAY PRAYING FOR MERCY
-INISTERS OF THE 'OSPEL YOU COME HERE #OME RIGHT AROUND
WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE STAND RIGHT ALONG THEM .OW LOOK ) WANT
YOU TO BE>*UST STAND WHERE YOU ARE FOR A FEW MOMENTS
#OME SISTER 'OD BLESS YOU 'OD GRANT IT 'OD BLESS YOU
9OU ALL WANT TO BELIEVE NOW AND ACCEPT (IM JUST NOW
-INISTERS OF THE 'OSPEL MINGLE RIGHT AMONG THE PEOPLE HERE ,ET
SOME GOOD #HRISTIANS FROM THIS SIDE DROP RIGHT IN HERE IF YOU WILL
'OD BLESS YOU DAD -ANY A WEARY DAYS IS PASSED BY .OW )kM
COMING HOME 'OD BLESS YOU DAD 'RANT TO YOU>$EAR OLD FATHER
STANDING HERE SHAKING MY HAND AND ANOTHER ONE
,ETkS BOW OUR HEADS EVERYWHERE !CCEPT (IM NOW 4HOUGH
YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET THEYkLL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW $O YOU SEE
! 3/&47!2% 6%23)/.
4(% 30/+%. 7/2$
(IM DYING YONDER FOR 9OU !LL #HRISTIANS PRAYING EVERYWHERE HEADS
BOWED VERY SACRED MOMENT #OME RIGHT ON UP YOUNG MAN 4HATkS
RIGHT *OIN RIGHT IN WITH THEM "OW YOUR HEAD
3EE (IM MID RENDERING ROCKS AND DARKENING SKIES MY 3AVIOUR
BOWED (IS HEAD AND DIED !CCEPT (IM NOW AS YOUR 3AVIOUR (E
PROMISED IF l(E THAT COMES TO -E ) WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUTm 9OUNG
PEOPLE LIFE IS BEFORE YOU
7HILE EVERY ONEkS BOWED (EAVENLY &ATHER TODAY THESE DEAR
PEOPLE HAS GATHERED UP HERE TO THE ALTAR AN OLD OLD SAWDUST TRAILED
TENT GATHERED UP HERE BY THE WOODEN BENCH TO GIVE THEIR LIVES TO
4HEE>/ 'OD IN THE MERCIES OF #HRIST AND BY (IS MERITS THEY
COME NOT IN THEMSELVES BUT IN THE GRACE OF #HRIST THEY COME
TRUSTING ONLY IN (IM KNOWING THAT SOMEDAY DEATHkS GOING TO COME
INTO THE ROOM
/NE MORNING THE DOCTOR WILL PROBABLY LEAVE THE ROOM SAYING
THEREkS NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE ,OVED ONES WILL BE STANDING AND
WRINGING THEIR HANDS CRYING 4HE COLD VAPORS OF DEATH FLOATING OVER
THE BEDSIDE COLD CHILLY WINDS OF DEATH SWEEPING THEIR PULSE COMING
UP THEIR SLEEVE 4HEN BREAKING THROUGH THE MIST WILL COME THE OLD
3HIP OF :ION 4HE MORNING STAR WILL COME DOWN IN THE VALLEY OF
DEATH TO LIGHT UP THE ROAD 4HEYkLL SEE TWO GLOSSY WINGS OF THE (OLY
3PIRIT REACH ACROSS *ORDAN SAY l#OME YOU BLESSED OF -Y &ATHER
) SEEN YOU THAT DAY IN THE LITTLE OLD TENT MEETING DOWN THERE IN
#LEVELAND WHEN YOU COME ACCEPTED -E NOW )kM ACCEPTING YOUm
'RANT IT &ATHER JUST NOW
-AY 9OUR 3PIRIT WOO EACH ONE OF THEM KNOWING NOTHING THEY
CAN DO BUT JUST ACCEPT (IM NOW TO BELIEVE ON THE ,ORD WITH ALL THY
HEART WITH ALL THY SOUL AND WITH ALL THY STRENGTH HE SHALL BE SAVED
'RANT IT &ATHER
7ITH YOUR HEADS BOWED JUST IN PRAYER EVERY ONE OF YOU
!CCEPT (IM NOW
-INISTERS WHILE YOUkRE IN THERE MOVING>%VERY #HRISTIAN
PRAYING ,ETkS KEEP A PRAYING
&ATHER BLESS THIS PEOPLE NOW -AY 9OUR 3PIRIT MOVE UPON THEM
JUST NOW -AY THEY ACCEPT 9OU AS THEIR 3AVIOUR
'OD BLESS YOU "ROTHER> >
6/)#% /& '/$ 2%#/2$).'3
0/ "/8 *%&&%23/.6),,% ).$)!.! 53!
WWWBRANHAMORG
Copyright notice
All rights reserved. This book may be printed on a home printer for
personal use or to be given out, free of charge, as a tool to spread
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This book cannot be sold, reproduced on
a large scale, posted on any website other than www.branham.org,
stored in a retrieval system, translated into other languages, or used
for soliciting funds without the express written permission of Voice
Of God Recordings.
For more information or for other available material, please contact:
Voice Of God Recordings
P.O. Box 950, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47131 U.S.A.
www.branham.org
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