The Kentucky Ranger

The Ranger. “Glory to God! another sinner’s down! Glory! Hallelujah! Amen; Pray on, brother; you’ll soon be through. Glory! Glory!” These words were shouted by two young men and a young woman who were returning through the Kentucky woods from a camp meeting. They were riding in a smart spring wagon drawn by two good horses. The young man who was not driving would fall into the wagon, crying for mercy, and the driver shouted: “Glory to God! another sinner’s down!” and the young lady added: “Keep on praying, brother; you’ll soon be saved. Glory! Glory to God!” Then the young men would change places, and the Other would shout: “You’ll soon get through, brother; pray on. Glory!” These persons acted thus to tantalize a camp meeting preacher who was riding on horseback ahead of them. He detected their mockery and tried to outride them; but his horse being somewhat lame he could not escape them. The preacher remembered that at a little distance beyond the road ran through a swamp but that a bridle path wound around it. Putting spurs to his horse he made for this path but the driver, keeping on the road, whipped up his horses. Driving into the swamp in his haste and excitement he did not notice a stump at the side of the road. Crash! went the fore wheel against the stump, and mounting to its top over went the wagon into the mud and water. The two young men took a flying leap into the swamp, and the young lady was thrown out. She was almost smOthered before she was rescued by the young men. While they were in this predicament the preacher rode up to the edge of the morass. Raising himself in his stirrups he shouted at the top of his voice: “Glory to God! Glory to God! another sinner’s down! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory!” Then he added: “Now you poor, miserable sinners, take this as a judgment from God upon you for your meanness, and repent of your wicked ways before it is too late.” With this he left them, covered with mud and shame, to their reflections