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THE KENTUCKY RANGER
By
EDWARD T. CURNICK, A.M.
Author of A Catechism on Christian Perfection.
The Christian Witness Co.
Chicago, Ill.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The story, "The Kentucky Ranger," to a large extent is built around the
life and character of one of the most famous early pioneer preachers of
the West.
Many of the incidents in his career are recorded, but have been treated
as to time, place and authorship according to the demands of the work
with the freedom belonging to the writer of fiction.
A number of years ago some of the chapters in the narrative were
printed in "The Epworth Era," of Nashville, Tennessee. Thanks are
hereby extended to the paper for releasing the copyright.
Copyright 1922
THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS CO.
Transcriber's Note: The Table of Contents was not contained in the
text. It has been generated for the convenience of the reader.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
The Ranger.
CHAPTER II.
An Old Time Camp Meeting.
CHAPTER III.
Swapping Stories.
CHAPTER IV.
The Trail of the Serpent.
CHAPTER V.
Rowdies in Camp.
CHAPTER VI.
Under the Pine Trees.
CHAPTER VII.
The Horse Race.
CHAPTER VIII.
Prayer In a Dance Hall.
CHAPTER IX.
Wanted, a Mission School.
CHAPTER X.
The Mission School Established.
CHAPTER XI.
A Kentucky Feud.
CHAPTER XII.
The Shameful Plot.
CHAPTER XIII.
Into a Pit (or Pitch).
CHAPTER XIV.
Returning Thanks.
CHAPTER XV.
Cupid's Chariot.
CHAPTER XVI.
Horse Thieves.
CHAPTER XVII.
Lynch Law or the Gospel.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Apple Blossoms.
CHAPTER XIX.
A Proposal Without Words.
CHAPTER XX.
Kidnapped.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Search.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Rescue.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A Battle With Moonshiners.
CHAPTER XXIV.
"I Thee Wed."
THE KENTUCKY RANGER
CHAPTER I.
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.
Jasper Very (for this was the preacher's name) continued on his way,
now laughing at the sorry plight of his mockers, again singing a hymn
with such power that the leaves of the trees seemed to tremble with the
melody, and anon lifting his heart in prayer to his Maker. The object
of his ride through the woods was to visit a settler who a short time
before had been caught by a falling tree and suffered the fracture of
his leg. The man of God brought the consolations of religion to the
injured man and his family. After partaking of their plain but
hospitable fare, he went to the barn for his faithful horse. While he
is preparing to mount him we shall attempt to describe this backwoods
preacher's appearance.
We see at once that he is a splendid type of Kentucky manhood. He
stands six feet two inches in his heavy rawhide boots, but his frame is
so well proportioned that he does not seem so tall. His head is massive
and his hair as thick and disheveled as a lion's mane; it cannot be
kept in order. His eyes are dark blue, and can twinkle with merriment
or blaze with indignation. His mouth is of medium size, mobile, yet
strong; when closed the drooping corners give the face a set
expression. Great firmness and decision are shown by the broad but
rounded chin, which forms a base for a smooth-shaven countenance. His
frame is large and powerful and is overlaid with muscles hard as iron
and elastic as steel. His hands are large and have a Samsonlike grip in
them. A long coat of homespun cloth is well fitted to his body, with
waistcoat and trousers of the same material. A black stock loosely tied
about his neck sets off a white shirt of coarse linen. His whole
make-up gives one the impression of fearlessness, determination and
energy, mixed with gentleness, kindness and charity. Humor shines in
his face like heat lightning in a summer cloud.
Jasper Very's parents were pioneers from the State of Virginia. Hearing
of the fertility and beauty of Kentucky they, like many others, decided
to emigrate to that land of promise. In 1785 they, with their infant
son Jasper, started out to brave the perils of the wilderness. Perils
there were in plenty. Kentucky at that time was the scene of repeated
Indian raids, ambuscades, burning of homes, scalpings, and other
atrocities. The Red Man was determined that his choicest Hunting Ground
should not be possessed by the White Man. The Indians were met by such
hardy and invincible scouts and frontiersmen as Daniel Boone, Simon
Kenton and George Rogers Clark. For years the conflict was carried on
until finally the savages were driven out of the state and its
marvelous valleys and hills were left to the white man there to fulfil
his destiny as the aborigines had theirs before him. The Very family
escaped the horrors of battle, massacre and captivity. They settled on
a site of great natural beauty in Lincoln County, near the Tennessee
line.
While the physical surroundings of the Verys were fairly entrancing, we
are sorry to confess that the moral environment was anything but
elevating and desirable. In fact the neighborhood was considered one of
the worst in all the newly settled country. It received the name of
Rogues' Harbor and well deserved the title. Many of the settlers had
committed crimes in the Eastern States and had fled to the wilderness
to escape punishment. They composed a majority of the people of the
district, and when arrested for breaking the law swore one another
clear in the courts of justice. At last the respectable people combined
for their own protection in an organization called the Regulators.
Several bloody encounters took place between the Regulators and the
outlaws before order was established in the community.
Jasper Very was a lively youngster from the start, and surely Rogues'
Harbor was not the best place in which to bring up a vigorous and
vivacious boy. He early showed elements of power and leadership, having
a remarkably strong and well developed body, being a stranger to fear,
a wit and a wag, and loving the rude sports and pastimes of the period.
Apart from the home there were few opportunities for mental or
religious training. Schools were few and scarcely worthy of the name.
No newspapers were published in that section. Sunday was a day set
apart for hunting, fishing, horse-racing, card-playing, dancing and
other amusements.
It is little wonder that Jasper became a wild and wicked boy. He was a
leader among his fellows in the rough sports of the time. His father
gave him a race-horse and he became renowned among his companions for
fearless riding. At card-playing he was skillful and lucky. But Jasper
had one blessed, restraining influence which doubtless kept him from
going the full course of sin and folly--a devout, humble, praying,
Christian mother.
Happy the boy who in the slippery paths of youth can lean upon the
loving arm of a godly mother.
When sixteen years of age Jasper experienced a great change of heart
and conduct. It was the turning point of his life. With his father and
brother he attended a wedding in the neighborhood. With others he took
part in the uproarious merriment of the occasion. Returning home he
began to think of his wicked ways, and at once felt condemned. His mind
became so agitated that his body was affected. His heart palpitated in
a very violent manner, his sight left him, and he thought death was at
hand. Very sure was he that he was not prepared to die. Falling on his
knees he cried to God to have mercy on his soul. Though it was late at
night his mother heard his cries, sprang from her bed, and was soon at
his side praying for her son, and exhorting him to look to Christ for
mercy. They prayed together a long time, and little sleep came to them
that night. Jasper resolved from that time to be a Christian. He asked
his father to sell the racehorse, and gave his pack of cards to his
mother, who threw them into the fire.
However, it was many days before Jasper really felt that he was
converted. Finally he found peace of mind at a camp meeting. We quote
from a record of his experience: "On the Saturday evening of said
meeting I went with weeping multitudes, bowed before the sand, and
earnestly prayed for mercy. In the midst of a solemn struggle of soul
an impression was made on my mind as though a voice said to me: 'Thy
sins are all forgiven thee.' Divine light flashed all around me,
unspeakable joy sprang up in my soul. I rose to my feet, opened my
eyes, and it really seemed as if I were in heaven; the trees, the
leaves on them, and every thing seemed to be, and I really thought
were, praising God. My mother raised a shout, my Christian friends
crowded around me and joined me in praising God--I have never doubted
that the Lord did then and there forgive my sins and gave me religion."
He went on his way rejoicing, and before he reached his majority became
a backwoods preacher. He had been ranging over the hills and valleys of
Kentucky for four years, preaching the gospel in many places, when he
is introduced to our readers.
Jasper Very was known early in his ministry as a great camp meeting
preacher. He was always partial to such gatherings, partly because at
one of them he had found religion. These meetings in the woods, "God's
first temples," are of enough importance to merit description in
another chapter.