The Kentucky Ranger

The Kentucky Ranger, by
Edward T. Curnick

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Title: The Kentucky Ranger
Author: Edward T. Curnick
Release Date: February 19, 2007 [EBook #20622]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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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.

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