field on such occasions, as it was much the shorter route, but on this
particular morning he had a mysterious disposition to take the long
route around the road. When he had reached a point about a quarter of a
mile from his home, to his astonishment he met Deacon Gramps,
accompanied by Gramps' hired hand. He saw at once that the Deacon was in
a most surly mood. So in a pleasant tone of voice Benton said, "Good
morning, gentlemen, nice mornin'," aiming with salutation to pass on.

Gramps was not in any sense a brave man, as you may have guessed by this
time, but he always manifested great boldness where he was sure there
was no physical danger.

"They say Gray got your kind of religion at the prayer meetin' last
night," he said.

"Well, I guess it ain't my kind," answered Benton, "but he sure did get
Bible salvation."

Then the Deacon let loose in all his fury. "Jake Benton," said he, "this
religion of yours has got to be stopped, it's got to be wiped out, it's
doin' more harm in this community than all the saloons in the State.
It's tearing up our church. Nolan Gray and old Grandma Gray was good
church-members and have been for years and years and now they are taken
in with this crazy holiness stuff, and you are the hul cause of it. I
tell you it's just got to be stopped and I'm going' to stop it and I'll
just begin right here." With this he advanced toward Benton and struck
him a terrific blow on the side of the cheek with his open hand. At this
Benton only replied, "God bless you, Mr. Gramps." This served only to
incense the enraged Deacon all the more, and he literally flew at Benton
and easily pinned him to the ground and sat upon his chest and beat him