| you see that thing come out of
the ground?" That was my first and last date with her. I
never had the nerve to ask her for another. In fact, one of the other
boys had to take her home that night because I was to ashamed.
UNDER CONVICTION In 1906 I got sin sick. I knew I needed to give my life to the Lord. I was a good song director by this time. One day my sis went to visit some neighbors. I was there all alone, so I decided I would go out to the cotton field and get in the tall cotton where I could not be disturbed and pray to the Lord for the forgiveness of my sins. I hunted out the quietest spot in the cotton field and began to pray. After much praying and wrestling with the Lord, I could feel my tears flowing. I felt the touch as though someone had placed a big hand on my shoulder. I could hear someone say, "You have cried and shed tears. That is enough religion for any man." I got up and tried to pacify myself that the Lord had saved my soul. Late that evening, my sister came home and after a while I mustered up enough courage to tell her that I had gone to the cotton field and professed religion. Well, that was when the test came. My sis never changed expression and never answered me. Something then told me I was only flirting with the Devil. He had prompted me to stop praying and go tell my sister that I was a saved man. In August, 1907, I still had not been saved. I got sin sick again. I felt condemned in the sight of God. I knew I needed salvation but I didn't want my sister to know. I just knew she would want me to join the Baptist Church! REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION One morning in August, about eight o'clock, I walked off to the barn. As I went, I was trying to bargain with the Lord not to give me shouting relig- 32 |