Haden Wilson, missionary

Preface

Early in the twentieth century a Sunday-school missionary in Arkansas gave an impressive address based on his personal experiences in that state and in the Indian Territory, which is now a part of the state of Oklahoma. His forcible statements, thrilling incidents and graphic description of the great work of the American Sunday-School Union in neglected rural communities so impressed a young man in the audience that he resolved to offer himself as a Sunday-school missionary. Through the speaker, the Eev. Charles W. Burks, he made application for a commission and two years later the way was opened for the young man to enter the Sunday-school mission work.

That young man's experience furnishes the framework for this story. A large portion of what is narrated as growing out of Haden Wilson's first visit to the Modoc country is in reality a personal experience in a similar region once known as the Cherokee Nation. The description of early life in the Indian Territory, the intellectual and religious destitution which

4 PREFACE

existed among the white settlers and the reckless characters who openly defied the law and showed a vicious disregard for the claims of society are not in any way exaggerated.

This story is not only true to life; but it represents real facts and real characters (but not their real names) in the person of Haden Wilson, Mike Masters and his father, Harry Keith, Clarence Bush, Mrs. Holmes and others, and portrays a religious destitution that was real in communities where the missionary lived. That young man's adventures are also substantially types of the experience and efforts of more than a score of other faithful Sunday-school missionaries laboring in the regions of the Southwest. If it shall increase the interest, stir the sympathies and stimulate the readers heartily to support this work, the purpose and sincere desire of the author will be amply realized.

P. H. WlLKERSOtf.

The Shepherd Smitten .