Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/44

34 GEO. B. KUYKENDALL and some of the boys tied' a rope across the bottom of the door, at the head of the "boys' stairway." John Clinkinbeard came out, and was just about to start down, when his foot tripped on the rope or cord, and he pitched headlong down the stairway, bruised himself up severely and dislocated one of his thumbs. It was lucky for him that it was not a broken neck instead of a disjointed thumb. This brought matters to a head, with a storm of indignation and protest, and criminal proceedings were threatened and about to be instituted, but the matter was some way quieted and never got into court. During one of the revivals when an invitation was given for "seekers" to come forward to the altar, many "made a move," and the altar was crowded. No doubt nearly all were sincere and deeply in earnest, but there were mischievous scamps that seemed to be making it an occasion for sport. One boy got up among the others, and while they were all down and praying, he made himself busy pinning papers or rags to the tails of some of their coats. When he had suc- ceeded in getting one pinned on, he would clap his hands and shout, "Glory to God, Hallelujah !" The capers of the young scapegrace were soon detected and his particular line of devotions was abruptly cut short. Rev. Wm. Taylor, a nephew of the noted Bishop Taylor, mission- ary in India, after he learned of the urchin's tagging opera- tions made a suitable diagnosis of the situation and suggested the proper remedy, "That boy needs to be taken out with a good hazel and labored with a while, for the good of his soul." I just now remember that I saw a few days ago, in the Oregonian, an account of the death of John Clinkinbeard, near Marshfield. John's mother was a sister of Dillard Holman, of the pioneer Oregon family, well known in the state. I am also reminded of the tragic death of Mrs. Clinkinbeard, many years ago on the beach. While standing upon a drift log she was watching the coming-in and receding waves. While gaz- ing in awe and admiration upon the majesty of the ocean, she had just repeated the words, "Thus far shalt thou come, but