Old Preacher Lewis

Back in the early 30's and 40's in Southern New Mexico Was a traveling preacher watching over his herd Never had a church like we know He did a lot of his preaching where ever he would go A Johnny Appleseed of sorts, spreading God's word He always had a friendly hello He would start his walk on the Rio Grande River At Las Cruces and then north day by day The Santa Fe Railroad gave him a life time ticket to ride He always had goodness to deliver At he end of the day, he had a house to stay And pray with them once inside The only denomination that he knew was preaching God's word They were all the same to Preacher Lewis And he would help anyone with a empty belly He was one of the Lord's shepherds, watching over his herd He would baptize a baby or settle a fuss Did not take much to please him, could get by on toast and jelly After the Depression, my Dad would see the preacher now and then He was working in a lumber yard, one evening after work close by He and some friends , stopped in a bar to drink a beer Old Preacher Lewis came in He said, "Boys, I need some help I cannot deny" "I am not here to judge you or wonder why you are here" "But boys, I have a family down the road, they have hit on hard times" "If you can find it in your heart for a little change, let me pass my hat" "Then I will be on my way to get them something to eat" He said no more, within minutes the hat was full of nickels and dimes There has to be a lot said for an old country preacher like that Old Preacher Lewis, the preacher I never met