The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-07-02


ness and fdelity--he Lad never omitteC
attendance on the sanctuary, he had giyer
money to missions, to ministers, to good
\ works, and great charities. Why, then
' LgIarcd his hollow eyes, with strained sep.
uIchral stars, on the frettcd ceiling? Why
on his brow were great drops Of agony!
Why did his dry, blue lips convulsiyely
utter mercy mercy mercyp The man
, OF God sounded mercy in his dull ear
painted the sorrows Of fcalyary and preach
ed the Crucifed. The wife, in tears,
pleaded with Heaven that the passing
,, soul might. not plung out of darkness into
eternity--but they fell these sweet words,
these soft voices, these aqoniziOg paryers,
on stony, soil. The death hour was
thronged with accuscr8 Haggard faces
mocked his failing sigh; men whom his
strlcness had driven to deeds of despera-
ton, tormented his passing soul They
made wall over his dying head that he
could not see Christ through it; they shut
the very Heavens from his sight
Mercy! mercy! mercyP still the wall
went up.
Can you not trust in Christi asked
the weeping pastor.
Not for mercy-I aerer SEolocd any,
and the solemn, thrilling tones sounded
with awful emphasis throughout the
splendid chamber; it seemed as if the
echo was repeated--perhaps it was. And
the merciless man died beggar in the
midst of affluence--a castaway, thrust
forth of his own deeds condemned by his
own testimony--lost through lis own
agency.
Reader, there are many sermons in that
little sentcnce-'Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy
READING ONES Own OBITUARY-The
tenure ofthe Major GeneraIsbip of Mass
achusetts, like that ot good many other
Offices in that ancient Commonwealth, is
for life or during good behavior. The
Boston Transcript saws that one Of the
former lived so long that wicked wag,
at his reported death gave, as a sentiment
at public dinner:
The memory OF our late Major Gen
eral--may he be Externally" rewarded
in heaven, for his Everlasting" services
or earth"
Judge Of the surprise and astonishment
oflhe author Of this toast, on learning
the next day that the report was false,
and that the veteran officer officer still
lived.
This reminds us of an occurance that
took place in the same state some years
ago. In the days of old MycalI the pub
Usher Of The Newburyport Herald, Ia
journal still alive and hourishing,) J the
Sheriff of old Essex, Philip Bagley, had
been asked several times to pay up his
arrears Of subs cript'on.-At last he one
day told MycaIl that he would certnly
"hand over" the next morning as sure as
he lived. "lf you don't get your money
tomorrow, you may be sure Pm dead,"
said he.
The morrow came and past, but no
money. Judge of the sherll'S feelings
when, on the morning Of the day after,
he opened the Herald, and saw announ
ced the lamenled decease of Phillip Bag
ley, Esq, High Sheriff of the county Of
Essex, with an obituary attached, giving
the deceased credit for many excellent
traits of character, but adding, that he
had one fault very much 10 be depIored:
he was not Puncual in paying the printer.
"Bagley without waiting for his break,
fast, started for the Herald Office, On
the way it struck him as singular, that
none oil his many friends and acquain-
tances he met seemed surprised 10 see
him. They must have read their morn
ng's paper. Was itposSible they cared
so little about him as to have forgotten
that he was no more. Full Of perturba-
ton, he entered the prniing-ollice TO
deny that he was dead, in Pr1PGia per.
soma.
Wby Sheriff. exclaimed the facatious
editor, 4 thought that you were defunGtP
'DrfUncl' exclaimed the sheriff.
what put that idea into your headr =
why you your self said MyCal.-y
Did you not tell me-
'Oh! ah! yesl | see, stammered the
sheriff. 'Well, there's your money.-
And now contradict the report in you
next paper, if you please
That's not necessary friend Bag
said The old joker, it was only PrffiSEs1l seXraF
your copy
The good sheriff lived many years after
this sell, and 10 the day of his real death,
always took good care to pay the printer.
DoY'T MIND WHAT HE SAYs.-A certain
Judge while attending Court in shire
town was passing along the road where
a boy was just letting down the bars to
drive some cattle in. His father stood
in the door ofhis home, on the opposite
side of. the road, and seeing what his hope
ful boy was doing. .bawled out,-
John, don't you drive them cattle in
there. told you to put them in the pas
ure behind the house.
The boy took no notice whatever oftbe
remonstrance, and his father repeated the
order in louder tone, without the least
eifect--and third time gave positive or.
ders not to drive the cattle in there.
The son didn't even deign to look up,
and disobeyedi the parental injunction {
with GOODNESS which positively shocked {
the Judge, who looking NJ the culprt, '