The Kanzas news., 1858-05-22
The Dream of Caleb Edmonds.
A SKETCH FROM LIFE

Vne dream OF CaIeD E0monOS.
SKETCH FROM LIFE.
christianity, indeed!'' said Mr.. Edmonds
as he looked over his books, in the little
back parlor behind the shop; 81 am DISCUS
ted with such hypocrisy
There was dark frown upon the man of
business as he spoke these words, and an
irritabihty in his manner of turning over
the leaves before him, which spoke of some
bad debt troubling his mind, and robbing
him Of his good temper. = ~
"What Is the matter?' asked a cheerful
little woman by the fire, at whose side a
basket of stockings told of a large family,
and consequent demand for stichery-
"Matter!' echoed the husband, edo you
not know that Westford owes met four pounds
ten and sixpence?"
''Well. he viii pay suppose?"
s'Not he. The goods were purchased more
than year ago, and have not had penny
yetl''
"What does he say when you see him?"
asked Mrs. Edmonds, who evidently loved
to look at the bright side.
"Say?-he does not say much to me
can tell you. told him not to worry me
with his excuses, but to bring his money;
and that he need not cross my door step again
until he could do that.
81 am sorry for his wife, said the little
stocking mender, presently, "she appears to
be truly pious woman
"Pious!'' retorted her husband; eyes,
and so is he; tits that disgusts me. Reli-
fgion, indeed, and he owes me four pounds
ten and sixpence. I thought the Bible said,
.'Owe no man anything Christianity, in
deed
Mr.. Caleb Edmonds was highly respec-
table grocer in the town of Marlby-in fact
a man of substance, for business had pros
pered with him. He was industrious and
obliging; rising early, working hard, and
thus from small beginnings he had rose to
considerable wealth. But although an ex-
very ordinary Christian. True, he began
the race, but he did not press toward the
mark-alas, for the care of this world and
the deeeitfulness of riches!'' And as it is
characteristic of a low standard of piety to
be harsh. and censorious in our Judgment
of our fellow citizens, so Mr.. Edmonds,
when he heard of any defect in the charac
ter of professors around him, was always
the first to exclaim "Christianty, indeed"
Is not this too common to us all? Do we
thoughts, doubt and hesitate, regarding the
reality of our Ready to halts" and Fee
bic minds?" Do we not set up standard
of perfection for our fellows, which were
too lofty in our own view, as standard for
ourselves? Are we not too ready to ex-
claim against the wanderings of others, even
while We turn aside into forbidden paths?
Perhaps such thoughts as these had pass
i a. IL
she sat over her work; for when she arose
10 leave he basket for some other household
duty. she bent over her husband for a mo-
ment, and said gently. '.Caleb, do not like
to hear you say, Christianity indeed!' as
you did just now. Suppose your fellow
christians were to judge of you as harshly
as you judge of them? You often say it, .
she continued hastily. "you doubted John
Watson's religion yesterday because be lent
money to your rival, and Thornton's be-
cause he opposes you in business; and you
shook your head because he argued with
you against total abstinence Judge not
that you be not judged'''
Long after his wife had left him, these
words rang in Caleb's ear-"Judqe not.''
At last he sat IN the twilight, between
sleeping and waking-for business was very
dull-a vision stole upon him and he pass
ed in imagination, rapidly through the scenes
which follow.
At first be found himself in the front par
lor of house in very quiet neighborhood,
and in the presence of three maiden ladies',
whose names he knew very well. They had
their feet upon the fender. and-their knit
ting laid aside-were evidently discussing
the affairs of their neighbors.
''Such pride!" said the elder lady whose
name was Rayby; 'swhat viii come next I
wonder?''
.'The most fashionable boarding school
in T.. 1 assure you,'' said another
Miss Phillip.
"Ah," said Miss Rayby, ..and L can re-
member the time-of course was very
young. then. but still can remember-when
Caleb Edmonds swept out his ownshopp'
"Dear mel and now he has the upstart
impudence to send his girls to such school
IS that!" exclaimed Miss Sophia Milwood,
the spinster who had not yet spoken. go,
the pride of human nature. .
.sAnd he professor. tool''
professor said Miss Rayby; religion
does not teach man such absurd pride as
that" -