The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-12-18
Tho Minister and tho Hams.

had The following narrative from q mos
/ ftNalie source, aud Hs near ~ may be, vii
give u Ia the language Of the narrator
Knew man who, until past the meridian
/ OF .lie, manilestcd in oil his transactions q
mean miserly spirit. Money Was his God
lie w@ proyerbially ga mean man" BE,
tween forty and ffy years N, age he became
a subject Of "aoyereign grace" His eyes we're
/ opened 10 see with great distiuctuusa tho
: fruth " that word aA mans lie oonsistetli
/ not Ia the abundance ~ the thihgs which he
/ possesseth'" In word, he waa truly convert
ed At the period Of which | speak, he Wus
O wealthy farmer, on one Of our rich prai-
| rles, lie united with the people Of God, be
confessed, and most deeply deplored the sin
of cOyetuusness lie promised with Divine
help, 20 "live no longer unto himself" lie
was sincere ~ his promise and his purpose.
little did the poor man know himself the
power of habit, Of temptation, or Of the con
hiot before him between the "old aud the
new man"
A. was then the custom IN the Methodist
church IN the country, aud l., 10 some extent
~ this day, the minister IN charge was In the
habit oi receiving his dues IN provisions, etc
Soon AFTER "Old CovetOus' united with tho
class, the preacher got out Of meati 30 he
"harnrhsed up and rode over 70 Bro. C-s
house.
Good morning, BRO, c."
Good msrnIngi glad 10 see sou won't
you 1ghtP'
"No. thank you. wife nays we are out Of
meat, and ] thought
(Old mani "Out Of meat, are ye p" New
mani "Well I'm glad 10 hcnr ~ IL viii dn
mr good 90 supply YOU, Go To- my smoke
house, yondcr,-und take the best ham YOU
can iud-miud aud take The bigg,st."
On went the preacher, and soon returned,
bearing hum weighing twenty pounds. lie
passed on to his wagon,
Now CAME the conflict.
tOld man iu his heart sohis1 'Ynu old
fool that ham weighs twenty pounds -
Hams are scarcc-wOrth one shilling per
pound tNcw man, spifsl God loveth
the chfeTfR giycr." What shall Il profit
man, though hc gain the whole world aud
lose his own soul ~ q God, forgive me 49,
Get the behind me, Satan" Here, MIR.
som3 back come back Now" said he, "po
back again To nv smoke-housc and this timp
get tara hams Get the very bcst-mind you
get rhuserS, -
Soou hc returned, hearing forty pound,
more of the precious meats then came over
the poor man again the spirit of coyctous.
ness,
..lold mani "well, you are a fool You
viii die in the popthousr vet Forty, sixty
eight dollurs Eight dollar,
gunc slick" (Nrw mani "llonor the
Lord with thy substance. Give, aud it shall
he given unto you. Rejoice not against me,
q mine encmyi though / fall shall rise
again Though Ailk through the valley
of the shadow of death, will fear no evil
. | am an Ia the yallu, ~
Poor man. lac was, and Ike Bun,nns
hc sheathcd his sword and cried TO
him. who was "abe and wilinG"-"I ord eco"
me-
(Ncw mani Here, Mr., come back -
come back 90 Now his manly form irembled.
The water stood in his eyes, aud then Ikea
little child, he wcpt aud sobbed as hc told
his minister Of the wariare/withir. And
now, Mr.. Devil said he, "iE or doHt quit
bis business, RI gre otody ercry ham Tee
I0f W M yWUtrr trHys-' 'i---- ---------
Then, "Apol;yon spread his wings and lcf,
him for a season.