The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-01-27
THE STR SHEEP.
BY FANNY FERN.

"He's going the wrong way-straying
from the true fold going off the track ),
said old Deacon Green, shaking his head
ominously, as young Neff entered
church to hear an infdel preacher
"Can't understand it; he was taught his
catechism and ten commandments as
soon as he could speak; he knows the
right way as well as our parson; | can't
understand it,"
Harry Neff had never seen a day pass
since his earliest childhood, that was not
ushered in and closed with a family pray
ee. He had not partaken of a repast mp
on which the divine blessing had not
been invoked; the whole atmosphere of
the old homestead was decidedly ortho-
dox. Novels, plays Byronic poetry were
all vetoed. Operas, theatres and the like
most decidedly frcwned upon; and no
lighter literature was allowed upon the
table, than missionary reports and theo-
loglcal treatises.
Most of his fathers guests being cler-
gyman, Harry was early made acquain
ted with every crook and turn Of ortho-
doxy. He had laid up many a clerical
conversation, and pondered it in his heart
when they imagined his thoughts on any
thing b ut the subject in debate. At his
fathers request, they had each and all Ia
ken him by the button, for the purpose
of long, private converse tions-the old
gentleman generally prefacing his request
by the remark that 'his heart was as
hard rs flint
Harry listened to them all with respcc-
full attention., manifcsting no signs of i'm
thence, no nervous shrinking from the pro-
bling process, and they left him, impressed
with a sense of his mental superiority,
but totally unable to affect bis feelings
in the least.
Such pity. they all said that he was
so impenetrable; such wonderful argu-
mentative powers as he had; such felicity
of expression; such an engaging exterior.
Such pity that on all these brilliant
natural gifts, should not have been writ
ten, sHoliness to the Lord,
Yes, dear reader it aoas pity. Pity,
when our pulplts are so often filed with
those, whose only Recommendation for
office is a good heart and black coat
1t was pity that graceful gesticulation
that rare felicity of expression, that keen
perception of the beautiful, that ready
tact and adaptation to circumstances and
individuals, should not have been etfec-
tive weapons in the gospel armory.-
Pity, that voice of music should not have
been employed, to chain the worldling's
fastidious ear to listen to Calvary's sto-
~.
Yet it was a pity that glorious intel
lect had been laid at an unholy shrine;
pity che had strayed from the true fold"
How was it?
All, the solution is SIMPLE slime up
on line, precept upon precept'" Is we'll
l,,4 o,.oc};co ;e beftpr -
Religion must not be all lip-service; the
ssfruits of love, meekness, gentlencss, for
bearance. long-sufering" must follow
Harry was keen observer. He had Of
ten heard the harsh and angry word
from lips upon which the saviour's name
had lust fingered. He had felt the unjust
quick. passionate blow from the hand
which a moment before had been raised
in supplication TO Heaven. He had seen
the purse strings relax at the bidding q
worldiness, and tighten at the call Of char
ity. He had seen principle sacrificed to
policy, and duty to interest. He had
himself beer n1isapproc;ated. The shrink