Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-26

ter W. to hear Such ignorance of sacred
matters they felt to be objectionable A long
lecture followed in which the man was scold-
ed, admonished, and threatened with divine in
dignation. At its close he modeStlv asked
whether be might not have the Bible to read
for an hour or two before retiring for the night
This request was granted with more pleasure
than any of the preceding ones.
Shortly after supper the man was conducted
to the little square room, accompanied by the
Bible. Before leaving him alone, Mr. w felt
it to be his duty to exhort him to spiritual
things, and he did SO, most earnestly, for ten
or fifteen minutes But he could not STE that
his words made much impression, and he final
ly left his guest, lamenting his obduracy and
ignorance.
In the morning he came down, and meeting
Mr.. w, asked him if he would be SO kind as
to lend him a razor, that he might remove his
beard, which did not give his face q very at
tractive appearance. His request was com
piled with.
1--WE will have prayers in about ten min
utes," said Mr. W. as he handed him the razor
and shaving box.
The man appeared and behaved with due
propriety at family worship. After breakfast
he thanked the farmer and his wife for their
hospitality, and parting, went on his journey
Ten o'clock came, but Mr. n had not arri-
we'd. So Mr.. and Mrs W. started for the
meeting house, not doubling that they would
find him there. A goodly number of people
were inside the meeting house. and goodly
number outside, but the minister had not
arrived
Where is Mr.. N-? inquired a
dozen voices, as little crowd gathered around
the farmer
He hasn't come yet. Something has de-
tanned him. But still look for him-indeed,
| fully expected to fad him here -
The day was cod and Mr. w, after becom-
ing thoroughly chilled, concluded to go in and
keep good lookout for the minister from the
window near which be usually sat- Others,
from the same cause, followed his example, and
the little meeting house was soon filed and one
after another came dropping in. The farmer,
who turned towards the door each time it was
opened, was little surprised to see his guest
of the previous night enter, and come slowly
down the aisle looking on either side as if
searching for vacant seat, very few of which
were now left. Still advancing, he finally got
within the little enclosed altar, and ascending to
the pulpit, took off his old gray overcoat and
sat down.
BY this time Mr.. w was at his side, and
had his hand upon his arm.
You mustn't sit here, come down and l
will show you a seat" he said iu ali excited
tone.
THANK you,' replied the man, in a COM
posed voice at is very comfortable here"
And the man remained unmoveabe
Mr. w feeling embarrassed, went down in
70 oe1n
in making forcible election of the man from
the place he was desecrating Immediately
upon his doing so, however, the man arose. and
standing up at the desk, opened the hymn
book His voice was thrilled to the finger
ends of brother w as, in distinct and i'm
pressive manner, he gave out the hymn begin
ming -
Help us to help each other, Lord,
Each others cross to bear;
Let each his friendly aid afford,
And feel brothers care"
The congregation rose after the stranger had
read the entire hymn, and had repeated the
first two lines for them to sing Brother w.
usually started the tunes. He tried this time,
but went off on a long metre tune Discover
ing his mistake at the second word he baked
and tried again, but now he stumbled on short
/
aid, and led off with tune that suited the
measure in which the hymn was written
After singing, the congregation kneeed, and
the minister-for no one doubted his real char
acter-addresSed the Throne Of Grace with
much fervor and eloquence. The reading of a
chapter in the bible succeeded Then there
was deep pause throughout the room in an
ticipation of the text, which the preacher pre-
pared to announce.
Brother w. looked pale, and his hands and
knees trembled Sister WIS face looked like
crimson, and her heart was beating so loud
that she wondered whether the sound was not
heard by the sister who sat beside her. There
was breathless silence. The dropping of a
pin might have been heard Then the fine,
emphatic tones of the preacher filed the crowd
ed room.
And a new commandment gire unto yOu,
that you LOUe one another"
Brother w. bent bis head forward to listen,
but now he had sunk back in his seat. This
wvs the Eleventh Commandment
The sermon was deep, searching, yet affec-
tionate and impressive. The preacher uttered
nothing that could in the least wound the broth
er and sister of whose hospitality he had par
taken, but he said much that smote upon their
hearts. and made them painfully conscious that
they had not shown as much kindness to the
stranger as he had been entitled to receive on
the broad principles of humanity. But they
suffered most from modification of feeling To
think that they had treated the Presiding El-
der of the District after such fashion, was
deeply humiliating and the idea of the whole
affair getting abroad, interfered sadly with
their devotional feeling throughout the whole
period of service.
AT last the sermon was over, the ordinance
administered, and the benedction pronounced
Brother w. did not know what it was best for
him to do. He was never more at q loss in his
L AZ aad Enor.. Aha 81 Liz