The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-09-14

you've no business to have such GUS
TONER'S broke in Mr.. Gray. No right
to take my goods and sell them to men
who are not honest enough to pay their
bills. sisuoa sasr 1anGDEE vavg .
'One of them is your own son. replied
the mechanic, goaded beyond endurance.
His bin is equal to half of yours. have
sent for the amount great many times,
but still he put me off with excuses. l
will send it to You next tirre.'' .afii 7''
! This was thrusting home with .. sharp
sword, and the vsnquished Mr.. Gray re-
treated from the battle field bearing a
painful wound. ia ~ ,f'4 .
THAT wasn't right in me, ] know
said the mechanic, as Gray left the shop.
I'm sorry, now that. [ said it. But he
pressed me too closely. Lam bat hui
man. .'''i.'.''' ' -.
He is a hard, exacting, money-loying
man. was my remark. rsl.5r. 10
'They tell me he has become a Christ
ian,' said the mechanic. HAS got relig-
ion-been converted. Is that SOP
1T is commonly reported; but I think
common report must be in error. st.
Paul gives, patience, = forbearance,, long
suffering, meckness, brother kindness and
charity assome Of the Christian graees.-
| DO not see th5m .inTthis man.. There
fore, common report be in error.
81 have paid him good many. hun
dreds of dollars since opened my shop
here svid the mechanic, with the IMAM
ner of one who felt burt. IF / am a
poor hard-working man, ItrE to be hon
est. Sometimes l get little behind
hand, as am now, because people
work for don't pay up as they Should
1t happened twice before when [ wasn't
| Just square with Mr.. Gray, and he passed
down very hard upon, and talked just as
you heard him to-day. He got his mon
ey, every dollar Of it; and be will get his
money now. did think, knowing. thai
he Joined til, church and made q profess
ion of religion, that he would bear a tic
patiently with me this time. That, as be
had obtained forgivness, as alleged, of hi:
sins towards Heaven, he would be merci
full to his fellow man. All, well! Thes,
things make us very sceptical about the
honesty of men who call themselves relig
ious. My experience with professors
has not been very encouraging. As :
general thing find them quite a greet!y
for gain as other men We outside PEG
pie Of the w@rd get 10 Q ,ey SHARP
sighted. When a man sets himself by {
name significant ofheagenly Yirtuo,o wC
judge him, natu,alIy,by his own standard
and watch him very closely. "
/ If be remain as hard, as selfish, as ex
acting, and as eager after money as be
fore we do not put much faith in bis pro
fession, and arc very apt to class bin
with hypocrites. His praying, and fins
talk about faith, and heavenly love, anC
being washed from all s'n, excite in u
contempt rather that respect. We ash
for good works, aud are never satisfied
with anything else, BY their fruits "
shall know them .-..,
On the next Sunday | saw Mr.. Gray
in church. Ny eyes were on him wher
he entered. noticed that all the lines o
his face were drawn down, and that th'
whole aspect and bearing of the mar
were solemn and devotional. He moyec
to bis place with q slow steps his eye;
cast to the floor. On taking his seat, ht
leaned his head on the pew in front o
him, and cont nued for nearly a minute
in prayer. During the services I heard
his voice in the singing; and through the
sermon, he maintained the most fixed at
tention. Itwas communion Sabbath
and he remained, after the congregation
was dismissed, to join in the boliest act d
worship.
'Can this man be indeed self-deceiged
l asked myself. as l walked homeward.--
5'Can he really believe that Heaven is te
be gained by pious acts alone. Thai
every Sabbath evening he can pitch his
tent days march nearer Heaven, though
all the week he have failed in the com
monest offences of neighborly love? -
1t so happened, that Mr.. Gray, who,
after joining the church became an active
worker in some Of the public and prom:-
nent charities of the day. He contlibu-
ted literally in many cases, and gave a
good deal Of time to the prosecution q
benevolent enterprises, in which, men Of
some position were concerned. But,
when saw him. dispute with poor
ao.rdener who had laid the sods in his