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

Il LII J1llIlO & 8 NIGA l.
a.5Jd "f-4 re hsTo-.L d q < tFB7 j.
" S he a Christian9 & Z
i The question reached my ear as I
sat sonversing with a friend, aud 1paus-
ed in the sentence l was uttering, to note
the answer. aEE8 ETsgssGE
ooh. yes; he is a Christian was re-
Piled. E5t.o. ...s ... r 81 {
q am rejoiced to hear YOU say 50. l
was not aware of it before" said the
other. ~ al
Yes; he had passed from death into
life. Last week in the JOY of his new
birth, he united himself TO the church,
and is-now in fellowship with the saints"
.What blessed changed .sf ~a7
;. BLESSED, indeed. Another soul saved !;
another added to the great company of
those who have washed their robes, and
made them willie in. the blood Of the
Lamb. Tll0re is joy in Heaven on his
account. Fl 1.a
'Ofwhom are they speaking!' l asked,
turning to my friend.
'Of Fletcher Gray, I believe" was re-
piled.
Few men stood in more need of
Christian graces,' said T. "If he is in
deed, numbered with the saints, there is
cause for rejoicing.
by their fruits We shall know them,
responded my friend. 4 will believe his
claim to the,tit of Christian, when | see
the;fruitin good living. If ha have tru-
ly passed from death unto life, as they
| say, he will work the. works of righteous
ness. A sweet fountain will not send
forth bitter waters"
My friend but expressed my own SEN
iments in this, and all like cases. | have
learned to put small trust in profession :
to look past the Sunday and prayer-meet-
ing p city of people and to estimate re-
iigious quality by the standard of the
Apostle James. There must be genuine
| love of the neighbof, before there can be
q love OF God; for neie hborly love is the
ground in which that niger and purer love
| takes root. 1t is all in vain to talk OF
love as a mere ideal thing. Love is an
active principle, and according to its quail
ity, works. If the love be- heavenly, it
will show itself IN good deeds Ito the
neighbor; but, if internal, in acts of sell
fishness that disregard the neighbor.
Il will observe this Mr.. Gray," said !
as. I walked homeward from the COM
pany, and see whether the report touch
ing hin, be true If he is indeed, q
Christian rs they affirm, the Christian
graces of ineekness' and charity will
blossom in his life, and make all the ali
around him fragrant FE$If n
Opportunity soon came. Fletcher
Gray was shopkeeper, and his life ii
the world was, consequently, open to the
observation of all men. He was Likewise
husband and father. His relation;
were, therefore, of character to give
daily, Il taste of his quality.
1t was only the day after, thatI hap
peued to meet Mr.. Gray under circnm
stances favorable to observation. He
came into the store of merchant will
| whom was transaeting some business
and asked the price of certain goods il
the market. I moved aside, and watch
ed him narrowly. There was n marked
change in the expression Of his counte
nance and in the tones of his voice. The
former had sober, almost solemn ex
preston; the later was subdued, even tc
1 plaintiyeness. But, in a little while, these
peculiarities gradually disappeared, and
the aforetime Mr.. Gray stood there un
changed-unchanged, not only in appear
ance, but in character. There was moth
ling of yea, yea, and nay,nay,' spirit in
his bargain making, but al eager, world
| " effort to gain an advantage in trade
I-noticcd that in the face of an assevera
ton that only five per cent. over cost was
asked for certain article, he still en-.
deavorod toprocure it at a lower figure
than was namedsby the seller, and finally
crowded him down to the exact cost
knowing, as he did, that the merchant
had large stock on hand, and could moi
well afford to hold it over engIr ha
I Hes a sharperp said the merchant
turning towards me as Gray left the
store. -5.-a
! He's Christian, they say was my
| quiet remark. II ~.
"a Chris iane .htd 8I8d