The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-08-06
rae TRACT AND THE SOLDIER.

The following incident in the life Of Rev.
Richard Knil occurred while he was young
man. 1t Is given in his own words:
"The North Devon Local Militia was
about to be disbanded at Barnstaple. Inc
regiment consisted of one thousand men, VINO
were soon to return to their families IN al
most every parish of the north division q
the county. Mr.. Mills, with whom ! had
become acquainted through the Barnstaple
Sunday school, said 10 me, "What a noble
opportunity there is for distributing religious
tracts in ali the dark villages around The
regiment will give. us thousand distrlou-
| tiers, If we only can get them conveyed to
| the men, | said, How can it be done ?
To which he answered. | have not nerve
enough to give the tracts TO the soldiers !;
but will furnish you with the tracts, 1t you
will circulate them Agreed The tracts
were obtained, and | set about the work,
The men were assembled in the barrack.
yard, waiting for the signal to deliver up
their arms. | made my way to the Plon-
GERS, who stood at the right, and said,
Friends, will YOU take home a beautiful
! little book to your familiesP They joyful
" received them. next came to the band.
took Christ the only Refuge from the
Wrath to Come, and offered it to the mas
ter. He Looked at me, and said, under
stand that YOU 90 about converting people !;
can YOU convert me ? | replied, Il is not
in nv power to convert people; but II It
were, the first person | would convert, sir,
should be Sergeant Reynolds Well said
he, that is plain enough Yes ] added,
and il is sincere too. Now, this tract may
convert you, sergeant; il wss written BY
that great man, Mr.. Heryey, who wrote
/" Meditations among the Tombs." " All
said he, have read that book, and | Will
take your tract and read il too. This was
Just what wanted, for Immediately all the
musicians took tracts. proceeded next to
the grenaders, who were all pleased, until
III came to one merry andrew kind Of a fel.
low. He took the tract and held II up,
swore at il, aud asked, Are you going To-
convert me = | said, Don't swear AZ the
tract; YOU cannot hurt the tract, bat swear
ing viii injurs your soul Who are you!'
he exclaimed Form 4 circle round him.
said he to his comrades, and | will swear
at him. They did so he swore fearfully,
and wept The tears moved tile feelings
Of the other men, AMI they said, Let him
60 ; he means TODD US good Sol distributed
my thousand tracts, and left them in the
care Of Him who said, Nv word shall not
return unto me void Many years after
had taken leave Of these soldiers, | return
cd from India to nv native country, and
visited lifracombe. There was invited 70
preach IN the open air. a few niles distant.
Preparations we're made for my visit; and
during the time that was preaching, | saw
a tall, grew headed man in the crowd, weep
ing, and tall young man, who looked like
his son, standing 81 his side, and weeping
also. AT tie conclusion Of tie service,
they both came Up to me, and tie father
said, DO you recolect giving tracts to the
local militia at Barnsiaple some years ago !
: Yes DO Won recOllect anything partlcu-
lar of that distribution I les; | recollect
one OF the grcnadicrs swpre at me till he
made me weep stop said le; oh, sir,
am tie man. nrNer forgaye myself for
that wicked act. But hope Il has led me %
repentance, and that God has forgiven me-
And now, lei me Ak. viii yoa forgive me ?
II quite orerelme ne far The moment, and
We parted With PRAYER that We might meet
in heaven u not this encouragement
MAY We not well say one tract may sare a
SOUP