Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-05-14
now Mr.. pe,rel Came to Go to Church.

Sp,T7t of We fGtr.
How Mr.. Petrol Came to Go 10 Church.
There are some tough oaks that grow on
Mount ZlOn, or rather hoin- beams, that you
can neither split nor cut. Old Mr. Petrol
was one of these. He lived near the beech
woods, little beyond the old red school
house, and about three miles from The cen
ter of town. lie was an honest, regular,
,quaft t-lud-square man, not gIf' ed IN making
SOFT speeches, weeping at funerals, or vlsi'-
l. e the sick. But he paid his taxes, went
to church, and was really what be proiessed
to be-a stuff, slaunch und good Christian.
But trial came upon Mr. Petel, as they
do upon us all, and he went 1t in bis way,
as we do ours. Aud thus it wa>:
The old meeting house G"d become so
rickety aud worn out that it was deter
mined by the people that they must have
new one. The FIRST thing was TO raise the
necessary funds As NJ. Petrel bad fears
of bis own, he would not subscribe anything
till be could sec how things went. But
they went very we'll, aud the funds were
subscribed, leaving a margin for Mr.. Petrol.
Now, the oil meeting house stood about
halt mile from the center OF the town,
nearer, Mr.. Petre's house. So in eIec,iug
good site, tfler many anxious meeting,
all of which Mr.. Petrel attended, and spoke
earnestly, it was fuolly determined to set
be nc" louise u. &c nearer The cen!er.-
The exact distance was just t,oenty St1 rods.
rtis was better site than the cd one--a
little nearer those WHO lived in the south
part OF the town, and it would leave the old
one 10 worship IN Till the new house was
dyne. But MIR Pelrel now had his back
up! lie scolded, he stormed, he urged
lie knew he always rode TO church; but to
| ride twen,ysix rods! that was intolerahle.
He solemuly declared that he would neve:
enter the new house. The people reasone1,
coaxed, and bore with him, and went on
aud built the present nice house. They
knew Mr.. p. was unbeudable, and soon LETT
off trying to beud him.
He kept his word. He never en- cred
lle church. He staid at home, be read ii
Ii'tle,sIept all he could, sharpeued his rnzp',
and shaved, and got over Tie SubbAtl as
well ns he could. But be stopped growing
IN intelligence, cheerfulness, kludueNS, and
everything that was good. The tree lack
Ell Sap.
Thus be lived lx'een years sort oil
Christian l,hmaehte amoug his neigh s9fSr
Al The end oi this time he fell sick, y9fY
sick, aud hl> neighbors thought he must7dE
lie thought 50 himself One dark, StorWy
night, as he lay waiting for The morning
the hours SEEMING % move on wings OF lead
ne saw the door opcn-perhaps he dream@l
| lt-be was never sure-und in Came a tall
powerful Form. most plainly from the WoI 1t
OF spirits. IL came up aud stood by Mr
PetrePs bed. The hair of the old mai slooC
on eud. He tried 10 speak, bnt those aw
luI eyes were upon him, and he could no,
move his tongue. Alter long pause The
Fo,m spoke:
Mr.. Petrol, are yoG ready to go? You
see have come.
Go where? gs:ped the sick man.
10 before tne great Master.
What for?
Why, to answer for oil the deeds don,
here in the body; TO have your lie an'
!, character examined.
II vii llhey ask me questions!
Most certainly; aud very searching ones
: too.
. Won't You Just tell me some of 'hoS
' oueslions. for | shall want the answe
g ready
Well, you will be inquired Of how 30
d have spent your life; what has been th
grea, obiec of your life; what your exampl
has been before your family, and before III
community; how you have regarded God
l. word and will; how you have spent you
h Sabbaths, aud improved your opporluniti'
to get good. aud he good, aud do gooc
Z, 2, how you have treated Christ anu bis cou
3 mands; how you have treated his peop
and his cause and what fruits will renal
after you are gone.
Poor Mr.. Petrol grosned aloud
Now, why do you groan? Yog ha'
a. had long life and great opportunities, an
you must be a good. ripe Christian. A
the sermons you have heard in the last
Holdl hold! haven't heard a seTmo
I, for The last sixteen yearSl
!! Indeed! why noy Have you been sic
e so long?
\ No, sir, but got put out, and vowed
a. would never enter the meeting house, al
: I've kept. my word.
e Yes, at the loss of your soul, said Il
e Form. very sorrowfully.
y How do you know that. said M, Petrt
: his chin dropping and bis face cold sweat
!, 70 Because the Lord says. They that non
me will honor they that dspise I
.. shall be lightly esteemed. But what W
"a "a you say when asked how you have spe