The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-27

Mercy.
The Rev. Mr.. Merrill, whose recent
disappearance from Plattsburgh, New
York, after being charged with most
disrespectfuI conduct in connection
with young lady in North Adams,
Mass, led many to suppose he had
committed suicide-a supposition
strengthened by the fact that portion
oil his clothes were found by the banks
OF river in the vicinity of the town
has made his appearance in the West,
and writes letter to the Troy Times, in
which he recounts his experience from
the time he entered the ministry until
the present. He says that ever since he
commenced to preach, In 1913, he has
been constantly in debt, and TO this fact
alone he charges all his troubles. He
says:
In ls48 left school at the request of
several ministers, and went to Warren
circuit to aid the preachers stationed
upon that field. The circuit comprised
six towns. 1 was a poor boy, but
Is years old, had thin, poor clothes,
and was over one hundred dollars In
debt. a gentleman gave me a cas-: off
overcoat to keep me from suffering with
the cold, and another gave me the use
of a horse for part of the year. hoped
to be able to save enough to pay my old
debts and get me some clothes that
year. But the other two ministers had
families dependent upon them for sup
port, and the people for the most part
were poor, and iL took all they could
give to take care of them; so worked
through the year and received but four
dollars and my board. AT the close OF
tho VaaF 7 HPnE tn another HiFCIIIt.
where l was compelled to buy horse
and carriage. l had no money, aud
ran into debt for these, and also for
clothes to wear. AT the close of this
year found that my income had been
trifle less than one hundred dollars.
or course my debts remained unpaid.
They began troubling me. l ought to
have stopped preaching then and gone
into some other business, and paid my
debts. But L was engaged TO be mar
ried, and my pride rose up against
going and making an open
acknowledgment that l must stop
preaching and go to work to pay my
debts; this was my first sad mistake. But
others said 1 had better continue 10
preach; 1 would get better pay in the
future. Sol hoped, and SO believed.
/ was married, and made the best show
1 could for housekeeping. At the con-
ference ofle5l, i was appointed TO WASH
With my wife and one child went to
my post. There found no house to
live in, and nothing to keep house with.
There WAS no church, but an old store
in which 10 preach. L went to work
with good heart, but troubled with
horse-Lo help me live. At the end of
the year i went to the Conference, and
reported new church finished and
paid for. had received 5000 salary.
At this Conference was removed $50
miles to the Canada lines in Vermont.
had not one dollar to pay my ex-
penses. l borrowed the money, took
my sick wife with babe but three
weeks old in her weary arms, and far
among strangers we made our sad way.
Here, too, I found a field of five towns
to travel over and no means to buy a
horse. Then ought to have stopped
preaching. But no; gentleman trust
ed me for horse and carriage.
Now l was IN debt 5000. My con-
science told me L ought to go into
some other business and pay my debts.
Pride. and the iII-timed advice OF
friends, kept me back. This winter 1
was SO thinly clad, and so exposed to
the fearful cold ofthat mountain region
that my health gave way and sickness
and expense followed. Two years after
my oldest daughter was stricken down
with hip joint disease, from whicn she
has never recovered. For days and
months we carried her in our arms.
We left nothing undone which love
could suggest, or skill accomplish, to
gain relief, but all in vain. Now had
not only debts overwhelming me with
confusion, but a living death filling our
hearts with the proIoundest sorrow.
On, the anguish of those days none
can tell. Thus the days passed heavily
on, and my burdens bowed me to the
very dust. In 1861 L was appointed to
the City OF Albany. The gloom and
upon the nation. For one year L per-
formed the work OF my ministry as
faithfully as l knew how, and ut the
same time devoted my energies and in
fluence to aid the war committees in
sustaining public meetings and seour-
Ing volunteers for the army. In 1862
went with my regiment, the l11th
New York, to the field of con-
est. stayed as long as 1 could, and
did my duty as well as l knew how, 1
hau left my wifU and seven helpless
children to care for, that l might do
something for my county in her hour of
trial and danger. This service had so
increased my financial lembarrassments
that IL seemed to me must sink and go
distracted. at this time made several
attempts to get into business TO relieve
myself and pay my debts. Those who
trusted me, felt hard because l did not
pay them. walked my house, or the
open streets day after day, not knowing
what to do. l preached as well as l
could under such trials. l many times
even contemplated suicide. But from
this my whole moral nature recoiled
with horror. When those whom l
owed asked me for my money, would
give them all had, and promise them
more as soon rs could get it, ought
TO have laid aside all pride, and appealed
10 a generous public to help me. But
Thought my family would feel disgraced
and look upon themselves as paupers.
So 1 hoped for better days and suffered
on. Myconscience meanwhile began to
grow more and more indifferent to duty.
1 sought temporary relief in travel ana
society. sought the more joyous and
worldly persons tor company. In 1854 |
was stationed at North Adams. Here l
found generous and good people.
| tried to serve them faithfully and well;
indeed, 1 worked beyond my strength:
In a protracted meeting which l held
there, was engaged one hundred and
twenty three nightsin succession. My
nervous system became weak and over
excited. My debts perfectly over
| whelmed me at times. sought the So
ciety of the young, and where the most
| freedom and gayety could be found there
l visited most frequently. This gave oc'
casion for talk. Some scandal soon
started in connection with my name
| But as tod Is true, L only sought this
society in preference to the more sober
| to drown.my trouble OF mind. was
| proud and wiAful, and would not listen
| 10 the counsel OF friends. Up to this
time my reputation rs minister had
not materially suffered. As the last
| wear drew to a close, my reputation
was suffering more than 1 was at the