Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-11-11


woman with. whom you entered is your sis
ter?'
''And why not ?'' 1t is now Prof c..
turn to look surprised.
Sure enough, why not? What did he
know against the woman of whom all had
been speaking eviI'' for the last three
months. He had taken these cruel surmi-
ses FOR granted, and had been so far infiu-
enced by the scandal that he had failed to
call upon the stranger. A sense of the i'm
propriety and guilt of his conduct rushed
across his mind-suppose the woman was
really the disgraced and guilty being that
public opinion-the public opinion of the
village-claimed, was it not his duty to save
sinners? Christ came, mot to call the right
eous, but sinners to repentance |" How
had he fulfilled his mission And yet he
stood in his pulpit and claimed to be fol-
lower of the meek and lowly Saviour
There is something about this matter
that cannot understand" said Prof c..
as he scanned the changing countenance of
the young preacher.
Gou do not mean to say that my sister
has been resident of your place and list
ener to your preaching for three months,
withoutyour calling upon her? The duties
of a preacher are surely better defined"
But did not dare l''-and here the
poor man stamm,red aud stopped; for he
could not excuse himself, without exposing
the gossip of the congregation.
Did not dare to call on ny sister the
widow of General Finch and the tinge
of contempt mingled with the look of sur
prise and Indignation with which he con
templated the abashed and crestfallen
young preacher.
After reaching his sisters residence, he
questioned her in regard to the matter
but here he was again bah,led. She could on
ly tell him that, since her residence in the
place, she had been ''let alone,'' in he full
acceptance of the term. Determined to un
derstand the wherefore of such proceed
ing, he again demanded an explanation of
the minister, who was finally compelled to
admit that he had supposed, from the gos-
sip of his church members, that the woman
was very outcast froIn society, and that
there had been talk of dfiving her from the
place.
She viii not care to remain" said the
professor but before she goes, | shall sift
this matter thoroughly :" and so he did,
gathering up. link by link, the whole chain
of scandal until he came 10 Mrs. Lawrence.
But this the latter utterly denied. and Mrs.
Thomas was at last obliged to confess that
Mrs. Lawrence had merely shrugged her
shoulders and eurled her lip, when asked
her opinion of her new neighbor.
''Ah indeed!'' was Mrs. Lawrence re-
joinder. Il remember of thinking she
could not be much Of LADY, as she wore a
faded delaine and did her own washing |"
And there the matter rested. Mrs. Law
renee, with a look and a s.rug of the shoul-
ders and Mrs. Thomas by jealous surmises,
had caused sorrow and pain to an innocent
person-they had, in fact, stolen the good
name of one who had never injured them );
and but for timely appearance of her broth
er, the consequences might have still been
more serious.
ne professor .rCaciieu I!le Ioi!o"thg CuH-
day, aud at the conclusion of the discourse
he repeated the tale of wrong adding,
Had this woman really been poor and
friendless, as supposed, what would the end
have been Deprived of her good name
and, in consequence, Of ali means of earn
ing livelihood, she would doubtless have
become discouraged and Respondent, and
sunk down to the grave victim of thes scan
dal Of those falsely calling themselves
Chrf,stiians and you in the sight of God,
would not only have been classed among IL
ars, but murderers.