Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-08-04
How Old Reed was Converted.

The New York correspondent of a
Western paper tells the following sto-
ry for the benefit of some hard cases
He says he once knew man by
the name of Reed, commonly known
as "Old Reed" Reed was quite no
torious in his way, and his religious
belief was that after death he should
reappear in the form of an animal,
and he thought it would be horse.
Old Reed was hard man and was
not in the habit of treating his family
well as religious man should.
One day after his wife had suffered
his abuse as long as humanity could
endure, she concluded to give him a
brief talking to-to touch upon his
religious belief.
So, resolutely seating herself by
his side, and looking him full in the
face, while tear drop glistened in
her eye-for she was serious and
thought perhaps he was correct in his
faith, she commenced:
Reed, | wish to have something to
say to you, and you MUST hear it. |
have duty to perform, and shall do
it, and then if you are not happy
here after, it will not be my fault.
You believe that when you die you
will turn into some animal, and that
animal will be a horse.
"Now, if you keep in your present
course, and continue to neglect and
abuse your family, squandering your
money for drink and the gaming table,
when you die you will turn into some
twelve shilling horse; its 50, and
some dirty clam peddIer will get you
and you will be hard worked and
half starved, and | shall see you be-
fore a rickety old wagon filled with
clans. Such will be your etenity
"But now, Reed, it needn't be 50
your future may be a bright and hap
py one; if you will reform and turr
right around and become a better
man, be kind and affectionate to your
family, and treat them as a Christian
should, why, when you die you viii
turn into a five hundred dollar horse
and some Fifth Avenue buck will ge
hold of you, and give you a bushe
Of oats a day, rub you down will
pea straw, have you docked and you
tail set up!'
He says Old Reed was straight
way converted-was reformed, anC
is patiently waiting for death to in
troduce him to his coveted horse
heaven, where are only "8hell roads
and .'two forty" nagS.
JUDGE THEM NoT.-There are i
: the city OF New York, | know not ho,
'',a.',. th""saed- who have raacha
: the years OF maturity, and some hav
even grown old, who never saw
patch Of open sky larger than can
; diScerned from Brooklyn ferry boa
or from the wharycS of Castle Gardel
; Who were never so far out of the dir
= and wretchedneSs OF Five Points an
, the Old Bowery, as Harlem river an
/ the Elysiau Fields; who never sa,
= nature enjoy even that freedom she
, allowed iu Central Park; where th
simplicity of her costume is discerne
| ble, as the ordinary simplicity of
} dairy maids dress, when tricked ou
} for thanksgiving ball. They neve
saw the insi lie of church nor a ScnoC
. house; never heard a sermon nor
| prayer; never pronounced nor hear
; the name OF God, nor of Jesus, sav
| IN blasphemy; never were spoke
t kindly to by one above their OWE COZ
dition; never had luxury nor a ho
iday in thyIr lives: children who ne'
er had new plaything' nor a ne
: garment to their hand or back; neve
t an orange nor an apple, piece o
pie, nor penny that they did not be
or steal; d I'd never a word of symp;
thy or counsel that reached aboy
| their daily wants. How shall thos
r who live in comfortable houses; wea
4 clean clothes; eat sweet victual,
5 walk in Gods green woods and ope
fields; rejoice in pure air, bright hoy
r ers and ripe fruit; attend church, an
: 60 to school; have pennies aud pla,
: things at their pleasure; receive kin
!, words and discreet counsel; be adj
l to judge, morally and rehgiou5ly, tho.
0 who never knew anything but th
0 wretchedness ?