St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-05-17
The Pauper Deacon.

those days when every one used ardent
spirits. With many others he fell a
victim to this social custom. and be
came Il drunkard. Like lion in chains
he struggled to break the power of this
habit. He made repeated confessions
to his church. and was forgiven. His
brethren did all they could to save him.
He fought the demon till no hope was
left, and then came on the crisis of de
Spalr At his own request he was eX-
communicated. Deep was the grief
when the church gave up aS lost their
long-lovcd deacon: deeper than if they
had buried him as dead. remember
to have read under the record of that
vote these words: Let him that think
eth he stands, take heed lest he fall, :"
The history of Deacon C.. from that
time till he found home in the poor
house. when | first heard of this poor
old man. Most of those who had known
and loved him in his prime. had gone
home to their rest. The few who lived
remembered him kindly. but had come
to think and speak of him only as Il
"town pauper." | found him. then
over eighty years old, on his hard bed.
drawn up and deformed with rhcma-
tiSm. with all the surroundings of Il
pauper-the very PRESERVATION OF woe.
Though | tried hard to do it. found
it impossible to console him The log
ic of despair defeated me. If reason
cd of mercy. he insisted upon Justice.
If | recitrd the promises. he quoted the
threatcnngS. On the hopeless side of
his case his memory WAS quick. He
had gathered up all the curses and hard
sayings i'll the Bible. and insisted that
they We're meant for him His utter
despair had made them all emphatic
and personal. He had almost forgotten
the name OF Jesus. He would not lis
ten for IL moment to the story of His
torgiving love. II was not for him
now.
But. said he at last. there is one
thing | Want to do before die"
What Is that ," said |.
Il want to make my confession to
the church. do not ask to he fnrgiv-
On. for don't expect any such thing.
don't deserve it. But it will relieve
me of some of my anguish to make il.
and | want You to write il down for me.
and read il to the congregation on next
sunday"
As nearly as | can recall the words.
this was his confession:
10 the Congregation chHrch Old:
am about to die, a miserable outcast
from you and God. | ask of you one
favor. | want YOU to hear my dying
confession. do not ask YOU to forgive
me. | cannot hope for that for | do
not hope that God will ever do il.
have forfeited all right to any such IA
v"r. But it will I've some relief to the
agony of my heart if | may tell You
how kcculy felt the guilt of the sin |
committed when fell. and that my
sorrow is overwhelming me. | have
II" hope of meeting you in Heaven.
FarcWcll''
wrote this on the only table the
poor paupcr had. the lid of butter
tub. But what did that matter? The
words were the uttcranceS of a poor
broken heart. and | knew that every
one of them wa> written III Heaven in
letters of gold.
Then sang few stanzas of the 5lst
Psalm:
show pity Lord oh Lord forgive
When | closed the last. which has
''' Wv pan W. '''l'''
Yer save q trembling sinner. Lord.
noticed the qulNcr of his chin and the
>"tt"nlhg "i his eyes. then knrclcd
10y ms couch. and commended him I"
tod. ami knew that the fountain "f his
feeling had been reached.
he congregation ON the next sab
bath WAS unusually large do not
think that any one knew what had
been doing: hut II seemed as ii the pco-
pie had com" I" hral something >tinu@r.
l hrI'rNr the angels had been busy
I ti'i"H@h Inc town. 10y. a> they view
I 'iiih%>' Il great event Was at hand. NJ
''lc Close "i service | requested TIA" con
I" remain. a> had Il mc>>agr
I" the church from pca. {. which he
wished all the congregation t" hear.
Not one left the house. rchcar>rd
he scene ut the porr-hOu>c. and drew
Il picture of the dct"lInltN and wretch.
cdnc>S of the poor old man. ! stated
that though he did not ask to hr f"rgiv-
en- Yet II they wished To forgive him.
they Sh"uld have the opportunity. |
then read ms confession. and put the
vote instantly the congregation rose.
Tor every heart was touched and nearly
every eye was filled.
y committee waS chosen /" convey
the result of this vote to the Deacon
and attend the administration of the
Lords supper at the poor house. The
next day | visited him. and told him of
the interest which his confession had
and that on Thursday We
were coming t" administer the sacra-
ment to hm.
At first he could not believe ii: said
he ana not dare t" ask for 1t: then he
Wept like child and clapped his hands.
"Oh! Is it possible, Is it
possible, Am again recognized as a