Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-06

practical, hailed the good man, and informed
him that he was in time for q good steak; but
on. He neared the carpenters house, stopped,
tottered, and looked over his shoulder as
If Intending 70 run; at length he made his way
hIewooi The carpenter saw him and tur ned
psle-he feared the deacon had found cheaper
labor and had come to give him warning.
a heap OF thinkin' bout what we talked of yes
terday. I've come to say that il You like I'll
Il nd you three hundred dollars for as long as
you've mind to, without note, security, or in
terest, on to spend ez much of IL eZ We need TO
dress We an yer hull family in Sunday clothes
and to put the balance in the Savin's tank, at
interest, to 60 on doing the same when neces-
sary. An al OF We 60 TO church when We fee
so disposed. An ef nobody else's pew door
opens, yer always welcome to mine. Aud may
the Lord"-tne deacon finished the sentence to
himself have mercy on my SOUL" Then he
said aloud
That's all"
cons speech had dropp ed his axe, to the inn mi
pent danger Of one OF his feet. As the deacon
continued, the carpenter dropped his head to
one de, raised his eyebrow inquiringy, and
awaited the conditions But when the deacon
said Z" That's all )" George Hay seized the dea-
cons hard old hand, gave It q grasp which
brought az oniziDg tears TO its venerable owner,
"Deacon, Gods people are reformin','
The deacon staggered a lttle-he had not
thought OF it in that light before.
"Deacon, that money'll do more good than all
the prayin We ever did. 'Ncuse mel must tell
Mary" and the carpenter dashed into the
house. Had Mrs. Hay respected the dramatic
proprieties, she would have made the deacon a
neat speech; but tue truth is, she regarded h i'm
from behind the windo blind, and wiped her
eyes with the corner of her apron, seeing which,
the deacon abruptly started for home, making
less use of his cane than he had done III any day
for wears. 4,
Tits grievous to relate, but the truth is mighty
that within fortnight the good deacoa repent.
ed OF his generous action at least fifty times
He would die in the poor house II he were 50
exIavagant again. Three hundred dollars was
more than a cow shed-lumber, shingles, nails,
labor and all-would cost. Suppose Hay should
take the money and 90 west? Suppose he should
take to drinking AM spend il all for liquor
One suspicion after another tortured the poor
man until he grew thin and nervous. But, on
the second Sunday, having satisfied himself
that Hay was in town, sober, the day before,
that he had been to the city and brought back
bundles, and that be 1.-THE deacOn) had seldom
been in the street without meeting one of II avs
children with paper OF hooks and eyes, or
spool of thread, the deacon stationed him
sell in one of his own front windows, ard
brought his spectacles to bear on Hays door,
little distance on. The first bell had rung,
apparently hours before, yet no one appeared
could it be that he had bssely sneaked to the
city, and pawned everything? No-the door
opened-there they came. 1t couldn't be-yes.
il was-wen he never thought Hay and his wife
were so hne looking couple. They came
nearer, and the deacon for getting his cane, hob
bled huIrledly to church, entered his pew, and
itlt lus Wlue open. lie waited long, 1t
seemed TO him, but they did not come. tie
looked around impatently, there, oh, joy and
wonder! the President of the Pawkin Savings
Institution had invited the whole family into
his pew! just then the congregation rose to
sing the hymn commencing,
From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creators praise arise"
and the deacon in his excitement, distanced
the choir, and the organ, and the congregation,
and brought ths entire musical service to a
standstll.
The deacon had intende ed to watch closely for
Hays conversion, but something wonderful pre-
vented-it was reported everywhere that the
deacon hi mself had been converted, and all who
now saw the deacon fully believed the report.
He was even heard to say that, As there seemed
to be some doubt as to whether faith and works
" as the saving virtue, he intended thereafter
TO practice both. He no longer mentioned the
poorhouse as his prospective dwelling but is
heard to Say that in his Fathers house are
many mansions, and that he is laying up his
treasure in heaven as fast as possible, and hopes
he may get it all on the way there, before his
heart is called for. At the post-ofiice, the tin
shop, and the rum shop, the deacon's CONVEX
sion is constantly discussed, and the men of all
degrees now expressed belief in the mighty
power Of the Spirit from on high. Other
monied men have been smltten and changed,
and the pastor OF the Pawkin Centre church
daily hanks the Lord for such revival Is he
never heard of before.