Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-10-25

Matthew. You will not doubt that I
had read that chapter scores OF times,
and that had heard clergymen read it,
and preach from almost every verse that
he read, and yet, it sounded new to me,
and think it did to most of his hear
ers. Every ones attention was arrested
by the simple reading of that portion of
the Scriptures. l could not understand
why we were so unusually impressed,
for he read in a quiet, subdued tone. /
think, however, that, Notwithstanding
his quiet exterior, we somehow detected
in him strong undercurrent OF feeling
and that we were irresistably horne
along with it.
sWhen he ceased reading, he talked to
us concerning the solemn declarations
we had just heard; but he dwelt princi-
pally upon the pasSages-Inasmuch as
We have done it unto one of the least of
these and sInasmuch as We did it not
He electrified the whole congregation
when he spoke upon the not doing, and
told how human hearts had hoped, and
longed, and pined for the kind word
that was not spoken-the kind act that
was not performed-the sympathiZing
tear that was not shed, till some were
driven to the very verge of despair, and
others were overwhelmed with its dark
waters. | think that we all of us saw
more clearly than we had ever seen be-
fore for what great sins we might be-
come in part accountable, if not wholly,
by our not doing; saw that our sins-lit-
tie sins we had been disposed to call
them, il we called them sins at all-of
omission might tempt the weak, DOWN
cast and down trodden to the most fear
full sins of commission. He entreated
us never to add to the affections of the
afflicted, the expressions of the oppress-
ed, the temptations of the tempted, by
neglect or cold-hearted indifference, OF
by passing by on the other side.'
Then he thrilled us through and thro'
with his simple, truthful eloquenee, as
he spoke of the blessed results that
sometimes followed doing the most sim
pie acts of kindness or justice to the
friendless and crushed. Perhaps his
manner thrilled us as much as his
| words but in what way it would be i'm
possible to describe, for he spoke in the
most quiet, unostentatious manner. We
felt, rather than saw, that he was feel
| ing in his inmost soul all that he said
| and that he was giving us page from
his own experience, as he bowed over
| the desk and told us how it had some
times transpired, that despairing souls,
who had lost all faith in their fellow be-
| ings and almost doubted the goodness OF
God, had confidence, and hope, and trust
brought back to them by one kind and
sympathizing act.
| NY mind ran back to Ben and the last
dav that he came to school to me, and
thought that Libby Arnold and Mary
Lee must also think of that days trans
i actions; but little dreamed that it was
Ben, himself. who was preaching to as
Mr.. Arnold's slip joined mine.
glanced at Libby, wondering if the ser.
mon had brought that day back as vivid.
! ly to her mind as 1t had to mine. She
was looking at me as though she Won
dered what was thinking about. Al
soon as the morning services closed, sht
reached over to me and asked if l knew
the preacher. l told her that did not
do you think that you have ever seer
him before p she asked. did not thinl
that / had. As we passed out of thu
church [ heard her ask Mary Lee thu
same question. and Mary answered hel
just as did. At the close of the after
noon service Libby reached ever agaiI
and asked me if the preacher did not re
mind me of some one whom / had seen
l replied in the negative, and was abou
to ask her if she thought she had ever
seen HIM before; but was prevented by
l
my slip. He passed his hand to me. IL
my surprise, Libby reached out anl
took it.
Am l mistaken, SIR she asked, sir
thinking that | have seen you before?
'If this is Libby Arnoli,' he smiling
ly replied, you are not mistaken
Il thought it must be Benjamin Fare
well,' Libby said, looking at me.
How she recognized him could no
imagine. His sandy hair had turned t,
rich, golden brown, and the freckle
had disappeared from his face. / saw
that he was pleased that Libby recog
nized him. Libby told me afterward, ii
reply to my questioning, that an ex
preston came over his face severa
times while he was preaching, precisel.
boot in his hand, in the little red school
house, and told his own, pathetic story
He remained in Swetland a week a
that time. He said that he had grea
desire to visit the scenes of his child
hood once more, and to thank Mary lie
again for the kind words which sh
, spoke for him when he was so over
whelmed that it seemed to him that tn
very sblackness of darkness surrounde,
him! He believed that he was always
truthful boy, but he never before say
such beauty in truth as he saw whe
the truth that Mary Lee told threw sucl
|, rays of light into that darkness.
, HE has visited Swetland twice sine
, then. 1t is but few months since h
, was last here. He came here singl
left, and his young bride accompanie
i him to his western home.'
/ THAT is what thought you were com
ing at, Mr.. Willet,' said one of tn
young teachers. Il almost knew, whe
you told us about Mary Lees TAX
| ing his part i'm that difficulty, and {
, his gratitude to her, and then of his de
sire to come on and thank her once NOR
, that it would end in his making her hi
, wife,
RI st was she, of COURSE said anothe
+ teacher, interrogatively.
NO, my dear sirs. it was not she. MI
t Farewell and Mary esteem each othe
very highly. They are like brother an
: sister t. each other. But Elizabeth Al
t mold is his wife; and more beautifu
or more lovely young woman / do nt
know. She is in every respect worth
t of him. l attended their wedding an
D l very solemnly charged him never
e SNOWFALL her again, but her faths
spoiled it all, by saying that the fat
s was, people were petting Libby, quit
: too much, and spelling her as fast
) they could. and she was getting alt,
f gether too headstrong and overbearine
e and if it had not been for that timel
: check he feared that she would ha,
: been ruined. He believed that it di
t her more good, than all the other disc
e plining that she ever had.
$ Libby blushed and looked at her hu
] band trustingly. don't think she hs
o any fears in regard to the snow-balls
NO GOSSIP.
q BY FRANCES BOLLET.