American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-06-21

Tom. Friends haven't the trouble and
expense of a funeral If you are tished
out they can't recognize you"
The draw was closed. People passed
over, but Tom fingered, watching the
evening star skate across the water.
Il suppose if l scramble hard, / can
get through life in "A make-shift fashion :;
but what's the use of making the effort?
1t might as well end now as ten or twenty
years hence. I'm failure and a fool.
No use being sentimental and saying I've
had drawbacks. Most men have but they
come out, while l go under. Couldn't
have been put up right in the first place.
Here's your choice: Il swing through the
air, natural gasp or two, then maybe a
better chance at your next beginning, If
the Lords fair; or, long crawl ahead,
broken backed snake fashion, and likely
as not missing heaven at last. Ada1l be
comforted She'll go home to her fathers
and carry black bordered handkerchiefs
for year, and then she'll do the charm
ing widow to some fellow, as she did the
charming girl to me, and hen begin to
pay her bills and get ready for eternityn'
Here dashed suddenly through his mem
DRY sarcastic paragraph he had once
written concerning young man bent on
self-destructiOn, who rushed to the brink
of bluff, cast one long, last look below,
and then-returned home.
"Jover' muttered Tom, "before I'd
make up nv mind and go back on my
word, I'd jump, out of selfrespect. Bet
ter not be much longer thinking about it,
He was seated on the edge of the bridge
He braced his hands firmly on each side
of him, looked up at the fair twilight sky,
at the city beginning to twinkle with
lights, the smoke belching from tall chin
neys, people running like ants in the dis
Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go freey
No; there's cross for every one,
And there's cross for me!''
Now there happened diversion which
proves the ruling passion strong in death.
Tom, quick with reporters instinct, as in
his palmiest days, turned his head and
saw astreet-preacher standing on cask,
not many rods away, trying to gather
sailors and wharfmen by his voice. 1t
was thrilling voice. There was a ring
of joy and power in it. As a general
thing Tom had never taken stock in street
preachers. He had heard them rant too
often IL the crazy reform style.
But this man drew his eyes and ears,
while the liver still held his thoughts and
intentions. He see-sawed; that voice
sang on triunphantly,
- That consecrated cross I'll bear,
Till death shall me free;
For there's a crown for mei''
Now squad collected. Tom saw he
must draw attention and thwart his own
designs by taking plunge Just then, so
he postponed it, edged nearer the preach
er, and instincively felt for his note
book
This preacher was young man, witt
bright, falcOn-like Ace. If you ever see
him, you will love Linn, for he is rushing
about the world this moment, spreading
his arms to all mankind, and telling them
things which sound like tidings of Joy in
stead of musty doctrine He will make
you cry with enthusiasm over being born.
Now, men, he said, reaching his
arms over them, 81 want to give you
the word Jesus Christ, left for you
He says, Every one of you, come
of great account to Me- That man
over there in the fur cap, the one in
the gray blouse, and every fellow of you
He loved you so that he died 10 give YOU
a chance at your best Why, He loves
you more than wives, or children, or mo-
Tiers do, though He sees right through
you; sees how cowardly and ungenerous
you are. How you turn against Him be-
cause He calls you out of IA mixed world
instead of taking you up bodily and set
ting you in Heaven? Though He sees
how some of you shunt off, and think of
cutting your Threats, or jumping over
board, or in some way slipping service;
how every one of you think more of Coin
ing money and success of this life than of
getting joyfully ready for the life just
over there, one moment of which is
more of life tnan all the nights and morn
ings of this. You think sometimes that
you are just made to dig, and sweat, and
suffer, and die. 1t isn't so. You were
hnrV tn MT N hnn
which will overcome. Blessed is he
which overcomethn
$50 this is the word Jesus Christ left
you: Come to me, a friend who is of
flesh, and ha0aos 1t all; let us bear the
heavy loads of this world together; and
let us overcome
"You see the Lord of Glory, who went
through the world by the hard way, and
knows it's the best way for you, after all,
makes you His comrades,'
These words We're not much, but
through them the preachers martial soul
touched themen. He lifted them on the
keen, magnetic points of his eyes. When
he burst out again with his song about
bearing the cross, their voices Joined him
with mighty bass.
He spread his hands over them with a
short, loving benediction, and leaped
down from the cask to shake hands all
through his congregation, and ask special
questions.
1t was dusk. Tom could scarcely de-
fine the young apostles face; yet when
that ardent hand pressed his, he felt he
had found friend in the dark; he wrung
it; wrung its fire and joy into his own
arm; lifted his forehead and squared his
shoulders; turned his back ON the river,
went back tO-Ada and failure.
"Whcther hope and happiness are for
me or not" said Tom, 'Ill get some good
out of life for somebody"
He stepped up the clearinghouse
stairs with a martial step. Hollow-eyed.
his hair damp with fog, you might have
taken him for a warriors ghost.
He opened his chamber door, and
stepped just inside, seeing Ada bundled
down by the window. Wished with Il
longing, strong as his manhood, that he
could make Il acite of her. Then re-
much of kitten. Resolved that he would
her fret him any more.
was not like any other face she had ever
shown him. Now whether God did visit
that woman and breathe into her living
soul, | know not People have strange
mental changes. Hers might have been
growing for years, like the century plant
but it suddenly burst into flower.
She got up and came to meet her huS-
band. AS IA general thing Ada was not
demonstrative, though she expected IA Ger
tam amount of pctting. She put her
hands on Toms elbows-she was too little
to reach his shouldcrs-and looked into
his eyes with long, steady, tender look,