Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-17

STalglter the pain ol the LoIu
'sWell,n said Sam, "its bargain, then,
eff you'll let me purvide critter fur We to
ride back and forth on"
To this the preacher asSented. AS for
Ipsie, she failed to exhibit laudabe
pleasure in the prospect of education.
The G0ntal0ns Sri scissors frequently
found stories whose heroines had lately
escaped from boarding schools, and who
wrote gushing letters descriptive of the
horrors of knowledge getting. And yet
the young preacher seemed as ifhe could
MT be very dreadful. Every time she
caught his eye, or he caught hers, he
seemed pleasanter than before; and when,
after reading a chapter in the Bible, and
offering a prayer, the young man babe the
family good-by, to return in the morning,
if one of Sans friends Ito whom the
preacher bore a nOte) could supply a
horse, Ipsie almost wished for morning
and school-time.
The air of the next day had barely been
scented by Sans first pipe, when the clat-
ter of hoOfs announced the approach Of
the preacher. Ipsie Immediately retreated
to the cornfield, from which she was
promptly dragged back by her mother to
find Mr. Breton unwrapping some books
II have brought" said he, "works on
geography, history and elocution, besides
an Introductory treatise on grammar; and
| believe, that with fair attention, your
daughter will in fortnight be able to
continue these studies without assistance
But, as every good and perfect gift
cometh from above let us first invoke the
divine blessing on our efforts" And he
| made short prayer, after which Mrs
Kavvery disappeared, taking her husband
wi har
tutor alone.
Walter Breton soon discovered that
his pupil was encountered by no false
principles Or incorrect teachings: so he
delightedly prefaced the lesson on geogra-
ply with the Mosaic account of the crea-
ton; condensed the history Of the Jews,
the Church, and the Reformation, before
he opened the textbook On American
history; and read chapters of Isaiah and
Of st. Johns Gospel to illustrate elocu-
tionary principles. And the pupil sat in
mute, open-eyed wonder: it seemed to her
he must be hundred years old, he knew
SO much. She was not a bit afraid of
him, though; for he was not at all like
the teachers in books He asked all
questions in the gentlest Of tones and with
the kindest of looks and when she said,
Il don't know as she was compelled to
do in answer to most of his questions he
acted as If it was the answer he had al
ways been accustomed to.
AS for Breton himself, he found his
pupil far more intelligent and atten-
tive than any he had ever. taught
for, in the graded school of his ma
tive village, he had taught only classes
of small boys, whose grades were mostly
of stupidity. But Ipsies great dark
eyes seemed to be taking in everything he
said; and it was decidedly pleasant to
have such eyes fixed on one, and such
close attention given to instruction. Why
wisdom? He closed the books, looked
earnestly into her eyes, and said:
'My dear young friend, the teachings of
these books are not to be despised but let
me impress upon your mind the impor-
lance of the Book of books, and the value
of its teachings; may it be a light under
your feet and a lamp unto your pathwayI'
I'm afraid / don't know what you
mean,' said Ipsie timidly
Il mean," said the young preacher, with
a plying sense of his superiority over the
ignorant girl, that it will be unto you an
ark OF safety, into which you can f1ee.'
Ipsie still looked unenlightened.
Do you not comprehend my meaning?"
said Breton, with far more patience than
he usually exhibited toward stupidity. Il
mean, it teaches you of Christ, and how,
by faith in Him, you will be enabled to
pass from death unto life'
Teaches me WHAT" asked Ipse, with
timidity painful to witness.
Teaches you Of the Lamb of God, that
taketh away the sins Of the world" said
the preacher his face lighting up with
piOus enthusiasm.
Ipsie burst into tears The young
preacher exclaimed, Bless the Lord!''
Now, at last, he had been graciously pleas
ed to send conviction But Breeton's ar
dor was suddenly cooled; for the weeping
girl cxclaimed
Il know Pm awful stupid; but l don't
understand bit what you say"
Breton sighed. MY poor girl" he
said, you must ask God for light:
you must lay hold of the horns of the
altar. Wrestle with the angel and do not
let him gO'
Il don't make that out, either" sobbed
Ipsie.
THAT is'because the Adversary is striv
ing to retain dominion over YOU" said
Breton. But by faith lay hold of the
promises, and make yourself a ioint-heir
with Him, of eternal life"
BY this time Ipsie's modification had
thrown her into such a violent fit of cry
ing, that she was unable to proclaim her
ignorance any further; and Breton knelt
and earnestly besought the Lord to cast
the scales from the eyes of the sorrowinr
one, to wash her in the blood of the
Lamb, and to feed her with the bread of
life. Then he mounted his horse, and
rode back to the Cross Roads, sorrowfullv
muslng on the dominion the Prince of
this world had over the souls of his sub
Jects. The thought stimulated him to
more earnest endeavor; and though, in
his sermon that night, he innocently
clouded the Lord by a mass of verbiage
which even those who knew it best com
pretended but dimly, his earnestness pre-
vailed upon many, and led them to seek
Him whose power is perhaps best mani
tested by the ease with which He makes
himself visible-despite the thick wells
which men place between him and his crea-
tures--to all who really wish to find Him.
And In the morning he rode back to the
Bend, believing that the Lord was with
him, and that he would make STRAIGHT
the way of his handmaiden
Sam Kavvery gazed upon the vouno
man with plainly visible disfavor.
Mister" said Sam, Ups lez ben a-ask.
IN the mother an me what some of the
things you've ben a sayin' to her means:
an neither Of us can tell her.
though the mother tells her they,
re all right. Now, hain't got no obiec-
uOnS to her heVin' Bible larnin,. mt