Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-01

His ought to learn, that he who touch
eth one of His servants toucheth the
apple OF His eye. l heard my old pas.
tor was i'll, and taking my oldest son
with me, set out on twenty-five miles
ride to see him. It was evening when
l arrived, and his wife, with the spirit
which any woman ought to exhibit TO-
ward one who had so wronged her hus-
band, denied me admittance to his
chamber. She said, and her words
we're arrows to my soul, "He may be
dying and the sight Of your face might
add to his anguish p
"Had it come to this, / said to my
self, that the man whose labors had,
through Christ, brought me into His
fold, whose hands had buried me in
baptism, who had cousoled my spirit
in terrible bereavement, and who had,
till designing men had alienated US,
been to me as brother-that this man
could not die in peace with my face be-
fore him. God pity me! l cried,
what have l done!' I confessed my
sin to that meek woman, and implored
her for Christ's sake to let me kneel
before His dying servant and receive
his forgiveness. What did l care then,
whether the pews by the door were
rented or not I would gladly have
taken his whole family to my home for
ever as my own flesh and blood, but no
such happiness was before me.
"As entered the room of the bless
cd warrior, whose armor was falling
from his limbs, he opened his languid
eyes, and said, Brother Lee !! brother
Lee = [ bent over him, and sobbed
out, My pastor! my pastor Then
raising his white hand, he said in a
deep, impressive voice, Touch not mine
annointed, and do my prophets no harm!'
| spoke tenderly to him, told him / had
come to confess my sin, and bring some
of his fruit to him, calling my son to
tell him how he found Christ. But he
was unconscious of all around; the
sight of my face had brought the last
pang Of earth to his spirit
Il kissed his brow, and told how
dear he had been to me [ craved his
pardon for my unfaithfulness, and prom
ised to care for his widow and father
less little ones; but his only reply,
murmured as if in troubled dream,
was, Touch not mine annointed, and
do my propets no harm
Il staid by him all night, and at
daybreak l closed his eyes. I offered
his widow house to live in the re-
mainder of her days; but like hero
inc she said, i freely forgive you.
But my children. who entered deeply
into their fathers anguish, shall never
see me 80 regardless of his memory as
to take anything from those who caus-
ed it. He has left us all with his
covenant God, and He will care for
u.s.
"Well, sir, those dying words sound
ed in my ears from that coffin and from
that grave. When l slept, Christ
stood before my dream, saying Touch
not mine annointed, and do my proph-
cts no harm These words followed
me till 1 fully realized the esteem in
which Christ holds those men who had
given up all for His sake, and I vowed
to love them evermore for His sake,
even if they are not perfect. And
since that day, sir, l have talked less
than before, and have supported my
pastor, even if he is not very extra
ordinary man. My tongue shall cleave
to the roof of my mouth, and my right
hand forget her cunning, before | dare
to put asunder what God has joined
together. When minister's work is
done in place, l believe God will
show it to him. / will not join you,
sir, in the scheme that brought you
here and moreover, if I hear another
word of this from your lips, shall ask
my brethren to deal with you as with
them who cause divisions. I would
give all | own to recall what | did thir-
ty years ago. Stop where you are, and
pray God, if perchance the thought
of your heart may be forgiven you
This decided reply put an end to
the new comer's efforts to get a min
lister who could make more stir, and
left him free to lay out roads and build
hotels.
There is often great power in the lit
tie word "no," but sometimes it re-
quires not little courage to speak it
as resolutely as did the silent deacon.
|-Eranasner and Chronicle.