The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-05-27

pridc's sinful the devils saint. Eff
there's anything wrong about a mau's
feelin' so about himself and them God
give him, Gods to blame for il himself
but seein' it's the same fcein that makes
folks keep 'cmsclves straight ia all other
matters, I'll keep on thinkiu' its right
But the privileges of the gospel
George
Don't you s'posc know what they're
wuth p continued the carpenter. Haven't
| hung around in front of the moetin'-
house summer nights, jest to listen to the
singin' and what else | could hear
Hasn't my wife been with me here many
a time, aud haven't both Of US prayed an
groaned an cried in our hearts, not only
COS we couldn't join in it ourselves, but
COS we couldn't send the children either,
without their learDin' to hate religion,
fore they fairly know'd what twas ?
Haven't | sneaked into the vestibule win
ter nights, an sot jest where did last
night, an heard what Id liked my wife
an children to hear, and prayed for the
time when the sclf-app'inted elect
shouldn't offend the little ones? And
after sittin' there las night, an coming
home and tellin' my wife how folks was
concerned about us, an our rejoicin to-
gether in the hope that some day our
children could hev the chances we're shut
out of now, who should come along this
mornin' and Jewed me down on pay that
the Lord knows is hard enough to live
on
The Deacon had heart, and knew the
nature of selfrespect as well as most men.
His mind ran entirely outside of texts for
few minutes. and then, with sigh for
the probable expense, he remarked:
Reckon Elites notion was right, after
all--ther ort to be workin'- mans chap
el.'
'Ort?' responded Hay who dye
s'pose'd go to it. Nobody Ye can
rent us second-class houses, an sell us
secondhand clothing, and the cheapest
cuts o'meat, but when it comes to cheap
relieou-nobody knows its value bettcr'n
we do, We don't want to 20 into yer
parlors on carpets and furniture, we don't
know how to use, and we don't expect to
be asked into society where our talk an
manners might make some better eddicat-
ed people laugh But when it comes to
rcigion--God knows nobody need an
deserves the very best article more'n IRE
do
The Deacon was reasonable man, and
being old, was beginning to try to look
fairly at matters on which hes expected
soon to be thoroughly examined The
indignant protest of the carpenter had, he
feared, great deal of reason, and yet
Gods people deserved to hold their posi-.
ton, if, as usual, the argument ended
where it began. So he asked rather in
dignantly
What as to be done then p
Reform Gods people themselves re-
piled the carpenter, to the horror Of the
pious old man. When the right hand of
fellowship is reached out to the front, in.
stead of stuck behind the back when a
poor man comes along, thcre'll be plenty
that'll be glad to take it. Reform yer
of our eyes the notes we'll be glad enough
to get rid Of yc can get fine lot Of heavy
lumber out of yer own
Soldiers of the cross, no more than any
other soldiers, should stand still and be
peppcred when unable to reply; at least
so thought the Deacon and prndently
withdrew.
Reform Gods people themselves The
Deacon was too old boy to tell tales Out
of school, but he knew well enough there
was room for reform. OF course there
was-weren't we all poor sinners ?-wher
we would do good wasn't evil present with
us?
Besides, suppose he were to try to re-
form the ways of brother Graves anC
Deacon Struggs and others he had in hi
mind-would they rest until they had at
tempted to reform him? And who wa
to know just what quantity and quality
Of reform was needed? The matter wa
too great for his comprehension, so he
oboyed the injunction, "Commt thy way
unto the Lord
Hay did full days work, the Deacon
made neat little sum by recovering OF
an old judgment he had bought for ,
mere song, and the Deacon's red Gov
made an addition to the family in tn
calf pen yet the Deacon was far from
comfortable. The idea that certain peo
pie must stay away from Gods house un
til Gods people are reformed, seemed t.
the Deacon's really human heart some
thing terrible. If they would be SO prou'
and yet, people who would stand out
side the meeting-house and listen, an
pray and weep because their childre
were as badly off as the, could scarcel
be very proud, He knew there couldn'
be many such, else this out-of-door con
gregation would be noticed--there cer
taiuy wasn't full congregation Of mod
est mechanics in the vestibule of whic
Hay spoke, and yet who could tell ho'
many more were anxious and troubled o
the subject of their eternal welfare?
What pity such workmen could NJ
have steady work and full pay If h. ha
only known all this early in the morning
he did not know but he might have hire
him at three dollars, though. really was
man to blame for doing his best in tt
labor market? "Ye cannot serve &c
and mammon. Gracious! he could a
; most declare he heard the excited ca
penter's voice delivering that text. VIII
had brought that text into his head ju
, now,
The Deacon rolled and tossed on h
bed, aud the subject of bis conssrsatit
, with the carpenter tormentng him SC
could not sleep, OF one thing he "
S certain, and that was tina. the church
Pawkin Centre was not to be relied on
o an extremity, and was not hungering al
r thirsting after righteousness an extren
6 case ? The good Deacon solemnly