Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-17
Not in the least" replied Mr.. Har

aeilsefeu short but earnest. PRAYER
SANS structures were still fresh in his
nina ana he found, in attemptingto pray
LII aiiiefent language from what he usually
aseu, he MADE several awkward and pain
lui pauses After the prayer Sam and
MT. Haftlnger adjourned to the bench to
smoke; and Mrs. Kavvery sought the cot
ton, patch. Breton approached Ipsie, and
took her hand tenderly.
My dear girl said he, has the Adj
versary left you?n
:" guess not" said she; leastways I've
oeen puzzlln' my head all night, and hav-
en- got anything for my pains. If reli-
glon is intended for everybody, why isn't
derstand it?''
In his prayer, Breton had realized that
language, except such as he habitually
used, was not convenient to his tongue
lie had determined to practice the utmost
simplicity Of speech; and his intention
was powerfully strengthened by the sight
OF lpsle's face, always handsome, but now,
under the influence Of trouble, made in
@expresslbly tender and womanly and pure
For few moments, Breton labored as he
had never done before, yet only to clothe
simple truths in simple language. In
those lew moments he found that during his
ministry, he had been fondly repeating SEN
fences which had no meaning to most of
ms hearers had been using obsolete fig
ures OF speech; hadssbeen making refer
ences, and drawing SMILES, which no one
Dut theologlan, or a Jew skilled in the
literature OF. his forefathers, could have
comprehended; and had been sealing up
the fountain from which he implored
people to drink.
My child" said he at length very slow
~, God made the world, and US, and
every thing we have and need He asks
no pay OF us except our love; and he asks
Us 10 prove our love by doing right. The
Bible tells us great deal about right and
wrong; our cOnsciences tell US great
deal; and our experience constantly
lnstucts u.s. God wants us to regard him
as father; and he showed His great love
for us by sending Christ to live on earth,
like other people, and to die for our sakes.
God is real being; and, though we can
not see Him, we can become acquainted
with Him, if we show by our thoughts
and actions we want to be. And He wants
us all to go to him when we die, and to
be with Him forever"
Chats all plain; | understand all
that" said Ipsie.
IHeil you understand all L can tell
you," said Breton
But the horns Of the altar, and the ark
of safety, and passing from death to life,
and the blood of the Lamb, and wrestlin
with the angel, and"-
They all mean only what | have al
ready told" said the young minister
blushing guiltily under the haifindignant
look the wondering girl gave him; "but
a Itch TO
these figures Of speech were as familiar
to others as to me.'
"But there's free-will and election, and
all those things mothers black books tell
about" said Ipsie.
"IhOse matters are Gods business, and
not ours" replied Breton; land no one
ever gained anything by meddling with
them. God does not expect you to know
everything, but rather to love with all
your strength. Do you suppose your
father and mother love you any less be-
cause you do not know all they dO?"
NO." said 1psie, with an absent look
in her face, which made Breton think
she would, for little while be her own
best company. AS he stepped out of the
house, Sam Kavvery confronted him.
mister" said he, 1.-The door bein'
open | heerd all you've been a-sayin'.
Do you mean to say that's all g? that Ips,
or anybody else, don't need to go rollin'
on the groun' at camp-meetin' or hev
tremendous 'sperience some way, fore
they're safe? Amt ther nothin' to do
kept make up yer mind to turn aroun',
an row 'tother way"
"That's ALL" said Breton, except that,
after turning, you must row, and keep at
it, and not let yourself drift with the cur
rent"
"Shouldn't wonder then" said Sam,
strolling slowly away, "if l could be
Christian myself"
Breton was offering a silent prayer,
when slap between the shoulders inter
rupted him.
"Breeton," said MI Hartinger, Il was
myself an unintentional nearer of your
little sermon; and | must thank you for
the clearest religious statement | have
ever heard. But, if this is all, what be-
comes Of the articles of faith? and which
is the one true church 90
" am too young convert to answer
many questions" replied Breton; "but
honest opinions about religion do not, of
themselves, constitute religion; and, as
for the true church, it is in the hearts of
His people,
"Noble young hereto, consistent young
Christian" exclaimed Hartinger, Selling
BreetOn's hand.
1t was time for Breton to start again
for the Cross Roads, yet he was very loath
to go He had learned more within an
hour than in his whole seminary course;
and, while he was rcvcrently thankful to
the Great Teacher, he felt considerable
human gratitude toward Ipsie He start
ed to find her, and express His thanful-
ness. He rc-entered the house, and
found her still sitting where he had left
her.
"Ipsie,' said he, in a tone, which,
though very tender, startled the girl, a
have attempted to teach you; but you
have given me the most valuable lesson |
have ever had: you have taught me to
speak plain English. But l shall have
many relapses into my old habits; and |
know of no one else who will correct me-
VIII you do it-for life?"
Ipsie said nothing, but blushed. The
young preacher looked appealingly; and
her bushes grew deeper Still She said
nothing; but as, when Mrs. Kavvrry came
in to set the dinner table, she found Ipsie's
head on Breeton's shoulder, and the young
man not the least bit ashamed of it, it
seemed evident that Ipsie had accepted
the situation.
Ipsie was never made professor of En-
glish in a theological seminary; but she
did the world good service in revising her
husbands sermons, and did far more for
God and humanity than did any other
member of the Easter River Conference