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

mad resolve to assail the deacon, and
try how he would receive it. If he,
with his piety, zeal and influence, open
ed hi, bosom to it, the end was easily
attained. The minister was not wor-
thy of consideration in the NATTER
ministers are so readily put out of the
way if they not yield to ungodiiness.
If he proved dead sentinel, he would
not molest him if alive and jealous
of his Masters honor, one bullet would
settle him forever.
In pursuance of his "!iberal views"
and his deep-laid plan, our valient re-
former rode up and fastened his horse
before the unpretending dwelling of
Deacon Lee. Ushered into the neat
"keeping-room' to await his coming
from the harvest-feld, his restless
spirit wes almost awed by the silence
which reigned there. The tall clock
in the corner, with it's ever-sailing ship,
ticked painfully loud; and even the
buzzing Of the few flies on the panes
annoyed him. He suffered much the
same oppression as do those who wait
long in silent, darkened room, the
coming Of minister to funeral. He
wished for, and then dreaded the good
man, being not quite sure of a warm
reception. He had just decided on a
clandestine flight, when the door OPEN
ed and the deacon entered, as calm and
neat as if toll had never ruf1ed his
spirits or soiled his garments. After
the usual greeting, and dead, awful
pause. the visitor began-think of the
wiles of Satan by lamenting the low
state of religion, asking the good man
why this church had enjoyed no reviv-
al for three or four years What
cared he for Gods set time to visit
Zion? He was far more deeply inter-
ested in the opening Of new stage
road to the summit, and in getting up
stock in the projected hotel there.
Nov what do you think is the cause
of things being dull here? Do you
know?" he persisted in asking.
The deacon was not ready to give
his opinion, and, after little thought,
frankly answered, "No, [ don't"
"Do you think the church are alive
to the work before them?"
"No, l don't.'
"Do you think the minister fully re-
allied the solemnity of his work p
"No, | don't.''
A twinkle was seen in the eye of
this troubler in Zion, and taking cour-
age, he asked:
"Do you think Mr.. B. very ertra-
ordinary man p
"No, | DON'T
do you think his sermon on Their
eyes were holden anything wonder
fully great? %
"No, | DON'T"
Making bold, after all this enco ur-
agement in monosyllables, he asked,
"'Then don't you think we had better
dismiss this man and hire anoth-
er?
The old deacon started as if shot
with an arrow, and, in tone far loud
er than his won't, shouted, "No, |
don't !"
why" cried the amazed visitor,
"you agree with me in all I have said,
don't you -
No, | don't"
"You talk so little, sir" replied the
guest, not little abashed, "that no
one can find out what you do mean
Il talked enough once, replied the
old man, rising to his feet, "for six
praying Christians. Thirty years ago
| got my heart humbled and my tongue
bridled, and ever since that I've walk
ed softly before God. | then made
vows solemn as eternity; and don't
you tempt me to break them y
The troubler was startled at the earn
estness of the hitherto silent, immova-
BILE man, and asked, "What happened
to you thirty years ago?"
"Well, sir, I'll tell you. Twas drawn
into scheme just like this of yours,
to uproot one of Gods servants from
the field in which He had planted him.
In my blindness I fancied it a little
thing to remove one of the stars which
Jesus holds in his right hand, if there
by my ear could be tickled by more
fowery words, and the pews filled with
those who turned away from the SIM
plicity of the gospel. | and the men
that led me-for | admit that l was a
dupe and tool-fattered ourselves
that we were conscientious. We
thought we were doing God service
when we drove that holy man from his
pulpit and his work, and said We con-
sidered his labors ended in B.,
where | then lived. We groaned be-
cause there was no revival, while we
were gossiping about and criticizing,
and crashing instead Of upholding by
our efforts and our prayers the instru-
ment at whose hand We harshly de-
manded the blessings. Well, sir, he
could not drag on the chariot of saliva
ton, with half dozen of us taunting
him for his weakness, while we hung
on as dead weight to the wheels he
had not the power of the Spirit, and
could not convert men SO we hunted
him like deer till, worn and bleeding,
he fed into covert to die. Scarcely
had he gone, when God came among