Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-08-06
THE DREAM OF CALEB EDMONDS

monds, rs he looked over his ~ oks in the
little back parlor behind the shop: Il am
di,eusted with such hypocrisy" !"
There was dark frown upon the brow
Of the man Of business as he spoke these
words. and IN irritability in his manner
o. turning over the leaves before him.
which spoke Of some bad debt troubling
his mind. aud robbing him Of his good
temper.
.What is the matter 7" asked a cheer
ful little woman by the Ere. at whose side
basket Of stockings told Of largo fami.
ly. and consequent demand iu stitchery.
"Mat,er!" !" echoed the husband. lido
you know what Welsfcrd owes me Four
pounds ten and sixpence ~
''Well. he will pay. suppose? 2"
Mot he. The goods were purchased
more than year ago. and have not had
spenny yetT
'.Whas does he say when you see him?'
asked Mrs. Edmonds. who evidently loved
to look at the right side.
..!Says be does not say mach to me,
can tell you. told him not to worry me
with his excuses. but TO bring the money;
and that be need not cross my door step
again until he could do that"
II am sorry for his wife," said the lit
tlc stocking mender. presently; "shc ap-
Iesrs to be truly pious woman"
"Pioms - retorted the husband. Eyes.
so is he; It's that disgus,s me. Religion.
indeed and he owes me four pounds ten
aud sixpence. l thought the Bible said. g..
Owe no man anything Christianity.
fvrscoth y
Mr.. Caleb Edmonds was a highly re-
spectacle grocer in the town of Marbly-
in fact. 4 nan Of substance. for business
had pro.percd with him. He was indus
trious and obliging; rising early. work
ing har'i; and thus from small beginnings
he had r;seu to the possession Of consider
able wealth. But although an excel MT
man Of business. Mr.. Edmonds was very
ordinary Christian. True. he Jegsn the
race. but he did not press towards the
mark-alas for 1.-the care Of this world
and The deceitfulncss Of this world, and
the deceiifulness Of riches y And. as it
is characteristic Of low standard Of picty
to be harsh and censorious in our judg-
ment Of our fellow-citiEens. so Mr.. Ed
ponds. when he heard Of any defect in
the character Of professors around him.
wss always the 6rst to cxclaim. "Caristi-
unity. indeed -
II not this too common to Us oil Do
We not. even If We give no expression to
our thoughts, doubt and hesitate much
more than We should doubt and hesitate.
regarding the reality Of the religion of our
Ready y-to-halts" and Feeble minds 2
Do wc not set up standard Of perfection
for our fellows. which were too lofty. in
our view. Ms q standard for ourselves p
And are we not too ready TO exclaim
against the wanderings Of others. even
while sre turn aside into forbidden paths =?
Perhaps such thoughts as these had
passed through the mind Of Mrs. Ed
mouds as she sat over her work. for when
she rose 10 leave her basket for sotne more
I active daty. she bent over her husband a
moment, and said gently, Caleb. do
not like to hear you say. 'Ckriaidnity
Indeed as you did just now. Suppose
your fellow Christians were 10 Judge ot
yoa as harshly as you Of them! You Of
ten say it. she continued hastily, you
doubted Joha Watsen's religion yesterday
because he lent money to your rival; and
Thorntou's because he opposed yeu in bus
incss; and you shook you head about Miss
Miliwood's pie,y because she argued with
you against total abstinence Judge NOD
that We Be net judg,dr'
Long after his vito left him. these word.
rang in Caleb's ears-'Jadse not 7
At last. as he sat in the twilight. be-
tween sleeping and waking-for business
vas very dull. and he could spare half an
hour for rest-a vision stole upon him,
aud he, passed, in imagination, rapidly
throaxh the scenes which follow.
Al 6rst be found himself in the from,
parlor Of q house in very quiet neigh.
borhood. and in the presence Of three mai
den ladies', whose names he knew very
we'll. They had their feet upca the fen.
der. and-their knitting said aside-wert
evidently discussing the affairs Of ,hei'
ncighbors.
..Such prids!' said the elder lady
whose name was Rayby, "what uill come
next, w0nderr"
..Ths most fashionable boarding schoe
in R. assure you." said another
Miss Phillip.
..Ah!' said Miss Rsyhy. land cal
remember the time-of course | vas rer,
n