Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-07-10
how to appreciate. the gloom and dark
ness around aud abouc one who never
reads anything ID my life AID seventy
va,rS az ,aa.yne " ~ III - tf1


before day. when It's said it's darkest
you had better say. Why, sir, darkness
is no word for it all / can't read, and
precious little have / ever heard read
out Of books Or papers,. Sir. / have
raised a family Of six children saw
them all 20 out into the wide world
without any learning at all. except Iny
last. daughter, who learned TO read
while little girl at Sunday school.
My boys, four of them all raised fam
lilies, and my daughters. one of them
married long ago and died; her child
rem. three OF them are at my house
their father was. killed in the war.
These little fellows cant read am
too Eo0T t. END them 10 school. My
daug hter who learned at the Sunday
school is still with me; she takes care
Of these little orphan children. l
hear her tell them some mighty sweet
and tender words sometimes about the
man named Jesus, who the preachers
have been preaching about for years
and years. She can. talk sweeter TO
them of him than any preacher | ever
heard.
Here the old mau' 6 face clouded with
shadows he seemed to feel too deeply
to talk Of Jesus. Bringing his long
staff heavily upon the floor, he con-
tinued:
She tells me that she wants the
book called the Bible; | came here to
get one for her. She said she would
read it to me,-that it would make me
u Christian man; and oh mister, if one
Of them books up there is the Bible,
won ( you give it to me? will take it
home and give it to her, and then"
Here the old man bent his face over
and wept Reader, when you see this
sight and hear these words as they
we're spoken to me by this poor old
sinful man, then may you appreciate
my feelings. VISA Il
My dear sir, am ashamed to say /
have not the Bible in my library.
These are law books, and my Bible is
at home; but / will give you the
money. and you may buy you one"
Here the thought came to me. the
old fellow may be deceiving me; he
may take the money | give him and
get whisky with it. So | said:
will you come to see me again in
about ten days ? Will then give you a
Bible"
He showered his thanks upon me-
said he would call at the time and get
it. He seemed exceedingly happy. In
smiles and tears he arose to take his
leave.
II
The door was closed-there was no
one to hear what the writer of these
lines said in his petition to throne
Of grace. Oh! 1t seemed that new
life was opened before me /! Would
the old man come back and get the
Book of Books?" | feared he would
not, and then my opportunity of send
ling the words of him who spake as
never man spake, into the house of u
man who might soon sleep with his
fathers -going without hope of life
cternaii But be was gone. aud the
opportunity had fitted away at a bare
suggestion called forth by a want of
faith in mani How would feel when
confronted at the grand court Of
heaven by the spirit of that man who
cried out before me for the bread of
life?
Reader, don't let such an opportun-
ity pass you Do good whenever you
can.
went back to lily widowed mothers
home-sat down beside the bed of my
much loved dying sister. Obi how
strange | felt when my eyes met the
deep and loving glance Of eyes fixed
on me! 4 little later, and | had been
too late, for sister was dying then i
had not expected to part with her I'M
der ten days, but she was going.
Mother whispered to her that she was
going to land where there was no
more pain nor sorrow nor death. She
smiled, and again fixed her brilliant
eyes on me. In whisper.-'Tom-
ME, make the Bible your guide in this
world; read tread il" she gasped.
L raised her head gently; she smiled
/ sweetIy. closed her eyes, and went to
Sleep. I had not been in the room FIVE
minutes when before me lay sister S
corpse-a sisters spirit had gone to its
father. In due time / stood at the
grave opened to receive sisters
ashes.
):
Ten days passed. My old friend
came again; | gave him che money ;
he went away and bought his Bible.
He came back to the office with the
book in his hand. Said he:
Mister, please put your name in it.
| want it there. so that may remem-
Der it, though I'll never forget you"
| took the book, and with trembling
hand wrote NY name in full on the fly
leaf and then his own, and handed ii
back to him. He took it from my
hand. Laying his right hand on my
mead, and III sweeter voice to me
than | have ever heard, though it al
must squeaked, he said:
May God bless you. my young
man, and make you great and good on
this earth, and take you 20 him when
you die
His tears were glistening in his eyes;
| saw them through my tears. Oh
this sweet memory May it haunt me
still Did angels look down upon
that old man when he blessed the Civ
err? Did angels bear his message te
Him who stitch upon the great white
throne? Did his daughter read that
book to him2 1 have never heard
from him since. He lived at the time
some twenty miles away in the noun
tains. He may be-no doubt Is-now
sleeping his long sleep His spirit has
no doubt met its fate in eternity. If
he heard that book read daily, [ have
no doubt about his happiness now.
And | have often thought, since the
day he left, how much good one Bible
may do in this world That good
| though ignorant woman may raise up
the three orphans to know and live for
Jesus and what good may they do in
the world before they die This is a
sweet memory. | thank God that the
blessing of giving in this instance was
bestowed on me.
But, good reader, in telling you this
| pleasing incident In life, | have been
led to the death bed of a sister who
claimed all the love that brother
could give, and who received it.
have been reminded that one treasure,
tie, binds me-my mind, heart and
soul-to heaven. She told me to
make the Bible your guide in this
world; read tread i'll" and with
these words on her lips she died. 'Tis
a bitter thought, that l have done as
she requested me to do with the last
words of her life but | will.
| had NOT intended to presch n sermon.