The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-19

fruits meet for repentance.
| Vipers Joe uncomfortably wondere
who else the Squire WAS going to intro
duce into the brotherhood of faith.
| "Now, see what it says in anothe
place, continued the. Squire: 'Notever,
one that saith unto me Lord, Lord
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven
but he that doeth the will of thy Fathe
which is in heaven"
eyes," said Joe, grateful for hearing
of no more horrible believers, " bu
what is his will but believing on him
Don't the Bible say that they that be
lieye shall be saved p
''Joseph," said the Squire, "wher
you believed in my store, yo1 put il
20 If time and money there. When yor
believed in hoss tradin' you devoted
yourself TO practising it. When yot
believed life insurance was good thing
you took out policies and paid for them
though you have complained of the
Patagonian dividends. Now, if You dc
believe in God, what have you done to
prove it?"
"I've paid over hundred dollars q
year church dues" said Joe, wrathful.
ly, "not counting subscriptions to a
bel and new organ"
"That wasn't for God, Joseph" said
the Squire; "'twas all for you. God
never'u thank you for running Ill:
asylum for paupers fit to work. You'll
find in the twenty-fifth chapter OF
Matthew description of those that'e
going into the kingdom of heaven
they're the people that give food ane
clothing to the needy, and visit the sick
and prisoners those that don't do these,
things don't go in, to put it mildly,
He don't say word about belief there.
Joseph; for He knows that giving away
property don't happen till mans be.
lief is pretty strong"
Joe felt troubled. Gould it really bs
that his eternal insurance was going I'd
cost more money? Joe thought envs
ously of Colonel Pung, president Of
the Bungfeld railroad oompany-ths
Colonel didn't believe in anything; SO
he saved all his money, and Joe wished
he had some of the Colonel's courage.
Joe's meditations were interrupted by.
the entrance of Sam Ottrey, poor fea-
low who owed Joe some money. ice
had lent Sam hundred dollars, dis
counted ten per cent. for ninety days,
and secured by chattle mortgage en-
Sans horse and wagon. But Sam had
been sick during most of the ninety
days, and when he went to Joe to bega
few days of grace, that exemplary br1s-
mess man insisted upon immediate pay
ment.
Tt was easy to see by Sans hopeless
eye and strained features that he hsd
not come to pay-he was staring ruin in
the face, and felt as uncomfortable assif
the amount were millions instead Of a
horse and wagon, his only means pf
support. As for Joe, he had got that
hundred dollars and horse and wagon
mixed up in the oldest way with what
he and his partner had been talking
about. It was utterly unbusiness-lise
he knew it-he tried to make business
business, and religion religion, bu+' he
could not succeed. Joe thought
briskly; he determined to try an Sx-
pertinent.
"sam, eaid he, "got the money?T
"No," Sam replied luek's agin me-
I've got to stand it, suppose.
."sam," said Joe, "I'Il give you JAIL
The time you need at legal Interest,"
Sam was not such young man as
sentimental people would select to try
good deeds upon. But he was human,
and loved his wife and children, snd
The sudden relief he felt caused him to
look at Joe in manner which nnade
Joe find q couple of entire strangers in
his own eyes. He hurried into the
little office, and when his partner locked
mp inquiringly, Joe replied:
" I've got dividend, squire-ols of
those We we're talking about"
"How's that?" asked the old Llan.
while Joe commenced writing rapidly.
"I'll show you," said Joe, handing
The Squire the paper on which he had
just put in writing his promise to sam.
Joseph" said the Squire, sitter
reaing the paper several times, to. as
sure himself that his eyes did not de-
ceive him, 1T beats the widows mite
she gave the Lord all she had, bus you
have given Him more than you ever
had in all your life until to-day.
Joe handed Sam the paper, and Ii was
10 the teamster the strongest evidence
Of Christianity he had ever seen in
He had known of some|hard
cases turning from the saloon and join
ing the church, but none OF these things
we're 30 wonderful as this action os Joe
Caters. Sam told the story, in strict
to each of his friends, and
she good seed was thus sown in soN that
It had never reached before.
It would be pleasant to relese that
Joe forthwith quit saving notes and sell
ing antiquated grease for butter, end
That he devoted The rest OF his days and
money to good deeds, but it wonldn't