The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-09-13


last he stood firm and strong. he had
once been q minister, pointing souls the
way, be would again take up the warfare
though captive the enemy had led him for
months. Against intempersnce he
fought with sll the mind and
soul apd strength of q man who fights for
q hte against death and eternal pain. His
eloquence attracted thousands, his plead
ings, bis warnings, his thrilling memories
and pictures drew around him the gifte
the talented, the purest of the country.
He told the story of his fall, told 1t with
the tears OF penitence and bitterness, and
then tbe precious word and prayer that
had made him a man again. He never
wearied In his work, he was raised step by
step Do the highest offices In the order of
which be was member. and he ennobled
and dignified every position to which be
was called. just as the bells
were Ginning in the new year,
in q wstch-night meeting in
this city he told once again of his resolu-
tions and pray ers. None who heard him
will ever forget the psthos of his words
They touched the tenderest chords of the
heart-the most sacred themes of life.
They were sweet strains sung by lips that
were saddened snd paled by the rec0ilec
tions os the past, but ere they ceased they
changed to a glad psalm of triumph that
"by grace ye shall conquer" There were
men and women who listended, to whom
sorrow was not a stranger, who had clasp
ed hands with grief aud disapp intment.
and as with faltering tones the story OF
blight and pain was told their eyes were
misty, and their hearts throbbed fast. ALI
had wept by graves where rested the cof-
fined dead, not only of loved ones, but
of hopes and bright promises.
And they too had hesped the elods over the
fair prospects themselves had ruined !"
Ere the last moments of the old year were
told he shut the sepulcber of the past, and
In the dawn OF another day of grace went
forth not crowned with gsrlands,
but as s"nsn of sorrow acquainted with
grief." While the spring flowers were
blooming, while the skies were bright and
the air bslmy, while nature smiled propi-
tiously he pursued his way, thanking GOD
for the sunshike and the glsdness. Fight
ing disease, the hereditary curse
child, suff ring alone, with none
to bind up q wound or strengthen
him when weak, hiding his struggles
from the world that spplsuds the victor
but reviles the fallen, be did his work well
and faithfully, how earnestly, how n0bly,
there are scores and hundreds of reformed
drunksrds, saved by his warnings and
prayers, who will tell. Cast by the trouble1
waves OF business an. social life here and
the bestings of the storm of temptations
within aud without, be was dashed al
most egsinst the rocks time and again,
but watching the guiding star, the tide
would sweep him far out beyond the break
ers, and for days be would make steady
progress for the heavenly port. With the
fervor of diseased sppeti,e runni riot H.
every vesin, with the coils of the temper
entoldiug him closer, he would wander in
his frenzy If net In deed in thought away
from the path ut.into the darkness, only
to pray and struggle until weak and wort
he would fall at the foot OF the cro ss, that
blessed spot for erring humanity.
This warfare had been ceaseless until a
few weeks ago came the final battle, the
last conf CT, the last triumph. In q mo-
ment of irresolution, OF great temptation, +,
with right and truth silenced by the clam-
orous voice of the demon he wsvered, and
trembled and fell. Only the plying eye o
the Savior knows the depths OF
his remorse; his agony, so terri
bic was his grief and his sorrow,
that he became prostrated and sick. For
days tossing on q bed of languis hing he
suffered the severest mental and pi yslcal
pain, caring not for the body If oD,y tn
soul might be touched by the great Physi-
cisp and be healed. The friends who had
wetcned him with pride snd marked his
course with sincere affection, were about
him. he was In the home Of one of them,
but he huugered for desrer faces and voices
He grew weaker and fainter, the soul pur-
flied and cleapsed, chafed against the
prison that kept it in captivity, and the
man lost pride, ambition, all care tor
earthly fame, and plead fer mis- loved ones.
They now sent for his wife
and his family. He watched
the tardy hours go by. and numbered his
life beats to know If be would greet them.
He longed for the tender, cliDgiug touch
of a wife's hand, for her IS upon the lip
purpliDg with death, for her words of for
giveness, but she would not cheer the last
hours nor go down with him 10 the edge OF
that cold stream whose tide will CLAIM u
all. Friend and foe forgave his many
faults, but the wife whose babies Da6
called him father, who hsd been the
nearest and dearest OF all earth when he
was In his prime, turned q deaf ear to his
dying words, aud heard with bitterness
the last plea1ing call of him whom she
had promised to cherish. Some day
when she, too, stanus at the pr
tai of the grave will not the
memory OF this be the snarpest peng of all
the sci judgments she must pass upon her
life deeds? AS old age comes ap0u oer,
she nesrs the grave. will not the memory
of her husband, weakened with his last
struggle, victorious 10 death, yet pleading
Tor her forgiveness md loye, be the scor-
pion's lash of remorse that w Ii sing the
weary hours of lie? Will not the picture
haunt her of that dsrkened chamber OF
death, with its hushed and silenced
wa ches around the couch of one who,
with the kiss OF the dread angel upon his
| lips, with the shadows upon his lids, wi
the psllor of the grave upon brow and
cheek, yet with trembling loving voice
called to her to come to him, though their
paths had lain so long apart.
| He plead In vain-none answered the
cTy-snd with q weary heart he turaed to
the friends Of his sad days and, without a
murmur, laid down the bur Zen and went
to meet his God. Kind hands bore the
| body to it's long home, loving hearts OF
| friends ached as dust returned o dust, but
| the tears that fell were not those of wife or