The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-09-01
DEACON H.

3" The greatest OF these Is charity
The morning meal was completed
and as Deacon II. took his Bible for the
usual devotions, he cast satisfied glance
around the room, and on the faces of the
rosy-cheeked little group that surrounded
the table.
The chapter chosen wss the thirteenth
of First Corinthians. "Faith, hope, char
ity," read the deacon at its close, but
the greatest of these is charity" Then
followed a long prayer, in which the dea-
con, after giving the Lord various bits OF
information concerning matters of which
it was quite essential He should be cog
infant, earnestly invoked the graces Of
the Spirit, and solicited help for the du-
ties of the day.
/ "Stop'a moment, husband" said Mrs.
H., as the deacon, at the close of the
exercise, was preparing to leave the
room.
q forgot to mention that Mrs. Connor
called here yesterday. Shewants to know
if you can find place in your store for
her eldest boy. Poor woman she is in
great distress. inferred from what she
said that her husband is drinking again;
and her boy has for weeks been vainly
seeking for work. I gave her some sew
ing, for which she seemed very CRATE
full, though she looks too feeble to do
much"
The complacent smile that had been
playing on the deacon's face suddenly
changed TO a gloomy frown.
Take that drunkard's boy into my
store, Mary?" I wonder at the woman's
presumption. Like father, like son. is
a true saying I'll have no vagabonds
around me-"
"But James is a bright, active boy,
husband, and is surrounded by the right
Influences oIo.bs not 10 VII 4, III. !
Surely the family should not suffer for
the fathers faults. Could you have seen
the anxiety ofthe poor mother, you would |
try in some way to aid her 1t made my
heart ache to look at her sad, worn face. !
Do, husband, consider the matter. l |
cannot bear to tell her you viii not try |
her son"
"Then do not 60 near her" was the
harsh reply. 1t is no place for such as
you; if they are suffering the town will
look out for them. l have enough to do
to attend to my own affairs. If you have
work for her, give it to her and pay her
for it. These drunkards are perfect
pests; it is useless trying to reform them.
Now, I presume Conner has signed the
pledge half dozen times, but what good
does it do ?"
"Charity sufereth long, and is kind"
repeated Mrs H., softly. 81 believe you
read that this morning and this verse
also: 'The greatest of these is charity
Do these passages mean anything"
"Mean anything (? of course they dc"
angrily replied her husband; but they
don't mean that should support every
drunkard's family. You women take
everything literally, and really believe
you'd give away your last penny; but
my money is my own, and l shall use 1t
as 1 please and shutting the door in
very undeaconlike manner, the angry
man hastily left the house.
''The silver and gold are mine shall
require mine with usury," sadly muir
INJURED the wife.
Deacon Fl. and his wife were specimens
of that strange dissimilarity of character
that is so often seen in married life. He,
although an officer in the church, ant.
active, so far as talking and praying were
concerned, ~as extremely penurious,
giving to benevolent objects just as little
as was possible for one in his position.
With the poor and unfortunate he had
no sympathy; he had been successful,
Why could not they be? How such
man ever became an officer in the church
one might we'll ask. But the fact only
proves that the wisest and the best are
not always selected for offices SO i'm
portant.
His wife, as before intimated, was just
the opposite. Many dollar found its
way from her purse into the channels of
benevolence. The heart of many sad,
weary child of poverty was ightened by
her sympathy and aid. "She is doing her
own duty, and her husbands also" was
often the remark of those who witnessed
her quiet, unobtrusive deeds of charity.
In very different dwelling from the
commodious one of Deacon II. "A dwelling
SO poor and dilapidated that the winds
of heaven gained easy admission, there
sat pale, care-worn woman, busiIy sew
ing; while over few dying ember shiv-
eringly hovered two little scantily-clothed
girls. The room was bare of almost
every comfort; and casual glance was
sufficient to show that gaunt poverty
had taken up its abode there.
"Uh, mother. can't we have a little
more fire p pleaded Susy, the youngest,
whose thin little face wore such a wist.
full, hungry look, that it added a new
pang to the mothers heart. "It is Sc
cold here and the tears began rapidly
to course down the faded cheeks.
Hush, hush, dear, mother is sorry
tor her little girl; come here and wrap
my dress around you, perhaps it viii
give little warmth James will soor
be here; wouldn't wonder if he ha.
some good news for us; and the pool
mother sought to smile into the wan
tear-stained face, as she drew her dres,
J closely around the little one. At that