Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-31
True Moral Courage.

A London gentleman, Mr. Smith0rs, gives
the following interesting incidents of Chris
tian courage
was walking along the Strand one night,
and | came up to tall fine soldier. | en-
tered into conversation with him, aud said,
There is one thing | cannot understand
about the British soldier" "What is that
sir ?" "Well, ;" said |, che is bold and dar-
ing: you can not insult him more than by
calling him u coward. There are men among
you who would rush to the lannon's mouth,
even if you knew it would be a certain death,
and yet there are among you men who dare
not kneel down in the barrack-room at night,
and repeat the prayer their mother taught
them when they were children" He paused
and said, THAT is true, SIR" "What is
the meaning OF it, soldier 2" He said, ny gu
remind me Of what took place in my own roll
a fow weeks ago A young fellow came into
our room, and the first night before going to
bed, he knelt down to pray, and instantly
there was noise and disturbance in the
room. Caps and belt, were flung over at the
man, but he did not move. The second night
there was general cry, Willie, try it again.
Caps aud belts were thrown again, aud the
men whistled. The third night he went
again on his knees, and again on the fourth
night with the same result And them" he
said "tho greatest blackguard in the room
cried out, Lads, he is genuine-he stands
fire. and from that night every one in the
room respected him, and began to follow hi,
example"
In Birmingham, some twenty years ago
there was youth who came from his moth
er's loving home in one Of our beautiful
villages. lie had been taught to "stand FIRE,
not to he ashamed of God or ofprayer. The
first night he retired to rest with several
other youths. He knelt down to pray, and
as in the case OF the soldier, was instantly
beset by the young fellows in tho room
abusing him and ridiculng him, and every
thing was done to induce him to abstain from
prayer; but he "stood fire )" he was no
ashamed Of the gospel of our Lord JeSu
Christ. Among them was a strong.buil
youth, who stock on his right, and who said
my mother taught me to do that. l hav,
been ashamed of doing it, but will do it,"
The youth became the great and nobl
John Angel james.
Some time ago in one Of our great ships o
war there was a solitary sailor who was no
ashamed to own himselfasa follower of Christ
For long time no other sailor joined him
His place Of prayer was amid the noise ant
din Of sailors. One evening he perceived
a shadow by the side OF the gun. Anothe
Jack Tar was creeping along, and said;
"May Gomez"
o, the joy of the young sailor to have
conrade with him They met for man,
nights behind the gun, reading and praying
They became the butt of the men in two o
three of the messes but still they continued
bearing and forbearing. 1t came to the ear
of tho commander, who was Roman Cath
olic-but mention it for his honor.
The moment he heard that two OF hi
sailors were meeting for reading and praye
behind one of the guns, he sent for one o
them and instantly ordered portion Of tn
lower deck to be curtained of, and gave or
ders that no one should modest them. Fol
some nights they were the only occupants
but by-and.by the curtain was opened and
blue-jac said
"May | come int"
lie was welcomed Another came, an
another, and the last account heard froI
that ship was this that every night thirty
two were meeting for prayer, and thirty Q
them believed to be converted Christians
And there, by standing fire, by stAndin
firm, true to what was his duty, God ha
blessed that solitary sailor, and made him
self spiritual father to at least thirty Z
, the men on board the ship.