The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-03-30
LINK THE SEVENTH Continued }
RELIGION AND PIETY.
IA BACKsIIDER

LA BACkSLIDER.
Down in the pretty town of Cherry
Luton, in Somersetshire, a small trades
man and corn factor, with a wife and
| quiverful of children, had held his head
tolerably high for respectability, though
he had had hard struggling to keep it
above water. To earn q daily meal all
round was no small matter with fifteen
mouths to fill. When. in addition, pub
lie opinion demanded the use of clothing.
and a proper pride insisted on education,
apd dissent was hungry for subscriptions,
| it was q toll to cheat the constable which
Mr.. William Merton often felt tempted
to throw up in despair. He had been
diligent in business and fervent in spirit;
but if no efforts will extend the one, the
other is apt occasionally to flag. He rose
up early and went to bed late, regularly
attended the market, prosecuted his COM
missions with zeal, and was, moreover, in
accordance with country usages in bust
ness, liberal in treating his customers.
The conditions of business at Cherry
Luton, as in too many other and larger
towns, to the disgrace, be it said of local
authorities. were such that it was difficult
to avoid either giving or taking some
thing" when business was transacted.
The open marketplace. with its pave
ment of cobble-stones, was well enough
so long as you were canvassing the quail
ity of your merchandise, whatever it
might be but to clinch your bargain and
exchange your memoranda or take your
money, there was no more propitious
shelter than the blue Boar" or the
Kings Arms" Thus these places be-
came the mart and exchange Of Cherry
Luton, and men paid for their accommo-
dation by drinking their liquors. You
would scarcely credit the expenditure
| demanded Of a man like Mr.. Merton in
this line. To novice it certainly looks
perilous thing to begin business in the
morning with drink, and carry it on
hour after hour with interchange of ex-
citing stimulants. Yet thousands OF
traders and travellers do it-for q time.
Again and again falls out some man,
stricken to the death by this relentless
custom.
When Mr. Merton began life in earnest
he was by nature a man of full body but
temperate habit. His wife was pattern
of virtue and good sense, and he loved
her well. He was one of those men who
seem to take to religion in way, as
ducks take to water Being a natural
element for frank, good hearted, quiet
yet active fellow, it was therefore no
wonder that he became a shining light in
the Methodist Zion of Cherry Luton. No
leader prayed with JUNCTION, or gave the
minister nicer supPers, or better beer, OF
more acceptable toddy after the fatigues
of three sermons and of meeting many
classes. His wife thought that he went
| too far in this line, and indeed some
times the ministers too; though she was
an unsuspicious woman, and never loved
even to think evil of dignities, still less
to speak it.
Nevertheless, as the years went on,
and Mr.. Merton's struggles increased
and he piled his task more earnestly on
| Wednesdays and Saturdays, his wife be.
came conscious of a change in him, which
began by startling her, and then settled
down like heavy cloud over her heart
Now and then 1t appeared to her he was
little overexcited on the market day.
The indication was slight, though, and
affection soon invented excuses to re
press anxiety. By-and.by, however
sharpened eyes noticed that far more
was taken home than formerly. Hel
gentle hint was met with a good -natured
laugh at her suspicion that there was
amy danger of his taking too much,
and a demonstration that he required
more stimulant in order to meet the in.
creasing strain upon him. Meantime he
was sincerely "laboring in the vineyard,
according to the Rev. Gideon OuseleN
Pratt, who, through himself the teeto
taller of the circuit, for long time never
suspected any thing wrong about hii
friend Mr.. Merton.
1t was o fearful hour in Mrs. Merton
experience, home and religious, wher
one day the Reverend Gideon sought
confidential interview with her, anC
broke it to her that he was sorely exer
cised about his dear brother Mr.. Merton
His conduct latterly at one or two prayer
meetings had not savored Of godliness
In truth, Mr.. Merton had, ION two occs
sions," when called upon to lead the wor