Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-07-21
The woman bowed her head, and burst


into tears.
"Oho, we're comm to that. CHI? Here,
Grow. take her up and carry her ont. Put
her on to Yer sled, if she can't walk; per-
haps we'll get sleigh when we oct up
to the house. Take her right out. : It's
comm to pretty pass when man can't
nave his own hOuse-and after*. two
months notice ut that y
Paul Lavere had been standing all this
time by the door, where he had gone to
let the visitors in. and his frame had been
shaken by emotions such as ne had never
before experienced. More than once he
had! been on the point Of taking the
tonss and springing at the monster, but
n sense of his own weakness withheld
him But he could bear no more. When
those last words dropped from Not
worth'S lips. he moved quickly to the
other door. and snatcbed down the old
musket. lie drew back the hammer, and
the sharp click arrested the landlords
attention.
Stand back !" the boy cried, bringing
the piece to his shoulder, and aimings it.
Lay hand on my mother. and I'll
shoot you, as there is God i'm heaven
My gun is loaded. sir. loaded it in
hopes TO shoot duck for my mother.
Don't touch her! In heavens name,
don't. would not have your blood on
my hands; but do not lie J"
The boy was as pale as ashes but not
nerve in his body trembled. His large.
dark ewes were burning with'a fearful
intensity, and his lips were compri ssed
until the prints of the teeth within were
plainly to be seen.
OF course nun with such feelings as
Notworth displayed could be nothing
but coward. His man Crow fell back
in a moment. for he saw too plainly the
meaning of the boys face.
.s?ut down that gun!" gasped the
landlord.
sNot until you have left the house.
sir" replied Paul. in a husked tone.
leave us now. and will make some
arrangements for new home; but
place your hand OH my mother, and you
die"
Of course the wretch stormed, and
threatened anu swore. but he dared not
tempt the boy, who looked on him so
strangely.
swell, Crow" he said at length after
he found thai his coarse threats had no
effect, tive will 90 now, and when we
come again we'll have them with us As
will have the law i'm their hands,"
'sOh mother, you DO not blame me ?"
cried Paul, springing to his parents side,
after the men had gone.
"NO. no. Paul. the widow returned,
gazing with pride on her noble boy. IL
cannot blame you; but fear they viii
do something dreadful nOw.a
Fear not on that account, mother.
When / took down your fathers gun ]
had another resolution formed in my
soul. Wait. for will try one more thing
for aid. will try the assembled Chris
tianity of the town"
The Sabbath bells rang out clear upon
the frosty air. and the people rut on
their best garments to 60 up to the house
of God and pray. file sleigh bells jim
gled over the smooth road as the more
favored ones flew by. and ever and anon
q more humble church-gOer stepped out
into tho deep snow to let the eqnipage
pass. By-anl-by a thin, pale face APP
pearcd i'm the entry of the church.
'-Hain't you got 10 better clothes'n
them TO wear TO meetin', boy ?" the SEX
ton asked.
..No. sir; have none others"
"lVell, never mind. Here. I'll show
yon seat"
Shortly after this Mr.. Davis NOtw orth
entered the church. He was habited in
black. and the dcacons all bowed to him
as he passed them. lie did not see the
poor boy under the gallery.
It seemed a strange coincidence that
that the minister should have
the sermon he did. He took
he whole of the thirteenth chape of
-Paul's First Epistle TO the Corinthians
that chapter which is devoted TO chart |
ty 1t was noble theme. and the speak
er was warm-hearte.l, Jealous man.
On the present occasion he allowed his |
zeal to mount into the upper fields of
pathos and stirring appeal; and he made
it plain case that all the phases of
rharity are necessary TO Christian life.
By-and-bye the sermon was closed, and |
the last hymn was sung. Paul started TO
his feet, and had moved step forward
but he came nigh fainting beneath the |
task he had imposed upon himself. In a
more the benedictiOn would be |
and then it would be too |
late. He gave one deep thrOe- thought |
Of his mOther--and his soul was strong |
once more. The clergyman was OH his |
eet when the boy sprang forward. On |
he went. UP the aisle until he reached
the pulpit steps.
Zone word. sir ! Oh. one word. Tn |
the name of Him whom you serve, hear
me-"
The man of God dropped his hands up |
Oh the cushion before him. and. .gaZed up |
OH the boy i'm speeches. establishment /: |
regaining his cOmpOsure he said,-
what is it, my son %
With one mighty effort Paul stilled |
bis wildly beating heart. and then raised
his head. He knew that then was the |
time, if ever, for the people were anxious |
to hear him. He raised his hands. clasp |
ed firmly together, toward the pulpit,
md i'm wild. frantic tone he uttered,-l
"Oh, sir, have heard you preach to-
lay such truths rs know are of God, and |
hope they are not mere idle sayings |
here. Oh, pardon me. and listen. mean
no wrong-I only ask You, as you love |
your God, to hear me-" Here he turned |
toward the astonished people, and his |
voice had now become more calm and |
clear. ''YOu. many of you, knew my
ather; you know he is dead. But blame
him as you will.you cannot blame my
mother or myself. We are not to blame |
hat he became low and degraded we |
we're not to blame that he became vic
i'm to the fell destroyer. My mother
,rayed for him on her knees, and never,
e yer, in his most degraded moments,
vas she cold or harsh. He died, and he
eft us poor-very poor. My mother has
ecn sick-sick even unto the shadows of
eath, and / her only nurse. l w0ld
vorE ~ o0nI6 loovo m, " ,nOfhop huf I
annot. l can beg-I have teggetl-I
ave begged the food that has sustained
IS. last night man came TO turn us
rom the house we occupied, he would
ave turned my mother out into the
Il LII