The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-07-26

TOO late. lie gave one uCcp euiOC-A'
thought of his mother-and his soul wa
strong once more. The clergyman wa
on lis feet when the boy sprang forward
On he went, up the aisle until he reached
the pulpit steps.
zone word, sir! Oh, one word! Ir
the name of Him whom you serve, heal
mem
The man of God dropped his hands
upon the cushion before him, and gazed
upon the boy in speechless establishment
regaiuing his composuie, he said
"What is it, my son9"
With one mighty effort Paul stilled
his wildly beating heart, and then raised
his head. He knew that then was the
time, if ever, for the people were anxious
now to hear him. He raised his hands,
clasped firmly together, toward the pull
pit, and in a wild, frantic tone he ut
tered:
ooh, sir, have heard you preach to-
day such truths as l know are of God,
and hope they are notmere 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
father; you know he is dead. But blame
him as you will, you cannot blame my
mother or myself. We were not to blame
that he became low and degraded; we
were not to blame that he became VIC
tim of the fell destroyer. My mother
prayed for him on her knees, and never,
never, in his most degraded moments,
was she cold or harsh. He died, and
he left us poor-very poor. My mother
has been sick-sick even unto the shad-
ows of death, and l her only nurse.
would work if could leave my mother,
but cannot. can beg-I have begged
Il have begged the food that has sus-
tanned US. Last night a man came to
turn us from the house we occupied; he
would have turned my mother out into
the cold, chill, wintry air, had not, boy
as am, made him afraid to do the deed.
But we cannot live there always so. We
owe our landlord twelve dollars for rent,
and he has sworn with an oath that he
would turn us out of doors by force of
arms if we do not leave. Twould kill
my mother to be moved now. Do this,
and so may God bless your
This had not been spoken commercially,
as we have written it, but at spasmodic
intervals, broken by sobs and weeping.
The effect was electrical. Never before
had such thing been heard of, and yet
few seemed sto think it out Of place.
Most of them were too much moved to
think of anything but the story they had
heard. That same boy might have told
them his simple story in the street, and
they would have passed him idly by; but
now il came home to their hearts. 1t
seemed almost test sent by God TO try
their faith in the doctrine they had that
iag heard Only Mr.. Notworth seemed
angry bat though every eye had been
turned gpou him. yet he dared not speak.
Ere b01g the minister came down, and
placed his hAnd upon the boys head; ;
and rher, ID clear, impressive tone, he
said
--InNu1ch ~ ye have done it unto
the least Of one Of these, have ye done it
unto me- Ny friends, let Us all take
Counsel together after We are dismissed"
He then pronounced the benejiction;
bu. only David Not~orth left the house.
What was done in that meeting can be
judged of by the results. That very
night a doctor came to the widows
cot, and with him came a nurse who was
to remain On the next day large sum
of money, and many articles Of comfort,
were sent in. Ere long Paul was taken
into the family Of wealthy mechanic
as an adopted son; and ere the SHOWS of
winter were gone the mother was we'll
again, and was gladly taken into the
same family with her son, where she passed
the happiest hours Of her woman's life.
1t is simple story, but where will you
find Drawer boy than was Paul Laverel
Think you he was brave when he faced
those two strong men for his mothers
So he was. But that re-
quired not a moiety Of the stern, calm
heroism, which sent him, pale, feeble
hoy, into that sacred temple, there to
face the multitude, and in defiance Of all
precedent, t. pour out the story of his
mothers sufferings. But his soul was
People honored him for this strange in
dependence, and as he grew up noble,
steady, virtuous youth and man, he was
respected by al who knew him. Yet the
smile and the loving embrace Of his
mother, with her fearful blessings upon
him, were by far the dearest return he
met for his work.
OF Mr.. Notworth we will only say he
died unwept and unmourned, and a
spendthrift son quickly squandered his