Smyrna times., 1878-01-09

/ OA4AAStANll' ~ JOu lONC OuflSLs j Ou nave
not answered me-"
All this was said in the most earnest and
even vehement manner.
John Colby replied Mr.. Webster,
you have asked me very important
question, and one which should not be
answered lightly. intend to give you an
answer, and one that is truthful, or | won't
give you any. hope that I am a Chris
tian profess to be a Christian. But,
while | say that, wish to add say it
with shame aud confusion of face,-that |
am not such a Christian as | wish were.
L have lived in the world. surrounded
by its honors and its temptations; and |
am afraid, John Colby, that l am not so
good Christian as l ought to be. am
afraid | have not your faith and your
hopes; but STILL hope and trust that am
Christian, and that the same grace which
has converted you, and made you an heir
of salvation, will do the same for me. |
trust it; and also trust, John Colby
and it won't be long before our summons
will come,-that we shall meet in better
world, and meet those who have gone
before us, whom we knew, and who trusted
in that same divine, free grace 1t won't
be long. You cannot tell, John Colby,
how much delight it gave me to hear of
your conversion. The hearing of that is
what has led me here to-day. | came here
to see with my own eyes, and hear with my
own ears the story from a man that know
and remember well. What a wicked man
you used to ber'
so Danielw exclaimed John Colby,
''you don't remember how wicked was ;
how ungrat"ful was how unthankful |
was! | never thought of God; | never
cared for God; ! was worse than the
heather. Living in Christian land, with
the light shining all round me, and the
blessings of Sabbath teachings everywhere
about me, | was worse than a heather
until | was arrested by the grace of Christ,
and made to see my sinfulness, and to hear
the voice Of my Saviour. Now am only
waiting to 60 home to Him, and to meet
your sainted sister, my poor wife. And |
wish, Daniel, that you might be a prayerful
Christian, and trust you are. Daniel"
he added, with a deep carnestness of voice,
"wW you pray with me?"
We knelt down, and Mr.. Webster offered
most touching and eloquent prayer. As
soon as he had pronounced the Amen. >
Mr.. Colby followed in most pathetic.
stirring appeal to God He prayed for the
family, for me, and for everybody. Then
we rose; and he seemed to feel a serene
happiness in having thus Joined his spirit
with that of Mr.. Webster in prayer
" Now said he, "what can we give you
| don't think we have anything that we
can give you"
" Yes, you have" replied Mr.. Webster
''you have something that is Just what we
want TO eat"
" What is that?" asked Colby.
1t Is some bread and milk" said Mr..
Webster. I" / want a bowl of bread and
milk for myself and my friend"
Very soon the table was set, and white
cloth spread over it; some nice bread was
set upon it and some milk brought, and we
sat down to the table and ate. Mr.. Web
ster exclaimed afterward:
Didn't it taste good? Didn't it taste
like old times ?"
The 6rothers-in-law took an afIectionate
leave of each other, and we left. Mr..
Webster could hardly restrain his tears.
When we got into the wagon he began to
moralize.
" | should like" said he, "to know what
the enemies Of religion would say to John
Colbys conversion. There was a man as
unlikely, humanity speaking, to become
Christian as any man | ever saw. He was
reckless, needless, impious; never attended
church, never experience the good in.
huence of associating with religious people.
And here he has been living on in that
reckless way until he has got to be an old
man; until a period of life when you
naturally would not expect his habits to
change: and yet he has been brought into
the condition in which we have seen him
today,--a penitent, trusting, humble be-
lever. Whatever people may say, moth.
ing" added Mr. Webster, "can convince
me that any thing short of the grace of
Almighty God could make such change
as /, with my own eyes, have witnessed in
the life Of John Colby"
When we got back to Franklin, in the
evening, we met John Taylor at the door.
Mr.. Webster called out to him =
"Well, John Taylor, miracles happen in
these later days as well as in the days of
old"
What now, squire?" asked John Taylor.
"Why, John Colby has become Chris.
tian. If that is not miracle, what isl"
-
From table which has been prepared
by the Bureau of Statistics, it is shown that
the exports OF cheese from this country has
grown from one hundred and forty.four
thousand, seven hundred and thirtv.four