The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-12
INA FETER-sTRTCKRN TOWN.
Scenes that Caused strong Men 60 Weep-A
Preachers Painful Experience.

The Rev. William C. McCrackcn, in St.
Marks Church on sunday evening. said that
his heart had hardly yet recovered from its
many stabs. and that 1t was painful to recall his
experience in Grenada, Miss. but because
once. while no was missionary. the Ladies'
Aid Society Of ST. Marks had upheld his hands
when he needed support, no felt compelled to
comply with tho request OF the rector. the Row.
Dr. Rylance. to relate his experience there. The
fever lay upon the little town Tor scveniy-fve
long days. Oftho forty or fifty persons present
In his church on the Sabbath when
tho yellow fever first broke out, thirty are
now dead 1t was decided not TO
hold another service in the church bot his or
ganist. n good woman. whose memory he loved
to dwell on begged him to have one more. lio
yielded. and he was glad that he did. because II
was the last that she heard. In her innocent
and beautiful simplicity she thought that her
rector was going to suffer priyatiOn and hard
shin on account " the outbreak Of the fever.
Sho did not know Of the NQrth's generosity.
She died too soon. While sick she begged the
rector 10 take n little money TINT she hal saved.
II was all in Il small purse. She grew sickcr
rapidly. lie took tho purse. saving to her,
" Vow | have II. BE satisfied and get we'll"
Within few hours she died. That purse was
To him sacred thing. Her desire had been TO
have across placed on the altar, By accident
he had told the circumstance of hcr death to
n clergyman in New York. Go" he said.
and buy such cross IA she desired hut do
not let 1t be- cheap one. Use her money II you
will So far ms It Will 20 and ! will pay for the
rest Tho next week after that last service in
The church, one-half Of those WHO had attended
Then" Mr.. McCrackcn snid. we hold ser.
vice in the Court House. l remember that IL
was the only time in my life that broke down
Ia the service. Whom came to the prayer. In
time Of great sickness and mortality n gentle-
man began 70 cry. and IN few minutes we
we're all sohbtng. | was for time unable to
proceed. but l remained on my knees and
strength came to me. | finished the prayer.
but that ended tho service. The next week
half Of those that attended that service were
dead. ] well remember the first funerals in
my parish. Three isters and their mother
tn attend them. Al last asked u man who had
had n bad charactcr but who had been converted.
these women. lie did 50. She died and at hcr
funeral were only that man, the undertaken.
I'M myself soon ahother sister uled ana ~
The third sister was buried without service.
40 o'clock one evening talked with her |
thought thar she would recover. Early the next
morning. while riding in from suburb. |
passed an undertaker's wagon containing n
coffin. When arrived in town | learned
die,i in my church was beautiful
girl. loved her for her Christian
| Wcdid not dnre To let her know ~ her daughter
death. We had TO put the body in coffin no
stairs, and carry itdown a rear stairway outside
| TO hold the service. At last told the under
mker 10 set the cofiin on tho sidewalk. As be-
gan TO read the service several parsons who
were passing stopped and, barring their heads
| rcVerenily knen. Tears filed my eyes. did
| not see the book hold. | looked through tho
| book and tho coffin lid AZ the girl herself None
| who knott about that coffin now survive. ! saw
| men. break down Ike children. They acted like
! beautiful faith Of children And saw brave
girls ~ from house TO house TIL the stroke came
| upon them. and then saw them die without re-
pining. From my experience in Grenada have
| learned that As thy days 50 shall tly strength
] H..