The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-08-15
JOHN HAMMERST0N.
An IIlustratIon Drawn from Life.

An illustration Drawn from Lue.
On Eternal Punishment, Ell? That's
the fashion just now. But don't you 60
to being pert, Rob, and telling, ''what
think, F" and " according to my views, 5"
and twisting Scripture 10 support your
ideas. just remember there'l be men
and women to hear the sermon whr
formed their opinions before ever you
were born, and formed them from life,
too. An opiniontaken from life is quite
different affair, Rob, from one talked
up by a company of good-natured theo-
logues, adopted, perhaps, because the
professor who maintained the opposite
theory is dry old fellow whom you
wouldn't like to resemble.
The case with you, Rob, and with all
those theological boys who come here
visiting and eat my pound-cake and
veal-loaf with such a worldly relish is !:
you've good deal Of sentiment, good
deal ofsympathy and some vanity, and
you'd rather stand and be shot at-by
each other at least-than to be called
narrow" or /" blue" or " sectarian. :"
Not fair? Love of truth, Ell? There
are mysteries in life, Rob, and neither
L
You've seen that little soft curl cut
from jules head the day after her
mother died, and your uncle and l took
her home with us; but l never told you
much about her.
She was only 10 when she was mar
ried. A day or two before the wedding
she and | and Mr.. Hammerston went
down to look over the house.
Hammerston had planned it himself,
and of all the strangely constructed
dwellings that ever wasin that was the
queerest; but he thought it very supe-
Tior, and when she suggested few
changes, he came down IN his over
bearing way, and remember just how
the pink in her cheeks crept out to her
ears and up to her forehead. After that
she praised every thing, and Mr.. Ham
merston expounded his theories. He
had theories about every thing, from the
lowest kitchen cupboard to the parlor
ornaments.
1t began showing while we were there,
and after Mr.. Hammerston had gone for
q carriage Julie sat down in the parlor
low beside me. The carpets were down
and the furniture was up, but there were
no curtains. The snow was falling soft
", and il was solemn in the house no.
body had yet lived in, as in a church.
Julie slipped her warm little hand in
TO mine, and we were both silent until
she looked up, her eyes full, and says
she:
I've been thinking of that text,
Though thy father and thy mother for
sake thee, the Lord will take thee up.
1t seems so wonderful that God should
lesd any one who knows as much as Mr..
Hamerstcn to build such house for an
ignorant, homeless girl ike me, and
to care so much TO have me pleased with
iti''
Her hat had little bird on it-a bird
with the softest plumage and flame
colored breast-and I thought my dsr
ling was Ike that bird-timid and inno-
cent, but with glowing heart. and a
terrible fear came TO me. I've some
times thought it came to her, for her
hand trembled, and she laid her head
against my knee and clasped her other
hand over mine and looked up, too
earnest to blush, and says she:
It's q great step, auntiei I'm
asraid shan't be always gentle and al.
ways unselfsh; but if ! try every day TO
do what he wishes, and Ssk God to help
me, and keep on trying. can't make
any great mistakes, can /, aGntie? Can
I?'' says She.
Then Mr.. Hammerston came driving
up, and we went home.