The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-08-08
Our Young People
BIZ REV. H RIVERS, D. D.
Nothing but Leaves. Continued

did not return in time to pre-
pare an article for your last num-
Der. L thank you, Mr.. Editor, for
the favorable notices yoa have been
pleased TO give me as s caterer for
the young. Then 1 an gratifed TO
know from other sources that 3
good moral effect has resulted from
the publication of these papers.
Among the most encouraging let
tiers received BY me was one from 8
most excellent snd highly respected
physician of Giles county. He
thinks these appeals for truth and
virtue have had 3 good effect, not
only on the young. but also upon
those OF ripper years
In discussing the folly and the
crime of bearing nothing but leaves
[ desire TO present my young read
ers with an account Of the first
Methodist preacher l ever heard
preach He was the Rev. James
Fsris, but nearly everybody called
him Uncle Jimmy. He was 3 fire.
quent visitor 81 NY fathers house
when l was s small boy, and it
was at the invitation of nv father
that he delivered IN s log school
house the first sermon tLSt / ever
heard from the lips of s Methodist
preacher. He was 3 man OF large
frame and commanding presence
His features were aII large and ex-
pressive Of the genius OF this won
derful m2n. His large Roman nose
and large gray eyes, his black h.lr
hanging carelessly over his ample
forehead. together with ! well
formed mouth snd chin Of unusual
dimensions, would impress even the
casual observer that he was no or
dInary man. Many Of his sermons
were on the grandest scale His
robust imagination moved on the
strongest piuiOns, and pursued It's
tireless flight amid the most aston
Ishing creations thst ever startled
Al audience. Could his glowing
figures have been pictured on can
vass by the pencil OF & West, they
you'd have msde his name immOr-
tsl- His pictures Eers 50 vtyIdIy
drawn as TO appear Ike living real
tiles No panoramic scenes ever
excited more interest or elected
deeper feeling Angels clothed II
light and beauty, sud redeemed
spirits adorned with robes wOve of
The beams OF the sun, seemed TO en-
circle him as he swept Il lis loft
lest and bOIdest fights Up to the
throne Of God. And then, when
expectation Ess OF tiDtOe and you
wondered whittier he would next
direct bis fight, charmed By the
spOtless throne, the circlIug rain
bow, the songs Of the redeemed. and
above aI by the presence znd love
Of Him who sits upon the throne,
be would, with bIsndest smile and
IN the most simple and artless man
ner, assume I conversational tone
s1d say, Sister, I viii stay here,
YES, E.glE haze y 1hs throne st the
feet Of ny Jesus forever It Is
impossible 10 describe the electrical
effect produced by such original and
wonderful preaching. Probably 10
sermon IN modern time, no sermon
since the dzys Of Whitfield, ever
produced greater results than his
on the barren fig tree He preached
often, a-d GI-Eys With powell 1
never heard him On It bat OEce and
then I was but Z boy not u0Ts than
twelve years old It was st 3 camp
meeting ReaF Winchester, Tenn.
He was then in the height Of his
glory There we're two points that
impressed ne 50 deeply THAI I have
never forgotten them The first
was the faithful cgIEBre bestowed
BY the husb4Edmsn upon the 81
tree. He presented most strikingly
tbs ECaLCEy between his care and
cCl5uE "a Ehs - tree ard Gods
care aEd culture Of the sinner he
then stated that after all other
means fail. sometimes 4 barren ~
tree Is made To yield fruit by being
bored through the heart. said be,
. A few wears ago I visited ! kind
friend who had 3 beautiful orchard
Among his trees vas i plum which
l2G ceased 70 bear He had ap-
Piled every zzs-1s o. --ls-rs. and
still 1t vas barren. Al iass he
learned this remedy. he had it
bored EhFoagh The heart. The next
wear visited him agzIH. Plans
were ripe I went to his barrga
tree. I5 was loaded With fruit. I
olucked and ate non that tree a.
delicious fruit IS I ever tasted 80
-s Is often with sinners They VIII
not bs1c cru-s I'LL God bOrss them
right through E6z hear lis eyes
filed the blood rushed tOrhis Usu /
ally palId cheeks, ana every Inca
uenE OF MS fzcs Was eloquent with
deep emotion. with uoEs ez
9ressive gesture and voice full Of
earnest pathOs.he exclaimed. There
they are, these fruiElsss trees, II
nv IDS vineyard. Bore them.
nv Lord. bore them sAArnuzh the
lear5- yes, through the heart, and .
hey vii &c sr-i.Leas nc more
he then described tbs final doom Of A..
he imPenitsnt; Of him VINO, II spite I
u al culture. remained frUIsless- (
on could see the wOodmal with .
IL axe He examines the ground .
nd the tree and determines which 4
ray Il would fall You hear the
trokes OF the axe As Il Il swung by (
be sszIEart arm Of the wO0dmau,
be tree trsubles. qUIvsrs. cracks,
nd tails Again the deepest emo F
ION Is seen CsplctsG CT his coUare-
a1ce- Terror seems 20 arouse
i'm He looks around with the
lost e1guiriug gEe and exclaIUs, F
" Thea way. ny Lord, which way
-ez the sinner falls EFaII yfsTT -ns