Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-11
The Rich Hunchback,

"Oh, my what funny little old man !"
said thoughtless young girl in loud whis-
per to her companion, at prayer-meeting
in certain large manufacturing village in
New England.
glanced up. There was a funny little
old man indeed, walking with painful
limp up the aisle in quest of vacant seat.
at is old Uncle Jerry Phillips, the hump
back shoemaker. Prepare yourself for a
pleasant surprise if he takes a part in the
meeting, as he doubtless will," explained
the friend at my side.
1t was pleasant social gathering. A
deep devotional feeling seemed to prevail,
and one after another spoke words OF faith
and hope and promise.
By-and-by there came lull, and the I'm
Gle Jerry's gray, bushy head appeared just
above the tops of the settees He began his
remarks in asweet, pathetic, trembling voice,
so winning in its tones that all instinctively
bent their heads to listen.
Friends, it would no doubt seem to many
here a very sad thing to be only Jerry Phil
lips, the poor, old, cross-eyed, crooked
| limbed, hunchback shoemaker; to be without
relatives ; to be often without work to some
times 60 hungry; to have no home except
one little bare room to be often laid up
with rheumatism, and for days not to see a
human face excepting now and then when a
kind-hearted neighbor looks in.
"All these things are very sad but, dear
friends there are sadder things. 1t is sad
to be poor as regards this life, but it is sad
der to be poor in reference to the life that i,
to come. | am poverty-stricken, funny
looking old man in the estimation of mos
of you, but am rich in faith, and through
this blessed faith Jesus clothes me in th'
robe of his righteousness, and feeds me will
the bread of heaven.
"The unsightly hump or my back is fa
less onerous than the load of anxiety, re
morse and sin carried by many rich peopl
who ride in fine carriages, and are clothe'
in goodly apparel. ! shall drop it off som
day, after | have borne il long enough h
fulfill his purpose, and with it | shall los
my crooked limbs and cross-eyes.
"Ihese deformties, ! must confess hav
been something of a burden to me all m
life but whenever the though.less ieer a
me, | remember that the Master alway
looked kindly upon the halt aud the maimec
Jesus too, was the friend of the poor whe
he was in this world, and he is so still.
"Do you not remember 'IIe had nc
where 10 lay his head And do you not r.
call the words of James Has not Go
chosen the poor of this world to be rich i
faith, and heirs of the kingdom 2 Yes,
/, speak from my heart when say to you thi
had rather be poor in purse and rich
faith, than poor in faith aud rich in purse
81 hope none of you will be poor In bot
|. ways. II you should be, the fault will
;, at your own door, for every one of you ca
be rich by taking Jesus as your friend An
trust that those who are already rich
this worlds goods will so live as to share
= the riches of the world to come. II wou
be unspeakably unfortunate, my friend, o
far more unfortunate than anything Tia
We has yet befallen me in this life, to pass o.
of worldly wealth into eternal poverty"
The old man sat down, and Colonel Ro
-. ers, the so-called richest man in town, sar
upon his knees, saying with much emotio
"Let us pray" The supposed wealtl