St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-01-10
For the Caledonian.
Truth Lives.

History states that kernels of gIai
found in the cases of the Egyptian mum
mics, have been planted in moderl
times, and produced good growth
Tillers of the soil know that some kind
of seeds lie in the earth many years
which, on being raised to the surface
terminate and grow as though recently
planted.
The faithful disciple of Christ labOr
long, preaching the Word, or as ;
teacher in the Sabbath School, and il
sometimes sad and disheartened, be
cause so many who have heard the
careful instruction, seem so easily tC
cast off and forget the truth. We for
get that God takes care of his OWL
Word. We forget that he is always
mindful of the scattered seed and gives
time and place for it to bear fruit. We
may not safely say that a truth once
presented clearly to the mind, is at
any time wholly lost from that mind
In many cases where the mind seemed
to have no trace of the truths it once
cherished, coming events showed that
even then those truths were working
silently, secretly in that mind, and only
waiting the proper time to show their
power.
An incident recently occurred which
illustrates this thought, and give it to
encourage any weary labOrer in the
vineyard, who, like me, may have some
time become faint in the way. A man
near me, who is almost seventy eight
years of age, is called Spiritualist.
Long ago disease distorted his hands
and feet very badly, uniting him for
work. Poverty pillaged his home of
everything but the actual necessities of
life. For years he has simply Stdid in
this world. ale is a Spiritualist and a
crippled old man''-that is the substance
of public care for him.
A few weeks since, l called at his
house and spent an evening with him,
when he told me of his early life, of
the love he once had for the Savior and
his great enjoyment in doing Christian
work at that time. At length he yield
ed to temptation, gave up all special
work as Christian, and embraced the
strange teachings of Spiritualism. Since
that time he has been known as Il de-
fender of that belief. Since that even
ing | have visited him, and always
found him ready to converse with me
about experimental religion.
On the last day of last month, he
came gripping up to my room, and
quietly said he wanted to talk with me
a little if l had time. | expected he
was about to open upon me with some
of his spirit guns. He sat down, asked
about my family, my sick children, my
support here; and then said, 81 know
about your work in this place and am
glad. l don't have much money, for |
am poor, but l want to do something
for you," and at the same time he pick
ed silver half dollar out of his thin
portmOnnaie, and put it in my hand
and said, at is but little, know, but
L hope you will accept it." l took the
money, and he seemed pleased. ]
watched his face and became convinced
he was sincere. Then l gave it back
with heartfelt gratitude for his kind.
ness, and he turned his face away 8
little, and the tears dropped from it a:
though he was a child. Then he look.
ed at me, laid his crooked hands to.
gether and said: 81 used to know tn,
Truth and love it still. hope vol
VIII do great deal of good here, an,
want you to visit me and talk will
my daughter that she may become
Christian" There were two bibles O,
the table; he took one, 1 the other. an,
at his request we read together. The
he knelt and prayed, a kind, good
earnest prayer in the merits of Christ
and L was glad, as he remembered m
in that petition.
Poor old man he has wandered ia,
but not beyond remembrance of hi
early faith, and l dare to hope, not be
yond the limits of Gods mercy.
Jan. 2, 1879. NJ q
More Love to Thee
The lnvrn &C