The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-03-26

heavily on the Deacon and made him
very sad. As he sat In his armchair or
followed the plow, he felt that the war
fare Of the Almighty had assumed .
tangible form, and that His arrows were
being aimed for his destruction.
One sorrowful day there came q
greater loss. The hand Of paralysis
was laid upon the meek and cver-sub-
missive vile, and she lay for hours in
that death-in-lifc which Is SO horrible
and so inscrutable. Now was the cup
Of calamity full and running over.
Never 3 demonstrative nor very loving
husband, the Deacon had felt true re-
spect and a complacant proprietary af-
lection for the woman who had given
him herself In the radiant bloom Of her
girlhood, when she had chosen him
from many suitors. Always had she
been faithful wife, dilgent, frugal,
and obedicnt 10 his wishes. When she
passed softly away, amid the sobs Of her
children, he shed no tear but Gods
lightning had, nevertheless, smitten his
soul. When she lay, queenly, In silent
state, in the house where she had been
rather chief servant than mistress, he sat
for hours in the room, living over the long
years, and suffering poignant remorse,
which none knowing the man would
have imagined possible. When he fol-
lowed the hearse to the family lot where
the Camerons had been buried for gen
erations, he was bowed under an an
guish rs deep as it was unspeakable.
Agnes slid her hand into his; but he
scarcely felt the pressure, though he
suffered her 10 lead him home like lit
tie child. after the earth had been
packed upon the coffin.
A few days crept unfortunately
long in the abode Of mourning and one
night the family were gathered for wor-
ship. The Deacon took the Bible, and
slowly turned the leaves until he came
to the slxty-sixth psalm. In voice
low and full Of emotion he read these
words:
For thou. O God, hast proved us.
Thou hast tried us as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the net. Thou
laidest ailliction upon our loins.
Thou hast caused men 10 ride
over our heads. We went
through fire and through water; but
thou broughtest US out unto wealthy
place. l will 90 into thy house with
burnt offerings will pay thee my
vows, which my lips have uttered and
my mouth hath spoken when | was in
trouble. 7"
The Deacon paused. "Children, {"
he said, :" | have had controversy
with the Lord. have made vows;
but have not paid them. The Lord
is too much for for Alexander Cameron.
l shall resist him no longer. have
been vain, conceited, and stubborn;
fond Of my own way and careful for my
own interest. But now | shall begin
again, If | may, and seek, il happy he let
me find him, my wife's God. Your moth
err was nearer him than |. Hugh, ask
the pastor to come hither tomorrow.
want to help him in his work with my
substance. Agnes, daughter, Edgar
Murray may come as you list, and will
give him my child and my blessing.
Let us pray"
A his way was, the Deacon, having
begun, paid his vows TO the uttermosi.
The evening Of his life was sweet with
thankfulness; and when the sturdy
babes Of Edgar and Agnes clambered
on his knees and held fast to his hand,
they thought in tho wide world there
was nobody 50 kind and good us grand
father. Margaret +. Sdngstcr, ia he
IndcDeHdenf