St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-02-06
'HNSBURY, VT, FRIDAY, FEB. 6. 1880.

|
any such need. Why did you not stop
me before ~
Having explained the cause of my
dilemma, we walked on quietly, the
lantern doing its duty all the way, and
Mr. Grey, our kind village doctor, po-
iltely glad to be of use to me.
=, "Mr. Grey" said I, ''may take the
lioerty of asking why you kept that
i1gnt covered up, when it might have
self ?n
why, you see 1 know these lanes as
Wen as my horse does and when have
70 go through them at night on foot, |
uoh't see any use in attracting observa-
eIon, or making myself mark as 1 pass
aiong. 1t Is of no consequence to any
one where am going to; and if come
10 some doubtful turn, or want to see
auy person or thing, can flash out
enough light in moment to see that
all is right. If knew any one needing
help, OF course should be very glad to
afford it.n
81 am not sure that you are quite
such IA philanthrOpist as 1 had suppos-
ed.p said 1.
''What, because don't light the vii
lage, and let every one know where |
am 2" said the doctor laughing.
"When it couldn't do yourself any
harm, and might do somebody good, as
l gratefully testify now. Many thanks,
and good evening Mr.. Grey"
"Stay, | shall see you up the walk
and in at your own door, in spite of
your suspicious of my philanthropy /;
and allow me to add that if you can
help poor Mary Brown with little nour-
ishment for her child, think we shall
get it round nicely again." and away
went Mr.. Grey with his lantern throw
ing its broad light down the path before
him, while he playfully called out,
''YOu see | can take reproof."
!, cannot help habit of cegitating
upon little things, and | do not believe
there is anything in the world, however
insignificant, out Of which we may not
get lesson of some sort if we choose
so it would have been curious if | had
f not found one in Mr.. Grey's dark Ian
tern.
Only a week or two before, had
travelled distance in the same railway
carriage with Mr.. Grey; three gentle
men occupied the opposite seats, and a
, lively conversation arose among them,
; | olCN HCNSpdpCI IlC
time. But few sentences sufficed to
prove that one, if not more of the stran
= gers was sadly forgetful of the third
, commandments and almost every
phrase he used was prefaced or con-
cluded with an appeal to the Almighty
either to witness his veracity, or to
2 bless his life, or with some CALCULATIONS
r of Gods goodness or greatness, which,
used in common conversation, send a
thrill of intense pain through the hearts
of those who reverence his holy name.
At last, feeling disgusted and dis
, tressed at the continued profanity,
ventured to look at Mr.. Grey, who
, knew must be as much annoyed as my
self; Mr. Grey looked at me in return
+, and resumed his paper with an ex-
t tremely dissatisfied air, but said moth
$ ing. "Mr. Grey might speak," thought
L, she is certainly servant of the Lord
and ought not to bear this in silence
Perhaps Mr.. Grey was favoring me with
the same kind of mental comment; but
S nevertheless, there we sat like two dark
e lanterns, the light within us hugged fol
A., our special benefit, but invisible to
those before whom it ought to have
shOne faithfully.
e The sixth traveller in our carriage
t was pale, sicklylooking little girl
y with large, earnest eyes, which now and
: then were glancing anxiously towards
= the irreverent speaker; aud after Il long
p time, and many fidgety movements as
q if feeling very uncomfortable, she sud-
t denly bent across to the gentleman, af,
ter one of his profane CALCULATIONS, and
; softly said, "Please, sir, would you not
q do that any more ?"
e "NOt do what, my little maid 2"
e ''NOt take the name of the Lord oul
4 God in vain, SIR" she replied, blushine
= deeply.
p; "Upon my word ~ said the gentle
Il man, who seemed very good-tempered
+ and as much disposed to be amused a.
p surprised, 81 must beg your pardon,
think E; but really was not aware tina
1 was doing any harm. You'll forgive
n me though, if l try to be Il better boy
V won't you 2"
q 'Oh yes, sir" she sweetly replied
! land God will too, if you ask him."
Il Oh, how | rejoiced in that flash o
light, shaming though it did my owl
o cOwardice and faithlessnessl
/ was once invited to spend an even
ing i'll company with a lady whom
understood to be a very decided Chris
!, tan, and, full Of delight at the privi
V lege, [ expected a great treat in he
:, conversation, and much help from he
. sympathy. Alas she was as dark to m,
u as Mr.. Grey's lantern. / neither saw
d nor heard anything different from tn,
: manners and themes of kind, well-bret
people, who live for themselves, apt
know nothing of religion beyond it
form. | knew not where her light wal
on that occasion.
y "YOu surprise me,n exclaimed a maj
It of business 81 have had dealings TO
o years with Mr.. but had no idei
h that he entertained those sentimentsn-
"those sentiments" being understood tt
u mean the religion of Jesus-that, il
a fact, Mr.. - was believer. Th
# was very likely for Mr.. was
dark lantern on 'Change, though b,
| possessed light that shone cheerful,
/, and usefully round him among know
e Christian friends and in the home cir
Il Gle.
To whom is it said, eye are the ligh
d of the world 2" To those who onl,
II throw their light when sure of sympa
n thy and good understanding from thos
L who know them To those who are to,
It idle OF too selfish or too cowardly t.
k bear witness for their Lord in an evi
and Christ defying world9
e "Ah" say some, sit is written, ant
" the Lord Himself said it, Neither cas-
| We your pearls before swine.'n Blu
,r pearls and light are not synonymou