Sharp County record., 1880-04-15
THE DEACON'S vow.

The sword of a terrible suspense was
o1iverinc over the household OF Deacon
Cameron and his wife. In the small,
white-curtained chamber over the sit
t;nr-room their only daughter, Agnes,
law between life and death. The doc
tors cave them little reason to hope that
the feeble spark which was tlickerlng,
and NEARLY ready to expire. could be
oCain rekindled. For days and weeks
al that love and skill and tender nursing
could do had been done, to win back
health TO the fever-stricken girl; but so
far If seemed in vain. Her mother and
bro+hers were tireless in their watching
and devotion, and an arrest, in the last
few days. had been laid on every thing
except the most necessary wor <, while
thev waited, in that solemn hush winch
is less of hope than of despair, for what
the next hour might bring to pass.
House. fields, business, life were all
ovcrhupr and clouded by the mystery
which always hovers about the bedsides
of the departing, even when the pros
meet is bright with trust in Him who
savs: CT am He that Gveth and was
dead, and behold! am alive forever
more" , 1,:
Acnes was the Deacon's darling.
Stern and grim to others, he had IN
yariably been gentle and indulgent to
her. In her baby-hood it had been his
deIioht to have her nestle against her
father's broad breast and play with his
Iono beard or fall asleep in his arms;
ASS child, her seat at the table had
boen next to his and her place in the
new by his side. As she grew into fair
wemanhood, she had become his COM
nanion and friend and almost his sec
pnd self. Now that his eyes were be-
ginning to fail and his ears to grow
5eaf-infrmities of advancing age
which he resented, yet was compelled
70 acknowledged was Agnes VINO
read to him, and talked to him, in her
clear voice, never loud, but distinct and
nnrc in its utterance, SO that every syl-
Iah,e was like silver coin for finish.
THE Deacon loved his daughter as he
loved no one else in the world. Even
bor mother knew that her own was the
second place in her husbands heart
Vet she was contented; for hers was a
sweet and easily-resigned nature, and
she too idolized her Agnes.
Did he love her best? He supposed
so: and still there was doubt OF 1t IN
the minds of his friends. Deacon Cam
eron had another idol, and that his
money. He hugged it closely and wor'
eb;ned It slavishly. 1t cost him bitter
nain to part with it, unless it were IL
some way which he knew would return
II IN kind and increased. Honest, just
defrauding none, he was scrimping an(
niggardly in expenditure for his family
nor could he bring himself to part WITT
an acre OF ground, nor the price OF
norton of his crops, to aid the poor, tt
assist the churcn Or 10 f5if SfseSS
work. His children had been stinted IL
their education, deprived of opportunl
ties aud privileges for which the!
longed, and forced to live narrow, con
tracted lives under the old roof, WHERE
raced many a storm of passion that onl!
Cod and mother knew any thing about
II was a winter morning, but soft anC
mild as spring, with blue skies, undim
med bv a cloud, and gentle south wind;
stirring the leafless branches. Inc
nbvsician had told the father that there
woS little probability that Agnes could
recover. and that the issue would ere
ionc he decided. With pale face and