The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-10-07
Presentments,


STORIES of presentment. or how fact
existing was borne in on the mind OF one |
sble to act on it for good uses Was told
us many years ago by sweet: mld:
lowing and pi6us Quaker lady. who had
MI the virtues, if this one special weak
ness, of her sect She said that Eer
mother was a woman who had these
mysterious provisions, and TO whom was
,souchsafed prccognition of facts greater
than that given to most. In Olden days
she would have been q seeress; and in
the DAYS which believed witchcraft. how
great soever her piety, she would have
been in danger of the stake. Living in
more enlightened times, she was re-
spected for the faculty which once
would have been her condemnation.
About two miles across the fields from
her house lived a Quaker couple, OF
slender means and painful history. Al
ways in poverty. they were often as
sisted by the Friends who lived round
about, and they we're kept from starva-
ton mainly through extraneous aid.
One winter night, about twelve o clock
the mother of our friend was in her own
rosm preparing to 60 to bed. Suddenly
IL xas borne in on her that her two poor
cO-religionlsts two miles off across the
fields were in dire want and distress.
This conviction was SO strong that she
packed up basket of provisions, took
a lantern, and, late as it was, set OF to
the house in question. Arrived there
in due course, she saw light under
the door. They had not yet gone to
bed. She knocked. and it was opened
to her. She found the couple sitting
on two chairs in the middle OF the
room, without food or fire, with only
the LIGHT of their one candle to illumine
their utter wreschedness. They had been
for two DAYS without food, but they ex-
pressed no surprise when they saw ner.
They simply said. We were waiting TO
see what the Lord would send us in an
swer to our prayers. Forever alter
this dear woman and her daughter. our
friend, believed in the divine Inspiration
of that thought, that fear, which sent q
delicate lady. then no longer young,
two miles across the fields on a bleak
winters night. But, we were ungOdly
>enough to say, elf this were really
divine inspiration, why not have come
in the daylight? . Or. better still. why
did not the man go up to the house
himself, make his wants known
and having them relieved without ex-
posing his benefactress to the risk OF
dosing her life as the result of her char
itya" When we analyze these stories
we always come on some such lapse OF
common sense as this. To have gone
out and sought practically and actively
tor help would have been a more
righteous and manly way of seeking the
Lord than to remain quietly and suplne.
Yly in the house, letting others have all
the trouble and the risk.
Another less touching and far more
chastity story was told us not long since
Some few years ago there was spe-
~cially horrible and revolving murder In
Russia. The details were too fearful tt
be even alluded to here; but we re-
member the story quite well, as it wa:
given in the correspondence of thu
daily press. The friend who told Vi
the following story of presentment-
German Russian-asked us If we re
membered this special murder. w
answered in the affirmative. Then b
said: 81 had strange piece of present
ment connected with that man. H
was nv Russian master'-the Count
our friend, was German Russian from
Courland-" a man whom never liked
vet of whose private life II knew nOthin,
evil; indeed, there was nothing then
know. One day, when he came to Civ
me my usual lesson, had the stranges
and the most overpowering feeling
Someone seemed to touch nv shOulde
snd someone, seemed to whisper In m
car. Get rid of him. When the lesso
was over I paid him all owed him an
dismissed him from further attendance
He made no remark and left in peacs
Two DAYS after this friend OF mine
who wanted to take lessons in the Ru
sian language, asked me for the adore.
of this man. l said we should pass b
his house, when we should call. and m
friend could arrange terms and hour
We reached the house and knocked
the door-knocked hard and. often
but received no answer. Then we lei
with the intention of calling again
few hours later. We went to the pu
lie gardens and sat there for some tim
then set out again for bur second visi
As we walked along the street polio
man stopped US and spoke to me. 1
asked if L knew anything of this ma
I said yes, did, and that was now
my way to see him. NO, he answere
do not 90; he's dead. He had col
mitted suicide after having committ'
the murder, attended by the most
voting, the most awful details of viii
we have alluded; and the very nome
when the Count and his friend knock
at the door of his apartment he mt
have been in the death agony. Il
ways thought" said the Count in &C
,clusion, THAT this was q true prese'
ment. I do not pretend to say how
came or why; but it was true. IL
don Queen. -. aar.s, !,
A Highbinder's Festival. b.