South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-08-12

the neat 'keeping-room' to await his
coming from the harvest field. his
restless spirit was almost awed by the
silence which reigned there. The tall
clock in the corner, with its ever
sailing ship, licked painfully lond /;
and even the buzzing of the few flies
OH the panes annoyed him. lie suf-
fered much the same oppression as
do those who do wait long in silent,
darkened room, the coming of min
lister to funeral lie wished for, and
then dreaded the good man, being not
quite sure of n warm reception. He
had just decided on clandestine
flight, when the door opened and the
deacon entered as calm and neat rs if
toll had never rufficd his spirits or
soiled his garments.
After the usual greetings, and
dead awful pause. the visitor began
think of the wiles Of Satan-by la
menting the low state of religion,
asking the good man why this church
had enjoyed no revival Tor three or
four years! What cared he for Gods
set time to visit Zion! lie was far
more deeply interested in the opening
OF the new stage road to the summit
and in getting up tho stock in the
projected hotel which is there.
Now what do you think is the
cause Of things being dull here? Do
you know 2 he persisted in asking.
The Deacon was not ready to give
his opinion, and, after little thought,
frankly answered: No | don't
DO you think the members are a.
live to the work before them ?
no don't
DO you think the minister fully re-
allies the solcnnity of his work p
No | don't
A twinkle was seen iii the eye Of
this troubler in Zion, and taking cour-
age, lie asked.
DO you think Mr.. b a very cx-
traor'linary man p
NO | don't
ID" you think his sermon OH Their
eyes were hollcn' anything great 2
No | don't
Making bold after all this encour.
agcment III mOnosyllables. lie asked,
Then don't YOU think that we had
better dismiss this man, and 'nirc' an
othcr?'
The old deacon started as if shot
with an arrow, anal in tone fur loud
or than his wont, shouted
NO l don't
why cried the amazed visitor.
You agree with me in all l have said,
don't you 2
NO l don't
'You talk so little, SIR replied the
guest, not little abashed, That no
one eau find out what you do mean
Il talked enough once, replied the
old man, rising to his feet, for six
praying Christians. Thirty years ago
| got my heart humbled, and my
tongue brldled, and ever since that |
have walked softly before the Lord.
l then made VOWS solemn as eternity.
and don't you tempt ne to break
! them
The troublcr was started at the earn
tstness of the hitherto silent, immov-
able man, and asked, what happen.
ell to you thirty years ago p
We'll, sir, III tell you. | was drawn
INTO scheme just like this Of yours
to uproot one OF Gods servants from
the field in wlicl he had planted him.
In My blindness [ fanced it a little
thing to remove one of the stars which
Jesus holds i'll his right hand, if there
by my ear could be ticl<led by more
iiowery words, and tie pews filed
with those who turned away from the
simplicity of tue Gospel. I and the
men that led me-for | admit that
was a dupe and n fool -dattered our.
selves we were conscientious. We
thought we were doing Gods service
when we drove that holy man from his
pulpit and his work, and said we con-
sldered his labors ended in B.
whore / then lived. We oroaned
because there was no revival. willie
we were gossiping about and critics,
ing, and crushing, instead of uphold
ing, by our efforts aud our PRAYERS.
the instrument at whose hand we
harshIy demanded the blessings We'll.
sir, he could not drag on the wheels:
he had not the power of the Spirit. Il
could not convert men so we hunted
liint like deer, till, 40 rn and bleed
ing, he fled into q covert to die.
Scarcely had Inc gone, when God
came among us by lIis Spirit to sh ow
that he had blessed the labors OF his
dear rejected servant. Our own bnorfs
were broken aud our maynard chill
dren converted, and resolved. at a
convenient season, to visit my former
pastor, and confess my sin and thank
him for his faithfulncss to my way
ward sons, which, like long buried
seed, had now sprung up. But God
denied me that relief, that he might
teach me lesson every child ofhis
ought to learn, that he who toucheth