St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-03-17

| He would be surprised to learn that
one mile from the line, at short inter
walls, are large steam-mills with little
communities fifty, and sixty
sOuls-where children are growing up
without even a secular education. Here
and there are many of the Lords peO-
pie, who, overwhelmed by the iniqui-
ty they see and hear, have hung their
harps upon the willows, and have
| ceased to sing the Lords song. They
feel that if some one could lead, they
would follow and the call for help is
imperative, if we take no higher
grounds than that of self-protection.
Hundreds of children are growing up
in ignorance, and will inevitably drift
to the cities. 1t is from these sources
that the dangerous classes in them are
constantly augmented.
1t is hard to believe that in our day,
in Michigan, should be found such a
spiritual lack as the following incident
reveals. About two weeks ago, just
as l was falling asleep, knock arOus-
ed me. A man had come for me to go
some five miles through the woods to
see a poor woman who was dying. The
moon was shining when we started,
place. But we had scarcely reached
the forest when Il storm broke upon us.
The lightning was so vivid that the
horse came to a stand. The trees
moaned and bent under the heavy
wind, and threatened to come down.
Our lantern was kept alight with diff
Guilty, so that we made but little pro-
gress, for it was dangerous to drive
fast, and indeed to 90 slow, for that
matter. (No less than seven trees fell
in that road some few hours later
We spent two hours i'll going five miles.
AS we were fastening the horse, |
heard cries and groans proceeding from
the house, and was met at the door
with eXclamatiOns of sorrow, and, "Oh,
sir, you are too late, too late ~ Re
member that here was an old settled
community of farmers 1; some eight or
ten men and women at the house, some
of whom have had Christian parents,
and yet not one to pray with the poor
woman or point her to the Lamb of
God.
Did they think could absolve her
Did they look upon minister as Il
telegraph or telephone operator, whom
they must call to send the message
May the sad cry for help touch some
hearts that enjoy all the privileges OF
the sanctuary, and cause them to pray
to the Lord of the harvest that he may
send more labOrerS into his vineyard.
| We often read of the oVerwOrked city
pastor and the contrast of his busy life
with the quiet of his country brother
! But the contrast does not apply to the
Home Missionary who has large field
as most of them have. Let me give
some incidents of one week of home
missionary experience. On Saturday
a funeral service. Sabbath, two Sun
day schools and preaching. Monday.
visited poor Finnish woman, sudden
! ly bereft of her husband, who had been
fishing on Sunday in company with
three otelTs-a keg of beer which they
took with them explained the trouble
| Tuesday, attended the funeral, closing
the service Just in time to catch the
train to reach an appointment nine
miles off. Friday, received Il telegram
to come Immediately to village
where man was killed i'll the mill
While there, waiting for the relatives
expected on the next train, another
telegram came from home, calling me
back instantly. A man had attempted
Il gross assault on my youngest daugh-
ter, Il little invalid of eight years. But
for the providential return of her young
brother, she would doubtless have been
ruined. You can imagine the feelings
under these circumstances, with fu-
neral sermon to preach before | could
get home. Then followed her sickness
with scarlet fever, from which Oul
eldest daughter had just recovered
when this came. Yet we cannot stop
for the work presses. Only that We
know that the Lord is above the water
floods, we should be overwhelmed.
write with sadder feelings than usual
for have just left Il poor man who
was torn to pieces by freight train
upon which he was il brakeman. He
lived for three hours in great agony
He sent for me, and trust he saw the
cross before his fainting eyes closed
forever Rev. w. &. PuddefOot
White Cloud, Mich.