St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-01-06
BY WAS. ANNIE A. PRESTON.

heard a good, rge-hearted broth
er tell this story in "A rather dull pray
er meeting one evening not long since.
"There. are good many friends here
tonight who have something to say.
They are willing and anxious to speak,
but some are afraid they shall not make
a good impression Others are ex
cusing themselves from speaking from
the fear that what they might say
would do no good, perhaps harm.
rather.
Il remember of getting behind one
of these excuses one evening at our
prayer meeting, when ! was young in
my Christian experience, and hiding
there for long time. The meeting
dragged ON, and at last ! was on my
feet, and | talked longer and more
earnestly than | had any idea of doing
when | began. At last | saw, or
thought ! saw, some of my auditors
smiling, and | sat down. | was not
quite sure they were laughing at me,
but Satan stood ready to tell me they
were, and felt uncomfortable enough.
II never felt so mortified over any
thing. kept saying to myself all the
way home, why did | make such a
in the meeting, too, and what must
they have thought of me ? | went to
bed, but could not sleep for thinking
of it. After very uncomfortable night,
farose, ate my breakfast, and started
down town fully persuaded that, at
the next prayer meeting, if | spoke at
all, it should he only to quote pass
age of Scripture.
a 81
upon which | lived, and started down
Main street, met gentleman who
looked at me steadily for moment,
and then lifting his hat, politely said,
Il am sure, sir, you are the one whom
heard speak in the - street church
prayer meeting last evening"
81 spoke there, certainly | replied
hestatingly, and never was more
embarrassed in my life, nor felt my
weakness so much | thought the
gentleman was going to condole with
me for some blunder or senseless re-
mark had made that my friends had
not dared to speak to me about for fear
they should hurt my feelings. But he
said earnestly, holding out his hand,
Il want to thank you for pointing
out the right way tn me by your hearty
earnest, and convincing words. | have
been almost persuaded to be Il Chris
tian for ii long time, but have been
kept back by the attitude of Christians
themselves i'll regard to their religious
privileges Now when | see prayer
meeting go as hard as | fancied that
one did last night when first dropped
in, thought |, "Well, these folks don't
believe what they profess to. If they
did, they would not sit and hesitate sc
long to tell of their great joy and bless
ed assurance. They can sing Il love
to tell the story but if they really
loved to tell it, would they hesitate as
they do
.''I was watching you. | thought
you were not going to speak, but wheT
you did get up there was no hesitating
and clearing of your throat. You got
up as if you were glad of the privilege
and you made no excuses, but went
right on and told what the Lord had
done and was doing for you as if you
delighted to tell it. That was what
wanted to hear: it was what | needed
1t did me more good than | can tel
you. | made up my mind then anC
there that | would delay the all-impor,
tant matter of securing my souls sal
walton no longer. In the next prayer
meeting ut my own home | shall max,
nv resolutions known.
'''I only wanted to thank you for til,
great and good service you have don,
me. Good morning. and away h,
went to the railroad station, and have
never seen him since. do not know
the gentleman's name even, but hav,
always thought that the Lord sent hin
to me that morning to encourage me t.
use the one talent he had given me, il
my own humble way, and to assure mt
that some simple word of mine ever
when fancied was making no gooC
impression would take root i'll som,
waiting, longing heart, and bear pre-
ciOus fruit