Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-18
"There'I be room In Heave H."

She was little Old woman, very
plainly dressed in black bombaz inc that
had seen much careful wear, and her
bonnet was very old fashioned. s.nd peo'
pie stared at her tottering up the aisle
of the grand church, evidently bent on
securing one of the best seats, for a great
man preached on that day an d the
house was filled with splendidly dl ressed
people who had heard of the fame of the
preacher, of his learning, his in te llect
and gOOdne less, and they wondered at the
presumption of the poor old wom,an.-
She must have been in her dotage, fol
she picked out the pew of the richest
and proudest member of the church, and
took seat. The three ladies who were
seated there beckoned to the sexton
who bent over the intruder and whis'
pered something, but she was hard OF
hearing and smiled little with
cred smile, as she said gently -
"Oh, I'm quite comfortable he ve-
quite comic .rt, bic"
But you are not wanted here" said
the sexton pompously; there is moi
room. Come with me, my good wO-
man; 1 will see that you have seat. :"
mot room," said the old woman,
looking at her old sunken proportions
and then at the fine ladies. "Why Pm
not crowded bit. I rode ten miles to
hear the sermon to day, because"
But here the sexton took her by the
arm and shook her roughly in polite,
underhand way, and then she took the
hint. Her faded old eyes filled with
tears. her chin quivered; but she arose
meekly and left the pew. Turning qui
city to the ladies, who were spreading
their rich dresses over the space left va
cant, she said gently -
hope, my dears, there'll be room in
eaven for US all.
Then she followed the pompous sex
ton to the rear of the church, where, in
the last pew, she was seated between a
threadbare girl and shabby old man.
"She must be crazy" said one of the
ladies in the pew which she had first
occupied. "What can an ignorant old
woman like her want to hear Dr.
preach for? She would not be aple to
understand a word he said"
Those people are persistent! The
idea of her forcing herself into our pew.
Isn't that voluntary lovely? There's
DR.. -- coming out of the vestry.-
Isn't he grand.?"
Splendid! What stately man.
You know he has promised to dine with
us while he is here"
d0 was COMMANDING looking man,
and as the organ voluntarily stopped,
and he looked overs the great crowd oi
wOrshippers gathered in the vast church
he seemed to scan every face. His hand
was on the Bible, when suddenly he
leaned over the reading desk and beck
oned to the sexton, who obseouiously
mounted the steps to receive mysteri.
ors message. And then the three Ia
dies in the grand pew were electrified to
see him take way the whole length OF
the church to return with the old wo.
man, whom he placed in the front pew
of them all, its other occupants making
willing room for her. The great preach
er looked at her with smile of recog
milton, and the services proceeded, ano
ne preached a sermon that stru OK fire
from every heart.
who was ,she?n ashed the ladies
VINO could not make room for her, as
they passed the sexton at the door.
This preachers mother" answered
that 1unctioAar in an injured tone.
how few remember that while .smar
looketh on the outward appe erance, th,
LORD iooketh on the heart"