Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-12-19
THE BETRAYING HAND.
By ROSE TERRY COOKE.

The Reverend Mr.. Dean looked
strangely white and oppressed as he sat
down on the platform of the Blank Street
Chapel to face his church, assembled for
the preparatory lecture of the Friday be-
fore Communion Sunday.
Generally, he was man of bright,
confident aspect, in the prime of early
life, manly, thoughtful, fearless, and full
Of that enthusiasm and energy that car
ries an audience with it by the strong
force Of sympathy and admiration. But
to- nigh, has fresh color had given place
TO pallor, his eyes were cast down, his
lips were set, and as he took his place in
the tall chair before the table that held
his Bible and glass of water, he lean
ed his head on his hands and never look
ed up till he rose to open the services
with prayer. His PRAYER was strange
not for its brevi,y. for he never made
long prayers, any more than his Master
but the whole congregation felt great
awe steal upon them as he uttered these
words in a voice pathetic and solemn be-
yond expression:
Dear Lord and Master, Thou who
didst turn and look upon Peter with the
divine tenderness that Is reproach to sim
ncIs, turn now and look upon Us ,
Some Of Us have denied Thee; some Of
IS have betrayed Thee. . God, be
merciful 10 US sinners. Look upon Us
with pity: let none Of US 20 out and
hang ourselves because We are traitors to
Thee and have cruciied Thee afresh.
Amen.
\ sort Of shudder passed over the min
is,er as he took up the hymn-book be-
fore him and gave ou; slowly and sadly
the old hymn beginning
Twas on that night, that dreadful night.
when all the powers OF hell arose
Against the son OF God in intst.
Aud friends betrayed hin 10 hls iocs
The choir leader wa, not there, so Dea-
con Potter arose and lead the singing to
the wailing tune Of Windham, dreary in
It's shrill cadence as the northeast storm,
bowling outside the chapel; the result
was rather despair than praise and Mr.,
Dean, instead of following it by another
prayer and hymn as was customary, sat
| male. silent, motionleSs for few mo-
ments, with both hands tightly clasped
as if nerving himself TO an effort; then
he rose and with trembling lips and voice
said. MY dear friends, am going to
tell YOU a dream | had last night, in
stead of preaching to you if | can tell
i as II came to me, It will be far more
useful than any sermon | have ever
preached. or could ever hope 10 preach,
for i, has never left me since awoke,
but has impressed, thrilled, terrified me,
all through the day: and cannot but
feel that the thing is of the Lord that !
must say with JOB
For God speaketh once. yea twice,
| Rnt man perceiveth IL not.
In A dream. In a vision OF the night.
| When deep sleep talleth upon men
| In sumberingS upon the Oed,
| Then He openeth the ears OF men,
| And sealeth their instruction
| That lie may withdraw man from his pur-
And hide pride from man.
Il had been all day trying to write
something that should waken you to a
sense of the dullness and deafness to-
ward spiritual things prevailing among
US: began more than once what hop
Cd would be feryent and touching ap-
neal 70 YOU in behalf of the thoughtless
and prayerless members of our congrega-
,;on. Twas filed with anxious desire
for the conversion of those who regular
lv gather into our Sunday services but go
away from the table of the Lord, and
are not called by His name. 1t seemed
TO me heavy burden, the souls OF these
who are so close to the Kingdom in out
ward things but are not Its children
Rut | could not write; my words were
weak and my ideas feeble when came
, to embody them; my heart ached will
helples.ness and my faith failed. | coul'
!, only pray long and nightly that 1t wouit
!: please God to show me the right way t.
j. touch and move these dear friends ant
- kindred, so that they might desire to b
His even as we think We are. Then
tried to write again, but with the sam
- failure, and worn out with endeavor anC
anxiety l lay down in the late evenin
upon my sofa and while | mused, feI
- sound asleep. But did not seem to my