Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-09-26
Room in HedveB.

She was little old woman, very
plainly dressed in black bombazine that
had seen careful wear, and her bon
net was very old fashioned and people
stared at her lettering up the isle of
the grand church, evidently bent on Sc.
curing one Of the best seats, for great
man preached on that day, and the
house was filled with acknowledgement
people who had heard Of the fame of
the preacher, of his learning, his in
tellect and goodness, and they won
dered at the presumption of the poor
old woman. She must have been in
her dotage, for she picked out the pew
Of the richest and proudest member OF
the church and took n seat. The three
ladies who were seated there beckoned
TO the sexton, who bent over the in
truder and whispered something, but
she was hard of hearing, and smiled a
little withered smile as she said, gent
ly:
30, I'm quite comfortable here,
quite comfortable
"But you are not wanted here,
said the sexton, promptly; "there isnot
room. Come with me my good wo-
man, | will see that you have a seat.
"Not room, said the old woman,
looking at her old sunken proportions
and then at the fine ladies. "Why,
I'm not crowded a bit. / rode ten
miles to hear the sermon to day, be-
cause"
But here the sexton took her by the
arm, and shook her roughly in pO-
lite 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. Turn
ing quietly to the ladies, who were
spreading their rich dresses over the
space she left vacant, she said gently;
81 hope my dears, there'll be room
in Heaven for 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 a shabby old
man.
"She must be crazy" said one OF
the ladies in the pew which she had
first occupied. "What can an igno'
rant old woman like her want to hear
DIR. - preach fort She would moi
be able to understand word he said.
"Those people are 50 persistent
The idea of forcing herself into ouI
pew. Isn't that voluntary lovely
There's DIR. - coming out OF the
vestry. Is not that grand"
Splendid /! What a stately man
You know he has promised to dine
with us while he is here"
He was a COMMUNICATING MAI
and as the organ voluntary stopped
and he looked over the great crowd o.
worshipers gathered in the vastchurch
he seemed to scan every face. Hi
hand was on the Bible when suddenly
he leaned over the reading esk and
beckoned 10 the sexton, who obse
quiously mounted the steps to receive
a mysterious message. And then the
three ladies in the grand pew wer'
electrified 10 see him take his Who'll,
length OF the church to return will
the old woman, when he placed hel
in the front pew Of all, its other occu
pants making willing room for her
The great preacher looked at her will
a smile Of recognition, and then thu
service proceeded, and he struck fir
from every heart.
"Who was shei" asked the ladies
who could not make room for her, a
they passed the sexton at the door.
"The preachers mother" answered
that functionary, in an injured tone.
How few remember that while "maI
looketh ON the outward appearance
the Lord looketh on the heart. >
Presbyterian.
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