Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-20

as therein. Seemed as though I was
findin' out more about Josiah Emmons's
short comings than was real agreeable.
''Come round Friday I got back to the
store. I'd kind of left to the boys the
early part Of the week, and things were
little cutering, but I did have sense not
to tear round and use sharp words 90
much as common. I began to think
twas getting easy to practice after five
days, when in come Judge Her1ick's
wife after some cult'in calico. I hand a
handsome piece, all done off with roses
and things, but there was fault in the
weavin' :. every now and then thin
streak. She didn't notice it, but she was
pleased with the figure ont, and she'd
take the whole piece. Well. just as I
was wrappin' of it up, what Mr.. Parkes
here said about tryin' to act just as the
Lord would in our place comes acrost
me. Why, I turned as red as beet. I
knew I did. It made me all of trem-
BILE. There was I, doorkeeper in the
tents of my God, as David says, really
cheatin', and cheatin' woman. I tell
ye, brethren, I was all of sweat,
Mis- Herrick," says I, Il don't believe
you've looked real close at this goods:
faint thorough wove, says I. So she
didn't take it; but what fetched me was
to think how many times before I'd done
such mean, unreliable little things to
iurn penny, aud all the time sayin' and
prayin' that I wanted to be like Christ,
I kept s-trippiu' of myself up all day
jest in the ordinary business, and I was
peg lower down when night come than
I was Thursday. I'd rather, as fur as
bard work is concerned, lay mile of
fOuI-fOot stone wall than undertake to
do ma7's Twin Christian duty for twelve
hours; and the bcft of that is, it's be-
cause l amt used to it and I ought to be.
$50 this mornin' came around, and
felt mite more cheik. Twas mission
ary. mornin', and seemed as if 'Cwas
sight easier to preach than to practice.
I thought Id begin to old Miss Veddel's.
So I put O testament in my pccket and
knocked to her door. S:ys l., Good
mornin', ma'am,' and then I stopped.
Words seemed to hang, somehow. I
didn't want to pop rightout that Id come
tryin' to convert her folks 1 hemmvd
and ewallered little, and finally said,
says I, We dou't see you to meeting
very frequent, Mis- Ved,ler.'
"'No, you DON'T says she, as quick
as wink. 4 stay at home and mind
my business.
"'Well, we should like to hev you
come along with us and doye good says
I, sort of corc;latin'.
"'Look here, deacon! she snapped,
'l've lived alo gside of you fifteen year.
and you knowed never went to meetin';
we amt pious lot, and you kno we'd it;
we're poorer'n death and uglier'., sin.
Jim he drinks and swears, and Malviny
dono her letters. She knows heap she
hadn't ought to, besides. Now what
are you comm here to- day for, Id like
to know, and talkin' so glib about NETT
in? Go to mestin'! I'll 60 or come
just as I darn please, for all you. Now
get ont O. this!' Why, she come at me
with broomstick. There wasn't no
need ONT; what she said was enough. I
had never asked her nor her'n to SO
much as think Of goodness before.
Then I went to another place just like
that won't call no more names; aud
sure enough there were ten children in
rags, the hull on 'em, and the man half
drunk. He Civ it to me, too, and
don't wonder. I'd never lifted hand
to serve or save 'em before in all these
years. I'D said considerable about the
heather in foreign parts, and give
some little for to convert 'em, and Ihad
looked right over the headsof them that
was next door. Seemed as if I could
hear Him say, "These ought ye to have
done, and not have left the other un-
done.' I couldn't face another soul to.
day, brethren. I came home, and here
I be. I've been searched through and
through and found wantin'. God b,
merciful to me a sinner"
He dropped into his seat, and bowed
his head; and many another bent, too.
1t was plain that the deacon's expert
erce was not the only one amoug the
brethren. Mr.. Payson rose. and prayed
as he had never prayed before; the week
CT practice had fired h1s heart too. And
itbegan a memorable year for the church
in Sugar Hollow; not a year Of excite
ment or enthusiasm, but one when they
heard their lord saying, as to Israel OF
old, $50 forward, ana they ooeyed Bis
voice. The Sunday-school fouristed,
the church services were fully at
tended, e ely good thing was helped
on its way, and peace rejgned
in their homes and hearts, i'm.
price,, perhaps, as new growths are,
but still the offshoot of the peace past
understanding.
And another year they will keep au-
other week Of practice, by common con-
sent.