St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-05-12

Of mind was strongly predominant, but
Jackson Reed simply looked out on
Nature and into his own soul, and took
in as plain incontrovertible facts the
broken bridge, the tossing sea, his little
| wind-swept, sand-strewn garden-patch,
and God in Heaven. Neither proved
the other or nullified the other; they
were simply there. But Sarah Reed,
looking out on the frail, unsafe bridge
which connected them with the MAIN
land, and the mighty, senseless sea
which had swallowed up her father and
a brother whom she had idolized, and
the poor little tender green things trying
to live under her window, had seen in
them so many dumb denials of either
Gods love and mercy or His existence.
She was a rheumatic old woman now,
almost helpless, in fact, unable to step
without the help of her husband. And
she sat, day in and day out, at one of
the sea-windows of her sitting-room
knitting, and holding her defiant old
heart persistently against the pricks.
The minister at Rye. jealous young
man, with an innocent confidence in his
powers of holy argument, had visited
her repeatedly, with the view of improy-
ing her state of mind. She had joined
the church over which he presided, in
her youth; indeed. it was the church
nearest to the lighthouse, and that was
three miles distant. The minister had
heard from one of his parishioners, who
was connection of hers, that Mis- Reed
had lost her faith, and straightway he
was fired with holy ardor to do some
thing for her spiritual benefit. Buteven
his tonguey confidence and ingenious
ness could CLEAN but little satisfaction
from his interviews with the rheumatic
and unbelieying old woman.
"No, Mr.. Pendleton, y she used to say,
shaking a thin rheumatic hand, with an
impressiveness which her nearer might
have copied adyantageously in the pull
pit, sit amt no use. You kin talk
about SEEM with the spirit, an Wor-
shippin' with the spirit; anybody needs
little somethin' to hold on with the
flesh; when it's all spirit it's too much
for mortal bein' to comprehend, an
the Lord knows amt never had much
of anything but spirit. l amt never
had any evidence, so to speak; amt
never had prayer answered in my life.
If have, I'd Jest like to know how.
You say, mebbe, they've been an
swered jest the same, only in a different
way from I asked for. II you call it
answerin' prayer to give one thing when
you ask for another, I don't. An I'd
ruther not believe thar was God than
to believe He'd do thing like that
That's jest contrary to what He said
about himself an the bread an the
stone in the New Testament. It's worse
to think He'd cheat anybody like that
than to think He amt anywhar, accord
in to my mind. No, Mr.. Pendleton, a
human bein' needs little human evil
dence once in while to keep up their
faith, an I amt never had any. I'll
jest let you know how it's been a leetle.
Here am, an old woman, an me an
Jackson's lived here on this rock for
forty years. An thar's been things
I've wanted different, but amt never
had 'em-things that I've cried an
prayed to the Lord for-big things an
little things-but never got one. Eff
the Lord had give me. one of the little
things, it seems to me that I might have
got feeling that He was here.
Forty years ago, when Jackson an
me was jest married an set up house,
keepin' here, thar was an awful storm
one night, an my father an my brother
was out yonder in it. I staid on my
knees all night prayin' The next
mornin' their two darlin' bodies was
washed ashore. My brother had only
been married few months the sweet
est, loyingest little thing she was. I
prayed to heV her spared. She died,
an left her little baby. 49,
.sBut you had him for your own, did
younot?'''' interrupted Mr.. Pendleton,
desperately. s'He has been q comfort
to you. Godhas displayed His love and
mercy in this case in sparing him to
you. .5t #.i 5t.it ATfl
MIR. Pendleton and the rheumatic
hand went up agaiinI-'.I amt never
asked to hev him spared to me; ef 7
had it would hev been different. I amt
got through yet. Thar's been lots Of |
other things, big ones. that I might. jest
as well not speak of, and little ones.
Look at the bridge! I'll ventur' to say
that you shook in your shoes when you
came over it, an wouldn't be sorry this
minute eff you was safe back. Whenev-
er jackson goes over it my heart is still |
an cold till he comes back, for fear he's
ell through. I've prayed to the Lord
about that. Then-you may think this
J little thing but thar is Jackson's gar
len. He set out rose bush in it fifteen
year ago. Well, it amt died. Thar
INIT ever been a rose on it, though. An
t seems to me sometimes that if thar
should be jest one rose on that bush
hat should believe that the Lord had
oeen thar. You wouldn't think I'd been
lilly enough to pray about that. They.
It's fifteen year, an thar amt never
oeen rose thar. No, Mr.. Pendleton,
t amt no use. Ynn mean well hl1t it