Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-05-11
BRATTLEBORO, w. FRIDAY, MAY II, 1888.

and the bruised reed trampled now should
Viney's obdurate heart be melted another
brand be snatched from the burning, aud to
him the glory. He arose from behind a ta-
bic which served as pulpit Angry lightning
threw glare on his face.
'Bredren an sisters" he cried, hiuging
open the Bible, aud stretching one long sin.
ewy arm toward the congregation, nov is
de time for de lesson OBJ dis great affection to
strike home. II is de Lords Judgment on
sin. Not on Sister Hancock, fur she was
good woman-a church member an prayin'
Christian. De Lord neber cotched her a.
danoin, nor maxim eyes, nor singin' bias.
phemious songs. Has any member anything
to say Of q contr'ywiso nature Z"
Sister Elsie rose up, tall, lean gray haired
tears streaming over her face.
81 has some right to be called mother in
Israel, she said, "for / was one OBJ de ten
members dat fust founded de Happy Hollow
church. Six oh de same is already gone ter
glib an account Of deir works befo' de great
white throne. Sis Ally jned some ten years
back. ! hab knowed her intimate, through
de back do an de front do corn .pone days
as well as cake days, an I'll bar my testimo-
ny dat she was a Christian soul-knd an
generous an swoot-tempered, an believin all
de doctrines OBJ de church, an keepin en- 80
fur as she wuz able to her lifes end
The tumult rose again
OATS u" says Sis Elsie. "Glory to
God Amen"
One quaverng voice began, 81 would not
live alway."
Brother Buford quelled his flock. dat
bolt was meant for 'nodder sinner, said he
."Let her come forrard an confess her sins "
as it mey' shrek cd Niney-''is it me dat 4
HillnH my uigtnr Iaf'e haap a tar ID,
seuce l came into dis worl Z" She sank to
the floor in heap, like one going into con
vulsions.
They crowded around her and as they held
her they exhorted her to speak out and con.
fess her sins, fur dat de Lord would hab mer-
cy on her, chen at dc 'leventh hour, Of she
would turn to Hin :" so amid tears and sobs
Niney made her confession.
II hab always hankered after d. wicked
ness OBJ do worr. l wanted to dance wild de
sinner folks, an twice l ran away with Jack
Chaney to a dancin' party unbeknownst to Sis
Ally. was gwine agn ter night an meant
TO wear Sis Ally's ruby breast pin. Dis very
day / wuz dancin' behind her back, while she
wuz setting in de do siugin' hymn tunes in-
nocent as de babe unborn, an she wuz to be
struck down 70 my sins. l sewed buttons
on my cloes on Sunday, au' slapped Tobe
fur tcklin' me wnen | wuz tryin' ter say my
prayers"
Silence followed Viney's dreadful confes
sion, unbroken except by deep sighs from
the most sanctifed of tho company and Viney's
convulsive sobs.
Finally Elder Buford arose and said wi
ney, Niney Hancock you has spent yer life
a gedderin' wood for de debils fire for yer
sins is de wood dat burns like seasoned hick-
ory in dat place OBJ torment, an de more oh
-, Il hct 1, g.,
No one interrupted the elders eloquence,
and he went on to improve the occasion in
strong voice
"Bredren, de Lord are manifest in all His
works. When we see dis po' sinner a.wrth-
in an a su1erin befo' our eyes, we knows
dat de Lord have laid his His hand heavy on
her, heavy like lead but it was to save her
soul, her black sinners soul, dat amt neber
been washed in de generation waters He
was visitin' Niney's sins on Sis Ally, for bred
eren, what saith de Scripturs! De sins Oh
de fathers shall be visited on de children.
Mebbe you think it's kinder putin things
hind part fust to be visitin 'em on Sister Al
ly from Niney, for she amt no chile OBJ herD
but wild de Lord all things are possible. He
can make sin 60 back ards as well as for ards,
which accounts for his sendin Nney's wick
edness straight on to Sis Ally's head in a
stroke of lightning. An now, brederen, it
behoofs US, as St. Paul says, dat we Rb-
stain from evil things an m0ats offered to
idols an sech like, Oh which things de wrath
Oh God comes on de children OBJ dis 'dola
trous generation; an, brederen, let's pray
for de livin', for faint no use prAyin' for de
dead. Let US pray for po Sister YIuey dat
she may 'scape hell fire.
Here he turned directly on VIney, shaking
his skinny forefnger in her direction. Come
- Il ..l-H L.. ii
come out ob de pit OBJ sin :"
His voice sounded so terrible to Viney, he
looked so wild and menacing that she gave
a shrek and fell to the floor, this time in real
conyulsions. The women gathered about
her, and Preacher Simpkins came to the
front
"Ds chile is in greet affection, Brudder
Bufori, said he quietly, IAN your measures
is harsh"
"Brudder Simpkius, said the stern elder,
does you forgit de Lords own words, ,Ef
any man among you rejoice, let him be an
inted wild lie An dis is no season for re-
oicing. An de sins oh de human heart
must be burnt out wild caustic, an not an'int.
ed with lie"
Let US pray" said Preacher Simpkins,
gently.
1t was soothing prayer, but its audience
was not quite ready to be calmed. There
was too much electricity in the air. Sobs
aud cries were still heard through the church.
and one sister aud brother after another lift
ed up voice in prayer for Viney. until the
excitable girl could bear no more As she
lay on the floor, crushed by remorse, they
began to sing. The melody tranquilized her,
and suddenly great wave of JOY seemed to
sweep through her soul. Sprlngng to her
feet, throwing her arms above her head, she
cried or rather shouted
"Glory glory my sins is done gone. De
Lord has forgiben me-" And springng from
those who no longer attempted to hold her,
she clapped her hands and ran toward the
mourner's bench, where she knelt crying,
GLORY to de Lord My soul is saved. Sis
Ally, I'll meet you in heaben after all. "
Like an electric thrill, her words aud mo-
tions seemed to run through the crowd, first
one and then another yielding to the infec
tious enthusiasm. They began to shout and
sing, to clap their hands, aud to embrace
each other, and throw themselves hither and
thither like distracted creatures. More than
one woman with her baby in her arms threw
the infant from her like a ball, "expeetin' de
Lord would keer for it, COS twas throwed
for His sake" Il was believed that no child
however small, had ever received injury from
this treatment some one always seemed tc
be ready to catch it.
The sudden August storm gradually died
away, and the noisy mourners in Happy Hol
low church, yielding to natures mysterious
influence, grew quiet and still.
"Sience like poultice
To heal the blows OF sound
Through the western window the sun stream
ed in broad farewell rays, and the light wind
blowing over the fresh earth seemed to whs
per Peace"
Preacher Simpkins dismissed his oongre
CATION with a blessing, aud bestowed a SOL
emn hand. clasp on his new convert.
ISIS Elsie an my wife will take you home
my po' stricken lamb, said he, AN I'll fol
low befo' long" and elinging on either sid,
to her motherly supporters, poor Viney
| was half-led, half-carried through the
forest back to the house of death, from
which she had fled in such frantic terror.
! ".
Three months have gone by and another
and different Viney sits in Uncle Phil
forlorn cabin, clothed in decent black, anC
sewing with downoast eyes She pores DAHL
over the little Testament that Preacher Sing
kins has given her, spelling out the lonl
words, and marking such as she did not un
derstand for Brother Phil to explain whel
he came home in the evening.
For three long months Viney bad devoted
herself entirely to religion, and for Will
| ~. H. Al. -. L.