St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-10-16


were rolled from off the wagons, l in
vited them into the room here, on the
saw-mill. | then told them nearly as
| have related to you, my experience
when | was driving my team as reg
ular' on the National turnpike road.
They could see in my experience
with themselves, that if my saw-mill
had been running on Sunday, thereaf-
ter many farmers, as well as they,
would have taken Sunday for hauling
logs to my saw-mill. So that when
had determined not to run the saw
mill on Sunday, without knowing it.
was relieving many a poor horse in
the settlement from working ON Sun
day, and really compelling the farmers.
too, to rest on that day.
Now, after eighteen years, for the
first time | am threatened with the
destruction of my business, when | am
comparatively an old man, because |
am true to my vow because | will not
violate my conscience will not break
my word. And, too, by an officer in il
church. Oh, think of his deceit
Think of his wickedness! He said
that if | were Christian he could ex-
cuse me; but who made him my
judge Besides, suppose he should
excuse me, who will excuse him for
causing me to work on Sunday, sup
pose should comply with his urgent
requestq | will make out my bill
against him this very afternoon, go to
his house this very evening, tell him of
his baseness before his wife, before his
children, and before the worldly men
h,,,i l.,
Then will leave him, and he may get
his work done as best he can"
In the afternoon of the next day,
Monday, as | was seated in my office,
was surprised by receiving visit from
the owner of the saw-mill. After the
usual salutations he asked for pri-
vate interview. We went into my in
ner room and he closed and locked the
door. Taking seat, he delivered
himself as follows:
GAS soon as yOI left the saw-mill on
Saturday, | commenced making out
the account, rs | told You would but
owing to the fact that it was long
account, and because of number OF
Interruptions, it was not done till after
dark but as soon as it was ready
took it to the farmers house, several
miles from the Saw-mill.
''By the time reached his house he
had gathered in his family including
all his working hands and barn build
ers-into the sitting room, and had
opened the Bible to read some portion
of Scripture before praying. At first
thought | would rush in and stop the
exercises then | concluded that il
/ 1 1. l.
from his knees before | confronted
him and told him of his baseness. The
evening was very warm and the win
dOws were open. took a seat quietly
upon the porch, and determined tC
listen to everything, so that in my ac-
cusations | could repeat as much of il
as possible. He read the twelfth chap
ter of Romans. When he came to tina
part which reads: Vengeance is mine
| will repay, saith the Lord he read
| the whole verse Il second and Il third
time. Then when he kneeled down th'
tears were rolling down his cheeks anG
almost chOked his utterance. Oh
how he laid himself bare to his God
there before his entire family! Oh
how he condemned himself for hi
conduct toward mel How he PLEADED
that God would spare his life till Mon
day morning, so that he might come t.
me and ask my forgiveness for hi
wrong; and how he implored God
forgiveness for his sin.
"When he finished praying th
whole family were crying and sobbin:
like babies. | went into the room ant
told him that had heard his prayer
and forgave him from the bottom q
my heart and told him that | wOul'
tell all to my assistant Oh the saw mill
and then would come and tell you
That is why | am here now. | recal
every word | uttered on Saturda.
against the good, good man. | di'
not know him until | saw him upon hi
knees.
''My mother died when | was les
than nine years old. Since her deaf
| have never prayed or attempted t
pray till last Saturday night. Sine
then | have hardly done anything else
and am not ashamed to confess til
fact to you. If my life is spared Il fe,
weeks | will join the church and shO'
my Saviour that am not too coward
ly to acknowledge Him before til
communicable people who know III
, past wicked life. [ have talked wit
the minister and the session on tn
subject"
About six weeks thereafter he di
Join the Presbyterian church, and III
til his death. some thirteen years al
terward, lived the life of consisten
but humble follower of Christ Goo
Words