Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-07-25
A MAN THAT WAS NOT TO BE
BOUGHT.
BY REV. ]. @. HALL.

Six or eight years since, in one Of
the towns Of Eastern Massachusetts,
there was Mr.. d., livery-stable
keeper, about whom once had the
opportunity of learning the following
fact. Among his many other good
habits, one was never to suffer his own
feet or his horses feet to tread pro-
faneIy on the Sabbath day. The illus
tratiye fact referred to was this:
On certain Sabbath morning three
gentlemen from Boston, putting up
with their wives at the village hotel,
said to their host that they would 60 to
Mr.. d. and get three single-horse bug
gies, and take each his wife and go to
camp meeting, about six miles off.
1T will be OF no use" said the host,
"for Mr.. ID. never lets his horses on
the Sabbath"
"Inever saw the man yet that money
wouldn't buy" rejoined one of the
party.
So they went and rang the bell at
Mr.. DIS door. Mr. ID. himself an
swered the call, and invited them in
to whom he said, after they had made
known their errand.
Gentlemen, / should be glad to ac-
commodate you, but it is against my
principles to let my horses go for hire
on the Sabbath day"
"How much do you usually have a
day for your single horses ~ asked the
gentleman who was the chief speaker.
1.-TWO dollars and half day usual
ly, sir" answered Mr.. d.
"Well, then,' returned the gentle
man, "here are three five-dollar bills |;
please take them and let your man
harness the horses, and we will go
away very quietly, and will return just
after dusk, and without noise"
Gentlemen" said Mr.. d., al can
only repeat what have already said,
that it is against my principles to hire
out my horses on Gods day, and |
must persist in declining your very
liberal Offer"
At this the chief speaker on the
other side stepped up closer to the
sturdy Sabbath-keeper, and, slipping
into his hand a bright-looking bill,
said to him.
"There, Mr.. d., take that, and let
your man quietly harness the horses
for us"
The tempted one, looking down at
what was thus thrust into his hand, saw
that it was new one-hundred.do
bill ON a Boston bank, a glittering
prize but, without hesitating mo.
ment, and evidently without any inward
struggle with the spirit of greed, he
calmly but emphatically said,
Gentlemen, my principles in this
matter are fixed, and should you bring
me all the money in the city Of Boston,
it would not alter them. If you would
like to attend worship, our bell is now
ringing, and I should be most happy
to show you a seat, but | cannot let
my horses go on the Sabbath" and he
handed back the bill.
AS the baffled tempter took the re-
jected money he also looked at Mr.. ID.
admiringly in the face, and, stretching
out his hand toward him, said,
~ want to shake hands with you,
Mr.. D., have sometimes heard of
such men as you are, but / never saw
one before"
Likewise said they all, and each of
the other two shook hands with him.
expressing also their pleasure, and
adding that before they returned to
Boston they would like supply of his
cards that they might know whom to
direct their friends and acquaintance
to as they visited the village. And as
the secular week opened all these gen.
tlemen returned repeatedly to Mr.. DIS
stable to obtain horses and carriages
for their pleasure, thus testifying in
the most express manner their appro-
baton of his conscientious and un-
swerying conduct. And so will it be
in all ordinary cases where Christians
are punctilious in matters of protested
principle, scrupulous on points of
worldly conformity, high. minded, re-
solute, and incorruptible on all ques-
tions Of duty.
To be not only true to ourselves, but
also useful to others, are among the
reasons for which God has called us to
his kingdom and glory. As says our
chief English poet,
Heaven doth with us, We with torches do,
Not light them for themselves for II our virtues
Do not go forth ofus, 'twere all alike
AS II we had them not"
Or, as says the greatest One of all,
"No man lighteth candle and put
teth it under bushel, but on candle
stick, that it may give light to all that
are in the house. y Christian Weekly.