The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-12
THE BOY LAUGHED.
A Man Whose Idea of Salv ation Made
 Life q Burden.

The Rev. MT. Wegnell was severe religionis,. His idea was that love for Christ should shut out from the soul every gieam oi mir,a. iis setnons ~s.s hard and emotionless. No soft lights played upon the faces of his hearers. Persons who believed his awful theory would of,en shrink in fear at his lurid pictures of torment The faces of the Sunday-school children grew dark when ever he entered the room. A smile would instantly vanish like a sudd enly extin- guished light.
 Children" said Mir. Wegnell one Sunday morning, heard some enc laugh just now. It was very wicked to violate the Lords day in that manner. The Lord has His eye upon you all and those of you who turn the Sabbath into a day of jubilee shall be made to feel the wrath of insulted Jehovah"
 This is an extract from one of his ser mons, preached on the occasion of a re. vival meetinS: The ysrcEz arising from a scalding hell perv ade this house. Those who come forward and kneel A this bench may escape damnation but those who finger amid the false pleasures of this world mus, feel the whitening breath of triumphant devil"
 There were many people in the neigh borhood who believed Weguell's doctrine and who thought that he was one of the greatest preachers that ever lived, but the preachers wife could not, in justice to herself, share such belief. The neigh bors said tha, Mrs. Wegnell was not a happy woman, and some of them insin. uated that she was no, good enough for him.
 One Sunday morning Mrs. Wegnell said that she did not feel we'll enough to go to church.
 Wegnell pu, down a cup of coffee which he had just raised to his lips, s,ernly looked at his wife and asked:
 "Mary, what do you mean2"
 "l mean that do not feel disposed to go .c church today"
 "Why this sudden rebellion I' he asked as he frowned at her.
 "lt is no, rebellion. washed all day yesterday and l am really too tired to go"
 "You will never be too tired to die, Mary"
 "l hope not"
 "Whati" he exclaimed. "l say that hope"
 "l know what you said, and also know that you are becoming a wicked woman. Just So long as you can hold up your head i, is your duty to listen to the gospel"
 q wouldn't mind listening to the gos- pel-good news but am tired of listen ing to magnised voc. Tn none of your sermons do you make use of a pleasant expression, and always feel worse when hear you preach"
 Wegnell arose and left the breakfast table. With troubled air he walked up and down the gallery. Then, entering the dining-room, he said:
 "l am sorry to know that you have an- nounced yourself as a candidate for tor ment."
 Well" replied the woman without looking up, "I am confident of one thing. The change will be so slight that it will not be necessary to change clothing"
 The preacher gasped. Have you lost your mind z" he exclaimed.
 ~Mr. Wegnell, please go away and leave me alone. You have ever been so anxious abou, saving my soul that you have made my life miserable. You found me when was happy girl"
 The preacher, smothering his rage, re- piled: "l found you when you were gay, sinful girl. You seemed no. to real ire your awful condition. pitied you and have attempted to save you, and nov, after all, sec that you are blind to the welfare of your soul"
 "en, noPc tnAs you VIII uof iSt " further concern you. This to me must be day Of rest. Go on to church and permit me to remain at home" "Mary, you must accompany me"
 "I cannot" Do not tell lie, woman. You can." @Wcll then, 1 mill not"