The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-07
zEPH HIGGINS CONFESSION.
lfIartiet Beeeher Stowe, in Exuhangs.l

Nothing could be rougher and more rustic than the old school-house, it's walls hung with cobwebs; its rude slab benches and desks hacked by many a school-boy's knife the plain, ink4stained pine table before the minister, with its two tallow candles, whose dim rays scarcely gave light enough to read the hymns. There was nothing outward to express the real greatness of what was there in reality. i"r
 From the moment the doctor entered he was conscious of a present power. There was a hush, a stiffness, and the words of his prayer seemed to go out into an atmosphere thrilling with emotion, and when he rose to speak he saw the countenances of his parishioners with that change upon them which comes from the waking up of the soul to higher things. Hard, weather-beaten faces were enkindled and eager every eye was fixed upon him every word he spoke seemed to excite a responsive emotion.
 The doctor read from the Old Testa- ment the story of Achan. He told how the host of the Lord had been turned back because there was one in the camp who had secreted in his tent an accursed thing. He asked, Can it be now, and here, among us who profess to be chris tians, that we are secreting in our hearts some accursed thing that prevents the good Spirit of the Lord from working among us5 Is it our pride2 Is it our covetousness Is it our hard feeling against a brother2 Is there anything that we know to be wrong that we refuse to make right-anything that we know belongs to God that we are withholding ? If we christians lived as high as we ought. if we lived up to our professions, would there be any sinners unconverted Let us beware how we stand in the way. If the salt have lost it's savor wherewith shall it be salted2 Oh, my brethren, let us not hinder the work of God. look around on this circle and l miss the face of sister who was always here to help us with her prayers; now she is with the general assembly and church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven, with the spirits of the just made perfect. But her soul will rejoice with the angels of God if she looks down and sees us all coming up to where we ought to be. God grant that her prayers may be ful- filled in us. Let us examine ourselves, brethren let us cast out the stumbling block, that the way of the Lord may be prepared"
 When the doctor sat down, suddenly there was slight movement, and from a dark back seat rose the gaunt form of Zeph Higgins. He was deathly pale, and his form trembled wi h emotion. Every eye was fixed upon him, and people drew in their breath, with involuntary surprise and suspense.
 "Wal, must speak" he said. "I'm a stumbling block. I've alters ben one. I haiht never ben a christian, that's jest the truth ont. never he'd oughter "a ben in the church. I've ben all wrong wr0ng-wRoNGl knew l was wrong, but wouldn't give up. It's ben jest my awful WILL I've set up my will ag'in God Almighty. I've set it ag'in my neighbors-agin the minister and ag'in the church. And now the Lord come out ag'in me He's struck me down. know He's got right-He can do what He pleases but l ain't resigned-not grain. l submit, cause l can't help myself but my hearts hard and wicked. expect my day of grace is over. ain't chris tian, and can't be, and shall go to hell at last, aud sarve me nghtW
 And Z.ph sat down, grim and stony, and the neighbors looked one on another in sort of consternation. There was a terrible earnestness in those words that seemed to appall every one and prevent any from uttering the ordinary common places of religious exhortation. For a few moments the circle was silent as the grave, when Dr. Cushing said, " Brethren let us pray;" and in his prayer he seemed so rise above earth and draw his whole flock, with all their sins, and needs, and wants, into the presence-chamber of heaven.
 He prayed that the light of heaven might shine into the darkened spirit of their brother; that he might give himself up utterly to the will of God that we might all dosit that we might become as little children in the kingdom of heaven. With the wise tact which distinguished his ministry he closed the meeting inn. mediately after the prayer with one or two serious words of exhortation. He feared lest what had been gained in im- pression might be talked away did he hold the meeting open to the well-meant, sincere, but uninstructed efforts of the brethren to meet a case like that which had been laid open sefore them.
 After the service was over and the throng slowly dispersed, Z .ph remained in his place, rigid and still. One or two approached to speak to him; there was, in fact, tide of genuine sympathy and brotheriy feeling that longed to express itself. He might have been caught up in this powerful current and borne into a haven of peace, had he been one to trust himself to the help of others but he looked neither to the right nor to the left {; hls eyes were fixed on the floor; his brown, bony hands held his old straw hat in crushing grasp; his whole atti- tude and aspect were repelling and stern to such degree that none dared address him.
 The crowd slowly passed on and cut. Zeph sat alone, as he thought; but the minister, his wife, and little Dolly had >1 Al Al