The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-12-10
GOSSIP ABOUT SAM JONES.
The Famous Southern Evangclist's Boy
hood-How lie met Gov. Stephens.

As we sat under the huge canvas last
Sunday and cast an eye over the thous-
ands who filled the entire spaceit cov-
cred, the thought occurred TO us,
what brings this crowd here?' The
question was as pertinent as when John
ate locusts and wild honey III the wilds
of Judea.
We watched the eager, restless
throng, and we began to investigate
our own mental inquiry. The Rev. Sam
Jones was poor boy. raised right
here among us, q wild, rafting chap
that nearly everybody had ten hard
words for to every good one spoken in
his behalf. He was the very synonym
of mischief and audacity, with modi-
cum of sharp, native wit, that has
grown with his growth in succeeding
years. He cared precious little about
his books, as our experience will testi-
fly in q short term of pupilage in our
school directly after the surrender. To
his credit we will say he never forgot
his respect or obedience to us, and an
earnest request or calm statement of
the case would cause him to desist from
victimizing the smaller boys with his
tobacco juice or from playing clown in
the pantomime on the sly, during school
hours, which was never-ceasing temp
tation to his keen sense of the ridic-
ulous. His good nature always cropped
out when suffering or trouble were
present.
The writer will never forget visit
he made to our house in the most rat
Ting period OF his boyhood, TO tell us
he was thankful and comforted to know
we were conyalcscing from a serious
illness, in which our life had been des-
paired of, and even at the time men
toned we were not fairly out OF danger
of an earl y and uutimely grave. The
weather was severe, bitter, extremely
cold, but the young man brought his
frank, bright, face into the sick-room
like yeritaDle ray of sunshine, to tell
us that our school-boys were all SO
glad we were still alive. There was in
him the germ of something noble and
elevated, and when he joined the church,
within half mile from our own door,
at little country chapel, we felt that
the germ would expand into something
that would be peculiarly his own-he
would either "make spoon or spoil q
horn" How much spoon" last Sun
days crowd can tell.
Eight years ago, when he was peg
ging away on little poor circuit, he
came again to see us, to pay his re.
spects TO the late Gov. Stephens. We
watched the two, as Mr.. Stephens
rolled 10 and fro on the back veranda
in his invalid chair, and listened tc
Sans description of 4 dog-tight that
had fallen under his observation. There
was magnetism i'll both that quickly
found play, and after tie visitors re
tired Mr.. Stephens was very eulogistio
He inquired infinitely into his history
and predicted future from that rough
native wit, which had evoked hearty
laughter, to the veteran statesman
great enjoyment.
The crowd on Sunday came partly
to laugh, but many tears came alst
with the laughter, and it was both fun
ny and affecting to sec laughter anc
tears mixed up so rapidly and indis
| IL We htti W
the attraction carefully, we would say
the secret of his success lies in the fac
that lie makes a clean breast of it, ";
sinner saved by grace" If he one
convinces you that he is entirely ear
nest and honest and true in fitting hi
religion to his own life and character
the citadel OF your unbclief will fall
His wit goes far toward attracting tn
crowd, but inc holds them by confessin:
his own feelings 50 honestly and cry
ing aloud, Nothing in my hand
bring, simply 10 Thy cross | cling
How God loves honesty in every shap
and form
When the record is written ON high
that soul will receive the welcom
plapdit, well done" which has KEEP
its way clear TO Gods favor by stric
honesty 10 both God and his fellos
man. -CGrtersUiac (Ga.) CoVdht. Z
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