Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-12-18
"INASMUCH."

You say that you want a m~eetin'honse for
the ho,s IN the pulch up there,
Ard a Suuday-schuol with ptctur-hoOksY
We'll. put me down for a share.
bel eve n little children; it's as nice TO hear
EN- read
As 10 wander round the rhhcn NJ noon ana
see the cattle feeu'
And | believe in preRchin, too-by men for
prcachm born,
Who let nlOne the husks OF creed, ana meas
ure out the corn.
The pulpts but Il manger where the pews
are Gospel fed;
And they say twas TO a manger that the star
of glory led.
So iii subScr be a dollar toward the manager
aud the stalls:
] always y We the best I've got whenever my
partner calls.
And. stranger, let me tell you: | III beginning
TO suspect
That all the world are partners, whatever
their creed or sect;
That life is n kind of pilgrimage, q sort of
Jericho road.
And k ndness TO ones fellows the sweetest
law in the code.
No matter about the initials; from Il farmer,
YOU understand.
Who's generally had TO play it alone from
rather an Urinary hand
I've never struck it rich, for farming, you
see, is slow,
And whenever the crops are fairly good, the
pr ces are ALWAYS low.
A dollar isn't very much, u I II helps to count
the m
The lowest trump supports the ace, and some.
times wins the amt.
IT assists n fellows praying when he's down
upon his knees
"Inasmuch as you have lone it TO one Of the
least Of these"
] know the verses, stranger, SO you needn't
stop to quote:
It's a different thing to know them or TO say
them of 10y rote.
I'll tell you where ] learned them, IL you'll
step in from the ra NJ:
Twas down In Frisco, years ago; had been
there hauling gra u.
1t was near the city limits, or the Sacramento
PIKE,
Where stores and sheds are rather mixed, and
shant es scatterin' like.
Not the lkeiiest place to be In, ] remember.
the saloon,
with.Rrocery, market, baker.shop, and bar.
room all in one.
And III $ made up the picture-my hair was
not then gray.
But every. thing seems as real as II twere
yesterday.
A little girl with haggard face stood at the
counter there,
Not more than ten or twelve a. most, but
worn with Kr e. and care;
And her voice was kind of raspy, like a sort
of chronic co d.
Just the tone vcu iird IN children who are
She said: 1.-TWO b is for bread and tea. Ma
hasn't much TO eat:
She hopes next week to work again, and buy
us all some meat.
We've been half starved all winter. but
spring viii soon be here,
And she tells us: Keep up courage, for God
is alwa,s near
Just then a dozen men came in; the boy was
called away
To shake the spotted cubes for drinks, ms
Forty miners say.
] never'heard from human lips such oaths
and curses loud
As rose above the glasses of that crazed and
reckless crowd.
But the poor tired 8 ri sat waiting, lost at last
10 revcls deep,
On a keg beside u barrel in tue corner, fast
asleep.
Well, | stood there, sort of waiting, until
some one AT the bar
Said; Hello! say, stranger, what have you
over thar2'
Tho bov then told her story, and that crew,
so fierce and wild.
Grew intent. aud seemed 10 listen 10 the
breathing OF the CHI Id.
The glasses all were lowered; said the leader:
Boys. see here:
All day we We been pourinL whisky, drink.
Ing deep our Christmas cheer
Here S two dollars-Tve got feelings which
are moi entirely dead
For this little girl and mother suffering for
the want of bread"
Heres a dollar" Here's another" And
they all chipped in their share,
And they planked the ring ng metal down
upon the counter there.
Then the spokesman took q golden double
eagle from bis belt,
Softly stepped from bar 10 counter, and be.
SIDE the sleeper knelt;
Took the 1.-TWO bits" from her fingers
changed her silver piece for gold,
"See there, boys: the grill dreaming" Down
her checks the tear-drops rolled.
One by one the swarthy miners passed in
silence to the street.
Gently we awoke the sleeper, but she started
TO her feet
With q dazed and strange expression, saying
"0h, thought twas true.
Ma was well. and we were happy: round our
door stone roses grew.
We had every tn ng we wanted, food enough,
and clothes TO wear:
And my hand burns where an angel touched
il s. II with fingers tair."
As she looked, and saw the money In heI
fingers gliS,enlng bright,
well, now, ma has long been praying. b u
she won't believe ne quite,
How you've sent Ngav up to Heaven, where
the GOLDEN treasures are,
And have also got an ange! clerking at YOU
grocery bar
That'e a Christmas story stranger, which
thought you'd like to hear:
True to fact and human nature, pointing out
ons's duty clear.
Hence 10 matters OF subscription you vii
SEQ that I'm alive:
just mark of that dollar, stranger; tn MI
III make 1t five.
-Wtuidm Bruce, IN Hdipcr's Mogagiuc.