Wichita eagle., 1888-08-18
WOMAN AND HOME.
THE LEVITE WHO PASSED BY
ON THE OTHER SlDE.y

ilehes Va LHe-SOap tof TIC &c Ac
Mind Healer's Advice-Hot Water.
Hints for the Household.
Mr. Dorsey's natural eyes were looking
straight ahead of him, but the eyes OF bis
spirit were gazing at something back in the
halls Of Misunderstanding painful, evil
IDENTIFY, for shadow fell upon his face.
Il don't want to be preac.y or any OF that
kind of thing, but l hope you VIII remember
the story, and tell it Whenever you can in
the interest of DISCRIMINATING towards. If l
could put into the tale what | have suffered
from my own sin, am sure that none who
hear it would have the same thing TO regret.
~ was drowned once IN one of those little
Minnesota lakes which look SO sweet and
peaceful, and are as treacherous as tigers.
Talk about the sensations Of a drowning
mani / know them. | was brought book,
not from inconsistencies, but from con-
sciousness in strange and interesting coun-
try. l knew what was happening when
sank the first time 1t seemed 10 me that
could see through the water to the very sky.
After the. frSt roaring sound, VIXEN my ears
were filing with water, al was utter silence.
I was at the bottom Of the lake, drowning,
and knew ii. l could do nothing TO save
myself, and, indeed, didn't think CT doing
anything then; my mind vas busy with the
panorama of my past. I have listened in
credulously hundred times to stories OF the
drowning who remembered every act OF
their lives as they were sinking. l believe
the stories now.
~ remembered everything. Oueerest feel
ing Imaginable forgot that was drown
ing-that is, l forgot to be frightened about
it. I seemed to be resting on some elevation,
and watching my life fy past ne, one scene
after another. l assure you l WINGED several
times as certain things, long forgotten, were
pictured in strong colors. Many q sin which
/ had lightly committed and lightly dis
missed from my mind looked very dark to
me then. And there was no shutting my
eyes to them, either. There they were, grim
accusers, accompanying me to the bar of
Judgment I believe truly IL 2 recording
angel. I think his name is Memory. l have
seen his account against ne up to that date.
Since then l have endeaYored not to in
crease it.
Every deed carried its motive and conse-
quences in full view. The darkest among
them all--the one from which Dy spirit
turned with the greatest abhorrence-was
sin of cowardice-moral c0wardicc.
young girl in cur town, when / was II my
carly twenties, got the tongue OF scandal
after her. She was alone in the world and
poor, but bright IS a diamond. and had
pleasant face and sweet manners. She was
employed as booEkeeper il one Of the stores,
and somehow there began to be coarse gossip
about her and her employer.
at may have been the most malignant of
lies-doubtleSs was. At least I had no right
to judge her. In any event she was my
superior in morality. BraveIy she bore it ALL
high spirited creature that sho was. She
never bent an inch under the malice Of those
accursed tongues, but she must have suffered
cruelty. Probably every fiber Of pride she
had was wounded every day, again and
again. We had been at school together and
were good friends.
'What did do when they began to hound
her down with their low suspicious and
wicked talesl Never went near her Yes,
and worse than that. 1t SO happened that
ono morning, as we were both going down
town, | overlook her on a corner. spoke
courteously, Of course, yet feeling SO
cowardiy within that dare say my enbar-
rassment showed in my face and manner. I
thought OF what Mrs. So and So would sag
if we were seen walking on the street to-
gether So, Ike the poltroon l was, I crossed
the street and walked down on the opposite
side.
Think Of it, viii you7 1 felt base at the
time. feel vile now when l remember it,
If had stuck knife into her heart | an
sure I could not hurt so cruelty. Oh, she
was very proud l saw a stony look come
into her face that I can never forget, though
I wish | could
"Well, the scandal mongers did their
work at last. They drove her out Of town.
She went to the city and died of heart break
and starvation, while trying to find honest
work-hterally done q death by wicked
tongues. OF all the scenes memory revealed
to NO while was under water, that one on
the street corner was the most repeuent-the
one regretted most.
Il had been a contemplate coward when
it would have been SO easy to be brave. I
threw away that priceless thing, the oppor-
tunity of helping a heart that was stricken.
/ had dealt dastardly blow to a woman who
was making brave fight against poverty
and injustice. l grow weak at the thought
Of it even now.
II never realized how basely had acted
until that drowning panorama showed my
conduct to NE in its true light. repented
Of it from that hour and have repented ever
since had been guilty Of things the world
would ell worse; but 10 other sin locked so
hateful TO me, no other was so entirely with
out mitigating circumstances. A man is
always coward wEo consciously hurts
woman; but to wound one who is already
wounded, alone, defenselesS, struggling,
working, and putting a brave face on it all
well, hope none OF you may ever have TO
confront an accusation from the past like
this.
That scene in the mirror of memory has
influenced my life ever since. lam now sure
try TO remember, each OF you-that when
We inJure another the one most injured is
ourselves. l am 50 years old. and have been
in the pulpit in tho faithful service of my
Master more than twenty years, yet that
scene never grows shade DINNER in
memory.
Il have seen that girls proud, hurt face
when l stood by collins and said the last sol
en1n words over the fair young dead have
seen it when joined the hands OF the youth
ful and loving in wedlock 1t has risen be-
fore me when | wrote, alone in my study, ct
midnight; and it was near me when the
morning sun lii up the earth Not avenging
and tegrible-no, not that, FOR long ago l felt
that she whom / had hurt had forgiven me;
but could not forgive myself. No; il was
there TO remind me that heavy penalty is
exactcd for the sin OF cowardice. 1t has
helped ME TO teach ny people that WOMAN is
the spiritual part Of man; that when be
hurts her he hurts himself
ON the TaI1nud is proverb which SAYS. I
God counts tina tears cf women Remem-
far il r-Irnrn Inr.Irf1Lia l-..-,-iso,,,S ..I1ha