Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-04-19
Zip Had he said aught unkindP Was
he not always gentle to herp

illp Had he said aught unkindP Was
he not always gentle to her?
His wife's sigh! She was not look
ing so young. There were streaks of
gray in her hair, and her cheeks were
not so full and round. His wife's
sigh! Was it not her wealth that gave
him leisure and independence? Was
it not her influence that had spread his
fameP Did her sigh imply regret at
her choice, or her bitter disappoirt-
mentp
The preacher had conscience, and
it was making sharp fight. Jacob s
contest of old with the wrestling angel
finds its parallel in many an inward
struggle of the human soul The
preachers few minutes of agony
seemed as long as the hours to the
patriarch, and he, too, prevailed. and
his heart was changed, like the name
of his prototype.
II would like to see him so much!"
The tones of a fresh strong voice fell
upon his ear as the curtain was drawn
aside and young man entered.
"Ah, doctor, could not resist the
desire to see you. l have heard of you
so often, and your books are well
thumbed at home. / have so much to
say" His eagerness rang out in every
word.
"You know have chosen the min
istry for my vocation. Oh, doctor, l
feel SO untitled for the task! My doubts
are not of God, or religion, or the Good
Book, or the lovely traditions and as
sociations that blend with the faith.
No, no; my doubts are of myself my
unworthiness, my littleness, my pow
erty of the Spirit. What can do to
cope with the taskP How can l be-
come a preacher to humanity How
shall ] drive home the religion divine?
How shall | impel men to follow the
Masterp The work is so sublime and
so insignificant What can I do?'
The preacher heard him. 1t seemed
that his features were familiar, and
his voice was not strange.
"Oh. doctor. | do not care fol
books when struggling men and weak
women and tender children are to be
uplifted. ! do not wish for fame.
do not look for success, measured by
a large congregation, princely sal
airy and a growing reputation. l woult
have the prophets ideal realized il
my life. Let the spirit of God resi-
upon me, however lowly my portion
the spirit of wisdom and understand
ing. Let me not Judge after the sigh
ofmy eyes, nor reprove after the hear.
ing of my ears. These words of Isaiah
always occur to me. doctor mad,
them the text of my graduation ser
mon at the seminary few weeks ago
/"
His graduation Sermon" thought
the preacher "Why, it was my very
text when l graduated"
"Oh, doctor! doctorr' the youn!
man cried, as the tears started to hi
eyes, pardon my impulsiveness.
do not wish to be faithlcss to my ideal
So many start well and fail. ! wan
to traverse that text into life. Their
is so much to be done, and so few t.
do it. Don't you recall those line
from Lowell?
1.-THE Lord wants reapers; oh. mount up
Before ght comes and says: ITO
later
Stay not for taking scrip or cup.
The Master hungers while We wait"
Those lines-those lines," said Til
preacher to himself; "they were a
ways in my memory, Why do / hea
them now? Have / waited for scri
or cup while, the Master has hur
geredp"
IL know no greater curse, doctor,
continued the young man, with hi
cheeks all afiame with enthusiasm
ethan to have my unfultilled ideal re
buke me as 1 grow old. To have tn
specter of the unrealized always aroun
mei to hear the accusing voice of OF
portunity misspent and advantage
misapplied; to feel that l have bee
disloyal and cowardly. and bent onl
on my own advancement while r,
ligion has hungered the though
would drive me wild. And l hav
come to you, good sir, for kindly cour
sci. Tell me what 1 shall do. 70
sympathize with me. You too ono
were young like myself"
You have come to me-to me-fo
counsel r. the preacher exclaime,
rising from his chair and advancin,
"Do you know how faithless l ha,
been to my youths ideal? Oh, spal
me-spare me-"
The preacher awoke. Was it but
revery, after alp Had his youth CON
back to accuse him, like in Jean Pal
Richter's dream?
Edith Edith y he exclaimed, tea
ing aside the curtain, and folding he
as she came, in passionate embrac
Edith! Edith! you shall never sig
, again. II is still day for us. 1t is n,
too late. thank Godr
He told her Of his wrestling spir
and his victory. And when the ne,
Sabbath dawned he preached as
never had preached before. Poop
noted the difference; he felt 1t; an
with the seed of humility plantt
anew in his SOUL his work grew
lovelier and more enduring propo
; tions.-Rer. A. s. Isaacs, in Harper
: Bazaar.