Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-05-18

aught uakindf Was he not always gen.
tie to hcrl
His wiIc's sight She was not looking
50 young. There were strcaks Ct gray
10 her hair, and her cheeks werc not 50
iull and round. His wi'e's sighl Was
IT not her wealth that gave him leisure
and independence Was it not her in
huenee that had spread his famcl Did
her sigh imply regret at her choice, or
her bitter disappointment
The preacher had conscience, and it
was making a sharp f sht. jacobs con-
test of old with the wrestling angel
ilnds its parallel in many an inward
struggle Of the human soul. The
, preachers few minutes of agony seemed
as long as tho hours to the patriarch,
and he too prevailed, and his heart was
changed, like the namo of his proto-
TYPE.
Il would like to see him so muchl'
The tones of fresh, strong voice fell
fupon his ear as the curtain was drawn
aside and young man entered.
"Ah, doctor, l could not resist the
desire to see you. have heard of you
50 often, and your books are well
stumbled at home. have so much to
say" His eagerncss rang out in every
lword.
You know have chosen the ministry
Tor my vocation. Oh, doctor, feel so
sunttted for the task My doubts are
not OF God, or religion, or the Good
Book, or tho lovely traditions and asso-
citations that blend with the faith. No,
no. my doubts are of myself--my un-
worthinoss, my littIeness, my poverty
Of the Spirit. What can l do to cope
with tho task3 How can l become a
preacher to humanity2 How shall 1
drive home thu religion divine2 How
shall impel men to follow the Mastcrl
The work is so sublime and SO insig-
nifcant. What can l dog
The preacher heard him. 1t seemed
Shat his features were familiar, and his
voice was not strange.
"0h, doctor, l do not caro- for books
khcn struggling men and weak women
Id tender children are to be up.iftcd.
go not wish for fame. l do not look
success, measured by largo con.
egation, princely salary, aud grow
reputation. / would have the
pphet's ideal realized in my life. lie;
spirit OF God rest upon me, however
my portion the spirit of wisdom
understanding. Lot mo not Judge
.r the sight of my eyes, nor reproyC
er the hearing of my ears. These
'rds OF Isaiah always occur to me, doc
q. l madc than the text of my grad.
ton sermon at tho seminary a few
cks ago. I"
"Hi5 graduation sermon, thought the
preacher. ''Why, it was my very text
lTghen l graduated |"
ooh, doctorl doc.orl' the young
IInan cried, as the tears started in hi:
I'eye', pardon my impulsivenes,. l dc
not wish to DO faithle,s to my ideal. So
many start we'll and fail. l want to
translate that text into life. There is
50 much to be done and so few to do it.
Don't you recall those lines from Low
euG
The Lord wants reapers; oh, mount up
Before night comes and says, "Too LatelI
Stay not for taking scrip or cup
The Master hungers while ye watt"
Those lines-thosc Iine,,' said the
preacher to himself; "thoy were always
in my memory. Why do l hear them
nowa Have l waited for scrip or cup
while the Master has hungerodp
Il know no greater curse, doctor" "
continued the young man, with his
cheeks al aflame with enthusiasm,
than to have my unfulf!lcd ideal re-
buke me as grow old. To havo the
spectre of the ulrcalized always around
ne; to hear the accusing voice of op-
portunity mlsspent and advantages mis-
applied; to feel that | have been dis
loyal and cowarlly, and bent only on
my own advancement while religion has
hungered-thc thought would drive me
Wild And l have come to you, good
slr, for kindly counsel. Tell me what
4 shall do. You sympathizc with me.
You too once were young like myself. F"
"You have come to me-to me-foi
Heounsel!' the rcachcr exclaimed, ris-
Ing from his chair and dvancing. 'Dc
you know how iaithless l have been tc
my youths ideal3 Oh, spare mc-sparc
me-
The preacher awokc. Was it but a
Fevery, after ala Had hi, youth come
back to accuse him, like in Jean Paul
Richtcr's drcaml'
Edith Elithl" he exclaimed, tear
ing aside the curtain, and folding her,
as she came, in passionate embrace
Filth! EIithl you shall never sigh
again. 1t is still day for US. 1t is not
too late, thank God!'
lie told her Of his wrestling spirit and
MS victory. Aad when the next Sab
path dawned he preached as he never
had preached before. People noted the
aliferoace; he felt it; and with the seed
o. humility painted anew ia his soul,
MS work grew to lovelier and more en-
during g proportions. II Harper's Bazar
A Timely Correction.
hnra caaroo A.