Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-10-05
The Wee CuIprit.

--D Cl-l AAta
Solemn stiffness reigned in the
quiet country school-hOuse where
two or three dozen had gathered to-
gether midsummer afternoon, await
ing tbs voice of the minister, whose
visits came but twice a month.
Away over on the girls side three
or four mothers in Israeli sat on
the first row of rough seats, while
farther back a few more, less prOmi-
nent for Sunday sanctity, sat with
the two or three misses who formed
the sole attraction for the half dozen
boys ranged farthest from the 'EAmen
corner"
The class leader and q few scatter
ing pilgrims with bodies bent earth
ward by toll, and spirits heaven
ward erect through grace, made
lOnesOmeness more lonely by sitting
far from each other.
Talking or smiling was not thought
of. Such a thing as a man sitting
with the " OmenlWas an unheard Ofsac-
riege; and, so vivid was the silence,
so intense the sOlemnity, that one
could almost hear the boys throwing
''sheep's eyes, at the girls they had
trudged two or three miles to look
upon.
At last the minister arose, gave out
the hymn; one of Watts Old-time
pure gold poems, worn bright by
constant use through weary. years.
Every one knew the tune, one of
those old time, simple melodies that
have for centuries lacerated the soul
of sadness with the pathetic lament
Of those who wall, ''I'm but q stran-
ger here, Heaven is my home"
The class leader started the tune''
and was aided and abetted by the |
little flock. All sang ''air,' for in /
those days he who could sing the |
bass to Windham. Old Hundred OF
Near was reverenced as one who |
understood musicl
With quantity pathetic sIOwness |
marched the melody, and at last the |
the RubicOn of the first line was |
safely passed. The heroic few assaulted !
the battlements of sin with the second |
line and at last reached the point !
where the sOrrOW-laden voices quay |
cred along the nights of the second |
part.
"Oo-oo-ooOl OOooo-ool' came a
long drawn, pathetic cry that start
led all like an electric shock.
The last line Of the stanza stole
mOurnfully heavenward. OO-oo-OOO-
OOOOO!' that long drawn pathOs,
crescendO, diminuendO, and closed |
with a rising infection, weirdly sad.
All glanced furtively toward the |
girls side in time to see one of the
mothers" kick under the seat with
a VigOr that savOred of a sinful and |
dying world.
Out sneaked the culprit, a wee black !
and-tan dOggie, but little larger than
a cat. Away into the middle of the
open space by the stove he crept, tail
between legs and ears adrOop,
the very soul of sadness and |
Reaching the place US
ualy occupied by the anxious seat
during reViVals, he sat down, slightly /
raised his nose CeilingWard, and, |
giving his haH-clOsed eyes the true
orthodox roll upward, awaited the
next overflow Of grief-laden melody.
Soon it came, the second sOrrOWing
verse, bringing to his memory past
sins; the levity of puphOOd days, the
means Of grace so heedlessly squaG-
dered. All, all stood out a dark
memory picture against the darker
background of future woe!
The little heart broke down in ut
ter anguish. "OOu-OO-OO-OuO-O-o
TT, " trilled the tiny penitent in utter
despair, with a vibrant crescendo
that spoke plyinly of dire fear that
his had been the objectionable sin.
Then the grave and reverend dea-
cons came out and expelled the
mourning sinner from thesynagogue.
To this day a nameless fear haunts /
memOry's sympathetic chords lest |
the wee cuIprit, hardened by despair, !
mayhap perish in his sins.