The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-21
Jacobs sermon.

"Had o good sermon, Jacob ~ my
wife asked me last night when I came
home from church.
"Complete, Rachel? ?n said 1.
Rachel was poorly, and couldn't 60
to meeting much so she always want
ed me to tell her about the sermon and
the singing and the people.
"Good singing, Jacob?" )
"I'm sure I couldn't tell YOU"
"Many people out to-day"
II don't know"
"Why, Jacob, what's the matter ?
What are you thinking about?"
"The Sermon"
"What was the textW
II don't think there was any. /
didn't hear it.
II declare, Jacob, I believe you slept
all the time.h =.
.Indeed didn't. I never was so
wide awake"
"What was the subject, then ?"
"As near as I can remember, it was
me-" =
"You! Jacob Gay!n
"Yes, ma'am. You think it poor
subject. TIM sure 1 thought so, too.n
"Who preached? Our minister ?''
mo, he didn't preach-not to me,
at any rate. Twas awomar-a young
woman, too."
"Why,, Mr.. Gay! You don't mean
lit, sure! Those Woman's Rights folk
haven't got into our pulpit?
"Well, not exactly. The minister
preached from the pulpit, but I could
~ Hc,oo Tixuo. fh;nbinn ohnut INV
sermon. + will tell you about it.
You know that young woman at the
post-office, Mrs. Hyde's niece. She
and I were the first ones at meeting.
have seen her good deal in the post
office and at her aunt's when I was
there at work. She is a pleasant
spoken and a nice, pretty girl. We
were talking about the meetings.
You know there Is quite reformation
going on. She was speaking of this
one, then that one who was converted.
There was quite q silence, and then
she said, sort of low, and trembling In
| her voice, and little pink flush in her
cheek, and the tears just a-starting.
I'Oh, Mr.. Gay, some of us were saying
at the prayer meeting last night that
we did so want you to be a Christian.
Her cheeks flushed redder, and the
tears fell. I knew she felt it, and 1t
was q cross to say it. I never was so
taken back in all my; life. Why,
bless your SOUL I said, my child, /
have been member Of the Church
forty years. My tears came then, and
| I guess my cheeks would have been
redder than hers if they warn't SO
tann
"'Do excuse me, Mr.. Cay she said.
Excuse me for hurting your feelings,
but didn't know you were Christ
ian. I never see you at prayer-meet-
ling or Sabbath School, and never no
ticed you at communion. I'm sorry
I've hurt your feelings
"'Tut, tut, child, I answered. No
harm done. Pm glad you thought
about an old man. Pm a member, as
I said, but haven't worked at it much
I'll allow. I don't 60 to prayer meet.
ling or Sunday School, because-wel!
II make the excuse to myself and
other folks that Rachel was poorly,
and needed me to stay with her, but
I'm afraid the Lord wouldn't accept
lit ~ :
"Just then the people began tc
come, and took my seat, but the
looks and words of that young wo.
man went to my heart. couldn't
think of anything else. They preach
ed to me all the meeting time. To
think that some of the young folks In
Wharton didn't know I was mem
fber, and were concerned for the old
man. said to myself, by way of ap'
plication,: "David Gay, you've been
a silent partner long enough. 1t is
time you woke up, and worked fol
the Lord time to let your light shine
so that the young folks can see it.'"-
Golden Rule. 90. e.. ..