Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-08-16

Bless the Lordr said the Quaver-
ing tones of still older man from n
far corner of the house, and many a
glistening eye gave silent response.
60 on, Brother Emmons, " said the
minister
We'll, when next day come, i got
up to make the fire, and my boy Joe
had forgot the kindlin's. I'd opened
my mouth TO give him Jesse, when it
come over sudden that this was the
day of prayer for the family relation.
| thought wouldn't say nothin'. |
/ Jest fetched in the kindlin's myself,
and when the fire was burnt up good
! | called wife.
Dear mer' says she. I've got
such headache, 'Siah, but Ill come
in minute | didn't mind that, for
women are always hayin' aches, and
l was jest going TO say so, when
remembered the text about not bein'
bitter against 'em, so | says, 'Philury,
YOU lay abed. | expect Emmy and
NE can get the vittlss to-day | de-
clare, she turned over and give me
seeh look; why, it struck right in !
There was my wife, that had worked
for an waited on me twenty-odd
year, most scarf because | spoke kind
of feelin' TO her. | went and fetched
in the pail o water she'd always
drawed herself, and then | always
milked the COW. When | come in
Philury was up fryin' the potatoes,
and the tears a-shinin' on her white
face. She didn't say nothin', she's
kinder still; but she hadn't no need
10. | felt leetle meaner'n | did the
day before. But 'twasn't nothin' 10
my condition when | was goin' to-
ward night, down the suller stairs
for some apples, SOS the children
could have roast, and heard joe
UP in the kitchen, say TO Emmy, i
do b'lieve, En-, pas goin' TO die. -
Why, Josiar Emmons, how you talkV
Well do; he's SO everlastin' pleas
ant an good natered | can't but
think he's struck with death
II tell ye, brethren, | set down on
them suller stairs and cried. ! did,
reely. Seemed though the Lord had
turned and looked at me jest as he
did at Peter. Why, there was my
own children never see me act real
fatherly and pretty in all their lives.
I'd growled and scolded and prayed
at 'em, and tried TO fetch 'em up-jest
as the twig is bent the trees inclined,
We know-but hadn't never thought
that they'd got right and reason to
expect I'd do my part as well as they
theirn. Seemed as though ! was
findin' out more about Josiah EN-
mons Shortcomings than was real
agreeable.
Come round Friday got back TO
the store. I'd kind o left it to the
boys the early part of the week, and
things was little cuterin', but | did
have sense not to tear round and use
sharp words SO much as common. /
began to think twas gettin easy to
practice after five days, when in come
Judge Herrick's wife after some
curtin calico. | had IA handsome
piece, all done off with roses and
things, but there was fault in the
weavin'-every now and then n thin
streak. She didn't notice IL, but she
was pleased with the figures ont, and
said she'd take the whole piece. -
Well, jest as was wrappin' Of it up,
what Mr.. Parkes here said about try
ing TO act Jest as the Lord would in
our place come acrost Inc. Why, l
turned as red as beet, know did.
1t made me all OF a tremble. There
was |, door keeper in the tents OF
God, as David says, really cheatin,'
and cheatin' a woman. | tell ye,
brethren, | was all OF sweat. Mis-.
Herrick,' says !, Il don't believe
you've looked real close at this goods;
'taint thorough wove, says /. So
she didn't take it; but what fetched
me was TO think how many times I'd
done such mean, unreliable little
things to turn a penny, and all the
time sayin' and prayin' that i want
ed to be like Christ. KEEP a-trippin'
OF myself up all day jest in the ordi-
nary business, and was peg lower
down when night come than i was a
Thursday. Id ruther, as far as the
hard work is concerned, lay mile OF
four foot stone. wall than undertake
TO do "a mans livin' Christian duty
for twelve workin, hours; and the
helf Of that is, it's because amt used
TO it, and ought to be.
so this mornin' come around, and
| felt mite more cherk. Twas mis-
sionary mornin', and seemed as II
twas sight easier 10 preach than TO
practice. / thought i begin to old
Mis- Vedder's. So put Testinent
in my pocket and knocked TO her
door. Says /, Good mornin', ma am,
and then stopped. Words seemed
to hang, somehow. ] didn't want TO
pop right out that I'd come over to
try'n convert her folks. 1 hemmed
and swaIIered a little, and fin'lly i
said, says /, We don't see you to
meetin' very frequent, Mis- Vedder.
No you don't, SCI she, as quick as
a wink. i stay at home and mind
my business
Well, we should like TO have you
come along with US and do ye good,
says sort OF conciliatin'.
Look here deaconr she snap
ped; I've lived alongside Of you fif-