The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-09
A NOn.Resistant.

ribbons to taIlow-candles and sugar
candies. He was not deacon, but |
he was always named and known as
Deacon Jabe, because there was never |
n man who more firmly, boldly and |
consistently asserted and practiced
the doctrine of the Christian life,
Universally loved and respected by
the people, old and young, he had
led long life of peace and quiet,
doing good and getting good. And
during this life he had been an nm
wavering nonresident. He was not
much of talker. He seldom preach
ed. But IN the store, where it was
the custom of the men of the
community to gather, especially
on Saturday evenings, the nickname
Deacon had been given him for
years, and thence had travelled
through the community, Seldom
volunteering opinions, he was often
appealed to for the decision of mooted
questions. And if you do net know
it, can tell you that in the country
store there are daily discussions Of
questions. moral, philosophical, re-
HgiOus. aid practical, in which at
least as much average good sound
sense and logical power is developed
as In any meeting OF any of the mod
ern scientific associations. British or
American. Always, however. Dea-
con Jabe had laid down and adhered
to his nOn-resistance principles, and
this in the face of much provOraticn
to think anu act otherwise. Many
indignities he had suffered from fell
lows of the haser sort, insults and
personal wrongs. always taking them
meekly and without resentment, In
all the town there was but one sup
porter of his radical views, and he
often wished he was free from that
ally. For Miss Alvira Smith was a
cantankerous talker and fighter, do
ing with her tongue perpetual war,
offensive and defensiue. while she
proclaimed the sinfulIness of phyai-
cal Offense or defense with any other
muscles or member of the human
body. For, after all, it is hut qups
ton of muscles, and the nOn.resiS-
tant who forbids blows with the fist
is often a conscientious dealer of
deadly blows with the voice.
Tile deacon had received much and
sore PROPAGATION from Silas Max
well. the town bully. a fpll1w of pow
erful structure. who reioiced in his
ability to whip any man in the cOun.
ty. And he had fought many battles
with invariable victory. My story
would be too long were to recite a
talk on Saturday evening in the store
when SiIas nagged Jabez and Insult
ed him again and again, presuming
and boasting that he presumed on
the deacon's nOn-reSistance, which
Silas said was nothing hut coWardice.
HE don't resist bekase he darsent
resist" said the bully, walking across
the store and helping himself to a
chunk of tobacco, at the same mo.
ment opening huge knife where
81 n l. F.,I
Little Katie Wheeler was the dea.
cons granddaughter, lovely child.
the joy of his life. sole descendant of
his dead wife and daughter. Katie
was a sad invalid, but she had well
mind, meyer i'll. never sickIy. AL
day long she was in and out of the
store. always breezy and cherry.
making perpetual springtime in the
| life of the lonesome man. Her little
chair stood where in the evenings she
sat TIL her grandfather closed the
door and she walked home with him.
Everybody loved Katie-even SIas
Maxwell, brute though he was. A
Silas took the tobacco in his hand
Katie sprang from her chair and
| snatched it away from him. saying :
"Silas Maxwell. you shan't steal
grandfather's tobacco any more"
The child's impulsiyr act and clear
ringing voice were greeted with a
shout from the fifteen or twenty vii
layers in the store. The act, the
word "steal" and the approving
shout reused the fiend in Silas. and,
seizing Katie by the arm, he uttered
ln brutal oath as he raised his right
tand with the open knife to strike.
Jabez had kept hiI eyes on the
man, and up to this instant had been
Struggling to keep down what he be-
Ilieved to he his sinful desire to silence
: the others insolence with earthly
weapons. Now. as he saw the knife
raised he was converted man. Well
was it for Katie that her grandfather
in the long forgotten days of lis sin
fol youth had been mighty in battles,