The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-09
The Preacher and the Post. Boy.

At a country inn, on one of his jour
neys, Mr. Capers had stopped for the
night, after a very cold days ride.
After supper he found a small lad sit
ting by the fire, thinly clad, and with
u look of anxiety in his face. The pro.
prietor of the house presently said:
"John, if 7 were you, | would not
go tonight"
At these words the little fellows
tears began to flow, and he replied !:
why did you say so? You know l
must CO."
Mr.. Capers asked what Johns busi-
ness was. He learned that the boy
was mail-carrier. and had to take the
mailbag twenty-one miles that night.
He had no other cl0thing than what
he then wore all of cotton goods ana
thin enough. The night was bitter,
and rain and sleet were then falling.
Mr.. Capers told him that he must
freeze to death if he persisted in go
ing; and that if he would abandon the
attempt. his employer should be IN
formed that he remained by the advice
and persuasion of friends. To this the
little fellow, in tears, said:
II must 90. If don't I shall lose
my place, and then my mother and
sister will starve." =.
Shortly 'afterward the mail-carrier
who brought the mail which John was
TO take forward arrived. He came to
the fire, throwing off large bear-skin
oyercoat loaded with slcet, and, with u
profane expression, declared that he
was frozen through. Mr.. Capers said
to him /:
"Friend, if, with your overcoat on,
you are nearly frozen, what will he the
fate of this poor boy, thinly clad as ne
is, who has to ride twenty-one miles
and carry the mail you have
brought?'
'"He will not live to get over the
swamp that is just ahead, and four
miles wide," said he.
Mr.. Capers then went to the laqdla-
dy to purchase q quilt or blanket to
cover John, who persisted that he must
try to 90. She said she could spare
nothing of the kind.
MADAM" said he, "let me have
this half-worn blanket for the child /;
I will give you four dollars for it,"
mo, sir,h she said, You will all
find before morning that [ have no
blanket to SELL"
Returning to the fire, he said to the
owner of the overcoat: Sir, will you
sell me YOUR overcoat for this boy"
"Yes,h said he, "if I can get cost for
it-eight dollars"
The money was Immediately paid,
and Mr.. Capers handed the coat to the
boy, whose eyes instantly frightened.
He put it on, and soon set out on his
dreary ride. This purchase had ex-
hausted Mr.. Capers's money, and left
him only twenty-five cents. The next
morning he took formal leave OF the
family without asking for his bill, de-
termining to send back, as soon as he
arrived home, the amount usually
charged for nights lodging. On the
part of the host nothing was said
about pay when he departed. The
next night he lodged with Presbyte-
rian family, with whom he had no ac-
uuaintance. When the time came for
family worship his host, impressed by
his appearance and conversation that
he was religious man, invited him to
join them and lead the devotional eX-
ercises. After prayers, he inquired if
the stranger were not minister. MI.
Capers told him who he was, and that
he was returning home after years
work OH the circuit he had just travel
ed. Before breakfast the next morn
ing he said to Mr.. Capers:
HFriend, we do not belong to the
same denomination of Christians.
You are Methodist and am Pres
byterian. 1t is, / dare say, with min
listers of your denomination as with
ours-you at times stand in need of a
little money. Will you please accept
of this ?" handing him twenty dollars.
On reaching home, Mr.. Capers in
closed O proper amount in q letter to
the tavern keeper where he had met
with the post-boy, explaining the cir
cumstances. The money, however,
was soon returned, on the ground that
they never charged preachers. And
he was requested to call again when
ever he passed that way.
Wghtman'S Life Of Bishop Capers.
7