The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-12-03

cry Peel stepped forward on q sort OF
platform, still majestic, but with a
sprinkling Of gray in his beard. Ahymn
was sung, a prayer was offered, and then
the preacher thus began:
"My friends, / will not explain why !
have erected this church other than that
/ have taken it upon myself to preach
the ward of God. do not come before
you claiming to have been directly called
to deliver the word unto you-that is, !
heard no voice telling me to preach, but
I did feel that l could do much good,
and that it was my duty to spend the
rest of my life in this service. shall
attemnt no revolution, and those Of you
that have come expecting to hear a new
doctrine, or even u new explanation OF
an old doctrine, will be disappointed. l
believe that immortal fruit grows upon
the tree of sincere repentance. believe
that each of us owes to God q life of
simple purity and honesty. Our allotted
time on earth is but a few days, and
what should we gain though we were
placed in high position among men, for
high positions soon crumble into the
dust of forgetfulness and men soon pass
away. 1t is not enough simply to declare
that we love the Lord, for love is often
selfish; it is not enough simply to praise
the Lord, for praise is sometimes the off
shoot of fear. While protesting to love
the Lord, and while showing that we
praise him, we must look with tender
ness upon the faults Of others, we must
speak no evil word Of a neighbor, neither
shall we bear tales, for the mar who
comes and tells us that some n has
spoken in our d~ispraise may profess that
he took our part and hushed the mouth
Of Islander, yet he destroys our happiness
for an entire day. Every Sunday here
after-that is, so long as l am able-1
| shall preach in this house, urging re-
pentance and kindness of heart. Many
people have wondered at the great change
chat has come over me. This was a nat
ural result of SO unexpected an action.
Bear with me-come and commune with
me, and l do not think that any will
ever regret that this humble house was
placed here among the trees"
Many years passed. grew up and
wandered in foreign countries. My
father passed away. and still, a letter
from an old friend told me, Montgomery
Peel continued to preach. ! returned
home, and on the following Sunday went
70 the log church, now almost covered
with moss. The congregation was sing
ingahymn when my friend and l entered
'tWhere is the preacher" I asked whel
we had sat down.
Hasn't come up yet. He lives in
cellar Immediately under the floor, ane
has grown so old and inirm that w
sometimes have to wait for him."
The hymn was finished and still he dit
not come. Another hymn was sung ant
then q mai arose and said that he woul'
go down and seei if anything had happen
ed to the preacher. The man soon re
turned. Brethren" said he, s'the OLE
man is dead. Those of you who desir
to do so may come down and see him."
Nearly every one shrank back, but
went down into the cellar. The oil
man, shriveled and white with age, la
upon Il bed of straw. The place wa
dark, and when we held a candle nea
his face we found a paper pinned to tn
bosom of his shirt. Written on the out
side of the paper were these words
Read this to the congregation"
We went up stairs, and the man tha
had found the dead preacher thus az
dressed the awestricken congregation
Brethren and sisters, we have a commit
nication from the old gentleman who's
voice you shall never again hear" Z
then read as follows:
THE hand of death is upon ME, and
feel that it is my duty to say a fe
words to you, my dear people. 70
have been so good, so patient an
so kind that | love you with a
my soul. l have loved you ev'
since l needed your love. | will te
= you when / first needed your love al
sympathy: Many years ago | was wal
; ing along a lonely road. Night hawl
may have cried, but l did not hear Their
= | could not have heard the voice Of {
angel had it shouted at me, met
man; | knew that he was coming tn
: way. Hold said l. He stopped al
y asked what | wanted. 4 want 20,
said l.. What do you want with M
. Il want you to give me something
What do you want me to give@ 'Yo'
+ life 'Why?' Because you ruined Il
, home years ago. sprang on him the
in the moonlight: | cut out his hea
: and wiped his face with it. That mi
= was David g. Cahoon."-Opie Read
Arkansaw Traveller.