The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-21
Honest Old Tom.

Two years ago there died an old man who, as
learned and just judge, says Youths Compdn-
ion, had long commanded the respect of the com
munity. Forty years before he had gone to the
city where he lived penniless young lawyer,
and had slowly earned for himself an honorable
position.
He had never married, and never could be
tempted to enter society. but lived always in
the same quiet apartments, surrounded by his
books and few friends. who greatly respected
and loved him. Every Sunday, no matter how
stormy. found him in his obscure seat in church.
devout and earnest; but he never cou ID be per-
suaded to hold any Office, even the humblest in
the church
He was so just a Judge. so rigid in his integ.
rlty, that his townsmen affectionately dubbed
him Honest old Tom
He died after q lingering illness, with a few
faithful friends about him. When they began
to prepare him for the grave, they found upon
his chest the letter branded with hot iron
the most degrading punishment inflicted in the
southern states.
The Just judge, the faithful Christian, had
once been convicted as a thief.
The astonishmant at the discovery was great.
His nearest friends bowed over his coffin in sor-
row at the revelation, forgetting that the shut
lips could never deny the charge, nor speak a
word in his defence.
But there were voices to speak for him.
Men and women were eager to tell what they
knew OF his private life. 1t was found that
each year he had given to benevolent objects
the largest part of his income.
from the hospitals spoke OF MIN now
as visitor who had often come to bring lux
uries to the poor patients, and to comfort them
with kind words.
Officers of iails and penitentiares spoke
tenderly of him. To many a poor, battered
prisoner he had gone as brother, and held out
n hand in an endeavor TO lift him up to a clean,
honest life again.
Out OF the obscure quarters of the city there
came, on the day of his burial women whom
ne had rescued from life of shame and
orphan children whom he had befriended.
When he was carried to the grave. these were
his mourners. They crowded silently about his
coffin, tears on their pale faces The man
whom Christ sent to help them was gone. His
brotherly sympathy they had felt; they did not
know its secret spring, nor realize that another
could sympathize with them as he sympathized.
Good Christian men who had never been
tempted and overcome as he had been, talked
them; he seemed to speak out of the depths of
his heart.
He had been in the slough He knew the
Hand that could lead them out of it. He held
it in his own every step of the way.
The old minister, looking at these men and
women standing about the grave, said with
almost a voice of triumph, blessed are the
ing of great courage and hope in this poor
tnief's life. 1t was that the man who repents
of his sin and forsakes it. may be fitted for
higher work in Christ's service than he who has
never battled with sin and been helped to VIC
tory.
The multitude whom st. John saw standing
nearest to the throne In heaven were not those
they who had washed their robes and made
them white by faith and through obedience ito
him who loved them and gave himself for
them