St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-02-20
SUDDENLY CHANGED HIS MIND.

Mistake Aads By Moralist h Trying to
Teach . Serious Lesson.
An old gentleman, with IN appear
ance Of authority. stood looking at .
number of worlxmen that were putting
up an enormous building. He mani
tested q keen interest in what was go
ing on; he examined beams and scruti-
nizcd the great stone that was to form
the arch ut the entrance of the NAM
moth structure.
A thoughtful fellow came along and
speaking to the old gentleman. asked:
would you object to giving me q few
moments Of your timer"
'No. SIR"
Twill you step over here. then, out OF
the way?"
II will"
They stood apart from the busy
world about them. The old gentleman
looked inquiringly at the thoughtful
looking fellow and said:
''Well, sir?"
II have called you aside to speak
few serious words to you. At first it
may strike you that am prcsumptu-
GUS. blu: after awhile You will sec that
my motives, if not commendable. are ut
least honest As I came along hero
just now, saw you standing in self
forgetful attention. gazing Mt the prog
rcss Of this great building. and won
dered il it had ever occurred to you
that it will not be long until-now
pardon me-the great house now going
up will belong to some one else. You
are going to protest. see, but wait a
moment Your race in this life
is nearly run. A few days more and
You, as inanimate As one of those
foundation stones, will sink be-
meath the surface of the earth. The
anxiety you felt in this great building
will be gone-all with you will be over.
Please wait until get through. We
will not speculate as to the future
dwelling-placc of your soul; we will
not hint that your deeds have not been
noble and generous enough to insure
you an eternity Of peace, but we will
do this: We will question the judy
ment of O man with one foot on the
crumbling brink of time. giving mp his
few remaining days in gazing with in
fant-like rapture at q building pro-
jected by greed and executed in vanity.
Pardon me, If seem harsh, and force
upon yourself sufficient patience to
listen to me until I am done. A few
more hours and the world will move on
without you. You won't be in it. as
the vulgar saying goes. No one will
miss you. except in q sort Of sclf-con-
gratulatory way. You will be molder.
ing"
'.But, my dear sir"
''IIold on" said the moralist, mildly
protesting. "Wait until have uttered
few more words, and then will let
you return to vain occupation. Now, If
were q wealthy man. and knew my
time ON earth was short, what would
do? Put up great building and act as
If were going to live always? No;
would do some real good with money;
/ would leave behind me one man. at
least, who would hold my memory
dear. would select some poor, CRATE
full fellow-now. let me tell yOu," he
suddenly broke Off am the most
grateful man in this world. In the Jew.
eled frame Of memory now hold the
picture of q man who gave me ten
cents five years ago. Now, let me have
five dollars, please"
"Your talk is worth five dollars" said
the old gentleman, land I'm sorry you
didn't let me save it for you."
''Save what?"
1.-THE talk"
GLOW save it?"
"By telling you that I'm not putting
mp that building-that I merely stopped
here to look at the workmen. / am the
pastor of the Third Presbyterian church
and won't you stay longer? No? Well,
good.day. and don't forget to be CRATE
full for all you get in this life. "-Arlsan.
saw Traveller.