Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-06-23

/ "N"SOh III ohilty years, anu
have been so ugly to home that my old
est boy ran away ind went to sea, and
t'other one went TO Alaska to git Just as
Tar away from me as he could, and my
gal threw herself away marryin' a
good-for-nuthin' Teller, to have home
OF her own, and that my wifes all
broke down with her trouble Sam,
you'll lay it on thick, and | shan't
blame We hone, neither"
The deacon jumped up, picked up his
FALLEN mautles hnh passed them over ID
his wife, saying, in voice whose gen.
tleness startled her; Here, Reny,
you'll oblige me by foldn' these up and
putin EN- away. shan't want 'ern
no more. It's CROWN a leetle warmer.
Yes, Sam, you may tell Dea Turner III
take charge of the meetin' to-morrer."
"All right, deacon, you'll do fust rate,
j don't doubt. Every body knows you've
got more ability than any other man
in the parish"
"An' hold on, Sam. don't want
none o yer soft soap bout ability, but
do want you TO come tomorrow an
hear me. I've got special reason"
by Georgel | will I've had new
ineetin' coat for most year, and there
haint nobody asked me to wear II.
Now's my chance. III be there"
deacon's meeting In the town OF
Peachblow had never been very wild.
ly exciting occasion, and such services
were thinly attended, but 1t was under
stood that brand-new candidate, Par
son Peters, was to set forth his claims
to orthodox soundness that day-and
soundness In doctrine was far more
potent key to the kingdom than sound
ness in living, in the Peachblow estima-
tion of values-and all the inhabitants
had turned out to hear him. Their disap-
pointment was not very well concealed
The deacon saw it and felt it as he
gave out the opening hymn, but he had
anticipated it and was strong In his
purpose. The Scriptures were read,
the prayers offered, the notices given,
and again the deacon cleared his throat
and rose upon the low platform in front
Va WIG PulDib llC udQ III UOOh VI btT~
mons from which to read.
my friends" he said, and his voice
had n slight tremor, 1--WE been dea-
con for thirty years. I've prayed with
In these walls for the outpourin' of the
Spirit, for the upbuildih of the church.
for the spread of the gospel, for the
conversion of sinners and for the sane.
LITIGATION of believers. Now | want to
ask We all to pray for me-for the sal
walton of my soul. I've been deceiv-
in myself, and amt got. one claim to
bein' called child O. God I've really
cared a great deal more for the clearin'
up o. my farm than have for the puri.
| fyin' of the church. I've all along been
willin' to do more an go further for the
carryin' out of my own mad temper
than ! have for the spreadin' OF the
gospel. I've prayed for the outpourin'
of the Spirit, and I've been a shuttin'
my heart against it all the while.
| When it told me was a-doin' wrong
said twas other folks, and not me.
When it told me want actin Chris
/ ulull, OilOukHb OclCh " viz llluC NuCn 1
see a kind of light, and heard sum-
thin speak TO me when there want no
body round, and was sure that was
conversion, and as for stayin' convert
ed, want no Methodist. I'd always
heard say it was dishonorin' to God not
to believe that He'd keep grip on
man when He once got it. And so here
be, an obstinate, selfish, worldly old
man that my own children can't live
WITH" and something very like sob
choked further utterance. Brethren,
pray for me-" at last he gasped, and sat
down.
There was prolonged silence. The
surprise, the sympathetic mood of self
accusation, the awakening voice of con-
science in each heart produced deep
Impressions No soul felt itself pure
enough to respond to the pathetic
appeal.
At length the other deacon arose,
read a few verses from the Fifty-frst
Psalm and pronounced the meeting
closed. A business meeting was held
during the week at which Dea Crabbe
insisted upon resigning his office, and
in recommending as his successor q
quiet young man whose life of self-de-
NAL and loving sacrifice for his invalid
parents had won the love and conf
dence of all.
The spirit of self condemnation went
round. There had been no such deep
spiritual earnestness manifested in the
parish for years. Little comment was
ever heard upon the deacons words.
All knew that as much might be said
of their own fruitless lives. There was
a humble seriousness, faithful effort
at quiet righteous living, that had not
been known in all the history OF the
church, and yet there was no revival
and no extra meetings When people
accuse each other there is rebound of
resistance which foils all attempts at
lasting impressions, but when ones
own heart and conscience are the ac-
cusers there is none to rise up and de-
fend, and the voice must be heard
"Well Reny,' said the deacon, a
twelve-month later, ''it's the first Of
May, amt it? Do you want should
help move the things before go out to
work?"
mo, lothian. was just a-thinllin'
we'd better wait q fortnight later. We
may have some more cold weather
et."-Julina o. Hall, in Springfield
| (Mass.) Republican
Congressman Allen, of Mississippi,
after making a speech in opposition to