News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-07-14

NOW CHdU Ule way u preach
, 'em, deacon. Pa tell 'em what
what, and say amen and 'everlastil
and git off the benediction and I'll
doxology to wind iU up with, strong
and then I'd let EN- 90 home an
hink ont"
And Sam began to collect his seal
tered members as if about to rise an
depart.
Set still, Sam," said the deacon
who appeared to ignore the fact tina
his bed-quilt and buffalo were slidin
down to the floor But Sam woul
not let him shed the skin of his dis
grace and rise into his manhood o.
the sly.
Your things are a gettin ot
here, +" he said, as he jumped up ant
readiusted them with remorseles
| dexterity. I'm afraid the wind
git in round your feet; I'll tuck thi
up little tighter"
Sam, L understand you, said tn
deacon, and the grim jaw which haC
snapped together like a vice after hi
thunder blasts to Reny an hour be
fore, began to relax it's firmness a lit
tie. 81 see clear through you, ant
you see clear through me. / know
that next time you make out cata
logue of the sins of the church mem
bers you'll put my name at the heaC
of the list. You'll tell how I've beer
a deacon for thirty years and have
been so ugly at home that nv oldest
| boy run away and went to sea, and
tother one went to Alaska to git Just
as fur away from me as he could
and my gal threw herself away
marryin' a good-for-nothin' feller, to
have home of her own, and that
my wife's all broke down with her
trouble. Sam you'll lay it on thick.
and | shan't blame We none, neither. -
The deacon jumped up, picked up
his fallen mantles and passed them
over to his wife, saying. in voice
whose gentleness startled her: Here,
Reny, you'll oblige me by foldin' these
up and putin 'em away. | shan't
want 'em no more. It's CROWN a lit
tie warmer. Yes, Sam, you may tell
Dea. Turner I'll take charge of the
meetin to-morror."
"All right, deacon, you'll do first
rate, don't doubt. EVERYBODY 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 to-mor-
row an hear me. I've got a special
reason"
By George! will I've had
new meetin' coat for most a year,
and there haint nobody asked me to
wear 1T. Now's my chance. I'll be
there"
A deacon's meeting in the town of
PeachblOw had never been very
wildly exciting occasion, and such
services were thinly attended, but it
was understood that a brand new
candidate, Parson Peters, was to set
forth his claims to orthodox sound
ness that day-and sOundness in doc
trIne was n far more potent key TO
the kingdom than soundness in liv-
ing, in the Peachblow estimation of
values-und all the inhabitants had
turned out to hear him. Their dis
was not very well con-
cealed. The deacon saw it and felt it
as he gave cut the opening hymn,
but he 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 of the pulpit. He
had no book of sermons from which !
10 read.
"My friends" he said, and his voice
lad a slight tremor, "I've been a dea-
,on for thirty years. I've prayed |
within these walls for the outpourin'
of the spirit, for the upbuildin' of the
.hurch, for the spread of the gospel,
or the conversion of sinners and for
jhe sanctiication of believers. Now
want to ask ye all to pray for me
or the salvation of my soul. I've
1een a-deceivin' myself, and / amt
rot one claim to bein' called "a child
, God. I've really cared a great
leal more for the clearin' up o. my
arm than have for the purifyin' of
jhe church. I've all along been will
in to do more an go further for the
out of my own mad temper
han [ have for the spreadin' of the
gospel. I've prayed for the outpour-
n of the spirit, and I've been a shut
in 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 a
}hristian. | thought back O. the
ime when | see a kind of light, and
leard sumthin' speak to me when
here want nobody round, and | was
ure that was conversion, and as for
tayin' converted, l Iwa'ntno Method
ST. I'd always heard say it was dis
Onorin' to God not to believe that
ed keep a grip on a man when he
nee got it. And so here | be, an
Estimate, selfish, worldly old man
haG my own children can't live i
-ith," and something very like a sob
hoked further utterance. Brethren,
ray for me-" at last he gasped, and !
at down. [
There was a prolonged silence. The Y
lrprise, the sympathetic mood of {
the awakening voice c
f conscience in each heart produced '
eep impressions. No soul felt itself
ure enough to respond to the pathet-
appeal. Y
At length the other deacon arose, .
sad a few verses from the 81 psalm I
nd pronounced the meeting closed r
business meeting was held during !
he week, at which Dea. Crabbe in @
sted upon resigning his Office, and 7
/ recommending as his successor a g
uiet young man whose life of self f
enial and loving sacrifice for his in 7
aid parents had won the love and \
Ontidence OF all. S
The spirit of self-condemnation /
ent round. There had been no such S
eep spiritual earnestness manifested $
/ the parish for years. Little COM /
tent was ever heard upon the dea- l.
Dn's words. All knew that as much
hight be said of their own fruitless
yes. There was a humble serious j
ess, a faithful effort, at quiet, right Z
Ous living, that had not been known
/ all the history of the church, and
ct there was no revival and no eX-
"a meetings. When people accuse
lch other there is a rebound of re-
stance which foils all attempts at
lsting impressions, but when ones
wn heart and conscience are the ac-
Isers there is none to rise up and de- .
nd. and the voice must he heard.
"Well, Reny," said the deacon,