Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-04-20
down and prayed. That night his soul
went to the Lord that made it.

down and prayed. That night his soul
went to the Lord that made it.
Arrangements were made for the OBJ
sequies. The question was raised
whether they Should bring him to
church. Somebody said, You can't
bring such absolute man as that into
the church" 1 said, You will bring
him in the church; he stood by me
when he was alive, and l will stand by
him when he is dead. Bring him. AS
I stood in the pulpit, and saw them
carrying the body up the aisle, I felt
as if l could weep tears of blood.
On one side of the pulpit sat his little
child of eight years, a sweet. beautiful
little girl that had seen him hug con-
vulsivcly in his better moments. He
put on her all jewels, all diamonds and
gave her all pictures and toys, and
then he would go away as it bounded
by an evil spirit, to his cups and house
Of shame fool to the correction OF
the stocks. She looked up wonderingly.
She knew not what it all meant. She
was not old enough to understand the
sorrow of an orphan child.
On the other side the pulpit sat the
men who had ruined him; they were
the men who had poured wormwood
into the orphans cup; they were the
men who had bound him hand and
foot. l knew them. How did they
seem to feel? Did they weep? No.
Did they say: What pity that such
Il generous man should be destroyed?'
No. Did they sigh repentingly over
what they had done? No; they sat
there looking as vultures look ut the
carcass of the lamb whose heart they
have ripped out. So they sat and look
cd at the coffin lid, and told them the
Judgment of God upon those who had
destroyed their fellows. Did they re-
form? l was told they were in the
places Of iniquity that night after my
friend was laid in lakewood cemetery,
and they blasphemed, and they drank.
Oh. how mercilcss men are, especially
after they have destroyed you. Do not
look to them for comfort or help. Look
to God.
But there is man who will not re-
form. He says. Il won't reform"
We'll, then, how many acts are there
to a tragedy? / believe five.
Act the first of the tragedy. A young
man starting off from home; parents
and sisters weeping to have him go.
Wagon rising over the hill Farewell
kiss flung back. Ring the bell and let
the curtain fall.
Act the secind. The marriage altar.
Full organ. Bright lights. Long white
veil trailing through the aisle. Prayer
and congrltulation. and exclamation of
"How well she looks!!'
Act the third A woman waiting for
staggering steps. Old garments stuck
in the broken window pane. Marks of
hardship on the face. The biting of the
nails Of bloodless fingers Neglect. and
cruelty, and despair Ring the bell and
let the curtain drop
Act the fourth. Three graves in a
dark place-grlve of the child that died
for the lack Of medicine, grave of the
wife that died of Il broken heart, grave
of the man that died of dissipation.
Oh! what Il blasting heath of three
graves. Plenty of weeds. but no flow
ers. Ring the bell and let the curtain
drop.
Act the fifth. A destroyed souls
eternity. No light. No music. No
hope. Anguish coiling it's serpents
around the heart Blackness and dark
ness forever. But I cannot look any
longer. Woe! woe! 1 close my eyes to
this hast act of the tragedy. Quick!
Quick! Ring the bell and let the cur
tain drop. Rejoice. o young man, in
thy youth. and let thy heart rejoice in
the days Of thy youth; but know thou
that for all these things God will bring
you into Judgment" There is a way
that seemeth right to a man, but tie
end thereof is DEATH