Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-04-15

hells. and they surrounded my friend,
and they took him at the weak point,
his social nature. and saw him going
down and had u fair talk with him
said To him. why don't You give up
your bad habits and become II Chris
tian?" | remember now just how he
looked, leaning over his counter. as he
replied: i wish ] could. oh. sir. /
should like TO he u Christian, but have
gone so far astray can't get back
So the time went on. After awhile
the day of sickness came. was sum-
moncd to his sich-bed. fastened. 1t
took me but u few moments to get
there. was surprised as | went in. 1
saw him in his ordinary clothes, fully
dressed. lying on the top of the bed. ]
gave him my hand. and he seized it
convulsivcly ard said: ''Oh. how glad |
am to see you. Sit down there" ] sat
down and he said: Mr.. Talmage. Just
where you sit now my mother sat last
night. She has been dead twenty
years. Now. don't want You to think
| am ont of my mind, or that am SUI
pcrstitious: but, sir. she sat there last
night just ~ certainly as you sit
there now-thc same cap. and apron,
and spectacles. 1t was lGy old mother
she sat there" Then he turned to
his wife aud said: Il wish Won
would take these strings off the bed:
somebody is wrapping strings around
me all the time. wish YOU would stop
that annoyance" She said: There is
nothing here" Then saw it was de-
lirium. He said: Just where You sit
now my mother sat. and she said, 'Ros-
well, | wish you would do bctter-I
wish You would do better / said:
Mother wish ] could do better. /
try To do better. but can't. Mother,
you used to help me: why can't You
help me now" And. sir, | got out of
bed for it was reality, and ! went TO
her. and threw my arms around her
neck, and | sid: Mother. ! will do
better. but you must help: can't do
this alone" linelt down and prayed.
That night his soul went to the Lord
that made il.
Ntit IliuNtN loi titt ob-
sequies. The question was raised
whether they should bring him to
church. Somebody said: "You can't
bring such dissolute man as that into
the church" ! said: "You will bring
him in the church: he stood by me when
he was alive. and | will stand by him
when he is dead. bring him As stood
in the pulpit and saw them carrying the
body up the aisle, felt as if | could
weep tears of blood.
On one side of the pulpit sat his little
child of Years. a sweet. beautiful little
girl that had seen him hug convul-
sivcly in his better moments. He put
on her AL jewels. all diamonds. and
gave her all pictures and toys, and then
he went away - if hounded by an evil
spirit. to III, cups and house Of shame
"A fool to The correction of the stocks
She looked up wonGeringly. 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 NORWOOD
into the orphans cup: they were the
men who had bound him hand and foot
! knew them. How did they seem TO
feel? Did they weep? No. Did they
say: What Il pity that such Il gcner-
ous man should be destroyed?" No.
Did they sigh repcntingly over what
they had done? No: they sat there,
looking as vultures look ut the
carcass of the lamb whose heart they
have ripped ont. So they sat and
looked 1T the coffin lid, and | told them
the Judgment of God upon those who
had destroyed their fellows. Did they
reform? | was told they were in the
places of iniquity that night after my
friend was laid in lakewood cemetery,
and they blasphcmed. and they drank.
Oh, how merciless men are, especially
after they have destroyed you. Do not
look to men for comfort or help. Look
to God.
But there is man who will not re-
form. lie says: Il won't reform"
Well. then, how many acts arc thrre to
a tragedy? believe five.
Act the first of the tragedy. Ayoung
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 second. The marriage altar.
Full organ. Bright lights. Long
white veil trailing through the aisle.
Prayer and congratulation, and eXcla-
nation of GLOW well she looks
Act the third. A woman waiting for
staggering steps. Old garments stuck
into 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
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