Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-05-25

..He left us still laughing at our lit
tie joke, though I think we all had a
secret feeling of kindness in our hearts
for this man whose faith showed in his
life walk. That night we attended the
services, as we did each and all the
succeeding appointments of this good
man. His certainly was work much
needed in those parts; wicked and hard
ened sinners came out to hear his the
ory, and it was probably under their
influence that Zed and some of the
other boys found pleasure in CRITICS
ing his remarks. The boy contended
that it was no worse hunting on Sun
day than riding to church, and seemed
to think his argument convincing.
1.-The winter passed. and with its cold
est blasts the circuit rider continued on
his way. He was a man of fine phys
ique and a strong constitution, as in
deed he needed to have in the hard
ships before him."
s.No doubt his words sank deep in
the hearts of his rough. pioneer friends,
and many in after years blessed his
name. But he did not know this, and
it is not little surprising that he often
became disheartened, as we all do in
whatever our career. Like the good
man he was, am sure he often stop
ped on the desolate road and, prayed
to his God for more strength, and sure
ly. through the leafng branches OF the
new spring, would come a message OF
peace TO his soul and hope for the
| future.
..In the springtfme, one might have
noticed a change in Zed; his former
show of skepticism was gone, and he
assumed, instead, more quiet and
gentle manner. This was noted by
our minister, and resulted in serious
talk between the two; but Zed was in
darkness.
.'Early in May, terrible freshet
visited us that year; small streams be-
came rivers, barns were washed away,
farms destroyed and many lives en-
dangered. For several days oul
preacher had remained with US, Cut
off from his other work, when another
and severer storm came that boded il
to those in the river bottoms. A crowd
stood on knoll watching the destruc-
ton of property in the valley below,
which had been vacated, when some
one came running to the crowd, stat
ing that "a poor man with his wife
and child were cut off from the land
before they were aware of it.. The
water was steadily rising, and as the
crowd moved down the river bank
faint shouts for help came from the
man in his submerged house. There
was no time to lose; two strong horses
were brought to undertake the peril.
Gus task of rescue. No one had vol.
unteered to ride in; all knew the dan
ger, and stood in silence till the min
| lister leaped on the bare back of one
horse and urged him in the water.
don't think any one had time to follow
his example, before Zed had SWAN the
other horse along side the first, in the
muddy water. With the surging of the
horses and the rolling waters, little
could be heard in common tone.
.Zed,' shouted the minister, ARE you
ready to dep
.'.I pray So the boy replied, after a
| moment, and no more was said. .
Reaching the house in safety, they
swan under the upper story window,
close enough for the three occupants
to be taken upon the horses. With the
two men and child upon one, the wom-
an and boy on the other, they started
slowly for the shore. Nearly half the
distance had been gained, when the
horse with the larger burden began to
give way, and swam.very slowly. In
stantly it's brave master slid from his
back and caught to his flowing tail in
the water, where he was carried along
with less difficulty. Even as he float
ed along in the muddy water he seem
ed perfectly composed-resigned to the
fate before him. It was done In a
moment, no one seemed to know OF
approaching danger; large timber
came floating under water and struck
the brave man full in the side. The
crowd on shore saw him sink, when a
man with a third horse swan to the
rescue.
1T was sad assembly that evening
that watched the feeble demonstrations
of life in the body they had learnt to
love. All eyes were upon him when
he opened his own and lorked smiling
lily around the room at the familiar
faces. My beloved friends, he said.
i am happy; let US sing one song be-
| fore we part. Then he sang softly,
while we stood drinking in the old fa-
miliar words:
:. Savior more than life to me,
/ am clinging, clinging close to Thee,
Let Thy precious blood applied
Keep me ever, ever BY Thy side.