Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-04-21


grace of God than e=er ninety and nine that
never got of the track. l could give you
the history IN minute OF one OF the best
friends / ever had. Outside OF my own
family never had better friend. he
welcomed me to my home at the west He
was of splendid personal appearance, and
he had an ardor OF soul and a warmth OF al
lection that made me love him ike
brother.
| saw men coming out of the saloons and
gambling bells. and they surrounded my
friend, and they took him at the weak point,
his social nature and saw him going down,
and had a fair talk with him, to- never
vet saw a man you could not talk with on
the subject Of his habits if you talked with
him in the right way. | said 70 aim, why
don't you give uo your bad habits AMI be-
come ChristianF' 1 remember now just
how he looked, leaning over his counter, as
ne replied: II wish ! could. On, sir,
should like to be Christian, but 1 have
gone so far astray 1 can't get back
SO the time went on. After awhile the
day of sickness came. was summoned TO
his sickbed. 1 fastened. It took me but
very few moments to get there. | was sur
prised as I 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 convulsively aud said: 'Oa,
how glad am to see you! Sit down there"
[ sat down, and he said: 'Mr. TaImage,
just where you sit now my mother sat last
night. She has been dead 20 years. Now,
don't want you to think am out OF mJ
mind, or that | am superstitious; but, sir.
she sat there last night just as certainly as
yon sit there now--the same cap, and apron
and spectacles. It was my old mother-she
sat there"
Then he turned to his wife and said: 81
wish you 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
I % III % HPiIrlum. a said
Just where you sit now my mother sat,
and she said, Roswell, I wish you would do
better-I wish you would do better 1 said.
Mother, l wish l 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 ar MS around
her neck, and l said: Mother. will do bet
ter, but you must help. 1 can't do this
a'oner" knelt down and prayed. That
night his soul went to the Lord that made it,
Arrangements were made for the obse-
quies. The question was raised whether
they should bring him to church. Some
body said, you can't bring such absolute
man as that into the church" I 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 I
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 CHI Id
of eight years, sweet, beautiful little girl
that had seen him hug couvulsivelY in mis-
better moments. He put on her all jewels.
all diamonds, and gave her all pictures and
toys, and then he would go away as if
bounded by an evil spirit to his cups and
house of shame, a fool to tie corr ection 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 NORWOOD into the Or
phan's cup; they were tho men who had
bound him hand and foot. I knew them
How did they seem to feel? Did they weep?
No. Did they say, 'sWhat pity that such
generous man should be destroyed% No.
Did they sigh repentingly over what they
had done? No; they sat there. looking as
vultures look at the carcass OF the lamb
whose heart they have ripped out. So they
sat and looked at 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
hemed, and they drank. Oh, how merciless
men are, especially after they have de-
stroyed you'll Do not look to men for COM
fort or help. Look to God.
But there is man who will not reform.
He says: II won't REFORM Well, then.
now many acts are there to tragedy l
believe fi7e
Act ths 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 second-The marriage altar. Full
organ. Bright lights. Long white veil
trailing through the aisle. Prayer and con-
graduation and exclamation OF "How well
She looksr'
Act Third-A woman waiting for stag
gering 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-Thres graves in a dark
place-grave of the child that died for lack
Of medicine, grave OF the wife that died OF
broken heart, grave Of the man that died or
dissipation. Oh, what blasting heath OF
three graves! Plenty of weeds, but no
flowers. Ring the ball and let the curtain
lrop.
Act the Fifth-A destroyed sou's eter-
nity. No light. No music. No hope.
Anguish coiling its serpents around the
heart. Blackness of darkness forever. But
cannot look any longer. Woe! woe! L
close my eyes to this last act of the tragedy.
Quick! Quickl Ring the bell and let the
thy youth and let thy heart rejoice IN the
lays OF thy youth, but know now that for
all these things God will bring you INTO
Judgment" "rhere is way that seemeto
right to a man, but the .snd thereof Is DEATH.
RICH FORESTS BURNED.