Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-04-10


Somebody said, "you cant bring sucn q
dissolute man as that into the church" ("
I saidi "You will bring him In the
church, He stood by rpe when he was
alive, and viii stand by him when he
Il dead. Bring him." Az stood In the
pulpit and saw them carrying the body
up the aisle. felt ss II I could weep tears
of blood. -
On one side Of the pulpit sat his little
child Of years, n sweet, beautiful little
girl that had seen him hug oonvulsively
In his better moments. He put on her all
jewels, all diamonds, snd gave her all
pictures and toys, and then he would 90
away a. II bounded by an evil spirit to
his cups and house Of shame, fool TO
the correction Of the stocks. She looked
mp wonderingly. She knew not what IL
all meant. She was not old enough TO
understand the sorrow Of an orphan
child.
TOO COMMON TRAGEDY.
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. I
knew them. How did they seem to feel2
Did they weep? No. Did they say,
''What pity that such q generous man
should be Destroyer No. Did they
Sigh repentingly over what they had
dones No; they sat there, looking as vul-
lures look at the carcasS of the lamb
whose heart they have ripped out. So
they sat and looked at the coffin lid, and
I told them the Judgment Of God upon
those who had destroyed their fellows.
Did they reform2 l was told they were
In the places Of iniquity that night after
my friend was laid In Oakwood ceme-
terry, and they blasphemed, and they
drank. Oh, how merciless men are,
especially after they have destroyed youl
Do not look to men for comfort or help.
Look to God.
But there is o man who will not re-
form. He says, II won't reform" Well,
then, how many acts are there to trag-
edy3 / 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 Second-The marriage altar.
Full organ. Bright lights. Long white
veil trailing through the aisle. Prayer
and congratulation and exclamation of
"How we'll she loolzsP
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 dark
place-grave Of the child that died for
lack Of medicine, grave of the wife that
died of a broken heart, grave Of the man
that died of dissipation Oh, what a
blasting heath Of three gravesl Plenty
| Of weeds, but no flowers. Ring the bell
and let the curtain drop.
Act the Fifth-A destroyed souls eter-
nifty. No light. No music Ne hope
Anguish coiling its serpents around the
heart. Blackness of darkness forever
But cannot look any longer. Woe
Woe! close my eyes to this last act OF
the tragedy. Quickl Quickl Ring the
bell and let the curtain drop. Rejoice,
o young man, in thy youth and let thy
heart rejoice in the days Of thy youth,
but know now that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.
"There Is way that seemeth right to a
man hut fhA end thereof Is DEATH