Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-10-18


briefly touched upon the story nt the
uEtstyrcd junoNrntS and ITS lessons;
and not til then did the profound Snorr
OF William Grove and other NrcuS.
TONED shoppers arise. EvNry creature
had kept awake during the uE,,<,NS,
toned prologue, and, tnd,>Nl, many OF
tho hahttual Slt<YrrS wrrV Sull awake,
considering ii only fair ~ MIR, CNr(.
Then the preacher spoke Of the beauty
Of iuun>Su>NS and his manner htth,
erto So quiet. changed, and hrIamr
more and more imlaSSiNnNd, till some
OF the shoppers woke and &a2ed about
them with dazN wonder, MS the tones
OF that clarion voice hcSouSht them
all IT, Keep innNTncy. that pearl he
yond all price, that Que costly treasure
without which there WAS no ltGht IN
the summer Slu, nor auI joy IN youth
fortunes OF guilty conscience. the
agony beyond all aGNnjrS, with such
power and passion, ami such 4 riohnt,SS
OF poCti> dirtion and picturesque i'm
agerN, that many man trrmhlci,
tho women Sobbed, and poor Rrn
Lee uttered 4 Stilcd groal
Evrrard grow u,-vomtortaNlc He he
gan to t,vlr some uuseemly hNstrrC
cNcjtrmeut IN the little congregation.
and was Distressed to find Marion and
Mrs, Maitland crying without reserve,
l6ljan'S eyes were moist, but she did
not cry; she was pale with n reil,Ntion
OF CyrjiS whit" passion, MIR Maitland
covered his face with his Surpl.Cr. He
too WAS uneasy, and moo anrtrd
than hN liked to acknowledge IL him
self; vet he hoped that Alma'S he
traycr mi&ht W. present and have his
heart touched The dusk WAS talljnG
fast IN tn" dim, deep. ShadoWca build.
ing. two Nr three sparks of N2ht
gloWrd among the WhltN robes or the
choir, and up among the dark arches
iZNd IN the little isle oC light made Ivy
the two pale tapcrS ON each Sidc of
him IN the dark cSS.
Long did the lttlr congregation re-
ton, broken only by an occasional sob
from some woman for most ot The
SlCopcrS Wrrc awake now, and dtmlN
rnuSl 'OuS of the MnaCIuStumcd passion
breaking the tr0WSy air arumd them
tho great growing shadows IN the fas'-
darkcning church; the mass of awe.
struck faces pale in the cray gloom
the rosy CLEAN of the scattered taprr<
on the choristcrS' Surplirrs; and M
above them, from the heart OF the myS.
tcr,ouS darkness, the one beautiful, i'm.
paSSionCd face in the lonely radiance,
and the mighty voice pealing forth the
anguish of sin; and the
Eight which subsequent events threw
upon it only rendered 1t the more I'M
prcSSvc.
ut Is true. indeed" said the preacher,
suddenly easing the ,ntolrrahlc tcusion
OF his passion. and speaking in calmcr
tones, THAT what II holy writer has
called the princcly heart Of innocence
may be rcgamcd after long anguish of
pcntCnCc and prayer. but the ConsC.
Quenccs Of sin roll on in ever growing
echoes, terrible with the thunder of
everlasting doom: the conrile heart IS
utterly broken, and the life for ever
saddcned and married, Innocence" once
lost, my brethren the old careless 10y
of youth never returns oh, thou. who
soevrr thou be, man. woman, or even
child; thou who hast once stained thy
soul wihl deadly sin, not poppy. nor
nor all thC drowsy syrupS
OF tho world, shall ever medicine thee
to that sweet sleep which thou ow'dst
yesterday
yet despair not, beloved brethren
he added, with hute-like softncss, for
his voice had again risen in ngonizcd
intensity; there is forgiveness and
healing for all But oh! keep limo.
cency, keep innocncy; guard ana
treasure that inestinable, irrecoycrable
possession. that pure perennial source
of joyous day and peaceful nights, and
take heed, take watchlul heed, Of the
thing that is right Keep innVcency
oh little children, sitting here in tho
holy church this evening, beneath tho
eyes of those who love and guard you
you whose souls are yet fresh with
the dew Of baptism, keep, Oh, keep
your innocency. Keep 1t, youths and
who wear the chol1sters
white robe! Keep innoccncy, young
men and madcns, full Of heart and
hope; keep this one pearl. pray you,
for there Is no JOY without 1t! And
you, men and women Of mature years
strong to labor and bowed with cares
and tolls innumerabIe you who, In
the hurry Of lifc's hot noon, have scarce
time TO think of heaven. with It's white
robes and peace yet see that you keep
innocency through all. And you,
standing amid the long golden light
Of LIES evening, aged men and
women who wear the hOnOred crown
Of white hairs, watch still, and see that
you guard your priceless treasure even
to the last. Keep innocency, | conjure
you, for that shall bring man peace
at the last Peace peace he repeated,
with a yearning intensity that cul-
minated in deep hard sob, peace"
To BE Continued