The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1894-04-25
as A CONSEQUENCE.
MARY A. SAWYER.

deacon Albany sat a. the tca-tablc.
1t was Il warm night, the east wind
that had tempered the days heat
having died away, and his coat. worn
because of the presence of n guest.
made him uncomfortable. His eve
was stern, and his voice almost irri-
table, as he addressed his niece who
sat at the head OF the table.
Then you and Sarah won't neither
Of you go?" he asked.
''No, uncle we are going to party.
told you this morning."
1--WE positively cannot 60 to prayer
meeting with you tonight, Deacon
Albany" snid Sarah Cooke. Il
migk- be spared, but who could or
wouG have n party without Meg?"
The deacon groancd aloud. He
pushed aside his cup OF tea. and
leaning an elbow on the table, looked
with hard, strong glance at his
niece, who, young, pretty, and be-
comingly attired in IL frcshly-ironcd
pink calico, sat quietly pouring the
tea.
"You young things will be sorry
some day" he said. ''Wait till the
alarming hand OF death gifts it's
clutch on you, an you'll repent an
cry out an smitc yourselves in fear
an trembling, but it'll be too late
then to git in. You I'll find the door
shut, an shut tight. 1t ain't held
open forever an forever, whilst folks
is dancin', an dispisin' the way O.
salvation. Itll be shut you'll find. /"
He waxed warm, as he spoke, and
his voice had high, shrill note in II,
which brought additional color into
his niece's checks. She wished he
would not go on like that, she said
to herself, impatiently. Why
couldn't he let them alone? What
harm was there in little party, n
little gathering of friends, that he
should go on so?
Sarah Cooke stirred her ten and
looked at him calmly. "Is there
much difference in death-bcds, Dea-
con Albany" she asked presently.
Meg stared at her, and the deacon
glared at her. ''Do | hear yc aright2"
he said sharply, edo you, the daugh-
t'r OF professin' Christians, sit there
and ask me IL there is any difference
,twixG the death-bed OF Christian
an the death-bed Of an unconvcrted
sinner"
II don't believe there is much diff
ference" said Sarah. People who
are sick enough to die are too sick to
have any fear of anything"
You don't know what you are
talkin' about" replied the deacon.
You haven't never seen folks die,
an you don't know. But have
seen folks die, n plenty Of 'cm, an /
tell you there amt no more heart
rendin' sight than to sec an uncon-
verted sinner writhing an tossing
about, all in an agony OF fcar, proan-
in an cryin' aloud, an KNOWN in
his heart that he has put it of too
long, that n lifetime of remorse is
his sure portion In the next world.
Oh, II Is terrible, terriblel And here
you be, you two young things, put
ting 1t of, an dancing and feasting,
stead o going to prayor-meetin' an
findin' out the way o. salvation"
SaraE listened quietly. She had
often attended the weekly prayer
meeting, where she had heard words
OF similar import fall from the dea-
cons lips. Meg, also, was familiar
with them. Ordinarily they seemed
to her simply part OF the table
conversation, To which she need
make no reply. Tonight, they
reused in her a spirit OF defiance.
81 don't believe there's much diff
ference" sho said.
whats that, hcy?"
Meg's voice faltercd little but she
went on boldly. I'D guess IL IL was
you and me, Uncle Simon, I'd die
just as quiet as you would. | amt
( q mite afraid Of making great fuss
when ] die.
Deacon Albany rose and pushed
his chair against the wall. The flush
of anger faded from his face, his voic,
was less hard. II have been a right
eous man, "he said, and expect tc
die the death Of the righteous. Death
has no terror for the righteous man,
IL Is but the last sleep, there is nc
fear, no clinging TO life, no remorse
Such will be my death-bed, but fol
you, my child, / am sore afraid.
He went away out OF the room
His boots creaked, and he walk ed on
tip-toe, as II the grim, shad owing
presence were waiting upon the
threshold. The two young women were
silent for few moments after his
departure. There had been n culver
In his voice which touched them.
Meg was the first to sptak. II sun.
pose ought to go to praycr-mcetinp
moro she said Z" suppose
ought 10 90 tO-niOhtO -