The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-23
What do you know about soulsq
You mint Il Dreacher"

COuiS SHl, OuJ i luily NC uDlc 10
be OF use to you" Lilith began to feel
quiet fluent. Let us talk together Il
little and see if | can help you, and I
shouldn't wonder if you could help
me"
You amt SO very young" said the
child, who appeared only to be able to
understand by sections, and had got
no further than that assertion. She
was looking gravcly at Lilith's com
plcXio;l, and again her tone showed no
rudencss, only Il quiet preference for
facts.
Not so young rs you, of course"
Lilith said, still undiscouraged But
what does my age matter: what does
anyonc's age matter when we think
about ctcrnity?'
do YOU think about ctcrnity?" asked
the child, with polite interest.
This was moment when it seemed
to Lilith that the truth would be be-
coming. II used not to think of it; I
used to be idle and worldly, and go to
balls and thcatcrs every night" (This
was something of an cXaggcration. but
1T was spoken in the cause of truth.)
Il only cared for knowing grand pco-
pie, and amusing myself, but this
morning l heard words which made
me want to take life luorc seriously"
This mornin'-you only knew YOU
was sinner this mornin', and comes
round this afternoon districtin.
don't call that conversion, and in that
at, too"
The tone was moro of sorrow than of
anger. Lilith began to be impatient.
Never mind my hat" she said
"But do mind yer at" the girl said,
mournfully. NO one as cared for 'er
soul would go about in at like that,
let alone carin' for the souls of other
people. I'm Il sinner" (this with a sud
den assertion of sclf-respcct)-"I'v
knowed I'm Il Sinner this seven months.
but l don't go prcachin to others vet.
And l wouldn't wear at like that.
no-not if I'd got young man, l
wouldn't"
My poor child" Lilith said, with
last effort TO fulfill her mission, don't
let us talk of young men and such
worldly topics"
"A young mans we'll enough" said
the girl, gravcly-"that is if he fears
the Lord and don't drink; and mans
the cad of the woman, and we amt
got any call to despisc them If you'd
got young mnI you'd be out walkin'
with i'm. instead of comin' ere preachin'
in that at. I don't old with women
prcachin.' Let the women be silent in
your churches Churches means wher-
ever there's prcachin' goin' on. 1t amt
my place to speak the word, but I'm
sorry for yer. Elizabeth, nv dear
| turning gently to the muttcring Grip
-,.,1r
amt natural. Not but what-(turninr
sternly to poor Lilith)-not but what
or face, though it's the face of a striclx-
en- ldJit, Is better than yours. She amt
got no paynt on. No-nor no curled
| fringe; she don't wear Eighty
at and a feather Dor. l read cr
about Jczcbel and 'er paynted eyes the
other day-Just as warnin'; but YOU
need it more than 'er. And that Dor
Lady, l tell yer solemn (and she did
indeed tell it very solemn) that Dor
round yer neck is just moose draggin'
| yer to ell. There was some as wanted
me TO wear one. Meas knows I'm u
sinner 'Lor, Hammer they SAYS,
what's the use of mopin'-get feather
Dor, and come to us at the street cor
ner.'" Go go to the street corner is
simply to go into society, and the
feather boa is the token that you are
there for amusement and recreation
In evcning-drcss, in fact and not
simply out to fetch beer or parafin oil,
or summon your mcn-folll from the pub
lic-housc.) The child went on monot-
onously, after Inomcntary break,
while she soothed the muttering of the
cripple: But wouldn't ear it. No
| says, no feather bors nor no street
corners for me- Why not" SAYS they.
Lots OF us gets 'usbands that way
No, thank yer says l. What, don't
yer want 'usband, Hammer? saws
they Not the sort of 'usband as looks
for q wife at the street corner, SAYS l. :"
The stern child ended her anecdote
with certain dramatic force that
seemed to dismiss Lilith.
1T seems can be OF no use to YOU. :"
she said, rising.
You'd better think about bein' of
use to ycrsclf first" the child said, with
real friendly pity. Wash that paynt
or yer face; get rid of that curled
fringe, tayle out them feathers dress
sober and decent SO that people can sec
you're rcspcctablc-if yer arc respect
ablc-and then ycr'll be more fit to
come tallin' about souls to people as
knows they're sinners already. Sin
ners! why, that pore afflicted idiit in
the corner knows she's sinner better
than you. I've taught er. She's nearer
glory than you are. Elizabeth, my
dear, you give me that dead mouse; il
amt pretty plaything fora Christian
| child"
Lilith was on her way to the door
The mournful sinner followed her, in
IL foil =