The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-06-25

would bring the fggers up good deal
higher"
AS 'Siah drove up to the burs Just
thcn Brother Pike very Willingly de-
parted.
"Wall," said 'Siuh, looking buck
over the level stretch Of straight brown
burrows, lying fresh and mellow in the
setting sun, L" 1 call that IL purity fair
piece o work."
Hem, tain't SO bad as it might he
nor SO good nurther; that's q consider
BILE Of crook over there to'ards Mar
tin," replied he deacon.
Materially" said 'Siah dryly, 81
didn't hev no plough thet would cut
straight through that big rock" and
gathering up his reins, he started
homeward, wondering. to himself what
the old man." as he mentally termed
him, could have found to say if thero
had been no rock there.
BY prayer meeting time that night
the deacon felt himself prepared to re-
prove and rebuke with more than ord-
nary fervor. 1t was the burden Of his
prayer that the watchman upon the
walls OF Zion might be no longer dumb
dogs that did not bark, that they
might cry aloud and spare not, show
ing the people thoir transgressions, and
the house Of Israel their SINS He
warned the brethren again covetous,
ness, which is idolatry expressed his
conviction that Il good many had a
| form OF godliness without its power !;
and exhorted each and all to put away
their easily besotting sins, winding
up with the declaration AS for
me and my house, we will serve tho
| Lord"
Walking homeward in the dark
ness Of u clouded night, the deacon
could not help overhearing Il CONVEX
sation going on just before him. 1t
WAS Uncle Peters voice that was say
| ing:
YOU'VE got Il good place this year,
'Siah, Il fust-rate good place; you'd
ortcr git n good deal Of spiritooal good
| whilst you're under that ruff"
Thorc was little pause, and then
'Siah burst out
81 git good vittlcs, and good pay
cnutf, but as to spirit0oal good, any.
body as gifts that iivin' wit the deacon
will hcv to take it by tho rule o con-
traries, now | tell ye!'
"Why, why, 'Siah what OH airth
possesses yc to talk'that way? Dcacon's
many hes his gift O speech Brother
Jonks hissclf couldn't Il spoke moro
powerful than he did ter-night."
Ef church pillars is set up for folks
to stumble against, | grant ye, he's
one to all intcnts md purposes. Uncle
Peter, amt give to talkin' agin the
folks ] live with, but seein' you've
started it, Pm jest goin' on to tell ye,
Of all the contrary, contradictions,
laultGndn' men I ever seed, he's the
bcatin'est. Yis, sir, and all the time
| Snttin' hiSsclT fhnt hn., Lott
Judge O. what's right than all the rest
O. creation"
Amt you leetle hash now, 'Siah ?
| expect he hes his faults, like all the
rest on us--poor faillable critters We
he, ~ .hlic:-o the dc. ou ; s0G vne
root O. the matter in him. Pint out
somebody, Of We can, thet's more honest
aud fair in dehlin's than he is !"
" say 'tain't honest to pile on blame
whore 'tain't due, anu keep back every
single word O. praise that folks deserves
fore jury | should say jest as I'm
tellin' you, | haint never hcarn that
man own up that anybody, minister
or wife or children, or ncighbors or
church or gOv'nment or what not, had
done one thing that wuz jest right
All he has ter say is pickin' liaws. AS
to the root O the matter, as ye call it,,
mabbe | amt no jedgc, but ! do know
there's an awful heavy topgrowth O.
thOrns and bricrs."
"Wall 'Siah, dunno what ter say
I'm dretful sorry to hear ye say sich
things about the deacon, sich q nice
family as he's a.bringin' up. too"'
"What do ye spose | hear them
children say one day up overhead in
tho barn? EZry wuz a-tclin' Mandy
he'd rather not go to Heaven ef pa was
goin' to DC there but Many she SAYS :
guess pail >cv to stay in the front
room all the time up there, cause he's
a deacon, end he won't dare to be
cross amongst the angels Now, |
jest want tor know. Uncle Peter,
what religion is good for ef it don't
make man pleasantcr to live with
every day."
Here the talk came to an end.
Never in all his life before had
Samuel Holden been made to see him
self as others saw him. At first he was
stunned and bewildercd, feeling as
though his hearing was playing him
false. He, to be spoken Of as Stun
bling block Anger, resentment and
mortified pride struggled for the mas
terry. But presently all these gave
way before an overwhelming c0nvic
tion Of sin. The Spirit OF God sent
home the truth like IL searchlight
upon his conscience, bringing out his
ways ana words in their true colors,
till he was ready to cry ont: abhor
myself" :"
The deacon was in his accustomed
seat at the next prayer mooting, but
evidently not in his usual state of
mind. Through prayers and cxhor-
tations and singing he sat silent, with
bent head, evidently unconscious of
the wondering glanccs turned toward
him. When tho meeting drew to-
wards q close, he rose unDteadily,
leaning heavily upon the desk before
him. His face was working with ONO
ton in the struggle for utterancc.
" Brethren and frionds,' he saiG,
"l've been led to sec myself sinner
| before God and man. It's an awful
hing to know that you've been
vumblim' block a stumblin block
That's what I've been all these years,
nd now, my bcsettin' sin has found me
out. It's my fault-iindin' manner o
| SDC prh that's been 81 rpDrOuoh tD thn