Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-08-20
IS Beacon
!RIc pAasov.

> was Lorenzo Dow, Of eastern Con.
necticut. He was o very eccentric
man but, nevertheless, a power o.
reviyalist, and renowned for his
shrewd knowledge of human ma
ture. Scores of troubled souls
went to Glider" Dow with their
sorrows and perplexities, and he
always had comforting word or Q
wise suggestion for them.
On one occasion, q poor old Wild
ow had her feather bed stolen. She
: was sure that she knew the thief,
but was unable to prove her case.
One day the idea struck her that, il
Glider" Dow would consent to
preach in the neighborhood, he
might somehow help her to recover
her lost property. The more she
thought the idea over, the better
she liked il. Finally, she wrote
him Q long letter, stating her case
as clearly % she could. She ended
by asking him to come and preach
In the district schoolhouse at an
early date.
In q short time q reply came
making an appointment for 81
day afternoon some weel In
The interyeni- AS distant.
very slo~' ..g weeks wore away
,.ly to the old lady. Inc
announcement that Dow was going
to preach created furore in the
neighborhood. The excitement
steadily increased, and when the
appointed day arrived, the distric'
schoolhouse was not large enough
to hold all the hearers that had
gathered from the sparsely-settled
region.
Immediately on his arrival Dow
went to the home of the old lady
He listened to her story OF tn
theft, and was convinced that he
suspicious were correct.
"Will Mr.. b attend the meet
ing" asked Mr.. Dow. On beini
assured that he would, Dow begal
planning to catch the culprit.
Sunday came. After the custom
airy congregational singing and de
votional exercises, "Elder" Do,
announced that his. text would be
Thou shalt not steal" Singlin
out the suspected person, Dow be
gan a most direct and powerful
sermon aimed apparently at him
He quoted the Biblical prohibition
against theft he dwelt upon tn
wickedness of the crime. and pc,
trayed the terrible punishment tha
would surely follow.
Dow was positive that the sui
poet showed signs of uneasinesl
and he warmed to the task. I'll
thief's nervousness increased an
Dow preached the harder. III
preacher began to be sure of I'll
success of his plan, and he digresI
ed little to tell the story of til
poor old lady's feather-bed. I'll
audience began to get excited.
"Friends, said Mr.. Dow, Il kno
the thief
The excitement increased and I'll
suspected party gave a perceptib
vince.
Leaning forward, confidential,
Dow continued: eyes, kno
who the thief is, and he is in tn
ROOM
All held their breath in wond,
and amazement, while the thi,
seemed to be losing command
himself.
Strengthening up his tall muscl
lar frame. the preacher slowly r.
peated
eyes, I know the thief and he
here before me. Shall I point hi
out TO you 20 And Dow began raj
ing his hand directly toward Il
seat occupied by Mr.. B..
"There he is" said Dow. "H
sits in the front. row and has
feather on the end of his nose,
The thief lost control, and made
fierce grab to get the imaginal
feather. The audience caugl
sight of his movement and right
located the rascal. The poor fe
low realized his situation, made
confession, and promised to retul
the feather bed, which he did late
The old lady was very grateful
the eccentric parson, while Il
neighborhood told and retold 81
story until it became local trad
tion.-Fred. NJ. Hopkins in r