The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-05

i
cone blythe children had been told the
meaning Of the hot cross-buns, and some
i-4v.s baby had been rapturously kissed
because she said, banging her rosy little
fs- on the table: Il wouldn't hurt the
Good Man; and I'd kill the naughty peo-
ME who did IL" Then came Saturday,
and there was a quiet over all the house
as if some one we loved had said good
bv 10 US forever; and yet there was a
hope Saturday evening found three wo-
men meditatng-for We belonged to that
faith which values most of all quietness
and meditation, and which teaches that
the greatest sermon is preached by ones
own heart. At last 1 was left alone. Be
cause the night was chilly there was a
bright fire. and as 1 looked at it / raised
nv eyes to the clock above 1t and saw
that it was the eleventh hour of the
night The chime rang out as softly
In the presence of the dead ana 1 fell
into my own comfortable chair and look
Cd at the fire; in it seemed to glow in
letters of deeper fire, and deeper red:
And the sea gave up the dead which were
In it; and death and hell delivered up
the dead which were in them; and they
were judged every man according to his
works"
My heart repeated the last line, 'Ac-
cording to his works." And then there
came over me great awe. and 1 saw all
the world standing before the Maker Of
it 10 be judged. And some trembed and
were frightened; and many hoped; and
some acted as if they cared for nothing
but as they separated and each went to-
ward the great white throne alone, to
stand before God and be judged according
a a
unto nothing that 1 can describe. And
some one standing near me said, Il am
not afraid to be judged before the whole
world. but OH the awfulness of that time,
alone with God, with only my sins to face
me-
And the man went by me, one whom
had known kind-hearted. pleasant and
o. whom nothing worse was said than
that he was his own worst enemy. some
one asked him, could it have been the
judge. in a rich. beautiful voice; Where
are the gifts that were yoursI Where is
The great talent that was given unto you?
What have you done with that ability 10
speak and persuade men to do the right!
Buried it under the sins of the flesh; killed
it by gluttony and lust" And the man
passed on with dropping head, ana saw
him no more.
Then there came another, a man who
was known 10 the whole world because of
his great wealth. The voice asked: What
have you done with that which was
that you have helped? Where are the
hungry that you have fed? Where are
the sick that you have helped to heal?
on speak of hospitals Quilt by your money
but they bore your name. You speak
of great gifts that endowed homes for
children-was there ever gift that all the
world did not know about? What did you
do for the poor of your own household?
Where is the unfortunate brother whose
chlet Iault was that ne mad not your &C.
cumulative spirit, and in what spirit did
you think of him? Where is the helping
hand you gave to him? He was the Laza-
rus ct the gate, and you did not care
your table; but now he shall be your
judge And the rich man went his way
with heaughty head bowed, and the tears
were new to him-coursing down his
cheeks. Then l saw a woman, beautl-
Jul to look upon, and yet we had all
heard to her as leading a wicked life.
And the Voice said, with tenderness:
Come, daughter, and fear not. 1t is
true that you have sinned-sinned grev-
ously; but where is the man who first
taught you to sin? Where is the one,
VINO, with loving words. gentle fiattery
and persuasion, that sounded so sweet,
made you believe right was wrong, ana
VINO lea you into SIM and called it love?
He should stand beside you. He made
you an outcast Every woman's heart
was against you, though every mans
arms We're open TO you; but you were
never cruel; you never forgot the sick
ana poor, and you were never a hypo-
critic A just punishment will be given
10 you; but beside you, through it ali,
Will be kindly spirit to console, since
You were more sinned against than sim
ming"
Then came another woman. The world
knew her name as a leader in great
charitable works. The church knew her
name as one ever ready to pray, and of
her it was said that she led what was
called strict life And the voice de-
manded: Where are the little children
l put into your arms? 1 gave them to
You-soft, loving and pure; in return they
have come to me women hard of heart
QeSDiSing
that bears the name of religion. They are
men who JOY. in having no belief, and
Tor the pleasure to be gained from it.
This is your work. You taught them, not
the love. but the vengeance of God. You
taught them, not the gentleness, but the
severity of that Father to whom they had
a right to turn in their hours of sad
ness or gladness. They asked you for
motherly love and sympathy; you gave
them a hurried answer and reminded
laem of your duties to the outside world
heathen in far off lands, and you gave
no thought of those young creatures
Who had been put in your charge. You
lived a wicked life, you were an unkind
page in the book of your life that can
make the judgment waiting for you any
man looked around for her children, but
Ihey were strangers to her And she
looked for the societies over which she
mad presided, but there We're none Ev-
cry man was trying TO care for his own
soul, knowing that he would be judged
according to his works.
And there was another. One of whom
the world had said that harm was not
N him. But he was reprimanded for in
dolence, for lack of thought, and re-
minded that at ease with himself he
never allowed himself to be troubled about
me sorrow of any one else. Then | look
ed at the skies above me, and they were
olackest over those men who had wrong
ed women and little children. Over
those women who had been hard of heart
and cold of speech, but they were also
dark over those who had wronged the
weak and hurt the dumb animals who
couldn't speak, and yet who were so loyal
and some claimed that they only had
uttle sins The little sins collected to-
gether seemed to make a huge black
BAH ready to strike them and send them
INTO darkness. Another woman I knew
Went by me and caught my skirt saying
sne was so afraid. And the voice said
70 her: You thought of nothing while
living but that which made you more
attractive in the eyes of the world. Here
your jewels and your velvets and your
10 10 ri Flaf