Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-25
BROTHER THORNTON"

lie was a plain man, of fair education,
quiet manners, born and lived in the same
town, and died there at the age of 69 years.
His sickness was comparatively short,
though for more than a week his death
was expected. No extraordinary demon
stration took place at his funeral few
pious persons, members Of the same com
munioD with himself, assembled with those
who we're employed in the same business
establishment, his relatives and immediate
family. The minister spoke well of him,
and administered the usual consolation to
his friends.
A few weeks Afterward men began to
say many things about this man. The
pastor observed that he missed Brother
Thornton very much in the prayer-meet-
ing. 1t had occurred TO him that he was
always there; that he was always in the
spirit Of prayer; that his countenance ex-
pressed his reverent emotions. The pas
tor further said that when he spoke he
found an involuntary tendency to turn to-
ward the spot where this brother sually sat,
and sense of disappointment and want of
response were felt when be beheld vacancy
, or a stranger there. He recalled the fact
that though he never said much and did
not pray ia every meeting, what he did say
was candid, penitent, and helpful, aud his
prayers were sincere, brief and spiritual.
The superintendent of the Sunday school
complained of the great difficulty he had in
finding man to take his place as libra
rian. Everything had gone so systemati-
cally that there had not been a word said
about it, but there had been no trouble in
that library for five years never a minutes
delay in the school on account of dstribut-
ing the books; the old books had been re-
covered, new books procured, and moneys
raised in quiet way from time to time;
but now everything seemed to be in confu-
sion. They had tried one or two others,
but they either neglected it or had no sys-
TEN.
One evening, in the official board of the
church, brother who had very slight
acquaintance with the deceased said I:
"Really, friends, miss Brother Thornton
very mich; l cannot think of anything he
ever did, but he was always here, and when
he did speak 1t seemed to straighten things
out and push them right along"
In the business where lie was employed
he had charge of a department. His en-
ployer, in about six months, wrote to Mrs.
Thornton, saying that his conscience
troubled him. He had so much trouble
with that department since her husband
died that he found he had had a far more
valuable man than he supposed, and felt
that he had not paid him enough, and
therefore begged to inclose her check for
$500.
About a month after that two young
men called to return six or seven books
which Mr.. Thornton had loaned them,
and for which they expressed great thanks,
the elder saying that one of the books had
been the means of his becoming a Chris
tian. 1t further transpired that this same
plain man had started the benevolent So
ciety of that place; that is, he had sug-
gested to the man who came forward, did
the work, and received all the glory, the
propriety of having such a society, and
drew up plan of constitution and bylaws.
Though this quiet and unpretending man
has been dead two years, people who never
said word to him of praise or congratula-
ton are talking 10 this day about "the
great void" that Brother Thornton's death
caused. 1t is especially remembered that
though he made no pretence to singing, If
from any cause those who led the singing
were absent, Brother Thornton could and
did in an humble way raise tune, and at
the Sunday school picpics he seemed to be
nppbtrusively everywhere. 1t was he who
rescued little boy from drowning, he who
stopped horse that was running away,
and he who gave more hours than any one
else to the arrangements.
We have not told the reader where
Brother Thornton lived or died. The case
is real one. Look about you. Brother
f, Thornton may be member of your church,
= even in your employ. You may fail TO rec
; ognize his sterling virtues while lavishing
your admiration, gifts, and promotions up
IT, on some tlatterer or schemer, or merely SUI
nj perfcial worker of ingratiating manners,
while Brother Thornton is under-paid or
passed without special recognition.-Ch Chris
tidn AduOcdte.