The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-25
WHEELNa DAIY NTEIIIaENOER sATURpAY pEcEMBER q laa
pEAoOa EaOWaaIpars p!.rY.

H4uAllyi NdA va lut hilkt bltule itgu-
lar preachers were Sent there, Vt read
Ing sermon or exhurtlng. lhegt was
no sham about Deacon rrowDgldgss
-p.eIy. lie was sincerity Itself
FIFTY years ago last winter the little
village was visited BY smallpox epi-
dem.e-an old fashioned. widespread,
and spreading Cpldcmlc-and they
u.dn't Know how 10 scotch II as Well as
they do now.
The frst Sunday after the dreaded
disease made It's appearance, the dea-
cons congregation was quite large. AT
the end OF the services he made an an
Eouncemert in about these words;
These services win be postponed UNI
I'll after the smallpox disappears from
the community From this on l shall
give my services TO the stricken faml-
lies. | shall minister to their wants,
help to nurse them, and when they die
follow them to the grave, II may be
long term or II may be short term;
but, however long or however short, Il
Is my plain duty 10 help my distressed
neighbors."
Ine word was well suited 10 the action
which followed. The good old deacon
hurled 10 his home, changed his
u.UtHls, bade Lis family goodbye, and
at once began his work OF mercy. What
work II was! The epidemic lasted
nearly all winter; large numbers dled;
few IN tho village escaped the disease.
The deacon'a example was followed BY
others, Men went to their homes, told
their wives and children what the cea-
con had said and was doing, arranged
their business, provided fuel ana pro-
visions, kissed their dear ones, and went
80, 81 1T ~ N1,s. Nnpln0AnfO lIFn TIM
deacon, they went without reward or
hope of reward Like him. they spent
weeks and some OF them months In that
service, without daring to go home, lest
their dear ones catch the disease.
The strangest Of all this strange ex-
perleuce Is the fact that neither the dea-
con, the good souls who initiated his eN-
ample nor their families, were Ovcrta-
ken by the malady, Notwithstanding the
fact that the watchers, helpers and
nurses were almost constantly In the
presence OF the suffering patients, not
withstanding the fact that they laid out
and helped TO bury the dead.
Nearly hals OF the deacon's congrega-
tlon had disappeared when, the next
spring, he resumed services In the school
house II was sorrowful Sunday.
Those In the audience who had not lost
l4NlHbNla VI lIEll idlllllg huN luaN
nclghbors and dear friends When the
good old Christian had read chapter,
prayed and talked practical sermon.
he referred fcelingy to the scenes
through which the community had pass
cd, I think every man, woman and
child IN the room. including the deacon,
wep:, AT the close OF the talk he asked
all present 10 Join him on their knees
In asking that the community might cs-
cape such visitatlons for all time 10
come II was most earnest appeal. ]
believe that that prayer has been an
swered There may have been few
cases of smallpox there Since then, but
there has never been an epidemic.
The Sunday after Sumpter was fired
upon, and while Deacon Trowbrldge was
conducting services in the Baptist
church. the denomination to which he
belonged for over eighty years he and
his congregation were disturbed by n
great commotIon In the street right In
front of the church There was beating
OF drums and sounds OF fife, much out OF
tune. IL was so uncommon Il thing that
the most Of the congregation walked or
ran out OF the church. Finally, the dea
con closed the Bible, and slowly follow
cd his fleeing flock When outside he
asked the cause OF this unseemly dis
turbance on the Lords day Some one
told him that the President had called
FOR soldiers to uphold the honor and the
flag of the nation, and that they were
going to raise company right then and
there
Tho old deacons eyes flashed as he
walked out into the street, where n
young fellow was irregularly pounding
a bass drum, and said. Nathan, know
Il Is Sunday, and that all but the Lords
work shuld be abandoned: but the say
ing Of our country and the shielding It's
flag from dlshonor Is the Lords work
Give me that drum" And that model
Of plety strapped on the big drum and
went to pounding greatly outdolng Ma
than In two rcspects-he made more
noise and kept perfect time. He drum
med as no one had ever drummed before
In the little village. As If II had gone
on lightning wings word flew through
the community that Deacon TrowbrldGe
had left his pulpi. to beat drum, and
on Sunday, too.
Within half an hour nearly every one
in town ana many from the outskirts
had gathered around the old drummer,
oil cheering him. and on Sunday. too.
That night Nathan Cole, who had been
relieved as drummer by the deacon.
went to ShCboygan with enough men
10 make up what became company G OF
the Fourth Wisconsin, A. Watrous
IN Chicago Tlmes-Hcrald.