The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-23

 small farmer living near Sheboygan Falls. He went there over fifty years ago. Besides tilling a little patch of ground. the deacon, who was indeed the very soul of honor, and ever had the re- spect and confidence of all in that com munity, was in the habit, before regu- lar preachers were sent there, of read ing 8 sermon or eXhorting. There was no sham about Deacon TroWbridge's piety. He was sincerity itself.
 Fifty years ago last winter the little village was visited by smallpox epi- demc-an old-fashioned, widespread and spreading epidemic-and they didn't know how to scotch it as well as l they do now
 The first 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- nouncement in about these words:
 These services will be postponed un- 1 til after the smallpox disappears from the community From this on l shall give my services to the stricken faml- 1 lies. I shall minister to their wants, | help nurse them, and when they die fol- | low them to the grave. It may De a | long term or it may be short term; but, however long or however short, it is my plain duty to help my distressed neighbors."
 The word was well suited to the ac- ton which followed. The good old dea- con hurried to his home, changed his clothes bade his family goodbye, and at once began his work of mercy. What a work it was! The epidemic lasted nearly all winter; large numbers died; few in the village escaped the disease. l The deacon's example was followed by others. Men went to their homes, told l their wives and children what the dea- con had said and was doing, arranged their business, provided fuel and provi- sions, kissed their dear ones and went to the aid of the unfortunate. Like the 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- perience is the fact that neither the deacon. the good souls who initiated his example or their families, were over taken 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 half of the deacon's congrega- ton had disappeared when. the next spring. he resumed services in the schoolhouse. It was a sorroWful Sun day. Those in the audience who had not lost members of their family had lost neighbors and dear friends. When the good old Christian had read a chapter, prayed and talked a practical sermon, he referred feelingly to the scenes through which the community had passed. I think every man, woman and child in the room, including the | deacon, Wept. At the close of the talk he asked all present to join him cn their knees in asking that the community might escape such visitations for all time to come. It was a most earnest appeal I believe that that prayer has been answered. There may have been few cases of smallpox there since then, but there has never been an cpl demic.
 The Sunday after Sumter was fired
 
 was conducting services in the Baptist church, the denomination to which ht belonged for over eighty years, lie auG his congregation were disturbed by . great commotion in the street right ir front of the church. Th7ce was beating of drums and sounds of fife, much out a tune. It was so uncommon q thing that most of the congregation walked or raf out of the church. Finally. the deacor closed the Bible and slowly followed his fleeing flock When outside he asked the cause of this unseemly disturbance on the Lords day" Some one told hin that the President had called for sol diers to uphold the honor and the f1as of the nation, and that they were goins to raise company right then ant there.
 The old deacon's eyes flashed as h, | walked out into the street, where young fellow was irregularly pounding bass drum, and said: Nathan, know it is Sunday. and that all but tn, Lords work should be abandoned; bu the saving of our country and tn shielding of it's flag from dshonor is tn Lords work. Work. Give me tba drum" And that model of piet. strapped on the big drum and wen pounding, greatly out-doing Nathan il two respects-he made more noise ant kept perfect time. He drummed as n one before had ever drummed in the lit tie village. As if it had gone on light ming wings, word flew through the com munity that Deacon Trowbridge hal left his pulpit to beat a drum, and ol Sunday, too.
 Within half an hour nearly every on in town and many from the outskirt had gathered around the old drummer all cheering him, and on Sunday, toe That night Nathan Cole, who had bee relieved as drummer by the deacor went to Sheboygan with enough men t make up what became Company c c the Fourth Wisconsin.-J. A. Watrou in Chicago Times Herald.
 FOWLS WITH OVERCOATS