The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-06

III luutt 5Tuiintto tiiohS III eho oPoh
square before the pulpit Teddy had
sprung upright in the middle OF it. wav-
ing his arms and wildly crying:
"Gloryl Glory! God is my Father l
know he loves me, chen me- Glo-ryi
Glor- ee-eep'
"Bless the Lord! Sing his praises, all
We people," Brother Green said from
the pulpit steps. Brother Milliken had
been kneeling beside Teddy, praying
low and earnestly for him. Now he got
up and stood, tall and tremulous. beside
the rejoicing youth. AT the very back
of the house Teddy's mother, thin,
discouraged looking woman in shabby
weeds, pushed her way into the aisle
and made to go to her son. Before she
had got half way Nina Winfield flung
herself over the pew in front Of where
she sat, darted up the passway and
caught Teddy's hands in her own, her
face working, tears raining over it.
Miss Winfield gasped once, then sat
suddenly down, limp and livid, so wild
was her rage The stir of Nina's exploit
had set those very far back TO standing
on the benches instead of the floor. Nj
ma was by no means unconscious Of the
interest she had evoked, though her ex-
cited feelings were really beyond con-
troll. She was by nature i'll balanced, by
temperament hysterical. Besides her
best girl friend was Sophy Ann Brazzle
ton, who had got religion at the same
time Nina did, yet had been shouting
ever since.
Nina meant no longer TO be outdone
by Sophy AIMS precocious saintliness
Then, too. she was stirred by the SER
mon, still more by the sight of Teddy
among the redeemed. Alice, she knew,
would be mad about it, SO would her
mother, but neither of them would
dare take her to task while the revival
lasted They would fear what she
might tell to the church folk, especial
ly Mrs. Talbot. And afterward-that
was long way off--no matter what
came then, Nina felt that to DO the her
oine of night like this paid for very
many snubs and much reviling in the
bosom of her family.
AS Teddy saw her and gripped her
hands he shouted louder than ever A
contagious thrill ran through the ex-
cited throng. Old Brother Baxter, who
had raised the tunes for half century,
struck up in his deepest bass:
''Savel Savei Save, Lordi
Send converting power down.
Save, my dear Lordi"
Instantly the simple monochord swell !
ed from every throat. Three more peni-
tents sprang up, shouting aloud in the
JOY of new hope Friends and kinfolk |
crowded IN to embrace them and wiring
the hands of the Christians about. Other
penitents half ran, half fell, up the !
choked aisle The air seemed to pulse
with electric feeling. Brother Walton
prayed without ceasing, now ut this !
bowed head, now at that. Brother Green |
did not stir from his chosen penitent, q
big, rough fellow, who had come to the |
altar as though dragged by invisible |
hands
He was Matt Taylor, the blacksmith,
famed the countryside through for
strength, skill and wickedness. lie had |
not moved from the spot where he fell |
rather than knelt upon first reaching !
the altar. Strong, slow sobs shook him |
from head to foot. His hand was clinch- |
ed hard upon that of the minister. Now |
and again he spoke a thick word OF |
hopeless supplication.
Lord" came dry and gasping. 81 |
ain't-wuth savin! You know that
you-know-every- thing-an-I had er |
good-motherl She was good-miehty
goodl I-ain't never been-no credit ter |
her-but she said-it was her last word
you loved me-bettern she did. I |
tried ter fergit-but-it staid with me |
lit fetched me-herel Lord, save me-
OF you choose-ef you do lovo me-liko
she saidl Ef-you don't-I'm lost
world without-end. Save mel Save
mel Jesus Christ, save mep'
Amen and amen arose on every hand.
though the good people had not heard
MS hating words. None but the all
hearing ear indeed might have Olsen.
tangled them from the massed confu.
sion OF sound about The blacksmitb's
wife sat amazed in fear and trembling
nope. He was not actively unkind to
her when he was SOBER That was about
one day in seven. The other six she spent
In making fair weather for his uncer.
tam temper, and often got blows as a
reward OF her ondeavors. She had been
church member when she married
him. but since he had refused steadfast.
~ to give her money for church dues
she had kept away from services until
she was hardly counted a Methodist.
1t had almost taken her breath when
ne babe her get ready to come with him
TO Bethel tonight. She did not know
how for weeks something Brother Green
mad said had been ringing in her hus-
band 8 mind. The minister's horse cast
shoe one Sunday as he was riding past.
de had routed out the smith to save the
beast from going lame. Matt had boast.
ed ever since he was grown that every
minister thereabout was afraid to face
MIN and name religion. Brother Green
aid not name it, but at parting he said:
"Ihanky. Matt, for an excellent ;oh