The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-11-10
4. II IS hard for Us, but It is Blessed :ol

lM. IL IS nara tcr Us, Dut IL IS oitSSeu .vI
them.
And if the spirit 0: this sermon is true,
then We ought not 10 90 around signing and
groaning when another year Is going, but
We ought to go down on one knee By the
milestone and see the letters ard thank Sod
that we are 3G5 miles rearer home. We
ought not TO 20 around with mor5id feelings
about our health or about anticipated demise.
We ought 10 hc living not according 10 that
old maxim which used TO hear IN my boy
hood that you must live as though every
day were the last: you must live as though
you were IL i've forever, for you will. Do
not be nervous lest you have to move out OF
Shauty into al Alham6ra.
Oue Christmas day | witnessed something
very thrilling We had just distributed the
family presents Christmas morning, when |
heard a great cry Of distress in the hallway.
: child from Ieishbov's house came in to
say her father was dead 1t was only three
doors off. ard | think in two miauteS We
were there. There lay the old Christian sea
captain, MS face upturne3 toward the win
dow. as though he rad suddenly seen the
heailands and with al illuminated couute-
nance. rs though he were just going into
har6or. The fact was he hai already got
through the Narrows. In the adjoining room
were the Christmas presents waiting Tor his
distribution. Long ago, one night when he
had narrowly escaped with his ship from
being rUn down by 4 great ocean steamer,
he had made MS peace with God, and a kin
der neishbor or better man than Captain
Pendieton you would not iud this side Of
heaven. Without a moments warning, the
pilot OF the heavenly har5or had met him
just off the lightshi?.
He had often talked TO LIE Of the goodness
of God. and especially Of time when he was
about 10 enter New York harbor with his
ship from Liverpool. ana he was suddenly
impressed that he ought to put back to sea.
Under the protest Of the crew and under
their 7ery threat he put back 10 sea, fearing
at the same time he was losing his mind, for
it did seem so unreasonable that when they
could get into harbor that light they should
pu. back to sea- But they put back to sea,
and Captain PeudIeton said TO his mate.
II o'clock at night the captain was aroused
and said: ''What does this mean? thought
told you to call me at 10 o clock, and here
it is r." why" ssid the mate, 81 did
call you at 10 o olock, and you got up, look
ed around and told me 10 keep right on the
same course for two hours, and then to call
you at y O'clock. Said the captain: ''ls 1t
possible? I have no remembrance of that.
At y clock the captain went on decl,
and through the rift Of 8 cloud the moon
light fell upon the sea and shovel him 3
shipwreck with 100 struggling passengers.
He helped them off. Had he been
any earlier or any later at that point
Of the sea he would have been Of no
service to those drowning people. On board
the captains vessel they began 20 band to-
gether as to wha, they should pay for the
rescue and what they should pay for the
provisions. "Ah," says the captain, my
lads, you cam pay me anything. All have
on board is yours. l feel too greatly hon
ored of God in having saved you to take any
pay Just like him. He never got any
pay except that of his own applaudlng con-
science.
Oh, that the old sea captains God might
be my God and yours. Amid the stormy
seas Of this life may We have always some
one as teuderly 10 take care Of US as the
captain took care Of the drowning crew and
the passengers. And may We come into the
harbor with as little physical pain and with
as bright hope as he had, and If it shou Id
happen to be Christmas morning, when
the presents are being distributed and we
are celebrating the birth Of him who came
to save our shipwrecked world. all the bet
ter, for what grander, brighter Christmas
present could we have than heaven.