The Monitor-register., 1897-10-08
N. J., FRIDAY. OCTOBER 8, 1897.

hOt uisOoouiouU unto Inc heavenly Wis
ion," and simply as a child, the old ma
lifted his head and said, "Yes, Lord, II
come" .aWsE ylrr5Q t7-sif-,1A
Long he fingered, praying and dream
ing in turn. The cattle over the pasture
wall gazed at him in calm wonder, a fist
hawk on the dead pine eyed him SUSPECT
ously, the sun climbed up the sky ant
still he stayed. At length, rising ant
stumbling, in half blinded vision, b,
started home. "Why, 'Zskel, We look al
if ye'd seen a vision p his wi fe said il
startled tones. He stood before her, BIZ
gray hair tossed by the wind, his worr
face luminous with a strange, almost I'm
earthly expression, and his eyes shining
yet shrinking from the light. Mother
Pm Called" was all he said. Then, sit
ting down beside her in the old kitchen
be slowly, reverently, told her all. She
listened in silence till the end, though
tears stood UNDECIDED on her pale face
and then, without a shadow of doubt, she
said, solemnly: HE hath regarded the
voice of my supplication !"
The day passed for them both in a
kind of dream. They knelt in prayer
together; they talked in hushed tones
they sat absorbed in intervals of silent
thought. AS evening came, she asked
"Are ye gone to meet'n', Father pr
Eyes, Marthy, I must" was his answer
When the appeal for decisions was
made that night, the audience was
astonished to see Uncle 'Z3kel rise
slowly from his pew. He had sat as il
in thought, with his eyes shaded by his
hand, throughout the service. MANY
of them never thought of him but as a
member of the church. A thrill ran
through the gathering. Clearing his
throat, he began in his gentle voice, thai
trembled, nevertheless, with feeling:
Friends an neighbors, it's many q
year I've ben a-comin' here, l~istenin' tc
the preaehin' of the word. The Spirit
has doubtless strove with me, but il
never seemed 'zaotly clear tina t | was
called. Feared like l was too I'm,
worthy for that great call to mean me.
He's ben good to me these years, an
in some ways I've tried to foller Him,
but KNOWN all the time l was outside
the Kingdom. He's ben talkin' to mt
durin' these meetin's, an last night wher
the elder preached on the hev'nly vision,
it went to my heart. Seemed like, if the
Lord ed only come to me that way, Jest
for a mint, an speak, I'd know sure he
meant me, an wanted me; but, of course,
it didn't seems if It ever happened, now
adays, nor anyhow could t. the likes o.
me. l was thinkin' it over an over, al
night, an this morDin' a-hoein' in my
hill field, till 1 could stan it no longer
an fell to prayin'. Yell be enable,
many on ye, to believe me, but while
lay there l suddenly heerd my name
called twict, distant aud clear: u ,kel
'Zskel = an 1 looked up, an there above
me was a wonderful shinin' form like
couldn't describe, an sech a look on hi,
face, and sech marks in his hands an
feet, l know'd It could be One. II,
look so mighty, an yet tender like, an
said. 'Come y an then all was gone, an
| was kneelin' there alone in the potato
field. But when it all come to me wha
had happened. an tibet He'd ~actooally
come an called me, unworthy as be
then l bowed my head an said: Yes,
Lord, I'll come !! An tonight, friends
It seemed right to tell We, as I've tolc
him. tibet I'll not be disobedient to tn,
hev'nly vision. Sence he's willin' tt
take me from this time forrard, u ske
Woodbury. belongs to the one who called
him ~
The stiffness was intense, and for s
nom emit the clock tucked with painful
olearness. Then the pastor reverently
with deep feeling, thanked God that on,
SO loved of all had heard and answered
His voice. He did not refer to the vision
but only asked that others might follow
Awe had fallen on the people and ever
fear; but the prayer relaxed the tension
and heart melted into heart. One aftel
another they uncovered their needs, ant
often sobbing, asked for prayer. Mack
erelville had never seen such feeling. A
last Deacon Stowe, prominent in tn,
church for years, but never able to resis
the best end of a bargain, struck al
dumb by rising and grooming GU "Got
be merciful to me a sinner ~ and tber
breaking down.
AS they went out every heart was flleC
with a joyous or oppressive sense o
Gods nea1Dess. One summer boarde
said to another: sit beats me FL,
seemed in dead earnest, too. l tell you
there are things happening in this worlt
we don't know OF !" The other did no
reply.
Only n dared q jest at the door, ant
he in bravado; but the sorry sneer wa
sternly hushed by Nate Dyer, q professet
skeptic, who said: "If.Zskel Woodbur!
says he seen, he seen !" And then thei
footsteps died away on the different roads
The mex communion was one of unusual
Astounding joy, and among the Grove
about the pulpit, oldest of all, stool
"Uncle Zskel," his face shining, his eye
shrinking, and to those in the crowded
church he seemed, like Stephen, to b.
looking beyond that place and seeing
One in the open heavens; for they behelG
his face, 'as it had been the face of al
angel"
The old man became a pillar to th,
little church in the years that remained
His life was a letter in large type. TIL
worst loafer honored him, and when tn
| chnrch was assailed it's members pointed
in triumph to Uncle Z.kel. Always a
meetings he would kneel and officer up
/ prayer 30 simple, SO trustful, that h
| appeared to talk with God and carried
all with him to the throne above.
He was a friend of the poor, and man.
blessings were asked upon him. Hi
| eyes continued dim. but he spent hour
! with q large-print Bible which was pur
chased after his change. The page t.
which it opened easily was the story o
Saul's conversion. But never again dit
he tell of his vision. 1t was told once a
a testimony, it was sacred afterward t.
remembrance. Possibly he grew NOR
quiet, and his gentle smile had rar
sweetness, born of q life within. He ga
in the old chair, at times, with the lool
| of ona facing the Most High.