The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-10
A CHATS

A book called a Singular Life re-
called to me an Easter Sabbath morning
Of few years ago Emmanuel Bayard
was the young preacher in the book, ana
because he could not subscribe to all the
doctrines of the church, and for other
reasons, also. he went 10 work in little
chapel in the slums. The story Is pa
tbetic and strong and sweet. This other
story concerns a young preacher VINO
lived in North Carolina and whose work
was among the c0tton-factOry folk
where hc bad a little chapel. | happen
ed TO be stOlling near the chapel that
Sunday morning. and ! saw this tall
young man. delicate looking to be sure.
standing ia the simple door way Of the
chapel shaking hands with the folks rs
they went in. and smiling and seemingly
saving something or other CHEEKY. |
thought both for this reason and foy
another reason. that this must be q
Drpffy good kind Of fellow. and | went
In and he shook me by the hand and
smiled and said something CHEEKY. that
ho was glad to see me and 10 walk in OF
something hike that-aDd ] went in. over
the pulpit against the wall was stretched
some coarse cotton cloth. with apprO-
nriatc Easter legends traced in ever
Green I afterwards learned that thc
voun, minister made these with his OWL
hands. For they said he could play the
organ. could sew. and he led the SIM
inc well. Otherwise the church Was
unorDampnted. but it was more than
well filled for some reason or other. just
before the services the young man. ne
looked too like the cOnSumptive that I'M
manuel Bayard was. came down the aisle
and shook hands with those whom ne
had overlooked He was smiling as he
went and his throat was refreshlngiy
dressed. his face radiant. ana his SUIT
auife smart There was nothing IN the
sermon but u plain setting forth Of an
Easter theme. 10 reference 10 anything
unusual. But the congregation looked
unusual. | could perceive that many
were much affected before lie closed
his discourse He was going to Cali
folnia where lie could better stand the
climate. At the end of the sermon he
simply said: There VIII be service again
I'm this church tonight" No one could
have told that this was a farewell ser
mon. unless it were judged by the signs
of emotion that We're quite in evidence
about. If there had been during the
sermon no reference to his departure
there had been the Sunday before. Il lit
tie boy told me, a slight reference after
the following manner. Said the yOun=
man with emotion somewhat suppressed,
''Some one was unkind enough to say
that | was going to leave yOa MI, be
cause | was to get more money; l THINK.
then. | ought TO say that | will not get
more-thc truth is | will get less than
| get from you" That was all. What he
got was little enough, God knows.
It struck NE that this young man
must he doing lot of weekday work
TO be held so dearly among these people.
And he was. | asked about him after
wards among the operatives. He wasn't
a bad nurse and had improved himself
by much practice among the sick of his
flock: and he could sew and he did sew.
going around in the mornings and
spending the forenoons among the chill
dren's rent garments while the older
children and their parents worked in the
factory. He did not stop here: he was
often seen with his coat off sweeping the
floor and putting the little homes in or
der, even making up the beds and fresh
ening mp the washstands and doing
numberless chores here and there.
A circus had come to town one day,
and little boy wanted TO go. and he
didn't have anybody to take him. 1t
don't matter how it happened, he went
with the tall young preacher and had
good time, and the little boy did moi
forget to be on hand when he preached
his farewell sermon. | afterwards heard
that there had been trouble about this
circus incident. In fact somebody said
that the young preacher had been hauled
up for heresy. l don't know whether this
had anything to do with his going 10 Cal
ifornia. but for a reason which | may
state later. it interested me.
| had not known the name of the
young preacher who had given such an
Easter welcome to strangers, had never
heard OF him, but learned his name
from the little boy who said while W.
were taking that lovely stroll Lets
go and hear Mr.. White preach his fare
well sermon, he took me to the circus
| once"
I do not know Mr.. White, but 1 thank
him for taking my boy to the circus,
| and hope he is getting as much
good from California climate lis those
cotton factory folk got from his life Of
sunshine and sacrifice, and as my little
chap got from his trip to the circus.
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