The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-02-01
II DEACON'S PIETY.
IT As EQUAL 70 ALL CCCASiOflS AND
TASTED OVER CiGiTY YEARS.

Stlll Ni'll iithNt ~ "li III Nhte Spliiliiu-
nifty. was in the habit, before regular
preachers were sent there, of reading a
sermon or exhorting. There was no
sham about Deacon Trowbridge's piety.
He was sincerity itself.
Fifty years ago the little village was
visited by a smallpox epidemic--an old
fashioned, widespread and spreading
epidemic-and they didn't know bow
to scotch it as we'll as they do now.
The first Sunday after the dreaded
disease made its appearance the deacon's
congregation was quite large. At the
end Of the services he made an
ment in about these words:
"These services will be postponed I'M
I'll after the smallpox disappears from
the community. From this on l shall
give my services to the stricken FAM
lilies. | shall minister to their wants, !
help TO nurse them, and when they die
follow them to the grave. 1t may be a
long term or it may be a short term.
but, however long or however short. it
is my plain duty to help my distressed
DeiGhbOrs,
The word was we'll suited to the ac-
tiou which followed. The good old dea-
con hurried to his home. changed his
clothes, babe his family soodby and at
once began his work of mercy. What a
work it was. The epidemic lasted near
vall winter. Large numbers died. Few
IL the village escaped the disease. The
deacon's example was followed by 9TH
ers, Men went to their homes. told their
wives and children what the deacon had
said and was doing, arranged their bust
ness, provided fuel and provisions, kissed
their dear ones and Went to the aid Of
the unfortunate. Like the r. aeon they
went without reward or hope Of reward.
Like him they spent weeks and some of
them months iii that service without
daring TO % home lest their dear ones
catch the disease.
The strangest Of all this strange ex-
perience is the fact that neither the dea-
con. the good souls who initiated his *
ample nor their families were overtaken
by the malady, Notwithstanding the fact
chat the watchers, helpers and nurses
were almost constantly in the presence
of the suffering patients and notwith
'-lttIibihS IN llNU lAAt t1N.N AoAN oAU dAd
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. 1t 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 Genes
through which the community had
passed. l 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 on their knees
in asking that the community might
escape such v~isitations for all time to
come. 1t was a most earnest appeal. l
believe that that prayer has been an
swered. There may have been a few
cases Of smallpox there since then, but
there has never been an epidemic.
The Sunday after Sumter was fired
upon, and while Deacon Trowbridge
was conducting services in the Baptist
church, the denomination to which he
belonged for over so years, he and his
congregation Were disturbed by a great
cOmmotiOn in the street right in front
of the church. There were beating Of
drums and sounds Of fife much out Of
tune. 1t was 50 uncommon q thing that
most of the congregation walked or
ran out Of the church. Finally the dea-
con closed the Bible and slowly follow
ed his fleeing flock. When outside, be
asked the cause Of "this unseemly dis
turbance on the Lords day" Some one
told him that the president had called
for soldiers to uphold the homer and the
iag Of the nation and that they were
going to raise a company right then
and there.
The old deacon's eyes flashed as he
walked ont into the street, where a
young fellow was irregularly pounding
a bass drum, and said: Nathan, /
know it is Sunday and that all but the
Lord work should be abandoned, but
rhe saving Of our country and the
shielding Of its flag from dishonor is
the Lords work. Give me that drum"
And that model Of piety strapped on
the big drum and went to pounding,
greatly oUtdoirg Nathan in two re-
spects--he made more noise and kept
perfect time. He drummad as no one
before had never drummcd in the little
village. AS if it had gone on lightning
wings, word flew through the commu-
nifty that Deacon Trowbridge had left his
pulpit to beat a drum, and on Sunday
too.
Within half an hour nearly every one
in town and many from the outskirts
had gathered around the old drummer,
all cheering him, and on Sunday too.
That night Nathan Cole, who had been
relieved as drummer by the deacon,
ven t. SAeboygan with enough men to
make up what became Company G cf
the Fourth WiSconsin.-J. 4. Watrous
in Chicago Times-Herald.
\ Great Find.
Lady Of the House (to servant girl
applying for Il sltuatiCn)-Iou were in
the service Of my friend, Baroness K.
Why were Won sent d\yayI