Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-02-08
THE DEACON'S PIETY.
IT WAS EQUAL TO ALL OCCASIONS AND
LASTED OVER EIGHTY YEARS.

LASTED OVER EIGHTY YEARS.
suspend Religious Services lndennitei ~
TO Nurse the Victims Of . Smallpox Epi
demic-An Example In This ~ He Wa
In Devotion to the Flag.
Deacon William Trowbridge was q
small farmer living near Sheboygan
Falls. He went there over so years ago.
Besides tilling Q little patch Of ground
the deacon, who was indeed the very
soul Of honor and ever had the respec,
and confidence Of all in that commu
nifty, was in the habit, before regular
preachers were sent there, Of reading q
sermon or exhorting. There was nc
sham about Deacon Trowbridge's piety.
He was sincerity itself.
Fifty years ago the little village was
visited by smallpox epidemic-an old
fashioned, widespread and spreading
epidemic-and they didn't know how
to scotch it as well as they do now.
The first Sunday after the dreaded
disease made its appearance the deacon
congregation was quite large. At the
end Of the services he made All announce
nent in about these words
These services will be postponed un
til after the smallpox disappears from
the community. From this on shall
give my services to the stricken fam
lilies. shall minister 10 their wants,
help to nurse them, and when they die
follow them to the grave. IL may be- q
long term or il may be- short term,
but, however long or however short, il
is my plain duty to help my distressed
neighbors.
The word was well suited to the &C
ton which followed. The good old dea
con hurried to his home, changed hi,
clothes, babe his family goodby and al
once began his work Of mercy. What q
work it was! The epidemic lasted near
IL all winter Large numbers died. Few
in the village escaped the disease. Th,
deacon's example was followed by 9th
ers. Men went to their homes, told their
wives and children what the deacon bac
said and was doing. arranged their busi
ness, provided fuel and provisions, kissed
their dear ones and went 10 the aid Oi
the unfortunate. Like the deacon they
went without reward or hope Of reward
Like him they spent weeks and some OF
them months in that service without
daring 10 60 home lest their dear ones
catch the disease.
The strangest Of all this strange ex.
perience il the fact that neither tho dea-
con, the good souls who initiated his ex
ample nor their families were overtaker
by the malady. Notwithstanding the fac
that the watchers, helpers and nurses
were almost constantly in the presence
Of the suffering patients and notwith
standing the fact that they laid out anc
helped to bury the dead.
Nearly half Of the deacon's congrega
tion had disappeared when. the nex'
spring. he resumed services in the
schoolhouse. IL was sorrowful sun
day. Those in the audience who had mo-
lost members Of their family had los
neigbbors and dear friends. When tn
good old Christian had read a cnapter
prayed and talked u practical sermon
he referred feelingly to the scenes
through which the community hat
passed / think every man, woman ant
child in the room, including the deacon
wept. At the close Of the talk he asked
all present 10 join him on their knees
In asking that the community migh
escape such visitations for all time t
come. II Yas most earnest appeal.
believe that that prayer has been an
swered There may have been few
cases Of smallpox there since then, bu
there has never been an epidemic.
The Sunday after Sumter was fired
upon, and while Deacon Trowbridg'
was conducting services in the Baptist
church, the denomination 10 which h'
belonged for over SO years, he and hi;
congregation were disturbed by great
commotion in the street right in front
Of the church. There were beating OF
drums and sounds Of fife much out Of
tune. IL was so uncommon thing thai
most Of the congregation walked OF
ran out Of the church. Finally the dea
con closed the Bible and slowly follow
ed his fleeing flock. When outside, b,
asked the cause Of "this unseemly dis
turbance on the Lords day" Some ON,
told him that the president had called
for soldiers To uphold the honor and tn,
flag Of the nation and that they wer'
going to raise company right ther
and there.
The old deacon's eyes flashed as h'
walked out into the street, where 4
young fellow was irregularly pounding
o bass drum, and said: Nathan.
know it is Sunday and that all but tn,
Lords work should be abandoned, bu
the saving Of our country and tn,
shielding Of its flag from dishonor /,
the Lords work. Give me that drum.
And that model Of piety strapped or
the big drum and went to pounding
greatly outdoing Nathan in two re
spects-he made more noise and KEEP
perfect time. He drummed as no on,
before had never drummed in the little
village. AS IL il had gone on lightning
wings, word few through the commu
nifty that Deacon Trowbridge had left hi
pulpit to beat drum, and on Sunday
too.
Within half an hour nearly every on'
in town and many from the outskirts
had gathered around the cid drummer
all cheering him, and on Sunday too
That night Nathan Cole, who had beer
relieved as drummer by the deacon
went to Sheboygan with enough men Il
make up what became Company g q
the Fourth Wisconsin. A. Watroul
in Chicago Times Herald.
Animals Fright II short.
A question that has often been asket
is, How long does fright last in wilt
creature? The close observer will b,