The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-25


present. that it offered no room for
argument or. for the time being Of re-
sistance.
The sermon had come to close. The
Rev. Henry Maxwell had turned the
half of the big Bible over upon his
manuscripts and was about to sit down
as the quartet prepared to rise and
sing the closing selection.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus,
All my beings ransomed powers,
when the entire congregation was star
tied by the sound of a ., ans voice. It
came from the rear Of the church, from
one of the seats under the gallery. The
next moment the figure Of a man came
out of the shadow there and walked
down the middle aisle.
Before the startled congregation real
lied what was being done the man had
| reached the open space in front of the
pulpit and had turned about. facing
the people.
GIVE been wondering since came
in here'-they were the words he used
, under the gallery, and he repeated them
eff it would be just the thing to say
| a word at the close of this service. I'm
| not drunk, and I'm not crazy. and I'm
perfectly harmless But if I die, as
there is every likelihood shall in a
few days, want the satisfaction Of
thinking that said my say in place
like this, before just this sort of a
crowd .
! Henry Maxwell had not taken his
seat, and he now remained standing,
leaning on his pulpit, looking down at
the stranger It was the man who had
come to his house Friday morning, the
same dusty. worn, shabby looking
young man. He held his faded hat in
his two hands It seemed to be a ia
7orite gesture BE had not been shaved,
and his hair was rough and tangled It
was doubtful if any one like this had
ever confronted the First church within
the sanctuary. It was tolerably familiar
with this sort of humanity out on the
street. around the railroad shops. wan
dering up and down the avenue but it
had never dreamed of such an incident
as this SO near.
There was nothing offensive in the
man s manner or tone He was not ex-
cited. and be spoke in a low but dis
tinct voice. Henry Maxwell was con-
scious, even as he stood there smitten
into dumb astonishment at the event.
that someh. " the man S action remind
ed him of person he had once seen
walking and talking in his sleep.
No one in the church made any mo-
ticn to step the stranger or in any way
interrupt him Perhaps the first shock
of his sudden appearance deepened into
genuine perplexity concerning what
was best to do. However that may be,
he went on as if he had no thought of
interruption and no thought OF the un-
usual element he had introduced into
the decorum of the First church service.
and all the while he was speaking
Henry Maxwell leaned over the pulpit,
his face growing more white and sad
every moment. But he made no move
ment to stop him. and the people sat
smitten into breathless silence. One
other face, that Of Rachel Winslow,
from the choir seats, stared, white and
intent, down at the shabby figure with
the faded hat. Her face was striking at
any time. Under the pressure of the
present unheard Of incident it was as
personally distinct as if it had been
framed in fire.
"I'm not an ordinary tramp, though
don't know Of any teaching Of Jesus
that makes one kind Of tramp less
worth saving than another. Do you?''
He put the question as naturally as if
the whole congregation had been a
small private Bible class He paused
Just moment and cougbed painfully
Then he went on
81 lost my job ten months ago. I am
printer by trade. The new linotype
machines are beautiful specimens Of
invention. but I know six men who
have killed themselves inside of the
year just on account of those machines.
Of course don't blame the newspapers
for getting the machines. Meanwhile
what can man do? know | never
learned but the one trade. and that's
all + can do I've tramped all over the
country trying to find something There
are good many others like me. I'm
not complaining. am :? Just stating
facts. But was wondering. as / sat
there under the gallery. if what you
call following Jesus is the same thing
as what he taught
'.What did he mem when he said.
Follow me?'. The minister said here
the man turned about and looked UP at
the pulpit that it was necessary for
the disciple of Jesus to follow his steps,
and he said the steps were obedience.
faith. love and imitation. But did
not hear him tell just what he meant
that to mean. especially the last step
What do Christians mean By following
the steps Of Jesus? I've tramped
through this city for three days trying
to find a job. and in all that time T.
Il. s.