Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-05-22

friend. Tie was one Of the first to well
come me 10 my new home. To fine per
Sonal appearance he added a generos-
ity. frankness aud ardor OF nature that
made me love him like a brother. But
| saw evil people gathering around
him. They came up from the saloons.
from the gambling hells. They piled
him with n thousand arts. They seized
upon his social nature. and he could
not stand the charm. They drove him
ON the rocks. like n ship, full winged.
shivering on the breakers. l used to
admonish him. would say: Now,
wish YOU would quit those bad habits
and become "A Christian" oh" he
would reply. IL would like To. but I
have gone 80 far don't think there is
amy way back" In his moments of re-
pentance he would go home and take
his little girl Of eight years and en-
brace her convulsively and cover her
with adornmeutS and Strew around her
pictures and toys and everything that
could make her happy, and then. as
though bounded by an evil spirit, he
would go ont to the inflaming cup. and
IN" house of shame. like a fool To the
correction of the stocks.
l was summoned to his deathhed. I
fastened. entered the room. found
him. Ia my surprise. lying i'm full every
DAY dress ON the top OF the couch. |
put out my hand. lie graspcd il ex-
clteuIN ana said: "Sit down. MIR. Tai
mage, right there l sat down. He
SAID; Last night saw my mother.
who has been dead for 20 wears. and she
sat gust where YOU sit now. II was no
dream. | was wide awake. There was
no delusion in the matter. / saw her
Just as plainly as | see YOU. Wife, |
wish YOU would take these strings off
me. There are strings spun all around
my body. lwish YOU would take them
on me. saw it was dclirium. "Oh, e"
replied the wife, "my dear. there is
nothing there, there is nothing there. Z"
lie went ON and said: Just where YOU
SIT MIR. Ta'mage, my mother sat. She
sand TO me: Henry. | do wish YOU
would do better got out of bed. put
my arms around her and said: Moth
err want To do better. Won't YOU help
me To do better. Won't YOU help me. :"
NO mistake about it. no delusion. /
saw her-thc cap and apron and the
Spcctac!eS. just as she used To look 20
years ago. But / do wish YOU would
take these strings away. They annoy
me so! | can hardly talk. Won't YOU
take them away2" / l<nelt down and
prayed. conscious OF the fact that he
old not realize what | was saving. I
goi mp. ] said: "Good-by. Hope you
will be better soon" He said: Good
by. good-by."
That night his soul went up TO the
God who gave it. Arrangements were
made for the obsequies. Some said:
Don't bring him in the church: he is
too dissolute." "Oh," / said. "brinp
MN. He was good friend of mine
while he was alive, and / shall stand
by him now that he is dead. Bring him
TO the church."
As sat in the pulpit and saw his
body coming up through the aisle I
felt as il | could weep tears OF blood.
! told the people that day: This man
had his virtues. and a good many of
them. He had his faults, and a good
many OF them. But If there is n man
IN this audience who is without sin.
let him cast the first stone at this cof-
mn lid. On one side the pulpit sat
'hat little child. rosy, sweet faced. as
beautiful as any child that sat al your
table this morning. warrant you. She
looked up wistfully, not knowing the
full sorrows OF an orphan child.
Oh. her countenance haunts me to-
day. like some sweet face looking up
on us through horrid dream. On the
other side OF the pulpit were the men
who had destroyed him. There they
sat. hard yisaged. some Of them pale
from eNhausting disease. some Of them
flushed until il seemed as IL the fires
Of iniquity famed through the cheek
and cracked the lips. They were the
men who had bound him hand and foot.
They had kindied the fires. They had
poured the NORWOOD and gall into
that orphans cup. Did they weep?
No. Did they sigh repeDtingly? No.
Did they say: what pity that such
brave man should be slain?" Mono:
not one bloated hand was lifted TO
wipe away tear from a b!oatcd cheek.
They sat and looked at the coffin ike
vuitures gazing at the carcass Of a
lamb whose heart they had ripped out.
! cried in their ears as plainly as
could: mere are God and a iudQ-
ment day" Did they tremble? Oh.
no. no. They went back from the
house Of God. and that night. though
their victim lay in OalSwood cemetery.
was toll that they blasphemed. and
they drank. and they gambled. and
there was not one less customer In all
The houses Of iniquity. This DESTROYED
man was a Samson in physical
strength. hut Deliiah shenred him. and
the Philistines Of evi. cOInpanionsbip
dug his eyes ONT and threw him into the
prison ~ evil habits But I'm the hour
~ his death be rose up and took hold
Of the two Di.lared curses Of God
against drunkenness and uncIeanU.
mess and threw himself forward until
down upon him and Ms companions
there came the ti6ndsrs Of an eternal