The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-13
A Lost Opportunity.

A Lost Opportunity.
It was the Sunday before Christmas
Christmas cheer was everywhere-in the
fragrant wreaths of evergreen, in the Joy
ous strains of church choirs, in the smil
ing faces of men, women and children. Il
seemed as If pain and loss and struggle
and failure and death were forgotten in
the JOY that Christ was born.
But not even Christmas could ease the
ache Of one heart. In all the great city
there was probably no woman more
wretched than Agnes Farrar. She had
once had all that seemed best in life
health, beauty, wealth, charm, love. She
had had them, and had spent them: She
had chosen ten years before to ignore
come law unto herself. She had found
the fate which surely waits for woman
who 80 chooses. On Christmas Sunday
she faced the truth. Her money was
gone. She had bartered her health for
pleasure. Only faint traces remained OF
her beauty and her grace. Of the abun'
cant loves once given her without stint,
she had chosen the cheapest and poorest,
and the last fragment of that was gone.
"Ive come to the end of 1t all" she
said to herself, as she stood before the
dull mirror in her cheap lodging on Christ.
mas Sunday morning. With that word
uron her lips she resolved to 60 to churcn
for the last time. She thought with a
bitter smile that she would at least be
warm there.
She entered the church as if in a dream
As she was shown up the broad aisle
food Of memories swept over her. An.
tnem and Scripture lesson and prayer
passed urheeded. One scene after another
of her life unrolled before her inward Wis.
ION, until she was suddenly conscious thai
she was weeping, and that gracious wo'
man beside her'looked at her with gentle,
pitying eyes. She reused herself and
turned her face up to the preacher He
had been speaking some minutes, although
she had caught no word of the sermon.
Now this was what she heard:
Zone night man was cropping his way
alone across dark and dangerous moor.
Suddenly he slipped and fell into a deep
pit. In vain he cried for help. In vain
he struggled to climb up the steep sides
of the pit. Morning broke, and found him
wounded, thirsty, exhausted, despairing:
"Then there came to the mouth OF the
pit a Buddhist. He looked down at the
broken figure and said, % wretched man.
your struggles are useless, and you, suf-
fering is because of your struggles: Cease
to desire to live and all will be well. Fix
your thought upon eternity, and present.
f. you will find Nirvana, and the Buddhist
passed on.
"Then there came a student of Confuc.
ius. He also bent over the, pit to see
whence the cries came. Then he said,, My
poor man, I see plainly that you. have
disobeyed the great moral laws OF thls
world. You have neglected to reverence
hn of
up here I would gladly instruct you IN
these duties, but as you are quite incap.
able of getting out, ! must leave you
"Then there came Mussulman, and ne
counseled patience and belief in one God,
and also went his way.
But at last there came Christian. he
leaned over the pit, and he called to the
man, who by this time, was almost dead
Courage! Courage, my brother! We will
help you. I was once in that very pit
myself. Be of good cheer; keep you,
hope a little longer and I will return,
Then the Christian hurried away, ard
quickly returned with men and ropes and
food and drink. They all worked togeth-
er to lift the injured man out of the pit;
and among them as they worked his dim
eyes seemed to see strange Figure, Ike
as it had been the Son of God. So pres
extremity, and was carried by strong, loV-
ing hands to his journeys end"
The woman in the pew hung on the
preachers words. When they ceased she
fell upon her knees as he gave the bene,
diction. There was hushed moment, and
then the congregation rose and began to
move slowly out. The lady in whose pew
The woman had sat glanced at her tear
stained face. She thought quickly, That
woman is in trouble. She looks as If she
had been hearing her own story. 1 won
der. if I dare speak to ier?,
While she hesitated friend whispered,
"What time tomorrow can you come to
the Christmas sale?" The two moved
down the aisle talking quietly. Agnes
followed them-hoping she knew. not
what. They halted at the door and 9th
ers joined them. What a thrilling ser
more inspired" answered another.
The woman, now very pa,e. listened for
a few minutes to their friendly chat. She
heard one call back. "A merry Christmas
to YOU ALL" and then as the vestibu,e
was almost empty, she made her way out;
A fine, dry snow was falling, and the wind
was bitter cold.
For an instant salvation had seemed
possible to he-, although she know not
how. But the moment of hope had passed:
me black pail of temptation, failure and
despair wrapped itself again around her,
and hid her forever from the eyes Of those
who might have rescued her.
The next day the preacher said to one
of his most useful parishoners, "Who was
that striking woman in your pew yester.
day" ;.
IT never saw her BEFORE" she replied.
"Do Won know. I was almost tempted to
sneak to her after SERVICE she seemed
much moved by the sermon. But some
friends came up, and she slipped away"
IT wish you had snolsen to her." said
the preacher.-Youth's Companion.