Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-04-18

folks from the larger world. yet we read
a good deal. And really there could hard
ly be a worse place toto borrow from
the works Of Ebenezer Blair. He has
been household word with us these fifty
years, as you ought to know"
Look here uncle' said l. "Truesdell
isn't that sort Of fellow. I'll give my
word for it,
He waved his hand gently toward the
book. l ran my eye hastily over the
pages. and-well. the case looked rather
blue for Mr.. Truesdell. 1t was no wonder
that my aunt, who probably knew the
Rev. DR.. Blair's sermon by heart with
drew into the most secret recesses Of her
own inner consciousness while Mr.. Trues-
dell was preaching.
! However" said I. looking up from the
book. there seems to be only one pas
sage
YES" he returned: ut wasn't 30 bad
as we thought 1t was going to be-
What will be done?' said I, thinking
with much sympathy OF poor Cousin
Nellie. 80 a.
Nothing. nothing" replied my uncle In
his softest tones, adding his characteristic
phrase. 1.-The least said Is the fewest men
dead
do you mean to say that he won't be
given a chance to defend himself?" de-
manded.
Before he could reply Nellie burst into
the room.
Father" she cried. give me Ebenezer
Blair!'
Here he u.s." said I. What are you
going to dor
They weren't going to tell him." she
replied; "at least while he was so Ill. But
I told him! l went right up to his room
and called him out into the hall, and then
I told him the whole story-just what
they thought about him."
"Au6 What did ho fpuuir>N hor
father.
Nellie was far too much excited either
% blush or to hesitate as she replied:
"He asked me what thought. He said
tAat nothing else mattered to him. And
he's In the parlor now. Comet"
We followed her without standing upon
the order of our going. to borrow phrase
from Shakespeare. since borrowing is our
present theme.
Mr.. Truesdell was standing by the cor
ner Of the piano and facing the ladies
who were seated There was not q visible
sign of the excitement which thrilled the
air. Every person present was In a con-
ventional attitude. and every countena nee
was calm. l had become In the course of
years so much a stranger to the ways Of
my home folks that this serenity amazed
me. for the young clergyman was on trial
for the life Of his honor. and nothing less
II was about to say when illness inter-
B.
dell, that the same witnesses whom
had summoned had testified before spir-
itually minded men in all ages and under
the most varied conditions. After I had
formulated my own thought as expressed
In one OF the early passages OF my dis
course-after having written 1t and laid 1t
aside for further consideration-I came
upon the following words in a fragment
attributed to Anselm Romanus, one Of the
apostolic fathers. who died about the year
100 Of our era
And he proceeded to read some very
beautiful words which were astoundingly
like those of the Rev. DR.. Ebene1er Blair.
Down from the day OF Anse!m to this
very present he followed this immortal
thought. He showed how 1t had slept for
centuries. as II dead, and then had re-
arisen in the hearts OF holy men here
there and everywhere. He did not cite
the Rev. DR.. Blair. and learned after
ward that he had never seen the sermon
In question but he named many who
doubtless enjoy q far more exalted esteem
In the eyes Of the learned 1t Was a very
interesting exposition, and. despite my
immediate worldly interest in the vindica-
ton OF Mr.. rruesdeii. could not escape
the lesson OF this deathless hope, this
faith that u ever born anew
At the close of his remarks Mr.. Truee-
dell was warmly thanked and cong-atu-
lated. and Judged that the New England
sense Of justice would surely compel his
election to the passionate. 1t was greatly
to be desired. as the gentleman was sur
fertng from a form OF malarial fever
which the climate Of Wiiletts Harbor
Nellie whom I liked very much would
have been lost to the dear old town even.
tually II Mr.. Truesdell had not come l1
1--we there.