The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-14
THOUGHTS E&THE
'%M 49,
NM21c=
oUIET TONN
4 Strange Sale.

Some years ago ? strange sale tool
place in one of the dark, hidden clefts
IF the SchwarrZwald. 1t was mld.
night and q number Of torches cast
their yellow .c-a against the Slanl
treer. A group Of IL, Of rude aspect
and armed to the teeth, were seated
in a circle. One OF IL d stood in their
midst Offering certain acticles for sale.
They were a band of highway rob.
bers, who had pl-ndercd, during the
evening, a travelling wagon passing
that way. According to their custom
they were now selling the booty
among tn -mse.ves. After many a cost
ly garment ana several other things
had Deen offered for s"le, while a
bottle. of liquor 2 q being passed
around, the salesman held aloft a New
Testament, adding m. - jeering re-
marks, which were loudly applauded.
One of the company proposed that
the .-ctioneer road a chapter, in order
that they night b. enabled to judge
the worth of the Book. Ibis propo-
sition. met. with general approval, and
in a hooking way they began o'read
a chapter. There was no end to the
laughing and jeering. and It thus es'
capped .neir notice that enc or their
number-the oldest among them-who
was usually the foremost j. t. ir rob-
berries anG drinking LtutS, wac sitting
down quietly, in a coItemplatlVc mood.
His folded hands were resting upon
his knees, and he seemed 10 be alb
sorbcd IN deep thought.
And 10 wonue", for tie chaptef
that was being read was the same
chapter his rat. n had read, thirty
years ago, at the family tar the very
morning when -e. il order to escape
the hands of the police, had left the
paternal home. He had never seen IL
since; and hearing now these Scrip
tural words, the happy family circle
seemed to stand afresh before him. He
saw all of them seated around the
breakfast table. His aged father sat
with the open Bible before him. read.
ing a chapter. He beheld' his mother
listening to Gods Word with her char:
acteristic earnestneSs, and his broth.
ers and sisters taking part in the hour
Of quiet devotion, which was to con'
secrate their labor and strengthen
them against the power Of evil. Yes
he saw himself, and his heart was
breaking; for since that morning ne
had never prayed, and he had entirely
banished the thought Of death and
eternity from his heart.
But nov it seemed as If his soul
was awakened out Of a thirty years
Sleep. as if the crust of ice that Gov.
cred his heart was melting under the
warm rays of the Gospel. Each WORD
that his good father OF mother had
spoken to him while he was yet q
child and a young mai returned to him
in memory. Absorbed in a thousand
thoughts, he forgot what passed
around him, So that he heard not the
mockings of. his companions.
Suddenly his neighbor woke him up
out. of. his reveries by a hard blow on
his, shoulder, asking him. Say, old
dreamer, how much will you give for
that Boo? You have more need OF
It than any one Of MS, for you are.
without doubt, the greatest sinner in
existence"
YES, that I am" he answered, in
an earnest tone, Give me the Book.
I will pay you full value"
The morning Cawned. The robbers
went TO the %neighboring villages to
dispose of the spoil. The purchaser OF
The Bible, however, betook himself to
4 solitary, hidden retreat among the
locks. Here he spent the whole day
and the following night in terrible an
guish and cravings OF conscience.
Every now and then he laid down the
Bible. thinking that forgiveness Of sin
and salvation were no longer possible
10 him. But God caused the words OF
oeace' and pardon to sink into his
neaft. He concluded to visit the minis
ter of the nearest village, to have 4
talk With him. He was. fully deter,
mined to bid farewell to the band. and
not only give up his shameful profes.
sion, but also to atone, according to
law, for his former evil deeds.
The next day lie went to the village.
There he learned that, during the
night. the band had been captured by
a detachm INT of soldiers and lodged IN
prison. These tidings strengthened
him in his purpose. He paid d
preacher a visit and told him his whole
iife's history, confessing at the same
time that he had betaken himself tc
the SaYiour's Cross with all his sinful
deeds. The minister assured him thai
Jesus las Wiling to accept graciously
the greatest of sinners if he bit turn
10 Him with a broken heart. as the
only Saviour. He then requested the
minister to accompany him to the
Judge. tc whom he confessed all MS
crime: This voluntary confession
say ~ his. life. All Of his companions
were condemned to die, but he ob:
tained inercy at he hands Of the arcl
duke, unto whom the adventures OF ms
life had been communicated. He was
sentenced to a ten years imprison.
ment, put by means Of is exemplary
conduct are term was shortened, so that
he regained his II edom at the end OF
seven years. A Christ.an noDleman
took him int his sery:: e. where he
proved a blessing to his masters house
till lie lied in peace. With his expir-
ing breath he blessed his Saviour VINO
came i:..o the world 10 save Sinners
Translated from the DutcE. by lev.
]. Hoffman, in ,hristian l;iteiligencer.
Preaching Power.
When SummerfieId was dying he
said, Oh, now, if I could return to my
pulpit for one hour. how l could
9reachl For l have seen God face to
r rorropol anun1iDt9O pPShlD