The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-07-04

The late Judge F. R. Farrar-"Johnny Reb"-
used to tell enough stories about the old saint
illustrative of this ideal quality, to fill volume
The following is one of them. The old gentle
man had spent the night at the house of promi-
nent Methodist not far from Amelia Court House.
where he had often been welcomed before The
next morning at breakfast it developed that the
bread was sour, not enough perhaps to be remark
ed on but nevertheless sour. The old preacher
was engaged in eating it, when the dame at the
head of the table called attention to the disagree
able fact. Brother Powers said nothing but con-
tinued to satisfy his hunger with what was "set
before him, asking no questions" and accepting
no suggestions The old lady, however, was not
to be thwarted in her effort to wiring from her
guest the admission that the bread was not very
bad, which politeness seemed to require apologize
ed the second time, which also failed to elicit the
longed-for response. Brother Powers just kept
his eyes his plate and went ahead eating more
Justify than ever, in quandary doubtless, not
knowing what to say and resolved that he would
not tell lie. But the good woman was not salts
fed and with fatality that sometimes overtakes
the warlest OF the sex, SO left to herself
apologize the third time which was too much
Tor the old man; it broke his silence anu opened
his sealed lips, caused him to lay down his knife
and fork, to turn his benevolent face up to the
head OF the table and elected his stringent advice
and opinion in the following words: Sister --,
if | were you L would stop talking about this
bread. 1t is mean enough" This, | confess was
rough-too rough-and yet it was better than to
tell a lie. 1t seems to that of more
social culture and equal honesty might have found
more euphemistic terms and thus been able to
soOthe rather than irritate the feelings of dis
tressed woman.
The scene at the breakfast table, to use the
language of Judge Farrar, threw a GOODNESS on
the meeting" and afterwards Mr. Powers
said: Brother wish you would have my
horse caught" In little while his host returned
and said, Brother Powers, your horse is at the
rack" The two then walked together, the
latter with his saddle bags in hand, but when he
caught sight of his beautiful animal with the sad
die all one-sided and awry on her back, he paused
laid down his burden and said, Brother -
who did put that saddle on that horse?" to which
Brother replied, 81 did. The negroes were
down in the low grounds working tobacco and
put it on myself" WELL" calculated Brother
Powers, Brother , if your religion doesn't
sit you any better than that saddle sits on that
horse, advise you to begin and get it again"
Then they parted.
Soon after the old gentleman put in an appear
ance at Colonel GregOrys [ told him that | had
expected to preach to the negroes after supper
but hoped he would take charge and conduct the
service. To this he demurred but suggested that
he would take the first part and preach short
sermon, and that l should follow and close it,
This arrangement was agreed on and executed
without making the service longer than usual
The rest of the evening was spent in pleasant con-
versation with the family after which we were
shown to our room. When our host retired and
the door had been closed, the gody old man turn
ed to me with fraterna look and a tender voice.
said: Brother McIlwaine, we have been trying to
do the Lords work to-day Let's knee down
and tell Him about it. l will make short prayer
and you follow"
He lived and continued to labor for years after
this, leading the life and dying the death of the
righteous. 1t is pity that his biography was not
written for in some important respects he was an
exempar of Christian and ministerial fidelity and
activity. / have thought of him often and always
with sincere Christian regard