River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-21

ed 1t fruitful ueIu, Jul 0oO -
the elders shook their heads, as
they had had more experience in the
Lords vineyard than he.
Ezra Grubbs was one Of the Oldest
citizens of the village. He was long,
lank, and had face that resembled
parchment in color, while from I'M
der his chin peeped whitish beard,
which he seldom trimmed. He had
buried his first wife some years be-
fore, and afterward seemed to avoid
designing widows and old maids,
keeping pretty close to his little tink-
ering shop just back of the rambling
main street. His brief sojourn in
the vineyard of the Lord had ended
with the runaway mentioned by Mrs.
Hinton, which occurred in this wise:
Old Ezra had borrowed a team
from a neighbor for the purpose OF
replenishing his woodpile, and while
returning with the jag Of wood, most
ly unseemly looking limbs, the horses
became frightened and dashed down
through Blackberry, distributing the
wood at divers stations along the
route.
Rage had full possession of the old
man, for he had a temper which the
soothing influences of the church had
not altogether curbed, and while he
whipsawed he let out some expres-
sions which simply Mortified the on
lockers. To be plain, he swore like
the army in Flanders and elsewhere,
and when he finally checked the head
long career of the team, and brought
the animals to a standstill, with
nothing lost but his jag of wood and
a good deal of his religion, he drove
back and reloaded.
There were those who thought the
old man should be brought before the
council for his language, and disci-
plined, for they argued that it was
a terrible example to the younger
members, any one of whom might
have a runaway at any time. Old
Ezra heard of the movement which
certain designing persons within the
pale of the church had set on foot,
and one evening at prayer meeting he
rose in his seat and offered an ex.
PLANTATION.
He did not excuse himself, after
saying that he was terribly tried on
the occasion of the runaway. He
admitted that he had temper which
broke out at times, and while he
said that perhaps he had used Ian
guage not entirely proper, he aston
ished all by saying that he really be-
lieved that the horses began to slow
up when they heard his words. This
was a little too much for the meet
ing, and when Elder Tompkins asked
him if he had anything to say why
he shouldn't be disciplined, he quiet
ly picked up his hat, and said that
they could jest wipe his name from
the books for the present" This
was solemnly ordered done, and Ezra
Grubbs was thus relegated to the
"beggarly elements of the world"
A year had passed since these
events, which had been more than a
nine days wonder to Blackberry and
the surrounding community.
Now another revival was at hand,
and those who thought they could
discern the inner thoughts of man
imagined that Ezra Grubbs was in
the act of returning to his first
love-" The Widow Stebbins, whose
cow he drove to pasture, the widow
being childless, refused to confirm
or deny these prophecies; but when
the old man began to attend the meet
ings, very modestly taking a back
seat, those who thought he had been
again "smitten" were confirmed in
their belief
The last night of the revival saw
the church well filed. All eyes were
turned upon Ezra Grubbs when he
came in and walked down the narrow
aisle. He looked neither to the right
nor to the left, but slid quietly into
a seat just in advance of the one oc-
cupied the night before.
The services did not warm up until
after the sermon, when the meeting
became thoroughly revivalistic, and
"amens" rose from all parts of the
house, interspersed with parts of
hymns calculated to stir the blood of
the oldeY members and carry them
back to the days and nights of yore
Suddenly in the midst of it all the
tall figure of Joshua Grimes lowered
in front of the altar, and he imme-
diately launched forth in one of his
powerful exhortations. He had a
voice like y fog-horn, and more than
one sinner had turned pale within
its sound.
"Now's tho time" cried the old man.
1.-THE south wind is BLOWN through
the mulberry trees. The chariot is
ready, an the driver is waitin' fer is
load O. sinners. We want the old.
time religion; the religion o. our ia
theirs; the kind what cheered Paul an
Silas; the kind what strengthened
John on the isle O. Patmos; the saw
in, healin' blessin' sort! Look up
an live, sinners old an young!"
Here he looked at Ezra Grubbs. NO
matter if We have once backslid; no
matter if the years hang heavy on
yer brows, an yer hair is as white as
carded WOOL"
In an instant Ezra Grubbs was on
his feet. Brother Grimes is right, -
he said. 1T was good fer Paul an
Cypress, tharfore it should be good
enough fer the poorest sinner. 1 am
feelin' my way back tonight. Ye see,
l wouldn't be here tonight in this pc