Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-10

! Tho Preacher Merchant
l.TTfNuI,IE'ii1Y siiIH,IiITr17NIItI

BILE story is Il small seaport town In
the West Indies, the time about the be-
ginning of the nineteenth century. ~
man is sitting ut a table; woman Is
placing a meal before him.
"And what would you do" she asks,
with StO.000?"
products of this lsla.2 ran her to
Honduras and bring bSck cargo of
mahogany and other fancy woods.
There's profit both ways"
but YOU are doing so much good in
the Lords work. 1t would he Il pity to
spoil Il good preacher to make an indlf-
fcrcnt trader"
The man bent over his plate and said
nothing. Two months later he had the
wonan's money That she had been saw
Ing for years and had converted 1t into
Il ship. 1t was remarked that the
cargo was very light, but Dyson that
was the name of the prcacher-mcr
chnnt-said that the principal profit
was In what lie would bring back Tho
day lie sailed away his hacker. Nancy
Jcnico, promised that when he return
ed and sold out. with 200 or 800 per
cent profit. she would marry him and
they would together set up Il first class
tavern. At his departure the beach
was covered by the people whom he
had led to n pure. virtuous life and
who now prayed that the good man
might he spared from the trcacherous
deep TO come back to them to continue
his plous ministrntlons.
1T was not long before Dyson return
cd. His crew was n different one from
what ne had sailed with. They were
hard looking lot. and Dyson explained
that the first crew had deserted him
and he had been obliged TO take what
he could get. Instead OF bringing hack
fine woods he had picked up dcrelict
containing IL valuable cargo. Both ship
and cargo were sold by an admiralty
court, and Dyson received the lions
share of the prize money. He married
Nancy .lcnlco deposited il bank three
times the capital he had drawn ana re-
sumcd his preaching
But the desire for more means with
which to do good entered the soul OF
the preacher. and lie concluded to fit
out another trading expedition. From
this his wife In vain cndeavorcd to dis
suadc him.
"Why, Mrs. Dyson. do you object to
your husbands making money!" said
her uclshbors, I'VE all rejoice In the
success OF such good man. and he Is
sure TO be liberal with us according to
his success
I'VE have enough" said the wife,
and more than this no one could get
out OF her.
When Dyson sailed there was the
same demonstration as before on the
beach, with the exception that this
time the woman who had furnished
the original capital was not present.
Aftor the reverend captain had sailed
her ncighbors found her weeping in
her home. Upon condollng with her
upon her separation frcm her excellent
husband they drew forth the admis-
sion that ahe feared for the success of
the voyage, since she had dreamed ut
three different times that her husband
had lost all by investing In the cargo
Of hemp.
One fine Sunday morning several
weeks later services were being held
in the church where Dyson had been
accustomed 10 preach The minister
who filled Dysons place and whose
salary was paid regularly by Mrs. by
son was holding UP to the congrega-
lion the example of their beloved alb
sent pastor. expa.iatlng ON his virtues,
lauoing especially the freedom with
which lie gave of the proceeds OF his
hard earned ventures on the stormy
| sea. AS he was pronounclng the words
this noble servant OF the Lord" his
eyes. through an open window, caught
sight OF Uuited States man-of-wnr
coming into the harbor. The arrival
of ship ut any time was exciting to
the population OF tie little town. and
the Clergyman had the good sense 10
bring the services to speedy close.
The congregation poured down to the
beach aud watched boat pulling Tor
the shore from the cruiser, which had
dropped her anchor.
When The boat struck the sand a
| man sitting in the stern was directed
by the officer In commnud to arise and
go ashore. There was white. leln,
hungry look on the mans face and
great burrows in his checks. No one
remembered having ever seen him be-
fove, and no one wished 10 remember
having seen him since he was In irons.
Suddenly some one in the crowd as tho
prisoner was stepping oil to the beach
exclaimed:
Great heaven! It's Dyson"
This wns the story told of Dyson's
fall: In those days OF the buccaneers
men-of-war In order TO inveigle pirates
would mask their guns and assume u
traders appearance. The cruiser one
nOrnin,, N-hnn fh,,a diGeuignd en.,. n