Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-09

l The Preacher Merchant I
IorIEInal.l

Nv oN'hN Va ihf iNiOh ih6
bic story is n small seaport town In
the West Indies. the time about the be-
ginning Of the nineteenth century. A
man Is sitting ut table; woman is
placing meal before him.
"And what would you do she asks,
with S10O0O?'
"Fit out ship, load. her with the
products of this islai4. run her to
Honduras and bring bSck n 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 be pity to
spoil good preacher to make an indIf-
rerent trader"
The man bent over his plate and said
nothing Two months later lie had the
woman's money that she had been saw
ing Tor years and had converted IL into
n ship. 1t was remarked that the
cargo was very light, but Dyson-that
was the name OF the preacher-mer-
chant-sald that the principal profit
wns In what he would bring back. The
day he sailed away his hacker. Nancy
Jenico. promised that when he return
ed aud sold ont. with 200 or 300 per
cent profit, she would marry him and
they would together set up n first class
tavern. At his departure the beach
was covered by the people whom he
had led TO pure. yirtuous life and
who now prayed that the good man
might he spared from the treacherous
deep 10 come back to them to continue
his plous minlstrations.
! 1t was not long before Dyson return
ed. His crew was different one from
what he had sailed with. They we're
] hard looking lot. and Dyson explained
/ that the first crew had deserted him
and he had been obliged to take whit
he could get Instead OF bringing back
fine woods he had picked up n derclct
containing valuable cargo. Both ship
and cargo were sold by an admiralty
court. and Dyson received the lions
SHIRE of the prize money. He married
Nancy Jenlco. deposited IL bank three
times the capital he had drawn and re-
sumed his preaching.
But the desire for more means with
which 10 do good entered the soul Of
the preacher, and he concluded to ut
ont another trading expedition. From
this his wife in vain endenvored to dis
suade him.
"Why. Mrs. Dyson. do you object to
your husbands making money! said
her ncighbors. I'VE all rejoice In the
| success of such n good man. and lie is
sure TO be liberal with us according to
his success"
eve have enough" said the wife.
and more than this no one could get
out OF her.
When Dyson saiicd--there was the
y same denomination 40 before on the
beach. with the exception that this
time the woman who had furnished
the original capital was not present
After the reverend captain had sailed
her nelghbors found her weeping In
her home. Upon condoling with her
upon her separation from her excellent
husband they drew forth the admis-
sion that she feared for the success OF
the voyage, since she had dreamed nj
three different times thnt her husband
had lost all by investing in the cargo
of hemp
One fine Sunday morning several
| NtthS iutcI btINlCtS MeIG UtluB HeIU
In the church where Dyson had been
accustomed TO preach. The minister
who filed Dysons place and whose
salary was paid regularly by Mrs. by
son was holding up TO the congrega
tlon the example OF their beloved ab
sent pastor, cxpatiatlnS on his virtues
ianding especially the freedom will
which he 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 United States mnn-of-wal
coming into the harbor. The arriva
of ship at any time wns exciting t.
the population Of the little town, aut
the clergyman had the good sense tt
bring the services 10 speedy close
The congregation poured down to the
beach and watched boat pulling fol
the shore from the cruiser. which hat
dropped her anchor.
When the boat struck the sand
man sitting In the stern was directed
I by the officer in command to arise ant
70 ashore. There was n white. lean
hungry look on the mans face ant
great burrows IN his checks. No on,
remembered having ever seen him be
fore, and no one wished to remember
having seen him since he wns In irons
Suddenly some one in the crowd as til,
prisoner was stepping on to the beach
exclaimed:
"Great heaven! It's Dysonw
This was the story told of DYSON
fall: In those days of the buccaneer
men-of-war in order TO inveigle pirates
would mnsk their guns and assume I
traders appearance. The cruiser ont
morning when thus disguised saw