The Columbus journal., 1909-02-10
NOT ALWAYS CCOn

IVA 1~Vv1 IA ~ ~\SOSS
PREAcHER's OPINION OF APPEAL
TO "PRiNciPLE."
In HE View the stumbling Block to
Reconciliation Between Err;ns
Brethren 10 In That Wor3
Used by stifFnecked.
The mud was almost hub-deep. The
two strong horses drew the single
carriage with reasonable comfort, but
one horse might almost have stuck In
the mud. Mr.. Blake was driving to
inspect one Of his cheese factories:
and only the fact that the thing had
to b done accounted for his driving
out with the roads in this condition
He had the road to himself. however;
and he had the added satisfaction. II
such It was. Of remembering that 1t
was the daily journeys Of the milk
wagons to and ftom his several fac
tories that p3oved the mud to this
bottomless condi1loo.
Ahead. at the side Of the road. he
discovered . SOLITARY figure walking.
The pedestrian picked his way with
some care. looking round from time to
time at the approaching vehicle. AZ
soon a. he saw that 1t was . two
horse carriage with . single passen-
ger. he stopped. selected a favorable
approach to the roadway. and began
cleaning the mud OF his boots. BY
this time Mr.. Blake recognized the &C.
centric Methodist preacher. Mr.. Pep
per.
Good morning, Brother Pepper!"
he called out to him. "How's the
navigatiou!"
But Mr.. Pepper. did not answer: he
merely stood till the carriage stopped,
and climbed In between the muddy
wheels.
Glad to see you, Brother Blake"
he said. I've sunk down In the mud
an average Of one foot for every step.
and I've come three miles; 80 I'm q
mile deep in the mud. Those are good
horses of yours. I like a good horse
two good horses-when roads are
like this. You came at a good time.
I'm very tired"
What brings you 20 far when the
roads are like this?" asked Mr.. Blake.
I'm coming down to try to recon
sile two members who have had a
quarrel" said Mr.. Pepper.
well. II you get them reconciled by
two O'Clock you can ride back. have
to drive on to the farther factory. and
I expect to return about that time"
Mr.. Blake drove back past the
house where he expected to find Mr..
Pepper. and as 1t was after two
o'clock, he concluded that the preach
Or had finished his task earlier than
he expected and walked home. But as
he was getting almost out Of ear-shot.
he was halted by loud shouts in a
camp-meeting voice, augmented by
two others of the amen-corner quality.
He refined in the tired horses, and saw
the preacher running toward the gate.
shaking hands with both the men at
once and giving them q parting ad
monition. Then he hurried through
the mud to the carriage.
you seem to have got them recon
ciled, but you nearly lost your ride"
said Mr.. Blake.
Yes. yes!" pulled Mr.. Pepper.
scraping his boots against the iron
step. They're reconciled. but 1t was
hard work"
He finished scraping his boots. and
then took up his parable.
Brother Blake" he said. you can
do almost anything with two men till
they begin to say Principle! Princi
ple!' More men 60 to hell with that
word on their unforgiving lips than
any other word In the dictionary.
Let two men be just as mean -
they know how to be, and know
they've been mean, and show them
their duty. and each will stop and
bubble over some trife. and say:
It's q matter of principle with me!'
When men begin to say: Principle!
Principle;' I'd rather undertake to
reconcile two fiends from the bottom.
less pit"
How did you do IT," asked Mr..
Blake.
II reasoned with them. and prayed
with them. and I got them both on
their knees, and thought q dozen
times 1t was rs good ~ settled. when
one or the other would say 'Principle!
and the fat was all In the fire again.
WED have been there till dooms-
day. but the last time We rose from |
our knees I saw the carriage disap- |
pearing. and I said: There goes my |
chance of a ride home, and your day
Of grace is going. too. Let your prin. |
ciples 60 where they came from
they knew where that was-.and |
shake hands and be brothers, And |
they did it. and I said 'Glory!' and
shouted for you to hold on and let
me in. Most of what men call prin.
ciples at such times are pure stub
bornness."
Mr.. Blake told the story many
times in later years, and he was &C
customed to say that he had come to
believe that Brother Pepper told the
truth.-Youth's Companion.
WITH THE MEN THAT ACHIEVE.
1rials and Sufferjnus Of UneroWned