The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-08-15
Father Raymond's Burglar

Nearly thirty years have passed since
Raymond x and I babe farewell
to our college friends and companions.
and entered In earnest upon the bust
ness of life; he, in fulflment of a long
cherished purpose, to become a hard
working missionary clergyman, and I
to follow the alluring paths of litera-
ture in the hope of one day climbing
the pinnacle of Fame.
Fast friends we had been through
all the vieissitudes of school and col
iege life, and, in spite of the diver
gence OF our ways in life, our friend
ship has but grown and strengthened
with the lapse of years. After weeks
and months, sometimes years, of toll
some journeyings-preaching, teaching.
and eonsoiing-it is to my freside that
Father Raymond as he is affection
ateiy known, comes for relaxation, and
over our final pipes many and strange
are the experiences which, in his ex-
pansive moods, he eonfides to my ready
ear. Some of these stories have often
urged him to allow me to perpetuate
IN writing, and having at last succeed
ed IN wringing from him reluctant
consent, I have here set down one
which made, at the time of telling. a
deep impression on me. AS far as
possible | Barrate it in his own words.
suppresslng all names of persons and
places IN accordance with his express
stipulation
We were sitting over the fire one
windy March night, having our usual
smoke and chat before retiring. We
had been discussing the problem of
business morality and the amassing of I!
fortunes by speculation, etc.. when in |
response to SOME remark of mine Raw !
mond's fine face clouded as he said: /
No, no; it seems TO be quite impossi- |
BILE to lay down any standard of our
swn by which to Judge another. for
what is exactly contrary to our own
preeonceived views of right and wrong
may be perfectly legitimate, in the con
science of some other man. In proof
of this | will tell you of a singular in
terview which | had about this time /.
last year, when [ was preaching len
ten sermons at the large manufactur-
ing town of Z. 1t was drawing to-
wards the close of the course, and the
rector of the parish was congratulate
ing himself one evening after the SER
vice on the large and successful at
tendance, when the door-bell rang and
a gentleman asked to see me. Excus-
ing myself to the vicar, | entered the
parlOr, and was surprised to see a gen
ueman to whom | had been introduced,
Mr.. s., one of the NEST successful
and respected men in the town, and
a stanch supporter of the church.
Thinking that he had merely called as
an act of courtesy towards compare
tive stranger, L FASTENED to greet him,
and inquired the purport of his visit.
Well, sir, replied he, if you are
not engaged l should like the pleas
uTe of an houI's conversation with you,
/ know you will be returning to Lon
don shortly, so that 1 may not have
another opportunity. Do you know
he continued. smiling. ever since l
first saw you in the pulpit l have felt
like the Ancient Mariner, where he
says, "The instant that his face / see,
L know the man who must hear me.
To him my tale l teach Strange
to say, / have never had that feeling
before. / don't suppose-if YOU will
that | shall ever experience it again.
Begging my unexpected guest to
seat himself by the fire. | rang the bell.
and after ordering coffee, and giving
instructions that we were not to be
disturbed under any pretext whatever
for the next honr, drew up my chair
to the side of the hearth and waited
with some curiosity for the tale of my
Ancient Mariner
after regarding me steadily for
moment, Mr.. s. drew forth a large
wallet from his pocket, extracted sev-
eral bank-notes. and passed them
across to me, saying. Here are one
hundred pounds, which l beg you to
take and use as You think best in al
ieviating the lot Of some unfortunate
man whom You may deem in need of
help. Give the whole amount to one