Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-17
His Thanksgiving Sermon
BIZ veIma caId weII MeIvIIIe.

He was a minister and the morrow
was Thanksgiving An eloquent.
fiowery sermon lay finished on his
desk and, in the early twilight, well
satisfied. he turned an easy chair to
the fire and settled himself to rest.
But f. mind never rests and soon
he was busily engaged in counting up
the successes and blessings Of the
past year.
IT'S been an uncommonly satisfac-
tory year" he unused and an uncom-
monty busy one. Let me see, | have
preached at least seventy-fye SER
mons and touched on every vital ques-
tion.g
No, you haven't" said a decided
voice beside him. Turning in surprise,
he saw a sweet creature, angelic in
appearance, who certainly did no,
look capable of contradicting a man
so fatty.
why, what's this? Who are your
Il am an angel of mercy"
"Eh! Anybody dying or in need !?
Did you want me?"
Plenty of people are dying and in
need, but for uone of them am |
here. Yes want you; get ready
for we have long journey before u.s.
But It's chilly out; I am tired, and
tomorrow we dine at Judge L's,'' re-
'nonstrated the man of God
Are you a Christian asked the
angel
Most certainly: why. am minis
ter of the Gospel
Did you not say that, as such, you
had touched all vital questions dur
ing the past YEAR,"
Il did"
Sir, some of us angels of mercy
have lowered over your pulpit, as well
as all other Christian pulpits every
Sabbath during the past year, and
while you have been diligent along
some lines, you have never men
toned in either sermon or prayer one
of the most vital questions of the
day"
Astounded, the good man could only
stare and mutter; What can you
mean?"
Come with me and will show you.
1t would do no good for me to talk;
seeing is believing"
Impelled against his will, the min.
lister made ready and accompanied
his guide. who, strangely enough, led
rim to large livery stable. With
supernatural sight he beheld as he
passed from stall to stall, the deform-
tiles and diseases that made life a per.
feet torture for majority of the
poor horses there confined. Some were
groaning with toothache exaggerated
By having bit in the mouth all day
long, some could not eat, though we'll
nigh famished on account of torn and
bleeding mouths, sore Threats, induced
by long dusty drives without water,
irregular teeth and other ills. Others
held up their feet and moaned with
pain. Shoes, put. ON hap-hazard-in
most cases their feet cut down to
fit the shoe--cramped them until the
lain was unbearable; nails were ruth
lessly driven into the quick: these,
and one poor fellow with hoof half
torn off, had been relentlessly driven
by any and everybody who could pay
their hire.
And nobody to speak word in our
defense and we can't speak for our
selves" walled one, whose neck was
swollen in knots from the use of the
overdrawn checkrein.
And yet there is a class of peo-
pie calling themselves Christians, who
pretend to give their lives to the
helping the helpless and doing good"
said another, who shivered SO he
could hardly make himself heard,
Here I've endured untold torture all
summer, my master having cut off my
tail and name, from flies and singing
and now they have clipped
close all the hair on my body, and
oh I'm so coIdi"
What did he clip you for?" asked
another
style! My mistress is very de
vout woman and they've been deco
rating the church for Thanksgivii g
services tomorrow, and had to stand
in the wind-my head drawn clear
back--and every bone in me aching,
for three long hours. It's her doings
having me clipped, She says it's the
fad"
is she Christian
Yes, indeed"
What the minister saw and heard
was as new and astonishing to him
as if the same had never come to his
, ice before. and that poor, clipped,
over-checked horse wrought upon his
sympathies as If there had not been
of just such abused creatures
waiting outside his church door
all those ''seventy-five" SER
mons. But the angel hurried him on
to this and that part of the city, show
ing him horses, cattle, dogs. cats and
birds suffering every species Of pain
and privation. A great many were be-
ing starved, or in some way tortured
through mere thoughtlessness, others
to crafty the cruel lusts of those who
had the power over them.
II was broad daylight and midsum-
mer weather, when they paused at the
stock yards. Long lines OF cars,
a