Willmar tribune., 1909-08-25
A MAT TER Of =.
CONSCIENCE,
BY N. QUAD.

BY N. QUAD.
copyright. 1903. by Associated Literary
Press.]
Deacon Uriah Hart Of the village Of
Poolsvllle was an ex-deacon, as mat
ter Of fact, but the title still clung to
him. It was the same with Deacon
Abraham Noble. For ten years there
was neighborly and a brotherly feel
ing between these two men. Then
came rupture. They traded horses,
and each felt that the other had taken
advantage Of him. There was no
scandal over it. but the two men were
cool to each other and had moth
ing to explain, even to their wives.
The minister Of their church sought to
smooth over matters, but found them
noncommittal.
At the end Of the year Deacon Hart
rose up in prayer meeting one night
and said that, while he had tried his
best to be good man. he had made a
slip or two In his life. One of those
slips rested hard on his conscience and
he would ask forgiveness. Hewasabout
to make a statement when a big piece
Of plaster fell from the ceiling and
struck him on the head, and his in
juries were such that he was in bed
for fortnight.
He had been out of bed and walking
around for a month when he and
Deacon Noble met on the bridge. They
were about to pass with a nod when
the latter deacon stopped and said:
"Uriah, I don't feel right in my mind.
It isn't about that horse trade, but
something else. l think Of it and can't
sleep nights. I'm going to own up
aud ask you''-
But he didn't own up. Just then a
farmers runaway team came along.
and they had to jump into the creek
to get out Of the way. They both
crawled out sopping wet and went
home. and after they had got dried
out conscience didn't seem to prick
quite so hard. Then Deacon Hart
wounded himself In the leg with a
pttchfork. and after a day or two
symptoms Of blood poisoning set in.
He feared that his days were num-
bered. and he sent for Deacon Noble
and said:
abraham. may die Of this. and
want to leave my house in order. My
conscience is pricking me about a Ger
tain thing in connection with you. and
want to get it of my mind"
'"Thats right. Uriah," urged the 9th
er. mo one ought to 60 to the grave
with anything on his mind. I'm ready
to hear your confession"
But no confession was made. The
doctor came in just then to examine
and dress the wound. and he said he
was glad to inform Deacon Hope that
the bad symptoms had disappeared
and that the leg would now do nicely
These words had wonderful effect
on conscience, and the deacon shut his
| lips and waited for some other time
That time didn't come for year OF
more. Then Deacon Mobiles wife was
taken Ill with typhoid fever. Wher
the crisis approached and the doctor
said the chances were all against hel
the husband broke down. He was GU,
under an apple tree. and when Deacon
Hart came along and began to expires!
his sympathy Deacon Noble decided Il
relieve his conscience.
But he didn't relieve it. The doctor
came to the door and beckoned to hin
and whispered that he believed the crisis
was passed. 1t was such good news tina
Deacon Noble wouldn't have confessed
anything for a hundred dollars. His
wife convalesced. and time ran alonf
until the biannual camp meeting
opened. Both deacons we're particu
larly strong on camp meetings. They
were there and enthusiastic. On thu
third day Of the camping the spirits @
all were aroused by the words of &
visiting minister. and at length Deacon
Hart got up and said that he couli
stand 1t 60 longer. He was admOn
ished to make full confession. bu
before he could start out Deacon No
bic. who was laboring under nervou.
excitement. arose and said that h,
had a burden on his conscience tina
he was determined to get rid of.
Something might have come of tn,
two confessions then and there but fo
some loafers who had planned t,
break up the meeting. They let 10
Of bees loose on the people and created
a diversion lasting an hour. and whel
It was over it was found that boil
deacons had been stung so many time
that any matters of conscience hat
been adjourned to a more propitiou
occasion. That occasion came Just
year later. There was food in th
river. and both deacons turned out t,
help the sawmill man save his prop
erty. They were engaged in thi
neighborly task when both foun,
themselves seated on the same log ant
being whirled downstream. 1t wa
then that Deacon Hart said:
"Abraham, we are in danger"
I'VE are. Uriah.''