The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-12
JOSEPH ROCKING

ooeooetooooSooeooeetbO l lost He wudden tell nothin' and nothin' cud be proved agin un, but 'ee wos the most miserable man that ever walked the earth. Wawn day I spoked to un, but 'ee wudden gay nothin', but The devils a ard mas ter, Mrs. Pethick.' I axed 'un to come to chapel but he wudden come. Night after night wrastled in pray CT fur un, but 'ee wad'n altered. He jist went round like a man weth | alter round lis neck. I've been the class laider up to the Bible Christ ian Chapel for long time, and one night we zed as low we would agree to pray for Aaron, and we ded. For two weeks we prayed. and then wawn Sunday night Aaron comed to chapel. The praicher ded'n come that night, so we turned the sarvice into prayer-meetin'. Oh, Aaron was con- victsd of sin, but 'ee wudden yield for q long while; but after a time he got 'pen his knees. and began to cry. God be merciful to me, a sim ner.' But he ded'n git no liberty. wy can't git paice?' he cried. So said, Eff we repent ov our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un- righteousness Wot do 'ee main by repent?' ses Zee. Be sorry fer all the wrong you've done,' I sed; | make yer paice with man and God, and forgive everybody and then trust in the mercy of the Lord for saliva tion.' 'Wot, forgive Bill Liddicoat? he zed never But you've paid un out I zed; surely you can fer give un now 'Ow do you knaw I've paid un out?' he asked. The Lord tould me- I said. For long time he was hardened, then he said, Lord, ef You'n forgive me. I'll fer give Bill Liddicoat.' And still Zee ded'n git no paice. At this my faith was a bit shaken; then it comed to me that hadn't quoted the Scrip ture right, so I repeated ct agin. Eff we confess our, sins,' sed. Con fess wotT ses Zee. Confess wot you've done to Bill Liddicoat. and ax un to forgive 'ee.' I sed. 'Wot. ax Bill Liddicoat to forgive me?' he said; 'wot, 'ee that lave ruined my little maid? I'll burn in hell first If ye forgive not men their tres passes neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses,' I said. Is that in the Bible?' ses Zee. Our dead Lord said it Himself re- piled. Oh, the struggle was ter rible.s I've bin in hell for weeks ses 'ee, 'ever since tried to kill Bill. I thought eff I lad my revenge I should be 'appy, but I was in He'll Then oal of sudden he cried out,
 Lord, eff You'll give paice. eff You'll make new man ov me. I'll do wot- ever You want me to. I'll forgive Bill Liddicoat, I'll ax un to forgive me. I'll confess that I tried to kill un. 'Tes terrible Lord, but I'n do et.'"
 Mrs. Pethick stopped in her recital, and looked at the eager face of the man who was watching her
 Would you believe ct, sur, his face changed in a moment. He seemed to become like a little child
 Then he got on his feet, and praised the Lord. That was five years agone, and Aaron Goudge is a local preacher now, and the happiest man in the parish. As for Bill Liddi- coat, well, suur, he got better, and now Aaron's maid is his wife Tha's wot the dear Lord Jesus can do fer
 man, sur."
 Leicester made no reply. He
 tried to think of something mocking
 to say. but the words would tnot
 come. It seemed to be impossible to call up a sheer in the face of the
 woman's simple faith.
 ''Plaise fergive me, sur, for talkin
 like this. But I was prayin' when
 I heerd you knock, besides, in a way
 you do make me think of the poor
 gen'lman that comed ere years
 agone.. and wot throwed 'isself in the
 reyver afterwards. As I sed to 'ee
 eff we doan't conquer the devil, 'ee'l
 conquer we. You be'ant's offended
 be 'ee, sur ?''
 Offended? Certainly not" H.
 tried to laugh, but somehow the
 laugh died on his lips But yo,
 see, t's-it's long time since
 heard any one talk like this"
 "Is ct, sur? An, but the deal
 Lord Jesus es cal I've got to live fol
 now. Four years ago my 'usbant
 died. and then my boy Was killed il lthe war. I felt ard and bitter fo