Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-05-06

as I am, without one plea let the
doors Of divine mercy stand opened
wide, and let every hard heart be soft.
ened. Come, ye disconsolate; conc
forward to the mercy-seat as we sing.
The old, soul-moving, revival hymn
was lifted in a triumphant burst or
sound, and Thomas Jefferson's heart
began to pound like a trip hammer.
Was this his calI-his one last chance
to enter the ark of safety? Just there
was the pinch. A saying Of Japheth
Petttgrass, overheard in Hargis' store
on the first day Of the meetings, flick
ed into his mind and stuck there:
Hits scare, first, last and all the time,
with Brother Silas. He knows mighty
we'll that a good bunch o hickories,
thatI bring the blood every cut, beats
sugar kittle out O. sight when it
comes to film the anxious seat" Was
it really his call? Or was he only
scared?
The 12-year- old brain grappled
hardly with the problem which has
thrown many an older wrestler. This
he knew: that while he had been lis
tening with outward ears to the rest
less champing and stamping Of the
horses among the pines, but with his
Utmost soul to the burning words Ct
his uncle, the preacher, great fear
had laid hold of him-a fear mightfer
than desire or shame, or love or ha
tired, or any spring of action known to
him.. It was lifting him to his feet; 1t
was edging him past the others on the
bench and out into the aisle with the
mourners who were crowding the space
tn - 1Io "a
turn he heard his mothers low-mur-
INJURED Il thank Thee, 0 God" and
saw the grim, set smile on his faith
er's face. Then he fell on his knees
on the rough hewn floor, with the tall
countaineer called William Layne en-
his right, and on his left a young girl
from the choir who was sobbing softly
in her handkerchief.
To his new young life after that t
seemed but a step to June, the queen
of the months in the valleys Of Ten
nessee. The revival converts Of Little
Zoar had the pick and choice Of all
the Sundays of the year for the day
of their baptizing.
The font was Of great natures own
providing, as was the mighty temple
housing it-a clear pool in the creek,
Will LllS green WdllSu dISlSS III ILAS
June forest leading down to it, and
the blue arch of the flawless June sky
for a dome respondent.
All Paradise was there to see and
hear and bear witness, as a matter Of
course; and there were not wanting
farm wagon loads from the great val
ley and from the Pine Knob high
lands. Major Dabney was among the
HNoI@ ,ff IT. IL
Hambletonian, and twisting his huge
white moustaches until they stood out
like strange and fierce looking horns.
Also, in the outer ranks of skepticism,
Major Dabney's foreman and horse
trader, Japheth Pettigrass, found
place. On the opposite bank of the
stream were the few negroes owning
Major Dabney now as "Majah Boss"
as some of them-most Of them, in
fact-had once owned him as "Maws-
tub Majah"; and mingling freely with
them were the laborers, white and
black, from the Gordon iron furnace.
Thomas Jefferson brought up mem
cries from that solemn rite administer
ed so simply and yet so impressiely
under the June sky, with the many
pointing forest spires to lift the soul to
heights ecstatic. One was the singing
Of the choir minimized and made ce-
lestially sweet by the lack Of bounding
walls and roof. Another was the sight
Of his fathers face, with the grim
smile gone, and the steadfast eyes
gravely tolerant as he-Thomas Jeffer-
son-was going down into the water.
A third-and this might easily become
the most lasting Of all-was the mem
Of how his r1nthar p1o h ro IN,
her arms as he came up out of the
water all wet and dripping as he was,
and sobbed over him as if her heart
would break.
(To be continued.)