McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-02-18

| Shakespeare, was not the man to lead
a Christian Endeavor meeting, or to
sit down by the bedside of a dying
man in sweet comradeship. 1t was
too much to expect of him, no doubt.
put did expect it.
| An old gentleman named Sneden
was on his death bed. | sat and told
him of Talmage's wonderful words
spoken the Sunday before. The SER
mon was about children, and the great
preacher, extending his long arm out
ward, pointed into the air, and said:
DO you see that little child there,
happy in its careless play" (and when
Talmage told you something was
there, you could almost see IT'D IF
that young life were TO close tomor-
row, you would not weep, but would
only think OF it as one baby less in
this world of sorrow. But | tell you,"
land his voice rang with a mighty
emphasis that carried his tones far
out to the street, that the soul of
that child shall blossom in glory a
quadrillion years after the sun, moon
and stars shall have been swept like
chaff from the threshing floor of eter-
nityw 0, what a magnificent sent
ence, and what a magnetic thrill
swept the audience upon it's delivery!
But my poor old friend Sneden was
nearing that sad hour where he, too,
was to be swept like chaff from the
floor of earthly existence, and it took
something more than beautiful phrases
to touch and comfort him. With a
pleading look in his eyes, he said to
me: IF DR.. Talmage is in this town |
want him to come and let me take
his hand just once before | cross over
the river, and thank him for all the
beautiful sermons | used to hear him
preach in Brooklyn. | believe if you
will go and tell him about me, he will
come and do me that favor, for I do
admire him'so much"
had no desire to push myself into
the society of the great, but that ap-
peal was too much for me, and | sought
out DR., Talmage at his very palatial
home on Massachusetts, avenue. A
smart mart negro valet in uniform met me
and escorted me into one of the sew
eral beautiful apartments, all hung
with rich tapestry. and carpeted with
crimson velvet that yielded no sound
to the footstep. The darkey went
upstairs to see the noted divine, and
soon tall figure descended the stair
case, grand, gloomy and peculiar"
one hand in his bosom, and the other
by his side. Did he come forward.
extend his hand and say "howdy" like
one Of our good old McNairy preach
ers? No, indeed. "What can | do
for your" was all he said. In a few
few words told him about my old
friend Sneden, who wanted so much
to see him before crossing the dark
river. Talmage looked at his heayi-
ly jewelled watch, and said with a |
British drawl, totally unlike his preach
ing voice: Il am very, very sorry, but
| cahnt help your oil friend. | have
to 60 out driving this afternoon, and
then, as you may know, | must pre-
pare my sermon for Sunday and am
editing weekly paper, and a book
besides | told him how easy it
would be, while he was out driving, to
step in for few minutes, and make
this old man happy in his last hours,
even if only by taking him by the hand
and saving a word or two. "Too
busy, too busy. Very, very sorry
Good afternoon, good afternoon!9 and
the famous preacher was gone. 1t
was hard to have to tell the poor old
dying man that the great preacher
was too busy to see him. As mat
ter Of fact, Talmage took the address
/ gave him, No, 1888 Marion street,
but he never called. Every word of
this is strictly true. 1t may have
been very hard for him to see all who
called for him, but have always
thought he made a mistake there.
President Mckinley once went to the
humble dwelling of an old army COM
rade in Washington. and sat some
time talking with him. in the midst
of cares of state Git was during the
Spanish war; and found time to make
one poor soul happy. Sometime the
big things of this life look small and
little things become of serious mo-
ment.