Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-18
Minnie Evans-SchOol Com.
position Respect for
the Sabbath Rewarded"

l am an Ola Junior r1end and L
thought I would send in one of my
school compositions, Respect For the
Sabbath Rewarded"
In the city Of Bath, not many years
since, lived barber who made prac-
tice of following his ordinary occupa-
ton on the Lords day. AS he was
on the way to his mornings employ
ment he happened to look into some
place of worship just as the minister
was giving out his text: Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" He
listened long enough to be convinced
that he was constantly breaking the
laws of God and man by shaving and
dressing his customers on the Lords
day. He became uneasy and went
with heavy heart to his Sabbath
task.
At length he took courage and
opened his mind to his minister, who
advised him to give up Sabbath work
and worship God. He replied that
beggary would be the consequence.
He had flourishing trade, but it
would almost be lost. At length, after
many sleepless night spent in weep
ing and praying, he was determined
to cast all his care upon God, as the
more he reflected the more his duty
became apparent
He discontinued his Sabbath work,
went constantly and early to the pub
lie services of religion, and soon en-
joyed that satisfaction of mind which
is one OF the rewards of doing our
duty, and that peace which the world
can neither give nor take away.
The consequence he foresaw actu.
ally followed. His genteel customers
left him and he was nicknamed "Puri-
tan" or Methodist" He was obliged
to give up his fashionable shop and,
in the course Of years, became so re.
duced as to take cellar under the
old market house and shave the poor.
er people.
One Saturday evening, between light
and dark, a stranger from one of the
coaches, asking for a barber, was d.
rected by the hostler to the cellar Cd.
posite. Coming in hastily, he request.
ed to be shaved quickly while they
changed horses, as he did not like to
violate the Sabbath. This was touch.
ing the barber on tender chord. He
burst into tears, asked the stranger
to lend him a half penny to buy
candle as it was not light enough to
shave him with safety. He did so, re-
volving in his mind the extreme pow
erty to which the poor man must be
reduced.
When shaved, he said: There must
be something extraordinary in your
history which have not now time to
hear. Here is half crown for you.
When return will call and investi-
gate your case. What is your name %
Charles Bailey" said the aston
ished barber.
Charles Bailey?" echoed the strane.
er. Charles Bailey? BY your dialect
you are from the west"
Yes, sir, from Kingston, near Tam.
ton"
What was your fathers name?"
Richard"
Had he any brother"
Yes, Sir, one, after whom I was
named; but he went to the Indies, and.
as we never heard from him, we SUP.
posed him to be dead"
Come along, follow me-" said the
stranger. II am going to see a person
who says his name is Charles Bailey
OF Kingston near Taunton. Come and
confront him. II you prove to be in.
deed whom you say you are, I have
glorious news for you. Your uncle is
dead and has left an immense for
tune which I will put you in posses
sion OF when all legal doubts are re-
moved"
( They went by the coach, saw the
pretended Charles Bailey and proved
him to be an impostor. The stranger.
who was a pious attorney, was soon
legally satisfied of the BARRIERS iden.
tity and told him that he had adver-
tised for him in vain. Providence had
now thrown him in his way in a most
extraordinary manner, and he had
great pleasure iu transferring a great
many thousand pounds to q worthy
man, the rightful heir of the property.
Thus was mans extremity Gods op-
portunity. Had the poor barber DOS.
sessed one half penny or even had
credit for candle, he might have re-
NAMED unknown for years. But he
trusted God, who never said Seek We
my face" in vain.
Minnie Evans,
K f. d. Ibertyville, Iowa
Milford Brady-A New Jun
I'M