Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1931-07-31


Cotton was quickly changed iEto an
other type Of human being. The seed
Of magic thoughts fell into fruitful
soil and wrought its wonders in the
spirit Of the man 50 that he became
q most useful and respected citizen.
The lonely confinement Of William
Heydon had wrought a great change
in him His pallor. his wasted form.
his face worn BY fevered anxieties.
were the least Of Il The change in
the inner man was even greater. His
pride, his resignation to conditions in
the colony. his sympathy with the
churchmen. who had so wrecked his
life, were gone His anger had
passed 1t had settled into a quiet.
profound resentment Of the wrongs
committed in the name Of God. He
was perhaps more deeply religious and
also q more determined rebel than
ever be had been. What he should
do about it he did not know, but his
doing would have no defiant talk in 1t
Ike that Of Anne Hutchinson-like
that which had come from bis own
mouth when he was a boy in Eng
land. The departure Of the Brades
had soreiy distressed him. He knew
that It was their pride which had
sent them away. Pride was the mas
ter Of weil-born men and women. Yet
he could not think it the way Of love
TO fail when 1t is most needed.
Long letters had come to him from
the banished Roger Williams. radical
opponent Of what he called the mag
isterial sristocracy- of the Bay Colony.
Williams had addressed him as a
brother and child of God His let
ter had been full of friendly counsel
and advice:
4 send this letter because you have
come to a time when friendly words
may comfort and help you and be-
cause l knew your father in England
Che wrote) Pride will cause many to
turn against you. Pride is a foolish
and a cruel thing. 1t is one of the
meanest and the worst Of sins. When
you are free, and a letter from Yane
assures me that you are likely soon to
be out Of prison, you will have a
chance to practice the virtue Of for
giveness. would have you remem-
Der that the poor and the ignorant are
your brothers no less than the rich
and the learned Bear with them and
help them to think and to think
rightly. II you have a great spirit
/ when you go forth. it will appear. An
opportunity the like of which comes
to few men shall be yours. Rule
your own spirit and find your work
and take upon yourself the grandeur
Of a noble humility. That. l assure
you, is the beginning of great things-T
William pondered over these words
in the loneliness Of his gloomy prison
room They fell into fruitful soil.
Some Of them put him in mind of
things quite new TO him.
William thought much in his lonely
hours of the sheer cruelty of pride
and of its folly. What a masterful
motive it was-greater even than
loye!' He knew many men who were
proud of their ancestors, of their
piety, Of their riches. Of their learning.
How ii belittled them and diminished
their power. He said to himself that
he liked better certain poor and hum
bic folk he knew who were honest and
who had nothing to be proud Of Al
ways he sighed when he thought OF
the unfortunate Mabel Hartley The
young man had so changed that he
had no serious dread of the moose
to be put on his neck. Why should he
care now? Still when the rope was
on # seemed to choke him. For days
it was a burden like the milestone Of
Holy Writ 1t burned his neck. He
could think Of nothing else He
stayed at home yielding to his own
pride.
Margaret Hooper. his housekeeper.
said to him: NY boy. which is the
stronger. you or this rope? 1t is a
test of your soul. If your soul is the
stronger am sure that the Lord will
use it to lead you unto great things.
If not. the devil will use it to pull
you down.
you are right, Margaret" he an
swered. after all what is this rope
but my pride? l thought that l was
done with it but still have enough"
ITO keep you in mind of the value
of charity" said Margaret. go forth
and learn to be humble It is your
great need. These are dark days but
a great soul is ike the tail of a
FREELY. 1t is made to shine in the
dark
The first time he went abroad with
the rope many were staring at him
No one gave him kindly word Again
pride was having its way. Some
laborers raising a house jeered and
called him ''trundle TAIL This was
what he expected He came upon
Peggy Weld She took his arm and
walked beside him with friend,
words.
tTo BE coSTINUED)