Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1876 — DEACON H. [ARTICLE]

DEACON H.

The greatest of these is charity.” The morning meal was completed; and as Deacon H. took iiis Bible for the usual devjtions, he cast a satisfied glance around the room, and on the faces of the rosycheeked little group that surrounded the table. The chapter chosen was the thirteenth of First Corinthians. “ Faith, hope, charity,” read the Deacon at its close, “ but the greatest of these is charity.” Then followed a long prayer, in which the Deacon, after giving the Lord various bits of information concerning matters of which it was quite essential lie should be cognizant, earnestly invoked the graces of the Spirit, and solicited help for the duties of the day. “ Stop a moment, husband,” said Mrs. H., as the Deacon, at the close of the exercise, was preparing to leave the room. “ I forgot to mention that Mrs. Conner called here yesterday. She wants to know if you can find a place in your store for her eldest boy. Poor woman! she is in great distress. I inferred from what she said that her husband is drinking again; and her boy has for weeks been vainly seeking for work. I gave her some sewing, for which she seemed very grateful, though she looks too feeble to do much.” The complacent smile that had been playing on the Deacon’s face suddenly changed to a gloomy frown. “Take that drunkard’s boy into my store, Mary? I wonder at the woman’s presumption. * Like father, like son,’ is a true saying; I’ll have no vagabonds around me.” “But James is a bright, active boy, husband, and if surrounded by the right influences I doubt not he will do well. Surely the family should not suffer for the father’s faults. Could you have seen the anxiety of the poor mother, you would try in some way to aid her. It made my heart £che to look at her sad, worn face. Do, husband, consider the matter. I cannot bear to tell her you will not try her son.” “ Then do not go near her,” was the harsh reply. “It is no place for such as you; if they are suffering the town will look out for them. I have enough to do to attend to my own affairs. If you have work‘for her, give it to her and pay her for it These drunkards are perfect pests; it is useless trying to reform them. Now, I presume Conner has signed the pledge half a dozen times, but what good does it do?”

“ Charity suffereth long and is kind,” repeated Mrs. H., softly. “ I believe you read that this morning and this verse also: ‘ The greatest of these is charity? Do these passages mean anything?” ' “ Mean anything? of course they do,” angrily replied her husband; “ but they don’t mean that I should support every anmkard’s family. You women take everything literally, and I really believe you’d give away your last penny; but my money is my own, and I shall use it as I pleaseand shutting the door in a very ’ undeaconlike manner, the angry man hastily left the house “ The silver and gold are mine; I shall require mine with usury,” sadly murmured the wife. Deacon H. and his wife were specimens of that strange dissimilarity of character that is so often seen in married life. He, although an officer in the church, and active, so far as talking and praying were concerned, was extremely penurious, giving to benevolentobjects just as little as was possible for one in his position. With the poor and unfortunate he had sympathy ; he had been successful, why could not they be ? How such a man ever became an officer in the church one might well ask. But the fact only proves that the wisest and the best are not always selected for offices so important. His wife, as before Intimated, was just the opposite. Many a dollar found its way from her purse into the channels of benevolence. The heart of many a sad, weary Child of poverty was lightened by her sympathy and aid. “ Sheisdoingher own duty, and her husband’s also,” was

often the remark of those who witnessed her quiet, unobtrusive deeds of charity. In a very different dwelling from the commodious one cf Deacon 11., a dwelling so poor and dilapidated that the winds of heaven gained easy admission, there sat a pale, care-worn woman, busily sewing; while over a few dying embers shivenngly hovered two little scantily-clothed girls. The room was bare of almoat every comfort; and a casuaf glance was sufficient to show that gaunt poverty had taken up his abode there. “ Oh, mother, can’t we have a little more tire?” pleaded Susy, the youngest, .whoselhill Jfttle_face wore such a wistful, hungry look, that it added a new pang to the mother’s heart. “Itis so cold here,” and the tears began rapidly to course down the faded cheeks. “ Hush, hush, dear, mother is sorry for her little girl ; come here and wrap my dress around you; perhaps it will give a little warmth. Janies will soon be here; 1 wouldn’t wonder if he had some good news for us; and the poor mother sought to smile into the wan, tear-stained face, as she drew her dress closely around the little one. At that moment the door opened, and a boy entered, drew a chair to the hearth, and strove to impart a little warmth to his chilled hands.

“Well, my son, what news?” and though the smile on her face was sad and forced, the poor mother endeavored to speak cheerfully. “1 he same old story, mother; nobody wants a boy—at least nobody wants me—so we must all starve, I suppose. Oh. if father would only be different! What shall we do ?” and the boy, leaning his head on his clasped hands, sobbed in agony, “My son, my son,” wailed the poor woman as she laid aside her work and drew the boy’s head on her lap. “Don’t Jimmy, don’t! there must surely be help for us. God will not utterly forsake us.” 1 “Then why don’t He send us help? I went into Deacon H’s store, and though one of the clerks said they needed a boy, the Deacon wouldn’t take me because father drinks. He said he wanted a respectable boy in his store. The hardhearted old miser! If. he’s got religion, I don’t want any of it.” “It isn’t religion that causes him to be so unkind, my son ; it is the want of it, rather. Look at his wife, if you wish to know what religion can do. You are not to blame for your father’s acts; and no good man will ever think the less of you torthem. But cheer up; you know you are mother’s principal stay and hope; she cannot bear to see her boy so sad. Here .is Mrs. H. now; who knows but she has found a place for you?” “Good afternoon, Mrs. Conner,” said that lady, entering the room; I have good news for you; but have you no wood ? tliis must not be; you will perish in this bitter weather. I will send some this very afternoon. Poor little girls,” glancing pitifully at the shivering children, “ how cold you look, come here and wrap these furs around you. Well, James, I have found you a place at last. Farmer B. says you are just the boy for him; and, Mrs. Conner, I have seen some of the reform boys, who have promised to do all they can for your husband. They say he wouldn’t have broken his pledge, had it not been for the solicitations of that miserable man at the corner. But the boys will watch him more closely for the future ; and I am convinced better days are in store for you.” “ God bless you, God bless you,” sobbed the poor woman, grasping the lady’s hand, while the tears coursed silently down her cheeks. “God will reward you; we never can.” “ The greatest of these is charity.” Oh, that charity, that world-wide, all embracing charity. That love to God a?d love to man. Would to God there were more of it.— Morning Star.