By this time Mr. W. was by his side, and had his hand upon his arm.
"You mustn"t sit here. Come down and I will show you a seat," he said, in an excited tone.
"Thank you," replied the man in a composed voice. "It is very comfortable here." And the man remained immovable.
Mr. W., feeling embarra.s.sed, went down, intending to get a brother "official" to a.s.sist him in making a forcible ejection of the man from the place he was desecrating. Immediately upon his doing so, however, the man rose, and standing up at the desk, opened the hymn-book. His voice thrilled to the finger ends of Brother W. as in a distinct and impressive manner he gave out the hymn beginning:
"Help us to help each other, Lord, Each other"s cross to bear; Let each his friendly aid afford, And feel a brother"s care."
The congregation rose, after the stranger had read the entire hymn, and had repeated the first two lines for them to sing. Brother W.
usually started the tunes. He tried this time, but went off on a long meter tune. Discovering his mistake at the second word, he balked and tried it again, but now he stumbled on short meter. A musical brother came to his aid and led off with a tune that suited the measure in which the hymn was written. After singing, the congregation knelt, and the minister--for no one doubted his real character--addressed the throne of grace with much fervor and eloquence. The reading of a chapter in the Bible succeeded. Then there was a deep pause throughout the room in antic.i.p.ation of the text, which the preacher prepared to announce.
The dropping of a pin might have been heard. Then the fine, emphatic tones of the preacher filled the room:--
"_A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another._"
Brother W. had bent forward to listen, but now he sunk back in his seat. This was the eleventh commandment.
The sermon was deep, searching, yet affectionate and impressive. The preacher uttered nothing that could in the least wound the brother and sister of whose hospitality he had partaken, but he said much that smote upon their hearts, and made them painfully conscious that they had not shown as much kindness to the stranger as he had been ent.i.tled to receive on the broad principles of humanity. But they suffered more from mortification of feeling. To think that they had treated the presiding elder of the district after such a fashion was deeply humiliating; and the idea of the whole affair getting abroad interfered sadly with their devotional feelings throughout the whole period of service.
At last the sermon was over, the ordinance administered and the benediction p.r.o.nounced. Brother W. did not know what was best for him to do. He never was more at a loss in his life. Then Mr. N. descended from the pulpit; but he did not step forward to meet him. How could he do that? Others gathered around him, but still he lingered and held back.
"Where is Brother W.?" he at length heard asked. It was the voice of the minister.
"Here he is," said one or two, opening the way to where the farmer stood.
The preacher advanced, and catching his hand, said:--
"How do you do, Brother W., I am glad to see you. And where is Sister W.?"
Sister W. was brought forward, and the preacher shook hands with them heartily, while his face was lit up with smiles.
"I believe I am to find a home with you," he said, as if it was settled.
Before the still embarra.s.sed brother and sister could make reply, some one asked:--
"How came you to be detained so late? You were expected last night.
And where is Brother R.?"
"Brother R. is sick," replied Mr. N., "and I had to come alone. Five miles from this my horse gave out, and I had to come the rest of the way on foot. But I became so cold and weary, that I found it necessary to ask a farmer not far from here, to give me a night"s lodging, which he was kind enough to do. I thought I was still three miles off, but it happened that I was very much nearer my journey"s end than I supposed."
This explanation was satisfactory to all parties, and in due time the congregation dispersed, and the presiding elder went home with Brother and Sister W.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
I
Thou shalt have no other G.o.ds before me.
II
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy G.o.d am a jealous G.o.d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
III
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy G.o.d in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
IV
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy G.o.d: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
V
Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy G.o.d giveth thee.
VI
Thou shalt not kill.
VII
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
VIII
Thou shalt not steal.
IX
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
X
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor"s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor"s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his a.s.s, nor any thing that is thy neighbor"s.
MAKE IT PLAIN.
On the sixteenth day after the battle of Gettysburg, I entered the room where a young wounded colonel was apparently near to death. As I entered, he was roused from his stupor and beckoned me to his bedside, and threw his feeble arms around my neck.
"O my father, how glad I am to see you. I was afraid you would not come till it was too late. I am too feeble to say much, though I have a great many things to say to you; you must do all the talking. Tell me all about dear mother and sister."