University of South Carolina Libraries
THE UNDOING By Mrs. E .It was Christmas night?llio nigh for regular prayer meeting service: in fho lit tit* Baptist church in a c.er tain cotton mill village in South Cav olina. Just u few yards away wa; a handsome school building with ; large hall u}>slairs, which was usei for various purposes. On this par lieular night the Devil had it rentc< an;,! had made. grea>t preparations t'o a fashionable dance. For a long time lie had hcen plot ting and planning how Ire might bes manage flic little ha.id of worshipc.*: who so faith fully attended the littl. church every Wednesday night. Il< had hewn trying with all his inigliJ. l< disband tlrem, Unit while, there wen some whom hi* could approach will impunity, 'there were a few -two 01 three good sisters, tun or thru brethren and especially one old gray Jiaired deacon, whom the Devil was actually afraid to tackle. This old d 'a -on was o:ic of tlr Devil's 111ost powerful enemies. Koi years and years lie had heen night watchman for the mill an.I sel.lon missi'd a church service. M'any ol the church members could he tempt ed to stay at home, and were often ahsent front services, offering lire flimsiest kind of excuses. But. this oh] ma:i who had more reasonable excuses, offered none, and nearlv always and at his own expense hired some one to take his plae * an hour or two, whenever the Baptist church bell rang for services. I'o-nigii I the Devil had prepared tor a grea?| display of his power, lie had e\.'"|ed all his energies to make ill.' dance a greait success, his on.n chief ambition being |o so disturb the church services Ilia,I any thing like worship would simply be impossible lie had been all ov.'r the village wiith invitations to the duice; some were :i lit lie backward al lirst about accepting, but having left, his hoofs, horns and tail ait home and being in t lie guise of a handsome young man. lire D.'vil soon persuaded them that a little i*ecreation was albsolule.ly necessary to their well being; tha<t if they persisted in dragging out such a dull slow, dead existence all work and no play?that they would soon be physical wrecks and till premature graves. "To live, long, one must enjoy iiving," he argued, In this wav members of the different churches were caught like flies in a spider's web, and persuadvd to sanction the dance by their presence, while riie Devil laughed triumphantly. Ah! wouldn't lie show these cant ing ('lirist ians who bad most power on earth, livht or darkness? Wouldn't In- clothe ihe churches in sack cloth and ashes a.id make that saintly 'par-on aciv-s the si,vet hang his head in sham,'.' I la! ha! Wouldn't il h nice if a pra\er should happen to ibe ol'l'ercd by tliat sliibbor Id deacon, to drown his v.dee in ihe noise of fiddling and dan.-big and the c;iII-. for cotillion! I'nW . In his .Teal : i u :f1 > i I i i 11 to make the dance a clowning su.cess and to make him>elf recogni/.ed as the greatest! power on earth, the Devil made lite very common mistake of over reaching himself. lie ha.I distribut, 1 lot > of medicine thai was labt led '' < * be-joy I n I.'' a well k inwii, tried and true remedy, recommended for faint heants and pricking consciences; in his haste lie failed to givt1 proper directions for use. with lb.' result that the tiddlers took an overdose and instead of playing the part assigned tliein, were quietly sleeping at. home; while tin* Devil in his rage and disappointnienl used some very indiscreet language. Many left tin hall thoroughly disgusted and went back home, or to church, thankful for a narrow escape; while sonic stayed 11, not caring to do 'illier. Ueco. ni/.ing his defeat, the Devil decided !>> al-tend prayer nieetiuy himself. It might be that he could find something to do there, and lu was anxious to know what would b. .said about him, any way. So ho started to the church soliloquizing: "If it had all turned out as I had planned; if those fool fiddlers had not gone beyond the bounds of reason and decency; if I only could hav< succeeded in interesting more of tin leading church members? the k.iiu that go deep down in their pocketfor I he. churches' benefit? Ihe public would not have denounced me so em phatically." You see that the Devi was very far sighted and argued fron I he point that: '' Success like some soft fairy veil Covers the deeds of men, 31 makes to ugliest wrong look wel OF THE DFVIL. J thel Thomas. J t The dark seem fair again." [ s Kudo ring l.lio church a:ul slipping - into a scat near the door so limit he s conM gelt out easily if tiro alniosi phero happened to he Uio .spiritually ' 1 warm for comfort, (ho Devil was dis agreeably surprised to lind a larger | 1 congregation tha?? usual. Hut outr side a crowd ?f youngsters wore | keeping up a most terrible racket _ with baby-wakers, cannon-crackers, | l'"l? -sticks and so on, and he smiled i | ^ triuni'phautly as Ik; listened. Surely , such a dislurhance would distract j . ami confuse this preacher and peo- i ( , pic, and put them to flight, lie. was; . decided ly uiieoiu forlaihle as the peo- ; j , pie sang: I ' , "There were ninety ami nine thai safely lay < In I lie shelter of the fold, I'll! one was out on the hills away, 1 far oti from the gates of gold?'' ' t I A tramp was passing and paused ' i to listen, "God!" he exclaimed, | . ''that's me! That was mother's Ia- ~ vopile song, too,'' and strangely af-j" looted iie pooped in at a window; *' seeing some vacant seals near the a door lie pulled off his dirty cap andj1'1 softly walked in. taking a seat di-I'x reetdy in front of the Devil. Another song was sung: "Glory.I , to God in the. Highest, Ou Karlit ! Pence and Good will to Men.'' which ' made the Devil restless. The tramp listened with throbbing heart, won-!; dering what was tlici nui'lter with 1 11 him. and why he had come into this! house of worship. No one eared I 11 whether he went to heave,i or hell , ;l | no one ever had cared except a lit- a' | tie woman in a far o|V State who l>e- , ''' I lieved him dead his mother. Why I had lie left her he wondered. li l?i look at .*i:111 now, liis face a veritable signboard proclaiming lii> ! dissipation, his eyes bleared and rest- j * less, his clothes ragged ami fillhv, it was hard to realize that he was once I an innocent babe, held iu the arms of I" a loving Christian mother and per-!"1 haps cradled in the lap of luxury, j ui dust a miller prodigal! What ha I hi caused him to roam? Had he traveled \ w so far and at such break-neck speed i ut down the hill toward destruction, if that now it was impossible to it "throw on the brakes?'' Who be- t> sides himself was to'blame? Who was i\ his mother? Where was his home?! it Could it be that he had once been w a shining light in some church and ! h in the exuberance of youthful spirits, i u comiltctl some act of indiscret ion ? j si ami had lying a id tal-tiling tongues \ ii maguiticd the fault l<> an utipardon- | c: a'lde sin.' Had lie been thrust out d from a fold that should have hedged him in with brotherly love and , || wiaiped him in a mantle of charity u - had his name been voted from the Lj church roll, had he been stoned by I 0 *i| tiers more guilty.' If su. Go?l pity I n him! Ibit of one thing only could we ? I tie a-sured lie had once been some j i, mother's darling- now lie was on the L. | road to destruction. Guilty of many I ,, dark aid loathsome deeds pcrha)?s, s j black with sin, an outcast or an out'law: yet. ("linist died for such as ho, ,, I a:nl we s,? often forget ii and "passij, " j t?y on 111' other side." instead of j t trviug to help them |o a better an I . higher life. ..... ' 1' I he Devil was a little uneasy overjv the tramp's attitude and leaning over ,j he whispered in his ear: ,j "Ain't this a sanctified looking ( show ? They come here every Wed nesday night and raise cain. That a , pious looking woman over there on | the fro.it seat, is the biggest lattlM* , , mi tow n. She's done some wonderful ! | things in the way of raising disturb-| j I , ances. and leaning down character. . i A'oii .inst ought to hear her religious l . i experience and her high-flown senti- i, I | m.nits concerning ' sane! ilicat ion, " 4( | which she claims. 11?*r life is such 7 | ! that to have her gel up and 'testify' | . ' i-. enough to give one ciiilK." j "Tliev are all hypocrites," sneer- ] j ed t h e I >? vi I. :! "I hope not." pleaded the tramp, r I j '"Oil. I hope .lot." | 1 I I "Well, my friend, suppose we put < ) them to the test, and give you the li ' j proof of my assertions. That big v ' j book that the parson pretends to I j love so much, is said to bo the } Christian's lamp to guide him in the li I right way. It says 'Be iol forgetful n -1 lo entertain strangers.' And again, v 1 ' Uemomhcr them thai are in bonis,),, i as bound with them: and them which ' 1 sni'i'er ad\er-:!v. as being yourselves' also in the bodv. D.hmi'I that mean j t 'pal your self in his place?' Have); y-ii ever read this scripture? ' My j \ 1 brethren, have not the faith of our I c Lord Jesus Christ, Die Lord of gh>ry. wiilh respect <? 1' persons. Kor if lyitciv; come unto your assembly a 1111111 with a golil ring, i;i goodly apparel, an.I there come in also-a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him (hat wearcth the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit thou here in 11 good iplace; and say to the poor, stand thou there, or sit under m.v foot stool: Are ye then not partial on yourself in his place?' Have you ?vil thoughts? And again: 'If ve fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shajt love l.hy neighbor as thyself, ye do weill; lint if ye have respect to persons ye omniit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.' Now you know kcry w"l| thai if the mayor of the it\ (in 1 come in here and fa1"'"', a lack seat, that parson would new nine straight after him and 1; 1!. n 1 itit to the front. Now you are a ouu'h looking customer, and you can dt here if you will hehave yourself ml 1 hey would aM rather you had dayed out.No "He will speak to you. vish you a merry Christmas or care vlial becomes of you after you got ill of here. You are no 'Spring !i icketi * that's plainly evident ? im! you know all lliat I say is true. | 'roni your looks 1 tiii.ik you had the! roof ere this. What's my looks to you.'' fowled the impatient tramp. "1 ?I i I i't come in here to be no'.iced, and Ion't wish or expect- it. Let me lone now; it's the Hirst time l've| een in church for years and 1 don't now what made me come in here. >11! I am and I propose to see and ear the whole performance," and ie Devil saw it would be no use to IV more. The song was finished and the nuug preacher rose w itit a wele.uiiig smile shining from Lis eyes. and ir a. moment looked over the large nigregalion. his face glowing with | spiritual light that awed one and II into breathless silence and reverice. lie had only been pastor of this ttile church a short tune, but llie | . opie were not slow to understand 1 at he was unusually full of t?ie hrist-iikc spirit and possessed great agnelic intluence. Meek, gentle, ipationt. tender and ! ving- 'pleading that the church put 1 the whole armour of faith, with ore of the forgiving spirit and otherly 'love; ever ready to look ith charily on -the fallen, and still lore ready to lift them up; preaeliig the gospcil in all its purity, living in all its beautiful simplicity; piciring the ideal life in such atlraete coloring, explaining its beauties t such a persuasive and winding :\v that none could hear without uiiiing to 't upon a higher plane f Christian living- and with every t'rvice his congregation was grow- \ ig. Trti'ly this was a man of (Jod I allied to preach llis (li spi l. and was j irected by His 1 l.?ly Spirit. if he saw the Devil back there near I ie door, he rave no sign <>!' recogilioii. lie made no reference to the 1 auce across the street, or to au\ Iber work thai the Prince of Darkess was directing, he siprko entirely u the love of (!od and his idea as j n how'best to defeat the Devil seem-I d to be to shine him out. lie never lie time mentioned the Devi!, but , o<?c. 1 , forth it ho beanlties and the real peace which wore the limits f pure an I undeliled religion. and j 11 such a way thai any other than j he right way. was awful by contrast. 'I",lis was new. The Devil was mm- 1 ilnssed. To he shiued out the i*orst and most dreaded deleat. I ruy here was a preacher depending lore on the power of Cmd than on he gift of ga'b. After the. preacher had tmiked while and knew that the hearts of lie people, were in a receptive attinde, he turned to tin4 second diaper of Luke and read from the 8th o the 20lh verses, and spoke espeinlly from the 10th and lllh verses. 'And the. angels said unto them. I'ear not ; for behol 1, I bring you ood tidings of great joy. which hall be to all people. For unto you ; born this day, i'i the eit\ <>l Da- | id, a Saviol', which is Christ I no I jord.'' Dh the beautiful Chri-dmas slory. j ead and studied in thousands of ionni< and churches every blessed 'hristmas day. The Devil could 110I iear to listen and slipped out like a rhipped cuv. The tramp listend and trembled, demories of home and mother caused lis eyes to grow dim. Oh if lie could >:ily call back the years of his r as-led life! Oh. if ho could h'av? a lean heart a id a clear consiienee iefore <!od! Oh. for that swoel I eslful peace, that fni-!.'u! >vpose 1 hat the pi'facher had said was l n j tort ion of believers. Di.l he believe? j fes he believed it alii; Chr'v-I had | dure to earth and had lived am<mg The Pacific I 40 Years Old. "Old Line" Company. ROBERT NORRIS TTjIs grand old company has just announced th cessful year in its history, which extends way bac Every well informed and honest insurance ma ance Company is the strongest Insurance Comp of at least $50,000,000.00 and the assets of $14 500,000.00 of substantial backing?in other won This Company pays the largest cash dividends holder how he is pleased with his dividends 1 cash and paid-up values. Every policy contains This means that, if you hold a poll-:/ In this Coir disabled, you will receive in cash. $100.00 each insurance; and curing this time you will not h we miums. For tfu lime you lose on account of sic: we shall pay you i>5 00 a week per $1,000.00 of You will fii.ii ojL ./ ihe iai.es ori some of our p 'IVrnj Pol i ics. Age. Rate. A 2 1 $10.05 22 IO 15 23 10.20 24 I O.3O 25 IO 40 26 ? I0.4S 2 7 io.55 28 1 o 65 29 10.75 30 10.90 51 11 05 32 IT. 2() 33 ii-35 34 n.50 35 1 1.70 36 1 1.90 37 12.15 3<S 12.40 39 12.65 1? 1 :-'-95 4' 13-30 -1- 13 70 45 14 15 *14 14-^5 45 15 20 46 15-85 47 16.60 48 >7-45 ' 49 18.40 5? 19-5? 51 20.70 52 22 00 53 23 50 54 25.15 55 27.00 THE STANDARD p-p, " WAREHOUSE CO. S 11 IS BEGS TO ANNOUNCE: ' 1 lis warehouse receipts are regarded iL^ Ir ^ as the highest class <4 bankable.' collateral SI || 13 _ If money can lie borrowed* 011 anj'- ^ thing il can l>e borrowed on the receipt '""TT.''"IT of The Standard Warehouse Company. Hanking institutions are familiar with the methods and strict business It is principles and financial standing of The Standard Warehouse Company, and seek fc)3it. for its recei]?ts as a basis of loans. 4. The identical cotton that yon place lOmOH f in the warehouse is returned upon surrender of receipts ShOG W( 5. In case of fire your cotton is paid for at market value, and you have 110 f ind clt ' difficulty as to insurance, the full insurance being maintained by The Stand- flp^r ard Warehouse Company. a L ' 6 All insurance on cotton is main- fflfi itPfYI tained at full value in the highest class English and American Insurance Coin- Q lOWGT panics. 7 The Standard Warehouse Company C0lfisist( is absolutely imlepcndent of any other organization and conducts its affairs upon ViCBcllolf strict business methods. 8. The paid up capital stock of The VOUt" OV Standard Warehouse Company is $,',50,000 00, and the company is absolutely safe, ami its warehouse receipts come ahead of the stockholders. <). Hy having a number of Standard Warehouses constructed so as to comply with insurance regulations and econo- Oil 3ny ( inies in general management The Stan- 1 . dard Warehouse Company olfer the cheap- I 3 O t Ti est rate compatible with sound business *r methods, ample insurance and the full- cl CtcXy < est protection of its receipts. . , 10. The Standard Warehouse Company UDiy Oy is anxious to have all cotton of farmers 1 and others stored, and offers the most H3.V0 \N eoniple tc protection and encouragement ... for favniers desiring to hold their cotton. PUDllC. 11. Rates will be furnished upon ap- , plication to Mr. J. I). Wheeler, local ClOlicir g manager Standard Warehouse Company, Newberry, S. C. LICENSE TAX DUE. Xolice is hereby given (lint oily licenses for |he year 1J108 are now W If tliie ami titnst ho paid al once. u ^ H l'?y order of oily council. \ Jf .1. .1. Langford, ? Kugene S. Worts, Mayor. | Tit* Clerk and Troasurcr. iVlutual Life. ( Over $100,000,000.00 business in force. 1 , General Agent. 4 p 1 ie fact that the year 1907 was the most suc7 :k to 1868. n knows that The Pacific Mutual Life Insur- .'<i >any In America. The stockholders' llabi'ity ,500,000.00 gives the Co pa y about $64,is about $5 00 to every $1.00 of liability. of any Life Company. Just ask any policy- * rho policies pre mo.5t liberal, providing large the Tc.al and Permanent Disability Clause. ^ lp-ny and become totally and perrnanen ly JJ year, for ten ysara, to every $1,030 00 of to / a :;/ money to this Company for pre- ( 1 kncis or on account of accident, 1 insuran j j. olicies: Non-participating Policies. ^ Kate. Age. Rate. 20 $15.40 20 $22.80 1 21 15.70 21 23.15 ' 22 16.05 22 23.55 23 16.45 23 23.95 24 '6.85 24 24.33 25 I7-25 25 24.80 4 26 17.65 26 25.25 " 27 1810 27 25.70 28 18.60 28 26 15 29 19.10 29 26.65 3? 19.60 30 27.20 M 3? 20.15 31 27.75 52 20.75 32 28.30 33 21.35 33 28.90 34 22.00 34 29.50 * 35 22.70 35 30.15 36 23.45 36 30.80 37 24.20 37 3 r. 50 3,v> 25.00 38 32.25 39 25.85 39 33 05 40 26.75 40 ^.8^ 4> 27-7? < 41 34.70 < 42 28.75 42 35.60 43 29.90 43 36.55 44 31-10 44 37-55 45 323.S 45 38.60 46 33.65 46 59.70 47 ' 35.05 47 40.85 / 36.55 48 42.10 ' 49 38.20 49 43.45 5? 39.90 50 44.90 51 41.70 51 46.45 43.65 52 48.05 I 53 45-75 53 49-75 ^4 47*95 54 51.60 55 50.30 55 53.60 56 52-85 50 55 75 r)7 55 55 57 58.00 58 58.40 08 60.40 59 61.45 59 63.00 60 64.70 60 65.80 is Worth ~ ' API N G... not our policy to hand you out a breakfast and follow it with a or dinner and supper. Shoddy, )rn goods such as you generally Special Bargain Sales" are too ar?y price. There is not one sin1 in our line on which there is not price than any other firm can sntly offer. We mean honest seri goods at 'Bargain Prices'. Study vn interest?come-if we don't Show You a Glean Gut Saving Bvery purchase pass us bv. The ade we command was not built in or by "Special Bargain Sales." persistent hard and honest toil e gained the confidence of the Spend your money where the ives the best results. j Yours for Bargains, LETTNER o Pair and Square Dealer. 1