The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True StoryByrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Religion
The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True Story
Byrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Christian life -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Seated in his accustomed place on the bench near the end of the long
dining-table, Edwin, with both elbows upon the table, was resting his face
upon his hands. Again he was thinking of the one great subject about which
he was so seriously concerned. Suddenly he seemed not to be alone. Looking
about him as though expecting to see some person standing near, he heard a
voice seemingly from above his head, and he was told to listen.
When the voice of the tempter had spoken discouragingly on the way from Mr.
Kunz's, Edwin had felt no fear, but now a fear that caused him to tremble
crept over him. But when the voice in tender, loving tones said softly, "Do
not be afraid, for I am your friend," he turned with eagerness to listen.
"You want to be prepared for heaven," the voice continued. "Now,
tobacco-using is unbecoming and unclean in my eyes, and before you can get
on the highway that leads to heaven, you must stop using tobacco."
Until then Edwin had not been told by a living creature that tobacco was
not a food, or that it was unfit for the use of mankind, or unclean in the
sight of God; but as he listened to the words of his divine Guide and
Teacher, the great truth of the matter sank deep within his heart, and he
had no thought or desire to dispute them. Neither did he stop to think or
reason that his best friends Mr. and Mrs. Miller, Frank Kauffman, and Mr.
Kunz were all using tobacco. Instead he arose and, going to the mantel,
selected all his smoking-materials there, opened the grate, and dumped them
one and all upon the few living coals that were still smoldering among the
ashes. He also brought from his room in the large house a box of cigars,
some pipes and cigar-holders, and threw them in upon the other things.
When Edwin, all unconscious of the dense smoke and the strong odor that
were beginning to arise from the old-fashioned chimney, returned to his
place by the table, he resumed his former position on the bench and
endeavored to continue his meditation as it was before the revelation.
Outside the night was perfect. A bright moon looked down from its lofty
height among the stars and revealed the farmer repairing a place in the
fence-corner where the rails had been loosened. Scarcely had he finished
the task, when a glance from the hollow in which he was busy toward the
hill upon which his home was located, caused him to gasp and shudder with
fear. Then with his nose in the air he began to inhale and said, "Why, that
smells like tobacco-smoke." The time of night and the fact that the smoke
was coming in great volumes from the chimney of the summer-kitchen made him
think that the kitchen was on fire and that the tobacco on the mantel-shelf
was causing the smoke.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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