At the Grave of Lazarus. F John xi. 43, 44. ORTH from the rifled tomb he came, Forerunner of the faithful dead Whom Christ ere long from Death will claim Like him the sleeping dead will rise And yet that victory o'er the grave, Not one lone grave, but millions more, Nor shall they wake, as Lazarus woke, They shall not rise "with grave-clothes bound," These all shall rise, with glory crowned, And upward mount, a Christ-like train, W. 3. Mr. Richmond's Revenge. A TRUE STORY WITH TWO MORALS. HERE is no doubt that one duty of a Christian writer is to sound, ever and again, a note of warning against taking up and spreading reports calculated to injure those whom they concern; but no less a duty is it also to caution all who desire to walk circumspectly against appearances of evil; so that the enemy may have no cause to rejoice over their shortcomings, or blaspheme that holy name by which they are called. In accordance with this duty I would narrate the following incidents which occurred in my immediate neighbourhood not very long since. No small excitement was created amongst a certain set of townsfolk, when it became known that a philanthropist much loved and respected by all classes, had publicly announced his intention of joining the total abstinence society. "This I do," said he, "not because I have need to do it on my own account-praise the Lord-but for the sake of my poor weaker brother, who, when I urge total abstinence on him as a remedial measure, turns to me with the question, 'Do you abstain, sir ?' And when I reply in the negative, he turns away with a shrug and look, which are intended to mean, 'Then take your own remedy before you prescribe for me, sir!" It will be easily understood that Mr. Richmond's announcement was canvassed, cross canvassed, and freely commented on in the town, with favourable results in some cases, but in most instances with a feeling of injured independence, especially where Mr. Richmond might be supposed to be "abstaining at them," as one party of rather free-livers expressed themselves. Nor were there wanting those who determined to watch for his halting, with the "Report, say they, and we will report," of the prophet Jeremiah; and it was not long before the unenviable clique had, as they thought, a fit occasion on which to report a slip in the good man's honest purpose. The story was greedily taken up and passed from lip to lip, until from being a savoury morsel of secret gossip, it became a large unleavened cake, sufficient to form a serious stumbling-block in a poor brother's path; and Mr. Richmond, becoming uneasy at the mischief which was most unaccountably fastened on his 1 1 Jer. xx. 10. name, to the detriment of his neighbours, determined to sift the matter to its source; but for some time he thought he had better go very warily to work, so, with wakeful eyes, watchful ears, and well-guarded lips, he went on his way as usual, seeing all, hearing all, and noting all, but silently locking up his intention in his own breast. Meanwhile gossip increased, and finally reached a climax in an open act of incivility that brought Mr. Richmond's friends around him with the protest, that, total abstainer or not, a good neighbour should not be molested if they could help it. This act of incivility was as follows. In accordance with his recently-made resolution, Mr. Richmond. one day appeared on the platform to support the lecturer at a temperance meeting, and he no sooner arose to introduce the speaker, than a murmur of disapprobation, accompanied by low hissing, ran through a portion of the audience, and every now and then a bolder voice would cry out: 66 'Not true to his colours! Down with him! Where's the home-brewed? Where's the home-brewed?" The meeting showed signs of becoming uproarious, when a body of gentlemen immediately left the middle of the hall, and, ascending to the platform, formed a guard round Mr. Richmond, in spite of their want of sympathy with his teetotal views. Order was called in vain ; cries of "Where's n; the home-brewed?" continued; but a close observer might have noticed a smile of quiet amusement steal over Mr. Richmond's face as the cry was repeated. At last, unable to sit silent, that gentleman asked the chairman's permission to speak a few words, and then, in a manly, pleasant voice, he said, aloud: "My good friends, I acknowledge to the 'home-brewed ;' and what is more, I invite any of you who will accept my offer, to look in at my kitchen to-morrow and take a glass of it yourselves. I make but one stipulation that you all wait to have a little talk with me after lunch." "Agreed!" cried several voices. 'Spoken like his own self again!" exclaimed another. "I told you seeing was believing," whispered a third; and then, complying with the chairman's second call to order, the opposition was quieted, and the lecturer sailed forth into clear water. At the appointed hour, some eighteen men presented themselves at Mr. Richmond's gate, and were at once introduced to his large kitchen, where a liberal table was spread for a mid-day meal. Empty glasses were set beside each plate, and when the cold round of beef was served, Mr. Richmond himself went for "the drink," which he brought forward in an immense jug. "Now for the 'home-brewed,' my men; have your glasses ready, for it is very frisky,” he said, as, holding the vessel a half yard above the table, he proceeded to pour out the liquor, which fell in a clear nutbrown stream, creating a sparkling, though not creamy froth as it reached the glass. "That's prime !" cried one man, raising the tumbler to his lips, immediately nudging his neighbour to follow his example; and then, when all the glasses had been filled and all the men had tasted the "home-brewed," a goodhumoured titter ran round the table, and the wag of the company looked up at Mr. Richmond and asked, pleasantly, "And how much a pound was this tea, sir? I shouldn't 'a thought that cold tea made such a relishable beverage!" "It was two shillings a pound; you're right, Symes, it makes one of the most agreeable drinks going, when it is fresh made and perfectly cold. Good morning, my friends; I hope you will make a hearty lunch and enjoy it thoroughly, all of you." And with a cheerful nod Mr. Richmond was leaving the kitchen, when another man asked, "But how about the bit of talk afterwards, sir? We have no wish to shirk that, if it was only to ask your honour's pardon for our behaviour last night." "And for listening to false words about you, sir, which I wish I'd stopped my ears to, before I believed them," added another. |