FOLK FROM DIXIE
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pon the floor, lines of sorrow drawn about hiswrinkled mouth. All of a sudden a great revulsion of feelingcame over Dokesbury. ‘Trembling he rose andopened the Bible. There lay his sermon, pol-ished and perfected. “The opening lines seemedto him like glints from a bright cold crystal.What had he to say to these people, when thefull realisation of human sorrow and care andof human degradation had just come to him?What had they to do with firstlies and secondlies,with premises and conclusions? What theywanted was a strong hand to help them overthe hard places of life and a loud voice to cheerthem through the dark. He closed the bookagain upon his precious sermon. A somethingnew had been born in his heart. He let hisglance rest for another instant on the mother’spained face and the father’s bowed form, andthen turning to the congregation began, “ Comeunto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest. Take my yoke uponyou, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowlyin heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”Out of the fulness of his heart he spoke untothem. ‘Their great need informed his utterance. 54
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